Zombies and ghouls gather for a scare at Balboa Park Halloween Family Day.
At first today’s Balboa Park Halloween Family Day seemed uneventful. A lot of park visitors out enjoying a sunny late October day. What could possibly go wrong?
The San Diego Police could not stop the frightening scene to come. Their skeleton crew was taking a lazy Saturday nap in the park.Everything seemed peaceful and normal. A baby stroller headed down El Prado, carrying a sunflower.The San Diego Zoo was showing a two-toed sloth to costumed kids eating candy for Halloween.This MTS lady seemed happy and so did the pumpkin behind her. But little did the visitors to Balboa Park know…danger was lurking nearby…The Doggie Costume Contest in Spanish Village promised to be a fun, tail-wagging affair.This witch assured me she was a nice witch. Not one of those wicked ones. But I don’t know about all those spooky symbols on the sign beside her.The glassblowers were making beautiful pumpkins. There’s nothing very scary here, right?Now wait a minute. I see Godzilla strolling near the reflecting pool. Perhaps he emerged from deep waters to wreak havoc on San Diego. I hope not.More nice pumpkins. These are arranged among harmless, pretty flowers and various exotic plants in the Botanical Building.A lady, with a skull face painting, poses in a beautiful Dia de los Muertos dress. What could possibly go wrong today?Oh, no! Here come the evil clowns! Now we asked for it!And now zombies are converging on the Plaza de Panama! One is limping horribly toward an undead bride in a wedding gown!And now look! A crowd of limp, staggering figures is assembling in the plaza. What are they going to do?They’re going to dance! It’s Michael Jackson’s Thriller!
It’s close to midnight and something evil’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight you see a sight that almost stops your heart
You try to scream, but terror takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze as horror looks you right between the eyes
You’re paralyzed…
A scary flash mob, brought together by the San Diego Civic Dance Association, performs Thriller during Balboa Park Halloween Family Day.
‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one’s gonna save you from the beast about to strike!
What a bunch of spooky fun! So much fun, they did it again and again!
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Ceramic eye atop parking lot post at north end of Balboa Park’s art-filled Spanish Village. Various faces and fun eyeballs decorate nearby posts.
Spanish Village is where you’ll find artists at work in San Diego’s incredibly beautiful Balboa Park. On any given day, one can watch artists painting, shaping pottery, blowing glass, or just relaxing beside artwork for sale, out in the colorful courtyard or inside their charming studios. But before you walk into Spanish Village, there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted by funny eyes, two huge elephants, or a happy owl. And possibly even a spider!
What am I talking about? Take a look at these fun photos! (Can you find the spider?)
A peek through an arch into Spanish Village from the small north parking lot.The colorful courtyard of Spanish Village contains abundant beauty, both natural and artistic.One of many small artist studios in this very cool corner of San Diego’s Balboa Park.Here come more photos of funny ceramic eyes and faces decorating those plain steel parking lot posts.This is my favorite face of the bunch. I believe I used it in another blog post.A single artistic eyeball painted pink, yellow, purple and blue. The ceramic post-toppers have forms that are very organic.Check out this crazy, creative face! At least, I think it’s a face…A wonderfully alien, weird fantasy eye stares right back at you!Two huge shrub elephants guard a path at the west edge of Spanish Village. Walk north and you’ll arrive at the world famous San Diego Zoo!And this owl with spread wings is keeping an eye on the main entrance to Spanish Village, which is to the south.
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Creepy skulls await visitors near entrance to The Haunted Trail. Many visitors will scream this coming Halloween season.
Is it nearly Autumn? That means Halloween is quickly approaching! And so are the usual nightmarish horrors!
I saw during a walk through Balboa Park’s west end that The Haunted Trail is under construction. Around Halloween, the annual outdoor “haunted house” scares even the bravest living residents of San Diego. Passing through the dark, ghostly trees at night might be scary enough, but imagine being surrounded by legions of hellish ghouls and flesh-eating zombies!
I conquered my own fear and poked my camera over a fence to record the coming terror…
The Haunted Trail is under construction on the west end of Balboa Park. Workers seem to be just getting started.Bloody decapitated heads on pikes will scare thrill-seekers in the dark of night!Various dummies arranged on the leafy ground. Like the undead, they will soon rise!What would Halloween be without a pumpkin head? And some ghouls, ghosts, specters and miscellaneous whatnot.That’s one big pile of terribly mangled bodies. It almost looks like what happens during a fumble in football.I thought one grim reaper was quite enough, thank you!And to top it all off, a good old spooky demon with horns. October must be approaching!
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It’s a beautiful day by the ocean in La Jolla. Some kayakers have noticed the entrance to a sea cave in the sandstone. Curious eyes spot them from above and watch the unfolding drama.
Please forgive me for this imaginative little story. It’s hot today and perhaps my brain overheated.
The summer heat is why I went down to La Jolla this morning. By the water it was thankfully a few degrees cooler. While I walked along the Pacific Ocean near La Jolla Cove, I watched some kayaks enter the nearby sea cave.
Upon studying my photographs, this short story emerged. For the exciting conclusion, please read the captions, beginning with the above first photo…
The kayakers can’t resist a strong impulse to enter the cave. They turn carefully to peer into the darkness deep within the earth. There seems to be a strange blue light shimmering inside.The mysterious glow lures them into vast blackness and possible danger. As their kayaks start to fade, the weird light intensifies…Drawn forward into the unknown, the courageous kayakers paddle along the dancing beam of light. They are explorers. Life is a great adventure.Beyond darkness lies the magical source of shining blue. They soon vanish–passing from one amazing world into another.
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Kid enters an inflatable floating cylinder walk-inside thingy on a narrow beach on San Diego Bay.
Shame on me. After all these years, I’d never once visited Chula Vista’s Bayside Park, down in San Diego’s South Bay. When I saw that HarborFest would be held there today, I instantly decided to go. I’m glad that I did!
I’ll let the captions of these photographs tell the story of what I saw…
So much was going on at 2015 HarborFest at Chula Vista’s Bayside Park, a really big sign was required!Thousands turned out to just chill, enjoy the sunshine, devour food, listen to live music and have fun at HarborFest.The big annual South Bay event had lots of fun activities on the water, including paddleboarding, kayaking and Seal and Swift Boat tours of the bay.These gents in festive old-fashioned costumes were providing music in one corner of the park by the water.Colorful canopies with vendors, community organizations and businesses attracted attention up and down the Chula Vista public park’s walkways.The Birch Aquarium, of Scripps Institution of Oceanography up in La Jolla, had lots of marine exhibits for folks to explore.This tiny but proud Burrowing Owl was greeting humans over at the Living Coast Discovery Center tent. I’ve yet to go to the nature refuge, which is nearby. One day soon…A boy helps slice lemons at one food vendor’s tent.And this kid is flying high courtesy of some bungee cords!I walked to the extreme north end of Bayside Park, where nobody else was. I took this photo of a massive travelift which hoists ships out of the water at Marine Group Boat Works.I could glimpse the masts of the San Salvador and HMS Surprise, two ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, which are being worked on at this Chula Vista shipyard.Adults were sampling tacos and spirits in one area of the festival.I didn’t know Rockin’ Baja had a mascot!Live music could be heard from several stages scattered along the length of HarborFest.A BMX stunt bike guy with Wheels in Motion went upside down to the delight of many onlookers!A cool car show had a bunch of hot rods and vintage automobiles out on display.Walking happily along, checking out some awesome cars.Kids could practice casting a fishing rod from the pier at the south end of Bayside Park.A little guy lets the line fly!These young fishermen are enjoying the water and a view of the Chula Vista Marina.This great egret sculpture at Bayside Park is titled The Fisherman, by Stephen Fairfield. It was originally part of the Embarcadero’s third Urban Trees art exhibition.Youth, grown-ups, or anybody at all was invited to paint on this canvas!On the Community Stage, a bunch of kids competed in a cooking contest hosted by SeaWorld’s Executive Chef Axel Dirolf.The most fun, in my opinion, was to be had by the water. It’s HarborFest, after all!I really am glad I went down to Chula Vista’s HarborFest and finally explored the very cool Bayside Park.
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A kicked football flies into the stands during the 2015 Chargers FanFest.
Today I took the trolley over to Qualcomm Stadium to check out the 2015 Chargers FanFest. San Diego’s NFL team is getting ready for the regular season, and during the popular FanFest a practice session was held in the presence of thousands of fans. Veteran players and those who are striving to make the team demonstrated their skills for coaches and fans alike!
In addition to action on the field, the annual FanFest also included a performance by the San Diego Charger Girls cheerleaders, and autograph sessions with many past and current players.
I didn’t want to miss this event. It’s possible the Chargers might soon leave San Diego and move to Los Angeles. I hope not.
Thousands line up outside San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium to enjoy this year’s Chargers FanFest. I saw many Seau jerseys being worn today.Save Our Bolts advocate holds up a San Diego Chargers banner for my camera. There’s a chance the NFL team will soon leave San Diego.San Diego Charger Girls cheerleaders smile as fans enter Qualcomm Stadium for FanFest.Chargers faithful line up at a concession stand to get ready for an enjoyable FanFest.Crowd fills field level seats, anticipating a good team practice on a perfect August summer day.The old Jumbotron reads Welcome to Chargers FanFest 2015.As Chargers fans watch football action on the field, vendors circulate with cotton candy, lemonade and other treats.Today NFL legend Junior Seau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A banner honoring number 55 hangs high and proudly in Qualcomm Stadium.Players on offense, defense and special teams were practicing all over the field, getting ready for the regular season.Cornerback Richard Crawford on the Chargers practice squad catches a kicked ball.Footballs were flying everywhere, including through the goal posts. Rookie kicker Josh Lambo nailed it.Awesome field goal wizard Nick Novak limbers up his leg with some easy kicks.Stretching out this valuable player’s leg muscles involves professional sports medicine expertise.Shirt declares that all grandmas are created equal, but only the coolest wear blue and gold!Superstar quarterback Philip Rivers provides leadership for the team during stretching exercises.Here comes a line of Chargers stepping high during the warm up routine.Some scrimmaging begins as players face each other and test their skills on the field.The pigskin bounces crazily on the grass as Chargers vie for possession.An animated fan in the stands gestures during the preseason practice session.An exciting play near the end zone has players scrambling at full speed.After a good workout, players offer some mutual congrats and encouragement.Practice is over, and King Dunlap signs autographs for thrilled fans in the stands.Chargers FanFest 2015 was a whole lot of fun. I hope San Diego’s NFL team has a great season!
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Camera aims toward surfing action from the Oceanside Pier during 2015 Supergirl Pro World Surf League (WSL) competition.
Here’s my second blog post about yesterday’s huge Supergirl Pro event near the Oceanside Pier. If you haven’t already, check out these super cool photos of the surfing action which I posted last night!
The 2015 Supergirl Pro was a three day event with a record 108 female surfing contestants. It’s the largest professional women’s surfing competition in the world. But it’s also a big fun festival celebrating women who participate in extreme sports. Amazing young women were skateboarding on a halfpipe, and visitors could learn about snowboarding. There was also a beauty contest, and the crowd along Oceanside Beach had plenty of cool sights, sounds, delicious food and fun.
Enjoy some photos…
Spectators filled the beach, boardwalk and Oceanside Pier as people enjoyed many cool things to see at Supergirl Pro.The annual female sports festival included high flying girls skateboarding a big halfpipe.Three day surf competition schedule on a sign near the pier. I viewed the Quarterfinals on Sunday.People watch an athlete defy gravity on the halfpipe at 2015 Supergirl Pro!Unlike surfers in the ocean, should a skateboarder fall off their board, there’s no soft landing!Young girl watches female skating athlete complete a trick at Supergirl Pro. Perhaps what she sees will provide her with inspiration.Just walking along the huge event venue, checking out interesting sponsors, vendors, food, and fun surf-related stuff.The Surf Diva has a big pink canopy on the sand!A couple of lifeguards watch the huge crowd from their tower on Oceanside’s always popular beach.Some surf graphics on a banner hung beneath the Oceanside Pier.Youth and a surfboard just north of the pier. It’s another perfect sunny weekend in Southern California.Someone walks past the Supergirl Pro staging tent, where contestants assemble and get ready to compete.Colorful umbrellas and waders in the water can be seen for miles south along the coast, all the way through Carlsbad.Folks in the shade of beach umbrellas look toward the surf, where dueling Supergirls are performing astonishing feats during 25 minute heats.And hundreds are watching from up on the pier, as well.Amazing action like this took place for three straight days. The event is all about female strength and empowerment.Walking farther out on Oceanside Pier to get closer to the powerful Pacific Ocean breakers.Guys on the other side of the pier seem more interested in fishing.Now this person had the best view of all. A paraglider soars quietly above!Eyes are fixed on the water below.This year’s 2015 Supergirl Pro winner, Tatiana Weston-Webb of Hawaii, rides a wave during the Quarterfinals.When the competitors return to shore, a crowd forms around them for a post-heat interview, photos and autographs.I see a pink Supergirl cape on one superheroic surfing celebrity! The event is in part sponsored by DC Comics, where the fictional character was born.Just kicking back and taking in all the cool World Surf League action.As I walk back down the pier, ready to go home, I hear something’s going on at the outdoor Junior Seau Pier Amphitheatre.It’s an announcement of this year’s winner of the beautiful woman contest. Supergirl Pro’s main sponsor is Paul Mitchell, maker of beauty products.Blogging about an awesome surf event requires a photo of someone walking along with a surfboard on their head!
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Practicing acrobatic skills at the AcroLove Festival in San Diego’s Ruocco Park.
Okay, so I was walking along the Embarcadero this afternoon, among crowds of people who were simply enjoying the summer weekend, when I spied something out of the ordinary. Huh? What is that? I thought maybe my brain had been turned upside-down by the hot sun. No, I really was seeing about a hundred performing acrobats right there on the grass in front of me!
Was this a dance troupe having some sort of unusual party? Were they circus performers? No and no. I soon learned I’d stumbled upon the AcroLove Festival in Ruocco Park! It’s a cool event where people can practice acrobatic skills! Many of the attendees are primarily interested in yoga!
I strolled about the park for a few minutes taking some photos while trying not to be too horribly intrusive…
Both beginning and expert acrobats were linking limbs, lifting, swinging and contorting to create different amazing poses.All sorts of people were trying out different moves that appear to take a lot of strength and athletic ability.These guys told me what the heck was going on. I thought maybe I’d stumbled upon circus performers!Acrobats patiently learn correct technique on the grass of Ruocco Park in downtown San Diego.I don’t know the names of these many poses, but I saw people flying through the air and upside down all over the place.Two graceful acrobats seem to engage in a dance!
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Comic book characters promote Webtoon (a digital comics platform) in the Gaslamp during 2015 San Diego Comic-Con.
Yeah. San Diego Comic-Con has changed. What years ago was a small convention for dedicated comic book lovers has turned into a big insane Hollywood hype machine. Diehard fans and awestruck consumers geek out over every conceivable new entertainment, and promoters try to get Comic-Con goers to post photos on social media under a hundred different hashtags. It’s all about hyping an upcoming movie, a television show, a video game, a celebrity, a brand. It’s more than a bit ridiculous. It’s silly. It’s loud. It’s often superficial. And, if you don’t mind massive crowds, it can be exciting, wonderful, eye-opening and lots of fun!
So here’s one last blog post concerning huge glorious 2015 Comic-Con.
These photos mostly show riotous doings in downtown San Diego outside of the convention center. And all this fantastic contrived drama is concluded with a bit of actual nail-biting reality. Oh, my!
A huge crowd of Comic-Con enthusiasts has assembled at the entrance to San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter.Comic-Con goers lined up to experience rampaging zombies at Walking Dead offsite venue at Hilton Gaslamp.Cosplay ninja takes a flying plunge from the top of the clock tower at Assassin’s Creed obstacle course.Syfy guerrilla marketing promotion of Childhood’s End uses a mob of people holding signs to beware Karellen!Hired street actors perform creepy chants to promote upcoming television series Damien. The Beast Rises! And so does the hype!Red-bereted soldiers from Colony television show march in file up Fifth Avenue through San Diego’s Gaslamp.The Colony troop files past shark head-wearing Sharknado 3 girls and an Outlander bagpiper! It’s complete mayhem.Uncle Sams on stilts with sharks through their chests add to the absurdity of the already ridiculous scene.Deliciously insane. You have to be here to believe it.I asked this lady about her cosplay. She said it was nothing in particular.A cool Dragon Ball Z poster in window of a Gaslamp eatery.Numerous zany Colonel Sanders sculptures placed about San Diego transmitted free Wi-Fi for Comic-Con visitors. KFC seems to have adopted an attention-getting marketing strategy.Cool Star Wars cosplay. A couple of scout troopers in the crowd.Guys in kilts, bagpipes, rowdy damsels, all promoting Outlander.Another photo of the crowd near Webtoon and Heroes Reborn.I believe the face-painted cosplay that looks kind of like the rock band Kiss is a character from Korean comics.There’s so much crazy fun going on my head was on a rapid swivel.Colorful fun over at the LEGO Homer Simpson near entrance to the Hard Rock Hotel.One can ride pedicabs with various Muppet characters!Long lines were all over the place, especially near Petco Park. These people want to Experience the Realm.Another cheerful Poison Ivy. Hi!These brave people who are lined up near Petco Park’s scary The Walking Dead Escape will experience zombies in virtual reality!Looking through Petco Park stadium fence at part of The Walking Dead Escape layout.Guy places a dummy corpse by a bloody, crashed car.Lots of lines, food, games and cosplay at the Comic-Con Interactive Zone in the Lexus Lot next to Petco Park.Kids check out video games at the Alienware exhibit in the Interactive Zone.Family sports Charlie Brown baseball caps after visiting the nearby Peanuts Movie fun site.Hanging out looking at a long video screen behind the San Diego Convention Center. The FX Fearless Arena Experience was super popular during 2015 Comic-Con.Someone prepares to fly a drone above the crowd to take video of the stupendous international event.People everywhere. Just a lot of fun. I enjoyed a hamburger, but continued to scour the place for freebies to eat.It’s Homer Simpson at the Kwik-E-Mart!Fargo fans stand in a glitter-filled huge snow globe for a photograph!People scream right on cue at the Scream Queens drop amusement ride.Hundreds of thousands jam downtown San Diego for 2015 Comic-Con. It’s just plain nuts.Indeed, it appears there’s No Escape!Folks dining at a Gaslamp restaurant have front row seats to the drama.Free rides, courtesy of Another Period, The Original Ballers.But wait! All the fabricated hype and escapist fantasy is rudely interrupted by real sirens and flashing red lights!A kitchen grease fire broke out in a restaurant during Comic-Con on Saturday. The fire was on the 900 block of Fourth Avenue. Reality intervenes!Firefighters, dealing with a potentially serious crisis, provide unexpected nail-biting entertainment for one and all.
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Comic-Con is nearly over, but there’s much to see and do in San Diego. Enjoy future posts! Join me on Facebook or Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 