Encinitas poinsettia festival draws thousands

By: ALEXANDRA DELUCA - For the North County Times | Sunday, November 20, 2005 9:05 PM PST ∞

ENCINITAS ---- Thousands of people took advantage of perfect weather to shop for everything from homemade bath salts and Brazilian agate wind chimes to surfboard-shaped rugs, Baltic amberjewelry and gourmet garlic powder at the 15th annual Poinsettia Festival on Sunday.

The festival stretched out along South Coast Highway downtown, where waves of people, many pushing strollers or walking dogs, spent part of their day in search of bargains and food.

Just south of the Encinitas arch, a group of teenagers scrutinized a selection of airbrush tattoo designs, a well-dressed woman tried to decide between two vintage postcards of Coronado and Catalina, and a toddler squirmed as his mother tried to clean the powdered sugar from a funnel cake off his face. Ý

On the other side of the street, a chiropractor offered free massages to passersby. Free aura healings were for the taking at another booth, and everything from nursery schools to animal hospitals to modeling agencies gave out freebies in hopes of drumming up business.ÝÝ

Nearby, Carol Clark browsed at a booth featuring decorative coat racks. Ý

"This is like a Christmas run," said Clark, who said she was shopping for her family. "I bought some baby stuff, beaded bags, and some cute little slippers."Ý

Clark said she prefers shopping for gifts at street fairs rather than at retail stores. Ý

"You can find things you can't find in stores," she said. "It's better than the mall. You get to enjoy the day and walk around Encinitas in the sun."Ý

Nearby, Kelly Boston hoped to attract holiday bargain hunters like Clark to her booth, Wee 3 Toys. The collection of simple wooden toys was billed as being both environmentally and socially conscious.

"Toys for a better world," said the Santa Monica resident, adding that this was her first time showcasing her wares in Encinitas. "We thought this would be a great community to sell our toys."

Stocking stuffers such as wooden yo-yos, spinning tops and propellers were selling quickly. Ý

"We're selling a lot of smaller stuff," said Boston. "I think we might do pretty well."Ý

A little farther south, children lined up for a twist on the Tornado or a turn in the bounce house as sweltering adults lined up for freshly squeezed lemonade. Although the festival offered every kind of food from tamales to bratwurst, most people preferred the cafes that lined the downtown corridor: patios were packed from the 101 Diner to St. Germain's Cafe. Ý

Jana Leopard and Joe Tirabassi said they ate breakfast at Honey's Bistro & Bakery before checking out the festival. They came early, hoping to beat the crowds as they shopped for holiday presents for their parents. Ý

"We bought some Christmas tree ornaments and soup for gifts," said Leopard. Ý

At a nearby booth, Linda Huston was also on the hunt for holiday gifts as she inspected a basket made out of a tree stump.ÝÝ

"I already have bought three Christmas presents," she said, showing off hand-woven, rainbow-colored baskets made in Africa out of telephone wire. Ý

"I like to buy things like this," said Huston.ÝÝ

Huston said she always likes coming to Encinitas' street fairs. Ý

"I like the fact that there are so many unique things, and I like to see the people and all the dressed-up dogs," she said. Ý

Although many people were there to do serious shopping, some came out simply to enjoy the gorgeous weather. Ý

"I think we're just browsing," said Mary Ann Zeis, who along with her friend Lynette Saffran was looking at a rack of calendars.Ý "We're just having a nice Sunday."

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