ENCINITAS -- Whether it was to shop, eat, get your face painted or walk away with an air-brushed tattoo, thousands of people filed down Encinitas' main drag on Sunday for the 16th annual Poinsettia Festival.

They ambled along the seemingly endless path of vendors in every way imaginable for a quintessential beach community -- walking, jogging, skateboarding or riding a beach cruiser.

Neighbors and friends who ran into one another stopped briefly to say hello or present their newborn children for the first time.

"It's so nice when you can just walk up and down and enjoy the people, and the dogs and the kids and good eating," said Leslie Sandez, who was strolling alongside her husband and children.

The couple came from Chula Vista to watch their 9-year-old daughter, Lexie, participate in a dance recital, part of a dozen musical performances held throughout the day.

"Usually you can't walk around without vendors trying to sell you stuff," Lexie's father, Luis, chimed in. "But nobody pressured us."

Business appeared brisk for the 450 vendors lined up in tents stretching from D to J streets. Many said they couldn't be happier with Sunday's turnout, including Christian Zenger, whose bustling booth was filled with vintage Hawaiian and surf posters as well as browsers and buyers.

"People are very cool here, very laid back," Zenger said. "If they like something, they buy it."

This year's festival had two factors working in its favor. Summerlike weather basked Highway 101 in sunshine, and a late Chargers game prompted people to stick around until well into afternoon.

"This is a makeup for some of the rainy ones," said Peder Norby of the Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association. The association depends on winter and spring street festivals for a large chunk of its operating budget.

As always, the location of the Poinsettia Festival was signaled blocks in advance by baskets of the deep-red flowers draping lampposts along the highway. The crimson blooms became a Christmas tradition over the past three decades, primarily because of the aggressive, savvy marketing of Ecke Ranch in Encinitas.

But those who show up at the festival do so more for the shopping than the flowers.

Jocelyn Hughes of La Jolla checked out the event on the advice of a friend.

After strolling up and down the roadside, she walked away with several small bags of books, clothes and some knickknacks, although none were for holiday presents.

"I was very selfish," Hughes, 30, said. "I though about buying some of the things I saw for people I know. But it just didn't happen."

Contact staff writer David Fried at (760) 740-5416 or dfried@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.