VENTURA : Festival Lures 30,000 to Windy Beach Fun

Thousands of people turned out for a beach party north of the Ventura Pier on Saturday, spiking volleyballs, surfing the waves and clinging to possessions tattered by the wind.

The city-sponsored “California Beach Party ‘91” drew at least 30,000 people on its first day, and another 30,000 are expected today, organizers said.

Today’s events will feature a 10-kilometer run beginning at the west end of the Ventura Promenade, a kite party between noon and 4 p.m. and concluding rounds of surfing and volleyball tournaments throughout the day.

Surfers in competition on Saturday faced choppy waves and a sparse audience because of the weather.

“When the wind comes up, people aren’t going to sit on the beach and get sand blown in their face,” said Richard Dietz, a 45-year-old surfer. Still, “this is just kind of a fun thing.”

Nearby, a harmonica wailed tunes from the ‘50s and ‘60s, competing with the roar of the waves. Musicians, including Little Caesar, Jewel Akens and Brenton Wood, played throughout the afternoon. Today, The Tokens, Rob Rio and the Revolvers, and Smart Cookies will be among the featured musicians.

Saturday, more than 50 vendors hawked bikinis, tanning oil, sunglasses, thongs and beach chairs. One merchant took photographs of people posing inside the jaws of a giant, plastic shark. Another sold stick-on tattoos.

People sampled fair foods or lounged on blankets with a book and a bottle of beer. Several stopped to admire five ornate sandcastles built by shovel-toting adults and children. One was a tiered pyramid, another had landscaping of driftwood and stones. A third castle, and the one receiving the most attention, was surrounded by a dragon with giant clam shells for eyes and seaweed for hair.

“Oh, they’re neat,” said Niki Harder of Ojai. Her twin daughters tried to build replicas by the waterside. “They were inspired here.”

At a parking lot near the festivities today, members of the California Masonic Lodge will hold a full-uniform drill competition at 1:30 p.m. It is part of a convention of more than 500 Masons from throughout the state.