Warm Weather Brings Out Fun-Seekers

The lure of warm, sunny weather, colorful Cinco de Mayo festivities and the America’s Cup Class World Championship races drew thousands to the beaches, Mission Bay and Old Town on Sunday.

As the temperature soared to 81 at Lindbergh Field, sun worshipers and fiesta revelers poured onto the freeways. Traffic on Interstate 8 near the Taylor Street and Morena Boulevard off-ramps slowed to a crawl as motorists exited the freeway to reach Old Town’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

Caltrans workers directed traffic and posted moveable signs warning of traffic slowdowns throughout the afternoon, a California Highway Patrol spokeswoman said.

Undeterred by the traffic, about 60,000 people attended the 8th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration Sunday at Old Town State Historic Park, spokeswoman Judith Wolf said. On Saturday, about 40,000 attended the fiesta.

“The weather is fabulous and the air is filled with the smell of carnitas ,” Wolf said. It’s been wall-to-wall people all day.”

Dancers and bands performed on four stages and festival-goers danced in the plaza till dusk, she said.

In Carlsbad, a combination street fair and Cinco de Mayo celebration also drew large crowds. About 80,000 celebrants strolled among vendors and performers in the downtown area, which had been closed to cars.

Foot traffic was also busy at the America’s Cup International Village in Seaport Village as vendors did a brisk business in America’s Cup pins and T-shirts during the second day of the International America’s Cup Class races off Point Loma.

San Diego lifeguards reported that a cool water temperature of 63 degrees kept the number of rescues down, although boaters at Mission Bay and off Point Loma were out in force.