San Diego Celebrates Itself at Weeklong Festival

A weeklong celebration touting San Diego as “America’s Finest City” gets under way this week with a party in the Gaslamp Quarter, a family day at Bonita Cove and a free ice cream social.

America’s Finest City Week was launched in 1972 by then-Mayor Pete Wilson, when San Diego lost the bid to be host to the Republican National Convention, said Patty Carpenter, director of this year’s celebration.

“Pete Wilson decided we needed something to boost morale” and started the celebration sponsored by the San Diego Junior Chamber of Commerce, Carpenter said. The Junior Chamber is a nonprofit service organization for young professionals.

The celebration, now in its 19th year, was made possible this year with a $10,000 grant from the city and help from 50 groups, including major corporations, the Boy Scouts and the San Diego Zoo, Carpenter said. This year, 70 events have been planned throughout the city, with festivities concluding Sunday, Carpenter said.

On Friday, Dick’s Last Resort restaurant and the Junior Chamber will be host to a party at the restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter, with music, food and refreshments for $3 from 5-8 p.m. Proceeds will be donated to the Hillcrest Receiving Home for children.

A free Kid’s Day at the Bay will be Saturday at Bonita Cove in Mission Bay for families with children 10 years and younger. Relay races, games, prizes, food and musical entertainment are planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

America’s Finest City Week concludes Sunday with Sweet Sundae, a day of free ice cream sundaes, games and entertainment. The family day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be in Balboa Park at Park Boulevard and President’s Way.

Information about these and other events is available at Baskin Robbins and Vons, or by calling the Junior Chamber at 542-0324.