Long Beach to Mark Rites of Spring at BeachFest ’92

Shoreline Aquatic Park will be alive with celebration the first weekend of spring as Beach Charities presents its 11th annual BeachFest ’92 on March 21 and 22.

Billed this year as “From Uptown to Hoedown,” the BeachFest ’92 weekend will feature two distinctly different days of entertainment. “Uptown” Saturday will feature an elegant Wine & Dine, classic cars, art festival and a Jazzy Blues Fest. “Hoedown” Sunday will feature such events as one of the largest chili cook-offs, an ugly dog contest, pig races and the Miss Shaka Beach and Mr. Hot Sauce contests.

Beach Charities is a public-benefit, nonprofit corporation that conducts major events through the year to generate funds for local charitable causes. Since its inception in 1982, Beach Charities has raised more than $700,000 for more than 70 charities.

Shoreline Aquatic Park is on Shoreline Drive at Pine Avenue, Long Beach. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 in advance through Beach Charities, and $5 with military, student or senior citizen identification. For more information, call Beach Charities at (310) 436-7727. Here is a lineup of the events: Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: * Jazzy Blues Fest, with three stages of nonstop blues and jazz performances.

* Classic Car Show, featuring more than 75 classic cars on display.

* Comedy Show, with 10 to 15 professional comics performing, sponsored by the Long Beach Comedy Club.

* Beach Festival of Art, at which local students, artists and craftsmen will display their work.

* U.S. Navy Cake Decorating Contest, with competition among chefs from several ships.

* Alaska Airlines Sample Our Cities, featuring sights, sounds and samples from West Coast cities.

* Captain Morgan Treasure Hunt, offering $2,500 in cash and prizes.

* Campus Corner, including an ugly car contest, twister contest, rock music and crazy people tricks.

* Wine & Dine d’Elegance (noon to 4 p.m.), offering unlimited tastings from more than 30 wineries and 20 restaurants ($40, $25 military, students and senior citizens). Sunday, March 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gates open at 9 a.m. * Coors Chili Cook-Off, with 60 teams competing for showmanship and best chili awards. Cooking begins at noon, and winners will be announced at 4:30 p.m.

* Nonstop Music, beginning at 10 a.m. on five stages featuring Dynamite Gangbusters, Elm Street Band, Ty and the Troublemakers, plus the KNAC Rock Stage and more than 10 “renegade” bands playing throughout the park.

* Mini-Indy Celebrity Race and Battle of Champions, with celebrities and professional drivers in go-cart races. Qualifying begins at noon; races are at 2 and 3:45 p.m.

* Ugly Dog and Most Lovable Dog Contests. Voting begins at 9:15 a.m., and winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m.

* Miss Shaka Beach and Mr. Hot Sauce Contests at 2:30 and 1 p.m. respectively.

* Pig Races, featuring piglets in racing silks running for Oreo cookies. Races will be at 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30 and 4 p.m.

* Water Basketball at 10:30 a.m.