ON AND UNDER THE BOARDWALK : It’s Party Time All Around the New Huntington Beach Pier

“When people think of Huntington Beach, they don’t think of a big city with almost 200,000 people, the 10th biggest city in California,” says Paul Cook, former city administrator. “They think of it as a small town with a nice beach and a nice pier.”

It’s true. Even through the years of sprawling growth, the city has managed to keep its Surf City image somewhat intact. That’s not to say the image hasn’t been tested, though, as the old downtown first took a long slide to seediness and was then largely bulldozed out to make way for redevelopment.

The biggest blow came in 1988, though, when 250 feet of the city’s pier was ripped away in a big winter storm. The end of the pier had been rebuilt just three years before, after it was damaged in a 1983 storm, but this time there was no fixing things. On the advice of engineers, the pier was closed.

“Huntington Beach without its pier is like Paris without its Eiffel Tower,” lamented then-Mayor John Erskine, and though that may be a classic bit of civic overstatement, the sentiment at its core was widely shared. Folks in Huntington Beach like their pier, and they felt a bit lost without it.

Closing the pier “was of course a difficult decision and not a very popular one,” says Cook, who had to make the final determination. Cook (since retired from the city, although he continues to serve as an engineering consultant) was given a chance to atone by heading the planning for this weekend’s festivities, which mark the opening, after four pierless years, of the city’s new $10.8-million centerpiece.

“I guess they felt that since I was the guy who had to close the pier, they should offer me the honor of reopening it,” says Cook. The result of the volunteer effort he organized, Pierfest ‘92, begins Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting and continues with two days packed with local entertainers.

Saturday’s 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting will include city officials, the Marina High School Marching Band, a pipe band and Highland dancers; the pier opens to the public at 10:45 a.m., which coincides with a sky-diving display, and a classic car parade heads down Main Street at 11 a.m.

Entertainment during the two-day festival include loads of local rock bands, surf bands, country acts, blues and jazz, along with local tap-dancing troupes, cloggers, barbershop quartets, a ukulele duo, clowns, surfing demonstrations and a rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” by the Kay Sisters, accompanied by Jordan McBeen, billed as the Organ Master.

“I was looking for acts that wanted to support Huntington Beach,” says Eddie Montana, a local country musician who lined up the entertainment. At first, entertainment was going to be offered on just one stage, but response led him to expand the offerings to four locations.

A big tent next to the pier (which organizers call the Big Tent Next to the Pier) will host the headline entertainment, including such local bands as Urban Sprawl and 21 Windows, and a Saturday evening show by Frey and the Spys, led by Matt Frey (brother of former Eagle Glenn Frey).

The Children’s Fun Zone north of the pier will also feature entertainment, in addition to pony rides, hayrides up Main Street and carnival-style games. More children’s entertainment and attractions will be featured at the Library Arts and Carnival, at 6th and Main streets. The Showmobile, on Main and Olive streets, also features a full slate of entertainment.

Events are free, with the exception of Saturday’s evening concert. Pierfest “really packs a whole lot in two days,” Montana says. “I had a tremendous response. People were just kind of drawn to it when they heard about it.” All acts are volunteering their time.

Cook says his main goal was creating a family-oriented event, one reason for the wide range of acts in the festival. Pierfest not only showcases the new pier, he says, but also the ongoing downtown redevelopment work that he helped direct.

“It’s kind of a chance to show off the new Huntington Beach, as well as take a stroll on the new pier,” says Cook. The downtown area had deteriorated considerably before redevelopment made it a safe and enjoyable place for families, he says. Where surf shops, bikini shops and rock ‘n’ roll boutiques once flourished, there are now brand-new movie theaters, restaurants and stores.

While the changes don’t sit well with some locals who miss the city’s old flavor, Cook says the project makes the downtown area much more attractive to tourists. “Now, when you come to downtown Huntington Beach, you can spend the whole day and thoroughly enjoy yourself,” Cook says. “You couldn’t say that three or four years ago.”

But while the downtown overhaul has many elements, Cook says, the new pier “is the main piece of the jigsaw.”

What: Pierfest ’92.

When: Saturday, July 18, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, July 19, 9:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: Huntington Beach Pier, Pacific Coast Highway and Main Street, Huntington Beach.

Whereabouts: Take Pacific Coast Highway to Main Street. Or, from San Diego (405) Freeway, take Beach Boulevard south to Pacific Coast Highway, turn right. See box (next page) for parking details.

Wherewithal: Most events are free. Admission $7 for Saturday evening show with Frey and the Spys and Irieturn.

Where to call: (714) 536-5488.

Pierfest ’92

Main Street will be closed to car traffic from PCH to Orange Avenue.

PIER HAPPENINGS

Schedule subject to change.

SATURDAY

Pier Events 10 a.m.--Ribbon-cutting. 10:45 a.m.--Pier opened to public. Tandem surfing demonstration (both sides of pier). 11 a.m.--Classic car parade down Main Street. 11:30 a.m.--Jet Ski demonstration (both sides of pier). 1 p.m.--Huntington Beach lifeguard rescue vessel and police helicopter rescue demonstration (south side of pier). 3 p.m.--Kite demonstration (north side of pier). 8:30 p.m.--Night-flying kite demonstration.

Entertainment

Big tent (next to pier) 11 a.m.--Shorelife (‘50s and ‘60s rock). Noon--Urban Sprawl (rock). 1 p.m.--Robert Aviles with Insight (rock). 2 p.m.--Casualties (‘50s and ‘60s rock). 3 p.m.--In Command (original rock). 4 p.m.--Steve Right & Route 66 (‘60s rock). 5 p.m.--Greg Young and the 2nd Street Band (R&B;, pop, rock). 6 p.m.--Reef Riders (surf and ‘60s rock). $7 admission for following bands. 7 p.m.--Frey and the Spys (blues rock). 8 p.m.--Irieturn (reggae).

Children’s Fun Zone (beach parking north of pier) 11 a.m.--Joust by Medieval Times restaurant. Noon--Carmel S. Door (folk and blues). 1 p.m.--Don and Travis Ukulele Show. 1:15 p.m.--Audi-Kay and the Arrangements (Latin, oldies). 2 p.m.--Morey LeVang’s Dixie Rhythm Ramblers. 3 p.m.--Phil O’Brien and the Nomads (surf rock). 4 p.m.--Craig Ballam of Spin (folk rock). 5 p.m.--”A Teenager” by Steve Schwartz (a play on teen-age lifestyles). 6 p.m.--The TRAX (rock).

Showmobile (Main and Olive streets). 9:45 a.m.--Marja & Annika, the Kay Sisters (singers); Jordan McBeen (organist). 11 a.m.--Westminster Community Chorus. 11:30 a.m.--Cape Productions (fashion and dance). Noon--Bill Wells Gospel Train. 1 p.m.--Nifty After Fifty jazzercise. 2 p.m.--Gary Murphy (blues). 3 p.m.--8 Ball (country). 4 p.m.--Eric Sardinas (blues). 5 p.m.--Pam Cronn’s Tap Plus Dancers. 6 p.m.--Lucy Johnson’s Orange Blossom and Candy Apple Cloggers.

Library Arts and Carnival (Main and 6th streets). 11 a.m.--”Drums of Life” show. Noon--Jade Duo with Trish and Annie (folk). 12:30 p.m.--Troy Meyers (R&B;). 1 p.m.--Craig Ballam and Spin (folk). 2 p.m.--Luther Tatum (blues). 3 p.m.--Carmel S. Door (folk and blues). 4 p.m.--Rock-A-Tear (rock).

SUNDAY

Pier Events 10 a.m.--Outrigger canoe demonstration (north side of pier). 11:30 a.m.--Jet Ski demonstration (both sides of pier). 1 p.m.--Huntington Beach lifeguard rescue vessel and police helicopter rescue demonstration (south side of pier). 3 p.m.--Kite demonstration (north side of pier).

Entertainment

Big tent 10 a.m.--Floyd the Barber (oldies). 11 a.m.--Cause for Concern (rock). Noon--John Lord and 21 Windows (rock). 1 p.m.--Luther Tatum and the Shades of Blue (blues). 2 p.m.--Linxs Band (rock). 3 p.m.--Eddie Montana and Country Kickers (country). 4 p.m.--Voysis (progressive rock). 5 p.m.--Western Front Band (rock). 6 p.m.--Joe Nappa & the All Stars (jazz, rock).

Children’s Fun Zone 10 a.m.--Capo Productions (fashion and dance). 11 a.m.--Enerjazz Quartet (jazz). Noon--Country Gospel Jubilee. 1 p.m.--Polynesian Spectacular (song and dance). 2 p.m.--Sliders (surf rock). 3 p.m.--”A Teenager” by Steve Schwartz (a play on teen-age lifestyles). 4 p.m. -- Tranz America (rock). 5 p.m.--Bel Airs (surf rock). 6 p.m.--The TRAX (rock).

Showmobile 10 a.m.--Jordan McBeen (organ). 10:30 a.m.--Starlet Drill Team. 11 a.m.--Celebrity look-alikes. Noon--Lucy Johnson’s Orange Blossom and Candy Apple Cloggers. 1 p.m.--Sandy Castleberry (country). 2 p.m.--David Mollica (Elvis impersonator). 3 p.m.--Orange County Song and Dance Co. 4 p.m.--Seth Cooperrider and the Skater Down Band (pop). 5 p.m.--Pam Cronn Tap Dancers. 6 p.m.--Paul Belsito & London Issue (rock).

Library Arts 11 a.m.--One-Eyed Jacks (blues). Noon--Jade Duo with Trish & Annie (folk). 1 p.m.--Morey LeVang’s Dixie Rhythm Ramblers. 2 p.m.--Main Street Harmony Four. 2:30 p.m.--Noelle (singer/guitarist). 3 p.m.--Gloria Patrona and the Westminster Senior Swingers. 4 p.m.--Jam session.

Parking Options for Pierfest ’92

Main Street, between Pacific Coast Highway and Orange Street, will be closed to vehicle traffic during Pierfest ’92.

Visitors to the event will have several parking options. The Huntington Beach Civic Center parking lot, at Yorktown Avenue and Main Street, will be open, and there will be a shuttle bus running to and from the event site every 15 to 20 minutes ($1 per person, each way).

The parking structure on Main Street will be open through entrances on Olive and Walnut streets. There is also beach parking at Pacific Coast Highway and 1st Street. There is a parking fee for both lots.

There will also be limited street parking available in the area surrounding Pierfest.