[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 138 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1343-E1344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN RECOGNITION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PACIFICA FOG FEST

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2015

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 30th anniversary of a 
California coastal tradition that now entertains 60,000 people over a 
weekend in September. The Pacifica Fog Fest is a community celebration 
filled with sun, fun, food, contests and music. In three decades it has 
grown from six community groups working booths to 49 community 
organizations working in food and beverage booths and behind the scenes 
to produce Fog Fest. Fog Fest perfectly reflects the personality of 
Pacificans: a sense of humor with a healthy dose of whimsy, the 
appreciation of the outdoors, the joy of life, and the commitment to 
give back.
  Locals know that fog in September is almost an oxymoron, but you 
don't have to go very far to hear the stereotypical ``It's always foggy 
in Pacifica!'' In fact, that is how the festival was christened. In 
1986, a city council-appointed citizens committee was charged with 
creating a plan to increase commercial development in Pacifica. A 
subcommittee came up with the idea to attract tourists with a unique 
festival. Every time subcommittee member Jean Headley wore her ``I Love 
Pacifica'' pin in San Francisco, people would snidely say

[[Page E1344]]

``Why do you love Pacifica? It's always so foggy!'' It was time to 
dispel this myth, poke fun at Pacifica's weather and hold the festival 
on a weekend that was almost guaranteed to be sunny and hot.
  A new committee consisting of representatives from the city council, 
the Pacifica Tribune, the Chamber of Commerce, city staff and 
volunteers developed the idea further and eventually took its 
recommendation to the full city council. Not without controversy, the 
council voted 3-2 to create the Pacifica Coast Fog Fest on the last 
full weekend in September.
  The City of Pacifica, with the help of a professional festival 
planner, produced the first Fog Fest. The only fog to be found was fog 
made by a rented fog machine. Some 30,000 visitors walked Palmetto 
Avenue, watched the Discover Pacifica parade, shopped at 100 arts and 
craft booths, listened to live music, sampled clam chowder, jambalaya 
and Fog Dogs, and sipped wine, beer and Fog Cutters. They also 
participated in a surfcasting contest, a Family Fun Fest, a God and 
Goddess of the Fog contest, a 7K beach run, a fog photo contest, an 
ocean kayak race and the Councours D'Pacifica.
  Thanks to the creativity and hard work of the original steering 
committee the first Fog Fest was a success and a new tradition was 
born.
  The city continued to produce Fog Fest until 1993 when it authorized 
a newly founded non-profit to take over. Pacifica Festivals Inc. (PFI) 
produced the event for the next seven years and kept many of the 
existing traditions such as the Discover Pacifica Parade, the Friday 
night Fandango at the Sanchez Adobe, Family Fun Fest, Classic Car show, 
the Fog Jog on Sunday morning and the beautiful Pacifica Historical 
Society photo display. KRQR Radio began broadcasting from the event 
bringing it to the entire Bay Area. In 1992, the Human Fog Horn contest 
had its debut. And of course the food and arts and craft booths 
continued to offer local delicacies and treasures.
  In 2000, the Fog Fest Organizing Group (FFOG), a group of community 
minded residents, took on the leadership of the festival. Through 
tireless fundraising efforts the board members have spurred remarkable 
growth of sponsorships of Fog Fest. Today it features over 200 arts and 
crafts booths, three stages with live music, the Discover Pacifica 
parade and marching band competition on Saturday morning, the Family 
Fun Fest, the Great Sand Sculpture, Surf Art Experience, Fog Jog and 
Stride and many contests and games for every age.
  In addition to offering family entertainment, Fog Fest has a 
conscience and is socially responsible. FFOG instituted a ``Go Green 
Campaign'' and in partnership with Recology of the Coast recycles 
anything that's recyclable. It created a ``Gift to Pacifica Fund'' in 
2001 and has given a special gift to the community every year since 
then. For example, it purchased the original painting featured on the 
2004 Fog Fest poster and today it hangs in the Community Center. It 
donated a bench that sits in the Rotary plaza at the Center for the 
Performing Arts. For the last 30 years, almost $900,000 in proceeds 
from Fog Fest were given back to the community.
  While Pacifica's signature event keeps growing and evolving with the 
times, some things haven't changed: Fog Fest is a celebration of sun, 
sand, surf and the mythical mist. Fog Cutters will always be the 
cocktail of choice.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to 
honor the 30th anniversary of the Pacifica Coast Fog Fest that lasts 
only one sunny weekend in September, but benefits the community all 
year around.

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