SeeCalifornia.com

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. — On Sept. 26 & 27, 2015 you are invited to the free Cabrillo Festival!  The first festival 123 years ago in 1892 came about when newsman Walter Smith urged city leaders to host an event to stimulate the economy. He described how a festival celebrating Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo’s discovery of San Diego Bay would afford citizens the opportunity of acquainting visitors with the city’s attributes. San Diego’s mayor Mathew Sherman saw it as a chance for the city to take the lead as the birthplace of Alta California, while inviting prominent guests to an event destined to be remembered. One week before the celebration nearly every hotel room was reserved and residents were urged to offer visitors room and board in their homes. Fiestas, re-enactments, dignitaries, races, swim contests, a Vaquero tournament, dinner dances and a spectacular fireworks show at the Hotel del Coronado drew thousands of spectators. San Diego banker Bryant Howard summed up the festival in a news story:  “I think the outlook is encouraging. I think we will have a good business during the winter and spring … I con­sider that the Cabrillo Celebration is one of the greatest advertisements San Diego ever had.”