The La Jolla Village Merchants Association gave its support to two upcoming local events, though one brought some concerns the board hopes will be addressed.
LJVMA voted unanimously July 9 to write letters of support for the La Jolla Art & Wine Festival and the La Jolla Cove Swim.
La Jolla Art & Wine Festival
The Art & Wine Festival, planned for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, on Girard Avenue and some connecting streets, will have a similar layout as in previous years.
“We have our footprint down, and we’re excited about that,” said event organizer Laurel McFarlane. “La Jolla is going to become one of those art [events] that is recognized regionally and nationally.”
With that come street closures and towing of cars parked on the street when setup begins, and that’s to the chagrin of some of the merchants in the immediate area. Some blocks close at noon the day before the event and other blocks close at 3 p.m. Sidewalks remain open during the setup and the event itself.
The most extensive setup work, McFarlane said, is on the block with the wine and beer garden, so that area closes to cars at noon the day before.
Event organizers met with business owners in that area and got signatures of support from 12 of them, McFarlane said. Additionally, she committed to circling back with those merchants in the days leading to the event to remind them of the impending street closure.
However, LJVMA Executive Director Jodi Rudick said she received comments last year from at least one business concerned about the loss of parking and the confusion of some blocks closing at noon and others at 3 p.m.
“The concern … is that people would get out of their cars [before the event] and see a sign that the street would be closed at 3 p.m., not realizing they had parked somewhere that would close at noon,” with the risk that their car would be towed, Rudick said.
Event founder Sherry Ahern said “We can’t not close the street, but I can certainly talk to the people that are unhappy. … We need to know [their issues].”
With the agreement that Ahern would work with concerned merchants, LJVMA voted to write a letter of support for the event.
The Art & Wine Festival, in its 17th year, offers free admission, though the wine and beer garden is ticketed. Proceeds benefit La Jolla’s five public schools in the San Diego Unified School District. To date, more than $1.5 million has been raised and distributed.
For more information, visit ljawf.com.
La Jolla Cove Swim
LJVMA also voted to write a letter of support for the Cove Swim, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7. Races will begin at 8 a.m. and have varying brackets, including a 250-meter swim for children and a 3-mile course for adults.
The La Jolla Village Merchants Association hears from La Jolla Cove Swim race director Aaron Brennan during its July 9 meeting. (Ashley Mackin-Solomon)
Race director Aaron Brennan called the event “the swimming equivalent of the New York Marathon,” bringing in international participants.
“From a merchant perspective, we are not closing any streets or anything,” Brennan said with a laugh, drawing applause from Rudick. “But it brings about 3,000 people to The Village on the first Sunday after Labor Day.”
Proceeds from the event go to the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego, which funds swimming lessons for those with limited access to them.
To register or learn more, visit runsignup.com/Race/CA/LaJolla/LaJollaCoveSwim.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Village Merchants Association next meets at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. Learn more at lajollabythesea.com. ♦