The third annual BirdStock Music Festival and Artisan Market featuring live local bands, artists, merchant raffles, pet adoptions, sidewalk sales, a beer garden, and a kids zone will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19 in downtown Bird Rock along La Jolla Boulevard.
Event proceeds will support Bird Rock Elementary, as well as more BirdStock festivals. The family-friendly, community-centered, music-oriented daylong event once again this year is being co-chaired by Kelsey Martin, Arianna Opsvig, and Merisa Titlow.
As in previous years, BirdStock will showcase live entertainment including a kids-only stage, refreshments from local restaurants, family-friendly activities, special offers from local shops, and an artisan market. A section of La Jolla Boulevard is being closed off to make it a bigger, better, and safer experience for everyone.
Event co-chair Opsvig talked about BirdStock’s origin. “It grew out of a group of us on Bird Rock Community Council talking about how we could better support the merchants, our elementary school, and bring the community together,” she said adding, “We live in such a unique community. We have residential, a school and merchants in this area. We wanted to do something where everyone wins. So we thought of doing a street fair.”
Three years later, the event with its street festival vibe has added more vendors, musicians, stages and activities, and sponsors, all facilitated by closing off an entire block of La Jolla Boulevard. The boulevard will be fully reopened by 8 p.m.
The main stage for live music will be at Bird Rock Surf Shop, 5509 La Jolla Blvd. Music will also be played inside and outside Beaumont’s at 5662 La Jolla Blvd.
“BirdStock is a fundraiser and we have sponsors and merchants giving back,” noted Opsvig. She added there will also be certain activities during the event where people will be charged to participate. There will also be a host of fun activities including mini golf and a hat bar where you can create your chapeau. There will also be sales of branded event apparel.
“We’re going to have a wreath-making station and a boutique bar where we will be having wine and liquor tastings where people can sip those things inside,” noted Opsvig. “We’ll also have all sorts of games, raffles and refreshments. One of the main goals of the event is to support our local merchants, one of the things that makes Bird Rock so special.”
Opsvig added there will be “something for everyone” at BirdStock including kids, who will have an area to themselves to include a bounce house and an arts and crafts table. “We will have a wonderful book nook in the kids’ area where we’ll have the reading of children’s stories and a place to buy children’s books and apparel,” she said. “We’ll also have face painters and balloon animals. We’ll have various musicians up and down the street.”
Opsvig hinted event organizers are also promising a “special surprise” attraction. Also, in previous years, vendors were on the sidewalks. This year they will be set up in the street, with merchants putting out tables selling wares from their shops. There will also be a designated fire lane on the street.”
“We have several goals and the most important is that we have an event for everyone in the community to enjoy and get together and have a really fun day,” concluded Opsvig. “We feel that this strengthens our community and makes us a better one.”
BIRD ROCK SURF SHOP MAIN STAGE
Mark Fisher 10 a.m.
The Bird Rockers 11:15 a.m.
The Sancasters 12:15 p.m.
Tecolote Canyon 1:30 p.m.
The Voices 2:45 p.m.
Pocket Change 4 p.m.
Seapoodle 5:15 p.m.
BEAUMONT’S RESTAURANT STAGE
Sweet Pickles, inside, 1 p.m.
Beach Drivers, outside, 2 p.m.
Alexandria Weise, inside, 3 p.m.
Blossom and Bloom, outside, 4 p.m.
Freak Scene, inside, 5 p.m
Lissa Dee, outside, 6 p.m.
