Three days of music, food, and festivities highlight town’s founding and seafaring roots
Photos and Story by Neil Farrell
Hundreds of people turned out Saturday, Sept. 20, for a street fair, part of the Cayucos Chamber of Commerce’s 3-day celebration of the town’s 150th Birthday. Folks were treated to a glorious sunny day, live music, yummy foods, a beer and wine garden, kids’ play area, and lots of vendors selling vintage clothing, handmade jewelry, home goods, spices, incense, barbecue sauces, and more. The celebration actually began the night before with a sold-out community dance at the Boradori Garage, featuring country acts, Longstraw and the Monte Mills and the Lucky Horseshoe Band. Folks of all ages and kinds — from surfers to ranchers — turned out for the event. On Sunday, the Chamber hosted a champagne toast and reception at the newly reopened Cayucos Landing event center [Cayucos Vet’s Hall]. The celebration marked the 150th anniversary of the founding of Cayucos by Capt. James Cass, whose import and export shipping business was the hub of the community that grew up around it. Capt. Cass built the first Cayucos Landing Warehouse for the Captain’s enterprise, as well as the iconic 950-foot pier, which was the landing spot for coastal steamships starting in the 1870s. The steamers brought all manner of goods to Cayucos and were loaded with numerous local products, including dairy products from the many local dairies that populated the area at the time.
