News

Festival draws fans

Event 'rekindles all the great memories of Salisbury Beach'

By Angeljean Chiaramida
Staff writer
Published: June 29, 2009

SALISBURY — As if on cue, a ray of sunshine broke through the gray cloud cover at 10 a.m. Saturday, lighting up Broadway just in time for kickoff ceremonies at the Beach Front Stage, launching the third annual Sand and Sea Festival at Salisbury Beach Center.

"I firmly believe the fog will burn off and rain hold off so all events can go on as scheduled and we can have a great family day at Salisbury Beach," said Wayne Capolupo, president of the Salisbury Beach Partnership, which along with the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce organized the event.

As the morning progressed, parents could be seen pushing kid-filled strollers, and pedestrians were walking along beach roadways, heading toward the Beach Center. Area roadways were also filled, as cars poured off Route 110 into Salisbury Square on their way to the beach.

The goal: to watch Sea Doo racers challenge the surf off Salisbury Beach for the Toyota US Motosurf Sea Doo Championships, and then take part in the rest of the fun, including amusement rides, beach sports, all-day entertainment and a free concert with fireworks.

The sun only made a few appearances, and the fog dimmed the fireworks show for many, but there were plenty of bright spots for the new and improved Salisbury Beach.

Ray Champagne, president of the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association and owner of the Beach Rose RV Park, said visitors have started to rediscover Salisbury Beach, thanks to the Sand and Sea Festival. This year, some vacationers called asking about the festival and booking because of it, Champagne said.

"I've got a full house at the park this weekend," Champagne said. "One party originally came down to stay a few days, but when they heard about the festival, they decided to stay an extra few days. And we're already getting calls from people who want to make reservations for the (July 25 to 27) weekend of the Maritime Festival. And beach residents here look forward to this every year; they really enjoy it and many have friends up."

Salisbury Beach Betterment Association member John Housianitis nodded.

"This rekindles all the great memories of Salisbury Beach," he said.

For beach resident Lou Masiello, the spirit at Salisbury Beach this year is similar to the beach he remembers, when as a Methuen father of three, he brought his kids to the family's summer home at the beach. After retirement in 2001, Masiello turned the summer home into his permanent residence. Over the past few years, as some new owners began to reinvest time and money in the deteriorated beach center, there's a real reason for his grandkids to come and enjoy a better beach experience.

"There's a great lineup of summer events. And they're bringing in some really great bands playing every weekend, and with fireworks," he said. "This makes a difference."

"We grew up as beach bums every summer on the beach," said Masiello's daughter, Candi Skiba, who lives in Newburyport with her husband, Chris, and sons. "This is our third time at the festival with our three boys. They're going to be the next generations of Salisbury Beach bums."

State Rep. Mike Costello, D-Newburyport, was on hand for opening ceremonies Saturday.

"You can feel the change here, and it's being driven at a time when everything else is almost at a standstill, Costello said.

For Thomas Smith of Lowell and his wife, Melissa, and sons, Noah and Jacob, this was their first excursion to Salisbury Beach, and the boys were romping in the low tide's surf Saturday.

"We wanted to come to the beach and try it out, and we heard about the festival," Smith said. "We figured this was a good weekend to visit."

Jamie and Theresa Avanzino of Atkinson, N.H., thought Salisbury Beach's Sand and Sea Festival was the time to bring their 19-month-old daughter Carli to the beach for the first time. A toddler in hot pink rompers, Carli was knee-deep in sand after riding the small merry-go-round and looking forward to riding the bigger, 50-foot carousal under its yellow and white awning at Pirates Fun Park.

"Carli loves carousals; they're her favorites," Theresa Avanzino said. "We're going to do a lot of everything here today."