Fireworks Display for the Capitola's 60th birthday

Display location:CAPITOLA
City:CAPITOLA
State:CA
Date:Sept.2

Details: CAPITOLA -- Local restaurants are ready if crowds show up Wednesday for the final twilight concert of the season capped off by fireworks for the city's 60th birthday.

Gayle's Bakery & Rosticceria typically packs 45 box dinners for concert-goers, and more can be prepared if needed, said manager Kathy Getty. The $9.95 dinner includes oak-roasted chicken breast, Caesar pasta salad, grilled summer vegetables with cookies or a raspberry brownie.

Pizza My Heart can pump out plenty of large cheese pizzas $19.75, according to staffer Joe Roberts, comparing Wednesday nights to a busy weekend.

Zelda's on the Beach, which sold 30 half-racks of baby back ribs on each of the past three Wednesdays, will beef up staffing for the fireworks.

"It's all weather-related how busy we're going to be," said floor manager Shannon Stark. "A temperature of 65 and 70 is perfect for dancing on the beach."

The Capitola-Soquel Chamber of Commerce, gearing up for the Begonia Festival starting Friday and the art and wine festival the weekend after, has been fielding calls and e-mails inquiring about the date of the fireworks.

The $25,000 show, to be presented by Fireworks & Stage FX America, is sponsored by two local businesses, Devcon Construction and Redtree Properties.

In March, when the City Council was asked to approve the fireworks permit, some suggested that given the economic downturn, the money should be spent on something positive and meaningful.

Others pointed out the city wasn't funding the fireworks and said the event was an opportunity to bring the community together.

That view carried the day with council members Kirby Nicol, Ron Graves and Dennis Norton, so the show will go on.

The fireworks will be shot from the wharf, which will be closed at 3 p.m. to set up the display.

The Digbeats, a local rock and roll band, will perform at 6 p.m.

Both the twilight concerts and movies on the beach, which started Friday night, have been popular, according to Toni Castro of the chamber.

"They're free events and it's been extremely hot," she said.

For those wanting to make a day of it, the Capitola Museum will be open from noon to 4 p.m. featuring an exhibit on Capitola in the 1950s.

"I think we broke a record in July," said museum director Carolyn Swift, referring to attendance. "This is the best summer I can remember."

About 100 people viewed the exhibits Aug. 9, and 90 came Saturday, which was a scorcher.

"Part of it could be the exhibit," Swift said. "It could be the city's birthday, or it could be the economy."