Friday night marked the official beginning of the Fog Fest with the event’s annual dinner and dance, held this year at the .
The Fandango Dinner had a Mexican/Spanish theme and many guests dressed the part. Women with roses in their hair wore long, flamenco-style skirts and arrived to the festive sounds of Mariachi Los Cachorros, a San Pablo-based group that set the mood for the evening.
Not everyone dressed according to the theme, but the entire crowd seemed to enjoy the upbeat tempo and fiery energy of the evening nonetheless.
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The guests feasted on quesadillas, tacos and other delectable Mexican menu items, which were provided by Taco Man. This was the second year in a row that the catering company, owned by brothers Julio and Vicente Garcia, provided food for the Fog Fest dinner.
The Garcias were thrilled to be part of Fandango, and the crowd was more than happy with their return. Pacifica realtor Carol Zammit was especially happy to see Taco Man catering the dinner. Zammit, an agent at Home Sales Team Inc. in the Crespi Center, used Taco Man a couple of years ago at her daughter Tiffany’s graduation party. “The team at Taco Man always provides plenty of delicious food for everyone. They’re always fantastic,” enthused Zammit.
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A large, striped tent gave partygoers the option of sheltered dining, but the last remnants of summer meant that the night was warm enough to eat and mingle under the stars.
After dinner, it was time for dancing, and local band the Rockaways cranked up the tunes, matching the crowd’s enthusiastic energy. Lights were strung around the courtyard of the Sanchez Adobe, illuminating the whirling dancers who grooved to rock-n-roll and rhthym ‘n’ blues standards, including favorites by the Rolling Stones.
The Rockaways took a short break and returned with band member Laura Havell’s strong, melodious voice giving Shania Twain a run for her money with a rousing rendition of “I Feel Like a Woman.”
While the crowd danced and socialized, they quenched their thirst with horchata, beer and wine, the latter of which included a Fog Fest commemorative glass. The sombrero-wearing bartenders – Jason Hillard, Tony Zammit, Jr., Jenna McKay and Trevor Doherty – rarely had a moment’s rest the entire evening, keeping the crowd hydrated while adding to the festiveness of the evening with their upbeat energy.
The Rockaways kept the dance going until nearly 10:30pm, playing songs by the B-52s (“Love Shack”), Kenny Loggins (“Footloose”), Rick James (“Superfreak”) and Van Morrison (“Wild Night”). As long as the band played, the crowd boogied away, packing the dance floor.
Throughout the evening, the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce sold tickets for the 50/50 Raffle. If you missed Fandango, you can still buy 50/50 raffle tickets at the Fog Fest through about 5pm on Sunday. The winner of the contest receives half of all raffle money collected, hence the 50/50 title. To purchase your raffle tickets, look for the Chamber of Commerce booth at the Fog Fest, located in front of Dial Glass.
Fandango, run by the Pacifica Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by and several other organizations, was not only a great kick-off to the Fog Fest. It was also an excellent opportunity for friends to relax and enjoy the end of the summer, Pacifica style.
