Queen Nation and Kenny Lee Lewis & The Barflyz to Rock Morro Bay Harbor Festival ’12

Morro Bay Harbor Festival

This year’s Morro Bay Harbor Festival isn’t simply on a mission with a goal to entertain audiences like never before – it’s out to surprise, delight and amaze them.

The 31st Morro Bay Harbor Festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, October 6 and 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. both days, offers a fresh burst of “new-to-the-Central Coast” entertainment, including Queen Nation, one of the most celebrated classic rock revival bands touring today, as well as top local and regional bands, and some highly original entertainment right on the street.

Says Steve Buffalo, Executive Director of the Harbor Festival: “We hope to offer something extra special to help bring back the regulars who love to attend as well as those who have never been to the Festival. That’s why we’re offering such a diverse lineup of entertainment.”

That diversity of entertainment goes beyond music and is designed to turn the harbor area into a street fair. New at this year’s festival are four street entertainers who will “surprise and delight visitors with never-before-seen performances on the Central Coast,” according to the press release. These entertainers are: Marionetta, a 12-foot creature with a full marionette puppet show in her skirts, who comes to life when you see her up close, where her stunning handmade puppets prove to be replicas of a unique stage show; Columbina, a witty clown who uses her brains and beauty as a tool of entertainment and delight; The Living Statues; and The Living Floral Tree, who surprises audiences when she comes to life.

“This year, Festival visitors should be prepared to be surprised and amazed by these strolling entertainers,” Mr. Buffalo alerts The ROCK. “As they make their way through the event, most people won’t believe their eyes. They’re that unique.”

This year’s Harbor Festival will offer two stages of live bands including the two headliner bands. Queen Nation – a band that has received rave reviews for capturing the look and sound of Freddie Mercury & Queen — will perform on the Embarcadero Stage at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, October 6. On Sunday, October 7, Kenny Lee Lewis, lead guitarist of the Steve Miller Band and his local band The Barflyz, will rock the Embarcadero Stage, also at 2:30 p.m.

Anchoring this year’s great Morro Bay waterfront dining experience is the popular Seafood and Wine Pavilion, offering a variety of top area wines and freshly prepared seafood. Also featured in the Pavilion is wine tasting from over 20 wineries, as well as beer tasting courtesy of micro-brewery “Rock-tober.” Other top taste stops include the local fisherman’s barbecue, the People’s Choice Clam Chowder Tasting Contest, and the “Down the Hatch” Oyster-Eating Contest. There are also a wide variety of art & crafts, shopping, and free interactive programs and activities for children.

Other local entertainers and live bands scheduled to perform on both stages include:

Embarcadero Stage (October 6)
10:30 a.m. – Pacific Dance
12:00 p.m. – Burning James & the Funky Flames
1:45 p.m. – Hawaiian Shirt Contest
2:30 p.m. – Queen Nation
4:00 p.m. – Zumba by Sally
4:30 p.m. – Triple Threat

Abalone Stage (October 6)
10:00 a.m. – Tim Jackson
12:00 p.m. – The Shival Experience
2:00 p.m. – The Red Skunk Jipzee Swing Band
4:00 p.m. – Trouble Hoof

Embarcadero Stage (October 7)
10:00 a.m. – Cuesta College Jazz Ensemble
12:00 p.m. – The Stratones
1:45 p.m. – “Down the Hatch” Oyster-Eating Contest
2:30 p.m. – The Barflyz
4:30 p.m. – The Versatones

Abalone Stage (October 7)
10:00 a.m. – Mud on the Tires
12:00 p.m. – The Jammies
2:00 p.m. – Jill Knight
4:00 p.m. – The Mighty Croon Dogs

Other highlights include: Discovering Science for Kids, Benet Serat Belly Dancing Troupe, the Incredible Sand Sculptures by the Sand Masters (as seen on the Travel Channel), among others.

For shoppers, there will be more than 100 different booths offering handmade crafts and maritime-themed gifts as well as original food treats from all over the Central Coast.

Each year, many festival volunteers generously donate their time on behalf of nonprofit groups they represent. Says Buffalo, “The cool part is that the hours they put in as a volunteer is calculated and added up.  Then, in return, from the profits we make at the event, we donate the value of those hours back to the nonprofits who have volunteers participating at the Festival.”

The Morro Bay Harbor Festival is sponsored by many local businesses including Morro Bay Furniture, Albertsons, Smart and Final, Casa De Flores, Morro Dunes, Morro Bay Power Plant, Tap It Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, Embarcadero Inn, Rabobank, Sage Eco Landscapes, Estero Bay Graphics, Chevron, Coldwell Banker Liberty Realty, Morro Bay Tourism Bureau, the Cayucos Tavern, Giovanni’s Fish Market, and the San Luis Obispo Blues Society.

Media Sponsors of the Harbor Festival include KSBY-TV, New Times, The Cambrian, The Tribune, Bay News, SLO City News, Coast 101.3, KVEC, New Rock 107.3, Sunny Country 102.5 and 96.1, KPIG, 94.9 The Beach 95.3 and two Fresno radio stations, Classic Rock the Fox 95.7 and KJewel, 99.3.

Entrance tickets to the Morro Bay Harbor Festival are $10 adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, and children under 5 are free. Discount pre-sale admission tickets are available online at the Morro Bay Harbor Festival website: http://www.mbhf.com or starting September 24 can be purchased at Albertson’s in Morro Bay.

For more details about the 31st Annual Morro Bay Harbor Festival contact the Morro Bay Harbor Festival Office at (805) 772-1155 or by email at info@mbhf.com. Or contact Anna Scott at ScottMediaPartners@gmail.com or by phone at (805) 710-0713.