Crowds on the Stockton Avenue Bridge welcomed the floral floats of the 2004 Begonia Festival. Capitola’s beloved Begonia Festival lasted for 65 years. Starting in the early 1950s, the festival ended in 2017 when the last begonia growers moved out of the area. The following year many Begonia Festival events continued under the guise of the new Capitola Beach Festival. The 2023 Beach Festival will take place Sept. 23-24. The most iconic event, the daytime begonia parade has been transformed, with a twist, into the Lighted Nautical Parade. For those interested in building a lighted float, you must pre-register with the Beach Festival Parade Chair at 831-428-9875 or send an email to capitolabeachfestival@gmail.com