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Mambo on the Bay Attracts Hundreds to San Diego Waterfront

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Mambo on the Bay, a free evening of music and dancing, attracted about 500 people to Cesar Chavez Park and showcased the Port of San Diego's renewal efforts to bring the public to the waterfront.

"The Port of San Diego is dedicated to creating events that bring families to the waterfront for community enjoyment," said Port Commissioner Bob Nelson. "Mambo on the Bay is our newest effort. We are planning many more events we hope you attend in the months ahead here on the waterfront."

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"Mambo" is the first event staged for the port by Public Works, Inc., a New York City-based event planner that is under contract with the port. Public Works, Inc. is planning year-round events to draw the public to the waterfronts of the port's five member cities — San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, Imperial Beach and Coronado. The Port of San Diego calls the effort "activating the waterfront."

The event was held Friday, August 12, and featured the 18-piece Orquestra Bi-Nacional de Mambo, which played brassy Latin big band music that got the crowd dancing, swaying or tapping its feet. The port-sponsored Mambo on the Bay was a prelude to the two-day Fiesta del Sol cultural festival, also held at the port's Cesar Chavez Park.

There are many upcoming events in the planning stages, including the Big Bay Boot Camp, in which the port's 17 public parks around the bay will be holding fitness camps simultaneously.

The Port of San Diego was created by state Legislature to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land in December 1962. Since that time, the port has been responsible for $1.5 billion in public improvements in its five member cities.

The port oversees two maritime cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, 17 public parks, various wildlife reserves and environmental initiatives, the Harbor Police Department and the leases of more than 600 tenant and sub-tenant businesses around San Diego Bay.