CAPITOLA, CALIF.-It's hard to believe that 2010 has ended, the 2011 Rose Parade flowers & floats are but a memory, and the celebrations are gone just that fast! For those who have the Rose Parade blues, you can look forward to Capitola by the Sea's big flower power event-and believe it or not, it will arrive before you blink.

Capitola by the Sea in Santa Cruz County is a fun-loving beach city with a great Chamber of Commerce that helps keep tourists coming year after year. If you've visited Capitola, it is not a hard sell. One colorful event on the 2011 calendar the Chamber promotes is the 59th Annual Capitola Begonia Festival, with the theme, "Let's Dance".

The city has plots for growing the begonia flowers used to make the decorated boat-floats. Those participating do every task from growing the flowers to decorating the floats, thanks to instructions and assistance participants receive before the big festival parade day. The parade is held each Labor Day weekend out on the bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Capitola Wharf.

The floating parade of themed entries never ceases to amaze and delight all ages. In 2011 the Begonia Festival occurs September 5 through 7. begoniafestival.com

The Capitola Begonia Festival is an anecdote to the Rose Parade Blues, providing something to anticipate and look forward to each year. Here's the calendar of major events in Capitola in 2011, courtesy of Capitola / Soquel Chamber of Commerce.