During your next visit to downtown Carlsbad, you will notice a few new sights along the way. For many years, colorful banners with images of surfboards and iconic locations and children on the beach have hung on light poles throughout Carlsbad Village. During the holidays, they are replaced with holiday images of hot cocoa, wreaths, and snowmen on the beach.
Starting this year, the Carlsbad Village Association (CVA) is managing the banner program for the City of Carlsbad, and its first round of brand-new banners were installed just last night! There will be a total of 78 banners being hung in the Village.
“Our goal for this first round of banner images was to capture the story of Carlsbad Village, taking direction from some of the most popular social media images that showcase our amazing sunsets and beach culture,” said Christine Davis, Executive Director for the Carlsbad Village Association. “Pulling in the theme of Shop Local and Dine Local, to highlight the main street businesses downtown, was important too. And, of course, we wanted to include a banner image to promote the fact that Carlsbad Village is a great place to enjoy by bike.”
Two of the new banner images were provided courtesy of local photographers Roy Kerckhoffs and Taylor Mohr. CVA is looking forward to expanding the program and including other local photographers and artists as well.
“We are already working on a Spring theme with the idea that changing out a percentage of the banners at each season will help keep the look and feel fresh,” Christine said. “As a Main Street America Affiliate, we are proud to be joining the ranks of other main street organizations who manage their downtown’s banner program.”
CVA will also be managing the banner program in other parts of the city with a total of 44 new banners being hung in high traffic business areas that include Paseo Del Norte, by the Premium Outlet Mall and Car Country Carlsbad, as well as along Palomar Airport Road, and near the Forum Shopping Center. These banners will include the Shop Local and Dine Local message and will also showcase some of Carlsbad's wonderful outdoor activities with banner images of the beach, the lagoon, the trails, the flower fields, and the golf course.