Digital News Report – Lower gas prices will give Californians a break this Memorial Day Weekend, as 4.2 million people travel more than 50 miles from home. Gas has dropped to below $4 a gallon locally.
In Felton there will be a Felton Remembers Parade and Covered Bridge Festival. The parade starts at the San Lorenzo Lumber Co. parking lot at 10 am on Saturday. Organizers say the route will follow Highway 9 and end at Graham Hill.
The festival, which will be held at the Covered Bridge Park, starts right after the parade. There will be live music great food, hamburgers, hot dogs, tri–tips, watermelon, pastries and a beautiful beer garden with beer and Local wine.
On Monday there will be a ceremony at the Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz, starting at 10 am.
Local merchants and hotels are looking forward to increased business this weekend. Last year hotel occupancy dropped below 50 percent. Typically occupancy for May is 56 percent.
Of the 4.2 million travelers, AAA says that 3.5 million will be driving. This represents a slight decline of 0.4 percent from last year.
“While concerns over higher gas prices are causing some travelers to opt out of a summer road trip, many are modifying or scaling back in other types of vacation expenditures,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Many people expect to stay with family and friends in order to afford a few days away from home.”
By Mark Williams