San Diego’s seaside City of Coronado will feel more like the Emerald City this month as the Hotel Del Coronado celebrates the 50th Annual “Wizard of Oz” Convention.
The “Winkie Con,” as it’s called, will be held at the iconic red-topped hotel on Aug. 8-10 but the week leading up to the big convention is also jam-packed with Oz-inspired activities.
For instance, every Sunday during the month of August the Hotel Del Coronado will host “Yappy House,” a free happy hour gathering for animal and Oz enthusiasts.
While owners enjoy themed cocktails like the “Ruby Slipper,” dogs can lap up free Evian water and organic “yappetizer” treats. Yappy Hour will be held on the hotel’s Sun Deck Bar & Grill on Orange Avenue from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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This Sunday hotel guests and visitors can put on their best Dorothy, Tin Man or Scarecrow get-up and enter the Oz-themed costume contest. Prizes include a 2-night stay at the hotel and gift cards.
In addition, from July 28 through Aug. 31 Hotel Del Coronado will host a “Toto Photo” contest. Participants can follow @DelCoronado on Instagram and share photos of their pet in an Oz-themed costume for a chance to win a Del Beach Day Package with cabana and chair set-up service.
The hotel will also host “Wizard of Oz” walking tours all this week, as well as a special screening Thursday of the classic 1939 film.
Historically, Coronado has many connections to L. Frank Baum, the creator and writer of “The
Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Baum spent many winters at the Hotel Del Coronado and rented a house in the community where he wrote “The Road to Oz.”
San Diego’s La Jolla community also served as inspiration for Baum as he began developing the story for “The Scarecrow of Oz.”
For more details on Winkie Con, including an interactive schedule of events, visit the convention website.
