On September 3, 1917 Oceanside held its first Bean Day, an answer to Escondido’s Grape Day. From the Union Tribune: “Ballyhooed as the biggest day in Oceanside history, a kind of a coastal Mardi Gras that would bring attention to a burgeoning city and its most prominent crop. Escondido had Grape Day, a decade-old celebration of that city’s profitable crop, and Oceanside civic leaders saw no reason why they shouldn’t have a similar day of their own. An Aug. 25, 1917 article in the Oceanside Blade announced the planned festivities: ‘There will be a band, baseball game, a tug of war between the Pala Indians and Oceanside; one mile professional foot race; 100-yard-foot race for professionals and amateurs free for all, basketball and free movies, with special rates from all points on the Santa Fe.’
The story reported that a group called the Committee of Eleven met at the Moose Hall to organize the event, which would ‘center on the splendid beach, which has made Oceanside famous, and along the bluff overlooking the beach at the shore terminus of the municipal pier at the foot of Third Street.’
On Sept. 8, the newspaper reported that 5,000 people had attended 'one of the most enjoyable programs ever given in San Diego County.’"
A second Bean Day was also held however it would be the last. “Apparently feeling drained from the recent July 4 celebration, as well as still feeling overshadowed by Grape Day, civic leaders decided to pull the plug on Bean Day. Grape Day eventually was discontinued too, but was revived in 1996. Bean Day, the 'biggest day in Oceanside’s history,' is as forgotten as the actual bean fields that were displaced by houses, businesses and Camp Pendleton."