When it comes to Tiki culture, you either get it, or you don’t.
But luckily for the organizers of Tiki Oasis, the annual gathering of Tiki culture aficionados, thousands upon thousands of people in and around San Diego do get it.
And many of those throngs of people are expected to converge upon the Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley starting Wednesday for the annual event, which is celebrating its 21st year in San Diego and 26th year overall.
So, what makes San Diego such a good fit for Tiki Oasis and Tiki culture as a whole?
“That’s a good question,” Otto von Stroheim, who co-produces Tiki Oasis with his wife, Baby Doe von Stroheim, said.
“Well, the Tiki style hit its peak in the early-to-mid ‘60s and San Diego also had a growth spurt during that time. Tourism was being popularized and Tiki style was kind of the hip thing to do. It was popular and trendy and lots of apartment buildings were popping up with that style. New restaurants were adopting that style, old restaurants were putting Tiki bars in, so San Diego grew as (Tiki culture) grew.”
Although Tiki Oasis didn’t originate in San Diego – it was held for its first five years in Palm Springs – it’s importance to local culture led the von Stroheims to relocate. The event has been an annual fixture for over two decades now.
“I don’t know if (San Diego’s) the epicenter of Tiki culture, but it certainly is an important component,” he added.
Folks of all ages bust out Tiki and island styles at Tiki Oasis. (Photo courtesy of Reverberations Media)This year’s event, opening Wednesday, features everything that you’d expect at one devoted to Tiki culture – a luau, live music, a singalong, an art show and even a ukelele jam session.
Other non-Tiki specific events include a 5K run, a Pilates class, book signings, pooch parade and a record release event, including an album signing with ‘60s psychedelic rock act Strawberry Alarm Clock.
In all, about 30 bands and music artists are scheduled to perform over the course of the five-day event, including Pacific Beach surf faves The Tourmaliners. Overall, various music styles will be represented.
“Make sure that you catch the Thursday night concert on the lawn because the fans on Thursday night are more into the exotica style of music (that’s popular within Tiki culture,” Otto said. “And then on Friday and Saturday we branch out into other styles of music, Latin and this year a little bit of psychedelic and a little bit of garage. But on Thursday night, the bands are more like (the late musician) Martin Denny, they’re more exotica style.
“It’s a great intro to that music style.”
This year’s event is expected to attract about 5,000 attendees, the von Stroheims said.
“I think what is so great about Tiki Oasis is that you can be a first timer, a newbie, (or) you could be somebody that’s been attending for 20-plus years (and) there’s always something new to experience and there’s something for everyone,” Baby Doe said.
“We have everything from how to make cocktails to painting your own Tiki. There’s so many options,” she continued. “There’s a pool party going on with a DJ and bands by the pool.”
And a big part of it all, she explained, is the shopping.
“We have the largest Tiki marketplace on planet Earth,” she added. “We have 150 artisans, crafters, vendors that come in. They’re there Thursday through Sunday. It’s free and open to the public Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. So, people could pop in, do a little shopping. People put money in their piggy banks all year to shop at Tiki Oasis. It’s pretty spectacular.”
The “something for everybody” includes an art show with over 60 artists and a lamp show “because that’s a big thing in the Tiki world, people wanna get lamps for their home Tiki bars.”
As for why Tiki culture remains so popular and has endured in the United States since the 1930s, Otto said that in part, because it’s fun loving and accessible.
“It’s very inclusive, it’s all about community, it’s a very welcoming environment,” Otto said. “We often ask friends of ours and attendees what is it about Tiki Oasis that they love so much and they always say it’s the people.”
“The people are friendly, they are there to escape,” he continued. “The world can be a little bit crazy, and they’re there to just be in the moment. We don’t get a lot of those experiences in our life, so this is what makes it so special.”
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