Yes, we are all lucky enough to live in a seaside town, but let’s face facts, sometimes we have to remind ourselves to get down to the coast and commit some time to actually appreciate it. So, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to spend some time on the sand, this weekend why not grab your sunscreen and your shades and make a pilgrimage to Santa Monica’s sensational summer festival, Pier 360.
Taking place over Saturday and Sunday, this highly anticipated event promises a celebration of beach life with a wide range of activities for all ages, including thrilling ocean sports competitions, captivating live music performances, delectable food and drinks, interactive games, brand sampling and more. Plus, it’s all free.
"There is no more purely true-to-its-roots way to welcome the summer season in Santa Monica than the Pier 360 Beach Festival," Jim Harris, Executive Director of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, told the Daily Press.
"The way that this event ties the Pier, beach and ocean together, both in its various athletic activities and in its pure, undeniable historical ties to southern California beach culture as we all celebrate it today, makes for a truly unique and unforgettable experience," Harris said.
There are a multitude of events and competitions taking place over both days – so, most importantly, remember to apply and reapply sunscreen in generous quantities. Hundreds of athletes will compete for cash prizes in lifeguard dory races, elite stand-up and prone paddleboard races, ocean swims and volleyball tournaments. In years past, these have drawn crowds of spectators numbering in the thousands.
Plus, skateboarders will be performing gravity-defying tricks on the Herschel Supply Co. skate ramp, you can test your skills on the Ninja Nation obstacle course, relive your youth in the pop-up roller rink, or just chill out in the beer and spirits garden, accompanied by live music and dancing. Alternatively of course, you could take part in the extremely competitive Sandcastle Competition on Sunday.
Last year was only the second after the pandemic and following a tentative response in 2022, it was undeniably a roaring success.
"The Pier 360 Beach Festival truly offers something for everyone to enjoy, whether as a participant in the athletic competitions, or as a curious enthusiast who just wants to dip their toes into the richness of the best that the beach has to offer, or even as an observer or admirer,"
Harris said, adding, "This event provides so many wonderful ways to enjoy summer, the beach, and the Santa Monica Pier."
And if all of that wasn’t enough to fill your day, there’s the Museum of Beach Life to explore, fairground rides to enjoy, restaurants to relax in and a unique atmosphere to soak up.
Regarding reports from both the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and environmental non-profit organization Heal the Bay that the water around Santa Monica Pier is still yellow — and sometimes red — flagged, Harris said, "We have moved our start and finish line a bit south, further from the Pier and into waters with lower bacteria levels."
The festival of all things fun in the sun officially starts at 9am runs to 5pm and features a jam-packed schedule. Check out the website for a full list of absolutely everything going on.
