The outdoor activities at Marina del Rey became a haven for many locals during the pandemic and as restrictions ease, the harbor is relaunching a host of affordable summer events.
From drive-in movies, to weekly food truck gatherings, to free fitness classes and $1 water taxi rides, the activities returning to Marina Del Rey have something for everyone.
“Marina del Rey is our local marina and we’re trying to make it welcoming for everyone, by providing quality community programming for people from all over LA to come and enjoy,” said Nicole Mooradian, PIO of L.A. County Beaches and Harbors, the organization that runs these activities in conjunction with the MDR Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A longstanding local favorite is the Beach Eats program, which brings a variety of food trucks to the Marina from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Thursday. The event is located in parking lot 11 at 1401 Panay Way and features a rotating range of dishes and sweet treats from different cuisines.
“The inspiration for Beach Eats is for people to get food at the trucks and then go enjoy a picnic at Mothers Beach,” said Mooradian. “We had record breaking sales our first week and are really excited for the rest of the summer.”
Mooradian said residents should check out each week’s truck line-up and consider pre-ordering food by visiting bestfoodtrucks.com/beacheatstogo.
Starting on June 8, the Marina Drive-In will be returning and running a range of family-friendly and classic movies every Friday and Saturday night. Locals are encouraged to come enjoy a movie by the sea and can choose from 5 p.m. or 8 p.m. film screenings.
Tickets are $20 per vehicle plus service fees and the line-up will be released at mdrmovies.com soon. This fee is necessary to cover the cost of the screens and movies, but there are also several free events also running this summer.
Beaches and Harbors are launching a free drum circle in Chase Park every Sunday from July 11 through September 26. There are also free Zumba classes currently running in the park from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Additionally, while not quite free, locals can enjoy a trip on the Marina Del Rey Water Bus for the humble price of $1 one way. Service will resume on June 18 and run on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through September 6.
The pontoon boat is perfect for crossing the marina and stops at eight different locations. Residents can also enjoy a roundtrip cruise around the Marina for just $2.
Beaches and Harbors also tries to make waterfront activities affordable and accessible to residents across L.A. County. They run a summer sailing camp, giving youth the opportunity to learn ocean sailing on 14 foot Capri sailboats and Laser sailboats. Sailing camp runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday through Friday and costs $355 for the 5-day session. Financial aid is available for qualifying families.
For those looking to charter a boat, rent paddle boards or kayaks, the Marina Convention and Visitors Bureau hosts a compiled list of waterfront companies on its website.
Clara@smdp.com
