Salty air and messy hair, the ocean breeze and sandy feet — life’s a beach, isn’t it?
In Southern California, where the beach lifestyle is something to be celebrated, there’s no shortage of seaside festivals that will help you embrace the ocean-lover culture.
There are events to test the skills of lifeguards, and events to showcase the athleticism of surfers from around the the world. There are fun activities and races for beach enthusiasts young and old, and outdoor concerts for music lovers who prefer the cooler coastal air over the drier desert scene.
Here are a few beach festivals along the region’s coastline you won’t want to miss.
Ocean Festival, San Clemente Pier, July 21-22
The San Clemente Ocean Festival is dubbed “The Greatest Show on Surf,” drawing an estimated 50,000 people to the two-day, family-friendly event.
On Saturday, July 21, there’s a SUP Surfing Championships that runs through the day. The Dolphin Dash on the sand is a race for children 12 and under. And youngsters can also enter the “Groms Rule” surf contest.
And don’t miss a lifeguard competition that runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., drawing lifesavers from around the state who show up to compete in a surf race, rescue relay, and dory races. The last are especially fun to watch when there are sizable waves and competitors have to figure out how not to ram into each other or flip their boat.
On Sunday, July 22, there’s a new event this year: the “Marine Raider Boat Challenge,” where part of the race includes flipping a boat and getting back on course.
Also on Sunday, a sand-sculpting competition kicks off at 6:30 a.m. and runs until 2 p.m., and the “Great Rubber Duck Race” happens at 3 p.m. on the pier.
More info: oceanfestival.org
U.S. Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach, July 28-Aug. 5
One of the world’s largest action-sports festivals in the world happens in Huntington Beach, drawing some of the best surfers, skaters and BMX riders to put on a show in Surf City.
This year’s U.S. Open of Surfing — sponsored by Vans and scheduled for July 28 through Aug. 5 — will have surf fans watching the water as the top competitive male and female surfers compete for valuable points and prize money.
Among them will be Huntington Beach surfer Kanoa Igarashi, defending his title. Igarashi scored the big win last year at the surf spot where he grew up taking on waves.
The event, which draws hundreds of thousands of people, is much more than just action sports. There’s booths and a retail center to check out the latest gear, autograph signings from athletes, art installations, movie premieres — and free hot dogs and sliders each afternoon, if you time it right.
More info: VansUSOpenofSurfing.com.
International Surf Festival, South Bay, Aug. 1-5
South Bay beach towns – Hermosa, Redondo, Manhattan and Torrance — get together to put on the International Surf Festival, now in its 56th year. This year, the event happens from Aug 1- Aug. 5.
Thousands of people – from ages 8 to 80 — compete in three signature events: The Judge Taplin Lifeguard Medley Relay, the Dwight Crum Pier-to-Pier Swim, and the Charley Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament.
Events happen in various locations around the South Bay — the popular 6-man/6-woman volleyball tournament in Manhattan Beach, a paddleboard race at Torrance Beach, and a two-mile run in Hermosa Beach.
More info: surffestival.org
Tiki Beach Festival, Belmont Shore, Aug. 18-19
The 18th annual Tiki Beach Festival, set for Aug.18-19, is a free event that highlights Polynesian culture with an Island Market Place and Culture Center, a Taste of Aloha Food Court that offers various foods from the Islands, and plenty of cultural music and dance performances.
A highlight of the event is the “Night of Fire” torch lighting and fire knife dance at dusk on Granada Beach. There’s a Kids’ Zone set up for the youngsters, as well as canoe rides.
More info: alfredosbeachclub.com/tiki-festival.html
Ohana Festival, Dana Point, Sept. 28-30
The Ohana Festival in Dana Point has become the go-to event to hear bands near the sand at Doheny State Beach. The festival not only touts some stand-out performances, but also the rich Southern California beach-culture lifestyle.
The event takes place Sept. 28-30, with headliners including Eric Church and Norah Jones on Friday, Eddie Vedder and Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs on Saturday, followed by Mumford & Sons with Beck the final day of the event.
You can feel good about going — the Ohana Festival donates a portion of proceeds to the San Onofre Parks Foundation, a California non-profit that helps develop, preserve and enhance the recreation of the state’s coastal parks. Tickets run about $100 for a single day, or $275 for the three-day event.
Refreshments can be found at food trucks and booths on the grassy area at Doheny that offer craft beer and cocktails.
More info: ohanafest.com