Summer might be officially over, but the fun in the sun continues along the Orange County coastline.
The beaches are busy this upcoming weekend with several events to check out along the coast – everything from the U.S. Open of Surfing, a surfing dog competition, beach festivals and a sand castle contest that has been going on for nearly 60 years.
And with the summer season coming to a close, that means more parking and sand space for locals as the tourist crowds ease.
Surf City lives up to name
Want to see surf competitions up close? Surf City has plenty of action this weekend, whether it’s watching some of the world’s best surfers on the south side of the famed Huntington Beach Pier or the best canine surfers on four legs further up the coast at Dog Beach.
At the pier, the U.S. Open of Surfing will continue through Sunday, when the final surfers will battle it out for valuable points and a coveted U.S. Open title.
It’s a much smaller event than previous years, with no mega festival and just a few booths on the sand, but the surfing action has been heating up all week with more than 150 competitors from around the world entering the event.
Up the coast at Dog Beach between Seapoint Avenue and 21st Street will be the Surf City Surf Dogs, kicking off at 8 a.m. and running through 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The surfing dog competition is free to watch. Pooches have 12 minutes to catch their best five waves, judged by local celebrities and surf judges, who score based on confidence level, length of ride, and overall ability to ride the wave, according to the event announcement.
There will be more than just the competition, with family-friendly activities and pet adoptions, a canine play zones, vendor booths and food trucks.
The event is held as a fundraiser, with past charities including the French Bulldog Rescue Network, Westie Rescue of Orange County, Golden Retriever Rescue, Barks of Love, OCSPCA, and Huntington Dog Beach.
Hawaii vibes on the coast
Traveling isn’t easy right now and going to the islands is getting harder with more pandemic restrictions put in place, but you can still get transported to a tropical getaway on Saturday, Sept. 25, during the 31st annual Polynesian Festival in San Clemente.
The event is put on by the Hawaiian Surf Club of San Onofre, with volunteers bringing live entertainment with luau-style dance performances and music, arts and crafts and more than 35 vendor booths at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville.
This year will also have a vintage Woody car show along Avenida Del Mar. Admission is free to the public with “plate lunch” food available for purchase.
The Ohana Festival is happening for two weekends at Doheny State Beach in Dana Point, the first shows starting Friday, Sept. 24. Kings of Leon headline on Friday, Eddie Vedder on Saturday and Pearl Jam on Sunday, with an encore performance the following weekend Oct. 1 and 2.
If you don’t want to battle traffic and parking troubles, stay clear of that stretch of beach, which can get congested during the big concert.
Sand castle contest
Groups will be forming elaborate artworks using tiny grains of sand at Corona Del Mar State Beach on Sunday, Sept. 26.
The event is a longtime tradition going back 59 years. This year’s theme is “Explore the World!” with cash prizes and bragging rights up for grabs.
The event is put on by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and typically brings out spectators who watch the teams scramble to make their creations.
The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Big Corona State Beach.
Source: Orange County Register
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