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South Bay's Best Events Top 5 Annual Party & Social Happenings Manhattan Beach
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RELATED The hottest and most fun events in the laid-back California beach city.
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Top Events in Manhattan Beach
Every city has its signature event, be it a parade, festival, music or sports spectacular. Manhattan Beach, which is really a "city within a city" considering its is one of the trio of beach cities in the South Bay region of greater Los Angeles, has not a single, but several signature events each year. There's so many activities that it's possible to rank them in terms of popularity and, quite frankly, their party power (which means this could be considered a toast as much as a ranking). So here is PubClub.com's list of the Top 5 Annual Events in Manhattan Beach. – #1 Surfest/6-man –
New Orleans has its Mardi Gras, Chicago its St. Patrick's Day parade, Munich its Oktoberfest, San Francisco its Bay to Breakers. And Manhattan Beach has its Surfest/6-man. Combining the two most passionate pastimes of the area – competitive beach volleyball and all-out partying – Surfest is the quintessential Manhattan Beach event. It's a party all right, with some 20,000 people on the beach. But it also features top-flight athletes, AVP players in disguise and some spectacular beach volleyball from 6-man and 6-women teams. Someone new to the scene might think they walked into the world's largest Halloween contest, as the teams are dressed in costumes with various themes such as Tropic Thunder, the Sex Kittens and Magnum PI, the latter compete with a joke-cracking host on a PA system and boom box playing the theme song from the TV show again and again. Then again, the novice also might think they stumbled into Spring Break, though most of the participants and party people are beyond their college years and actually hold down respectable jobs during the week. Just not this weekend. Event Dates: First weekend of August. – #2 AVP Manhattan Open –
The AVP Manhattan Open is known as the Wimbledon of beach volleyball. It is an appropriate title. Players speak of it with such reverence, they say they have accomplished nothing in the sport until they have won Manhattan. It's on par with an Olympic gold medal. And it's been around a lot longer. (Note: the 2010 event took place Aug. 20-22, but it was not anAVP tournament after the association closed its doors on Aug. 13. It remains to be seen what will happen for 2011 but there WILL be a Manhattan Open.) Beach volleyball was born in Manhattan Beach and it is forever a part of the city's culture. Almost everyone in town plays the sport and there's some kind of tournament just about every summer weekend at the pier. What surfing is to Huntington, beach volleyball is to Manhattan. The Association of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) brings in the world's best men's and women's players for this annual tournament and people turn out in droves for it. It's a celebration, a time for the locals to turn from players to spectators, to see how a non-spinning set is really executed, to watch how high the pros can leap out of the sand and admire the skill level taking place on their home courts. It also serves as an opportunity to socialize. It's a huge part of this event, as big as a Phil Dalhausser spike. Morning, noon and night, Sunsets and Shellback are packed. From breakfast and bloodys all the way through Bud Lights deep into the night, this is an event locals look forward to for months. And look back on with a lot of laughs. Event Dates: Generally mid-August, but dates vary. – #3 Holiday Fireworks –
With so much happening in the Beach Cities on the Fourth of July, the city of Manhattan Beach astutely saves its booming celebration for the holiday season. The result is a spectacular spectacle, fireworks off the pier that bring out the entire community. Many people arrive by foot, taking a leisurely stroll down the Strand or streets to arrive at the pier where they set up blankets and beach chairs. Others watch from one of the many house parties or bars. This is one of the few events where singles and families mingle together; they stand side-by-side admiring the fantastic fireworks. It's also where one sometimes sees that ex-girlfriend or boyfriend of a few years ago pushing a baby stroller. Smiles are, generally, exchanged. The festivities begin at 5, with the show starting about 6. This is one of the best fireworks displays, anywhere or anytime, in the entire country. Afterward, the couples and families go to the restaurants for dinner and the single people pack into the bars. The fireworks are the city's "office" holiday party. It can be chilly (by Manhattan Beach standards) so visitors are advised to dress to fit the occasion. While shorts and sandals work for most of the year, such wardrobe is not advisable for this evening. As for the Fourth of July and fireworks, well it's great in the South Bay but the massive house parties and fun of Manhattan Beach have moved south to Hermosa. Here's a look at the 4th in the South Bay. Event Dates: Sunday, Dec. 12, 2010. – #4 Old Hometown Fair –
Getting locals off the beach for a weekend is not easy. Except for Hometown Fair. It's not the actual fair (food and craft booths) that's the attraction but the beer garden. One of the most popular things Manhattan Beach has ever created, the beer garden attracts South Bay singles like moths to a light. It's elbow-to-elbow on Saturday and serves as Manhattan Beach's annual class reunion, for not only is the entire single set of the South Bay on hand but also for people who used to live (and be single) here. They always seem come to back for Hometown Fair to relive their more carefree days. The beer garden is open noon-6 p.m., but anyone arriving after 1 will be waiting in a line. And that line does not move because nobody leaves the beer garden! Afterward, the many stumbling souls pour out into the bars. Saturday starts with a 10K run in the morning that ends at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Afterward, several people head straight to the closest bar, Shellback Tavern, where its best-in-Manhattan bloody marys are lined up on the bar for thirsty runners. Some may go home to shower and change while others go straight through to the beer garden. And beyond. The scene is less chaotic on Sunday but is still fun for many who want to "do it again." Event Dates: First weekend of October. – #5 Holiday Open House –
The holiday season begins well before December in Manhattan Beach. It starts with this mid-week stroll though downtown. Shops stay open late, many offering food tastings from local restaurants and beverages. A quartet of carolers are among the thousand or so people walking in and out of stores along Manhattan Ave., and Manhattan Beach Blvd. For couples and families, it's a nice time to check out what all those cute little shops sell and might have on sale. For the many singles in the area, it's a chance to go out and socialize during the week. Many seek out whatever adult beverages may be offered (say, a glass of wine in a clothing store) and call each other with updates of the best places. There are bar stops along the way – the Shade hotel is always a popular destination – and afterward those who don't have to get up early the next day continue building their holiday spirit at Ercoles, Shellback, Mucho's and the other drinking establishments. Event Date: Nov. 17, 2010. PubClub.com covers fun events and nightlife in Manhattan Beach, CA. © 2009, 2010. All rights reserved. |
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