Sunday Shows In August Are A Picnic On The Sand
With so much to do in Los Angeles in the summertime – going to Hollywood Blvd., the Hollywood Bowl, the amusement parks and a Dodgers game, just to name a few things – her’s something I highly recommend be on our travel agenda.
It’s the Sunday evening concerts on the beach in Hermosa Beach.
These are free shows each Sunday in August. They are large picnics; just bring a towel or a blanket, put it on the sand and sit down to enjoy the show.
There are some name touring band playing – English Beat is kicking off the 2018 season, for example – but frankly, the music is secondary to the scene.
More than 5,000 people go to the shows, most of them in groups of friends or family. This is a great thing to do for travelers who are in Los Angeles. It’s relaxing yet also lively at the same time.
It also doubles as a dinner location – why go to a restaurant when you can be eating on the beach? Food and drinks are allowed (tho be sure and be very discreet about any adult beverages; it’s technically illegal to drink alcohol on California’s beaches).
In fact, make a day of it. Head to Hermosa for breakfast/brunch/lunch and spend the day at the beach. Rent a bike. Take a bike tour with Beach Cities Bike Tours. Go swimming in the Pacific Ocean (be careful, tho of heavy currents and strong waves).
The concerts start at 5 and end after sunset. If you’re a party person, then head to Patrick Molly’s on the Hermosa Beach Pier Plaza for its live music and $3 beers and drinks.
Parking at this beach can be a problem; check first with the city lot at 13th Place and Hermosa Ave. Otherwise, have lots of quarters for the meters.
For more on the shows, click here.
Hermosa Beach Summer Concerts Top Tips For Visitors
• The concerts take place on the south side of the pier, with people filling the sand from approximately 11th Street to 7th Street.
• A lot of people put towels and beach chairs down and “reserve” a spot earlier in the day. Get there early to get a prime spot, say by 2 p.m. Otherwise, just find a space where you can; it’s fun anywhere you find your temporary home.
• If you don’t have food, there are several restaurants by the beach where you can get to-go food. There is also a tent selling pizza on the sand and other sponsors giving away promotional items.
• There is a Von’s grocery store less than a mile away at Pacific Coast Highway and Pier Ave.
• There is a liquor store on Pier Plaza (again, be discreet with any alcohol consumption).
• Bring a sweatshirt or a jacket, for it can get chilly at sunset.
• Accommodations in Hermosa are limited. The Sea Sprite is an old 70-ish motel right across from the concert site and the Beach House is a high-end hotel also on The Strand two blocks to the north. These are the only hotels at the beach. There are a couple of other hotels along Pacific Coast Highway and are about a mile from the beach.
• Hermosa Beach Pier Location & Map
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