Hermosa Beach Events

A firestorm ravaged Southern California the last week of October, 2007. It hit hard in seven counties, from Santa Barbara down to San Diego and destroyed both homes and businesses, blackened thousands of acres and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate.

Wildfires like this are of course terrible events, causing much pain and suffering. But in all the tragedy, there's also an eerie beauty in the way the smoke colors the sky at sunset.

Please help those impacted by the fires through donations to one of these organizations: Father Joe's Villages, The San Diego Foundation, San Diego Humane Society and SPCA, American Red Cross.

The beach may not be an event in itself, but it is central to Hermosa Beach life and where a lot of things happen on a daily basis.

Beach volleyball poles are maintained by the city year-round, and are used by professionals as well as amateurs. From mid-July to mid-August, Bill Sigler, a former AAA rated beach volleyball player, leads classes ranging from beginners to advanced. The AVP Hermosa Beach Open takes place by the pier in May or June every year.

If you're into surfing, Hermosa Beach is a great place to be. In fact, Hermosa Beach is the official birthplace of surfing in California, with the Surfers Walk of Fame by the pier honoring the surfer pioneers like Bing Copland, Hap Jacobs, Greg Noll, Mike Purpus, Jeff Stoner, Dale Velzy and Dewey Weber (1969 National Surfing Champion). The summer offers warm water and smaller waves for beginners to learn, while the fall and winter waves often reach 10 feet; great surfing for intermediate surfers.

Three Sunday evenings from mid-July to mid-August it's time for Sunset Concerts by the pier. Over the last few years, the city has put together this free event, which draws a crowd from all over LA.

It's a great time. Many bring food, wine and beer for a nice picnic. The concerts often feature former big-name bands, playing soul, rock and surf music. The 2007 lineup consists of Eric Burdon & The Animals, Tommy James & The Shondells, and The Stonebridge Band.

And if you're really lucky, you may even be treated to fireworks to end the show.

Every Friday from 12 noon to 4 pm, local framers set up shop off Valley Drive between 8th and 10th Streets. Everything you find at the Farmers' Market--fruits, vegetables and flowers--is fresh picked, ripened on the vine and tree.

Many residents have made shopping at the Farmers's Market a weekly tradition. And you can rest asured that the quaility is top-notch: The market is being rated as a Certified Farmers' Market by the County Agricultural Commission's Department of Food and Agriculture's Fruit, Vegetable and Egg quality control.