Santa Monica residents can lock in tickets to the Ocean Way Festival before anyone else starting Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m., with general sales opening Thursday, July 23. General admission starts at $399.
The two-day beach festival, which some have dubbed "Beachella," is produced by Goldenvoice, the company behind Coachella. It's set for Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, on the sand between the Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street. The festival is named after the local street that inspired Allen Sides' Ocean Way Recording studio, and marks Goldenvoice's return to the city where it once promoted shows at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.
The main stage will sit at the base of the Pier, facing south, with the Pier itself as the backdrop.
The Killers headline Saturday night. Olivia Dean tops Sunday's bill. The undercard includes Khruangbin, Sublime, Jack White, Hiatus Kaiyote, Alvvays, and Durand Jones & the Indications, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"Santa Monica has an incredible music history, and Goldenvoice has been fortunate to be part of that story," Nic Adler, Goldenvoice's vice president of regional festivals, told the Times on Wednesday, July 16.
There will be no on-site parking. Organizers are billing it as transit-first: the grounds sit steps from the Metro E Line terminus, several bus routes, and a bike valet. The festival will include food from Westside restaurants, a farmers market-style vendor strip, and a "beach club" area in place of a traditional VIP section, according to the OPA newsletter.
Community programming will include a high school day and college day pairing students with industry professionals, free concerts at Reed Park and Tongva Park around the festival dates, and beach cleanups with Heal the Bay.
Organizers expect 30,000 to 35,000 attendees and plan to return each fall through at least 2028, according to the Ocean Park Association's July 16 newsletter.
Free events this week and next
The Wilshire-Montana Neighborhood Coalition is running free yoga at Reed Park (1133 7th St.) from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, and Saturday, July 25, followed by live music and a movie screening on those same evenings. Details at wilmont.org.
Also on the neighborhood radar: the Ocean Park Association reported that the Main Street Farmers Market is exploring a move onto Main Street itself, with a test run planned for Sunday, August 23.
Coming up in Santa Monica
- Wednesday, July 22 — Ocean Way Festival resident pre-sale opens at 11 a.m.
- Thursday, July 23 — Ocean Way Festival general ticket sale
- Saturday, July 25 — Wilmont free yoga, 8:30–9:30 a.m., Reed Park; free live music and movie night, Reed Park
- Sunday, August 23 — Main Street Farmers Market test run on Main Street
