Goldenvoice partnership supports fall events, community garden enhancements and benefits youth and environmental programs

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (Sept. 21, 2026) - A slate of benefits including community events, enhancements to the city's community gardens and support for youth and environmental initiatives is underway as part of the Ocean Way Festival community benefits partnership with Goldenvoice.

Upcoming events include:

Sept. 24 & 25: dublab Open Air

5 to 8 p.m. | Reed Park

dublab Open Air will present two free evenings of live music, DJs, dancing, and sunset vibes in Reed Park. On Thursday, Sept. 24, spread out on the lawn for a live program of jazz, psychedelia and improvisation with SML & Liberate Elemental Forces. On Friday, Sept. 25, the park becomes an open-air dance floor with Spiñorita, GANAS & ANTHNY GBRIEL moving your body to the breeze.

Oct. 11: Continuum: Honoring the History of Belmar and Black Santa Monica

Noon to 5 p.m. | Historic Belmar Park

This free, all-ages cultural activation presented by the city of Santa Monica and GV Black honors the history of Belmar and the Black experience in Santa Monica and will include conversations with award-winning journalist and radio host Sam Sanders, DJ sets by KCRW's Tyler "Boogie" Boudreaux, live music performances from Katalyst Collective, Songs With Strings, and NPR Tiny Desk Concert Winner Cure For Paranoia, fusing live strings, hip-hop and jazz. Shop the vendor village curated by Black Market Flea and enjoy art-making, art installations and more.

Oct. 11 & 18: Water Safety Workshops

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Annenberg Community Beach House

The city of Santa Monica and Surf Bus Foundation will provide two water safety workshops for youth across the Los Angeles region on Oct. 11 and 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Annenberg Community Beach House. The workshops welcome youth who have historically faced greater barriers to accessing these resources. A longtime city partner for more than 20 years, Surf Bus Foundation is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit dedicated to connecting underserved youth to the ocean through surfing, swimming and ocean education.

Goldenvoice also funded and installed several enhancements to Santa Monica's community gardens, including:

In addition, Goldenvoice will provide $15,000 to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation to support youth programs and $15,000 to LA Surfrider's One Watershed program to support environmental efforts.

These benefits are part of the Ocean Way Festival commitment from Goldenvoice and were developed with the California Coastal Commission. The festival, currently scheduled for 2027, was originally set to take place earlier this month. However, due to shore damage from Category 2 Hurricane Marie, the 2026 festival was ultimately rescheduled.

"Santa Monica deeply values our lasting relationship with Goldenvoice and the commitment they've shown to our community," Mayor Caroline Torosis said. "Their investment goes well beyond bringing incredible events to our city. From enhancing our community gardens and creating free events for residents to supporting our youth and environmental initiatives, these benefits will have a lasting impact across Santa Monica. We're grateful for Goldenvoice's continued investment in our community and excited for what's to come."

"Ocean Way Festival was planned as an entire community-focused ecosystem in Santa Monica that extended beyond the festival," Goldenvoice Senior Vice President of Regional Festivals Nic Adler said. "Despite this year's setback, we're proud that our commitments to the Coastal Commission and the city of Santa Monica will live on through music, art, education and community programs, and we look forward to building on that relationship in the years ahead."

The city is in discussion with Goldenvoice and the California Coastal Commission about community benefits that will be associated with the 2027 festival.