Beach Erosion Cancels Ocean Way Festival: A Cautionary Tale of Prioritizing Safety Over Spectacle The cancellation of the inaugural Ocean Way Festival in Santa Monica is a stark reminder that even well planned events can be derailed by forces beyond human control.
The festival, scheduled for September 26 27, was scrapped due to beach erosion caused by hurricane level surf and storm drain runoff. This decision reflects the city's commitment to prioritizing safety above all else.
With an estimated 96 feet of usable beach lost inland, the infrastructure for the event would not have been feasible on the remaining smaller footprint.