Santa Monica's inaugural Ocean Way festival called off after Hurricane Marie damage
The planned Ocean Way music festival in Santa Monica was cancelled two weeks before its debut because Hurricane Marie caused severe beach erosion.
Goldenvoice revealed that the City of Santa Monica cancelled the inaugural Ocean Way beachfront festival just days before it was set to open on Sept. 26-27, citing dangerous beach erosion caused by Hurricane Marie. The storm, part of a “Super El Niño” pattern, battered coastal areas from Malibu to Long Beach, prompting sinkholes and evacuations elsewhere. The festival, which would have featured headliners Olivia Dean and the Killers along with acts like Khruangbin and Jack White, was promoted as a car-free, transit-oriented event to boost the city’s post-COVID nightlife.
Tickets ranging from $249 to $2,250 will be refunded within five to seven business days. City council member Dan Hall expressed disappointment but remained optimistic about a 2027 return, while Mayor Caroline Torosis highlighted the need for a marquee beach festival to showcase Santa Monica. The cancellation follows other recent beach-side event disruptions linked to extreme weather, underscoring growing climate concerns for large-scale concerts.
Why it matters
The cancellation highlights how extreme weather is disrupting major cultural events and local economies.
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