October 8–11, 2026
Celebrating the Sport and the Culture
Preserving the Stories and the Spirit
Friday Night · October 9th
Join us for a Surf Del Mar Party at En Fuego Restaurant, Friday night, October 9th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Tower 7 will be providing the music! The party at En Fuego Restaurant is open to everyone, but for food and drinks, you're on your own!
Friday · October 9th
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of a surf revolution — join surfing legend Shaun Tomson for a screening of Bustin' Down the Door with Q&A, Friday, October 9th from 5:00 to 7:30 pm at St Peter's Parish Hall, 334 14th Street, Del Mar. Free Admission!
Saturday Night · October 10th
Bring your friends, family and a picnic for a screening of Bruce Brown's classic film, The Endless Summer, Saturday night, October 10th, on the lawn at Powerhouse Park, Del Mar. The show starts between 6:30 and 7:00 pm…as soon as it's dark! Free Admission!
Sunday · October 11th
Meet legendary surf Photographer Jeff Divine and get a copy of his newest book "Divine Surf!" Sunday, October 11th at L'Auberge Hotel, 11:00 am.
SURF DEL MAR FESTIVAL is more than a festival—it's a Reunion, decades in the making. It brings together generations of surfers, storytellers, artists, musicians, authors and filmmakers for a one-of-a-kind event celebrating the sport, the culture, the legacy and the surfing history of Del Mar and the surrounding communities.
JOIN US OVER FOUR UNFORGETTABLE DAYS
October 8–11, 2026 – Del Mar, California
Come Be A Part Of The History and The Fun When Surfers Come Together Again
Help us keep this festival and our coastal heritage programs going. Donations are processed securely through Zeffy.
Donate with Zeffy
Don Hansen (1936–2026) Donald Hansen — entrepreneur, athlete and adventurer — passed away on March 28th, 2026 at the age of 89. Born in 1936 in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Don discovered surfing in his early California years and, in 1960, founded Hansen Surfboards near Cardiff Reef in Encinitas. The shop became one of the best-known names in California surf culture — a gathering place for generations of surfers, skaters, skiers and local families, with Don at its heart.
He chased challenge everywhere: big Hawaiian waves when that frontier was still young, national titles and world records as captain of the Airfreight skydiving team, and team roping on the mountain trails of Big Sky, Montana. What set Don apart was not just his willingness to take risks, but his willingness to care — a strong spirit, a memorable sense of humor, and a habit of believing in people before they fully believed in themselves.
ALL EVENTS WILL BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, WELCOMING RESIDENTS, VISITORS, SURFERS, FAMILIES AND ANYONE WHO SHARES A LOVE OF THE OCEAN
(The Party at En Fuego Restaurant is open to everyone, but for food and drinks, you're on your own!)
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