Surf Del Mar Festival Schedule

Thursday, October 8

• Opening Reception: Surfers Meet and Greet
  Venue: Del Mar Plaza
  Time: 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm
  Music by Peter Sprague and Group: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
  Legends and Champions Awards Ceremony, emceed by Jim Kempton of the California Surf Museum: 5:30 pm to 6:00 pm
  Meet legends from the surfing world: surfers, authors, board shapers and more!

• Surfing and Sustainability Climate Symposium
  Venue: St. Peter’s Parish Hall
  Time: 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
  Bringing together the worlds of surfing and science to confront our most pressing coastal challenges.
  Moderated by Jeff Lehmann.
  All events are free, but space is limited. Please register at: delmarhistoricalsociety.org under the event listed.

  10:00 am – 10:45 am — Kevin Whilden, Seatrees
  “The Past, Present and Future of Sustainability in Surf Culture”

  10:45 am – 11:30 am — Patrick McDonough, San Diego Coastkeeper
  “An Ocean of Plastic: Nurdles and the Global Plastics Crisis”

  11:30 am – 12:30 pm — Ryan Simkovsky, Algenesis
  “Plastic, Reimagined: A Molecular Solution to Microplastics”

  12:30 pm – 1:00 pm — Lunch Break

  1:00 pm – 1:45 pm — Yehuda Ben-Hamo, WILDCOAST
  “Protecting Mexico’s Most Iconic Surfbreaks and Their Surrounding Habitats — The Challenges Ahead and How We Can Move Forward Together As A Global Surf Community”

  1:45 pm – 2:30 pm — Adam Young, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
  “Scripps Coastal Mapping Program and Erosion Research”

• Art Walk
  Venue: Del Mar Plaza’s Canyon View Garden Patio
  Time: 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm
  Featuring some of the area’s best known surfing artists including: Kevin Anderson, Wade Koniakowsky, Sarah O’Connor, Michael Leyva, Jesse Martin, Mac Hillenbrand, Ted Emrick, Andy Wright, Jim McConlogue, Norm Daniels and others.

Friday, October 9

• Surfing Film Festival
  Venue: St Peter’s Hall
  In collaboration with the California Surf Museum
  Featuring some of the best short surfing films, highlighted by a showing of legendary surfer Shaun Tomson’s film Bustin’ Down The Door, with Q&A session with Shaun to follow.
  Complimentary snacks, coffee and water will be available during the breaks between films.
  All events are free, but space is limited. Please register at: delmarhistoricalsociety.org under the event listed.

  11:30 am — Godpower (8 min)

  11:45 am — Birth of The Endless Summer (83 min)

  1:05 pm — Break

  1:30 pm — The Rising Dawn (70 min)

  2:40 pm — Break

  3:00 pm — Wade In the Water (45 min)

  3:45 pm — Break

  4:00 pm — Shaped By The Sea (60 min)

  5:00 pm — Break

  5:30 pm — Bustin’ Down The Door (1 hr 46 min)

  Special Film Showing Just Added — “Del Mar Surf History: Roots” by Jim Lischer
  Sunday, October 11th at 5:00 pm at St. Peter’s Church Parish Hall. The film features stories and interviews with over 75 Del Mar surfers over the years, the first of its kind to document Del Mar surfing history. A short film honoring Don Hansen will be shown just before “Roots.” The event is free, but space is limited. Please register at delmarhistoricalsociety.org under Festival events.

Saturday, October 10

• Surfer’s Reunion
  Venue: Powerhouse Park
  Time: 11:00 am to 9:30 pm

• Silent Auction
  SILENT AUCTION OPEN NOW! Set to close on Saturday, October 10, 2026 at 5:30pm SHARP!
  Bid now
  Venue: Powerhouse Park, under the Welcome/Information Canopy
  Bid sheets available all afternoon
  Bidding closes at 5:30 pm; winners announced at 6:00 pm

• Surfwriter’s Book Fair
  Venue: L’Auberge Hotel Ruby Room and Patio
  Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
  In collaboration with Camino Books – Del Mar
  Register for the different signings at Camino Books in Del Mar: caminobks.com (look under “Events”).

  10:00 am – 10:45 am — Chris Ahrens, author of “Windansea”
  Session: “Good Things Love Water”
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room Patio

  11:00 am – 12:45 pm — Shaun Tomson, author of “Surfer Sage”
  Session: “The Surfer’s Code”
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room

  1:00 pm – 1:45 pm — T. Jefferson Parker, author of more than 30 books including “Silent Joe”
  Session: “Desperation Reef”
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room Patio

  2:00 pm – 2:45 pm — Kim Dwinell, author of “The Secret of Danger Point” and others
  Session: “Surfside Girls” Graphic Novel Series
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room Patio

• Woody Wagon Parade Through Del Mar and Display
  Venue: Del Mar Train Station
  Time: 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm
  Woodies on display at the Del Mar Train Station from Noon to 3:00 pm. Festival Merchandise on sale at the Del Mar Train Station from Noon to 7:00 pm, including Festival Posters, T-shirts, beach towels, vintage shirts, a women’s wetsuit, and more.

• Afternoon Concert with the Mar Dels
  Venue: Powerhouse Park
  Time: 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

• Tower 7 at En Fuego
  Venue: En Fuego Cantina & Grill, Del Mar
  Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
  Free, all-ages surf instrumental show. Tower 7 started in Del Mar in 1979.

• Showing of The Endless Summer
  Venue: Powerhouse Park Lawn
  Time: Starts between 6:30 pm and 7:00 pm (as soon as it’s dark)
  Bring a Picnic!

Sunday, October 11

• Surfwriter’s Book Fair
  Venue: L’Auberge Hotel Ruby Room and Patio
  Time: 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
  In collaboration with Camino Books – Del Mar
  Register for the different signings at Camino Books in Del Mar: caminobks.com (look under “Events”).

  10:00 am – 10:45 am — Todd Glaser, author/photographer
  Session: “Kelly Slater – A Life of Waves”
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room Patio

  11:00 am – 11:45 am — Jeff Divine, photographer, author of “70s Surf Photographs”
  Session: “Divine Surf” in conversation with Grant Ellis
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room

  1:00 pm – 1:45 pm — Patrick Moser, author of “Surf and Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture”
  Session: “Surf and Rescue: George Freeth and the Birth of California Beach Culture”
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room Patio

  2:00 pm – 2:45 pm — Tom Keck, photographer
  Session: “Reflections: Life, Lens, Surf, Surfers”
  Book signing immediately following in the Ruby Room

• Student Art Walk
  Venue: L’Auberge/Jim Watkins Outdoor Amphitheater
  Time: 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
  Featuring original art work created by students from Torrey Pines High School and Earl Warren Middle School. There will be an on-site art table for young artists to create their own projects.

• Women on Waves
  Venue: St Peter’s Parish Hall and Patio
  Time: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
  Featuring exceptional women whose lives have been shaped by water.
  All events are free, but space is limited. Please register at: delmarhistoricalsociety.org under the event listed.

  1:00 pm — Olga Freedman, Artist

  1:30 pm — Kim Dwinell, Author/Artist

  2:15 pm — Break

  2:30 pm — Valerie and Victoria Du Prat — Valerie: Scientist and Board Shaper; Victoria: Champion Junior USA Team Surfer

  3:30 pm — Meredith Rose, Champion Bodysurfer and Engineer

• Special Film Showing Just Added
  “Del Mar Surf History: Roots” by Jim Lischer
  Venue: St. Peter’s Church Parish Hall
  Time: 5:00 pm
  The film features stories and interviews with over 75 Del Mar surfers over the years, the first of its kind to document Del Mar surfing history. A short film honoring Don Hansen will be shown just before “Roots.”
  The event is free, but space is limited. Please register at: delmarhistoricalsociety.org under Festival events.