Ocean Way music festival canceled after dangerous surf from Hurricane Marie causes coastal erosion
The inaugural Ocean Way music festival was scheduled for September 26-27, with performances by The Killers and Olivia Dean.
Hurricane Marie swell reveals hidden history beneath The Wedge
Hurricane Marie sent massive swells crashing into Newport Beach's legendary surf break, The Wedge, producing the towering waves the spot is famous for. But the hurricane-driven surf also unearthed a piece of California history, exposing long-buried wooden pilings believed to date back to the construction of the jetty that helped create the world-famous wave.
THE TAKEAWAY
- Ocean Way music festival was scheduled for September 26-27.
- The festival was canceled due to significant beach erosion from Hurricane Marie.
- Dangerous surf led to dozens of homes being evacuated as it damaged boardwalks.
LOS ANGELES – A beachfront music festival in Santa Monica has been canceled due to the impacts of Hurricane Marie.
The inaugural Ocean Way music festival was scheduled for September 26-27, with performances by The Killers, Olivia Dean, Jack White and Sublime.
HURRICANE SWELLS REVEAL FORGOTTEN HISTORY BENEATH ICONIC CALIFORNIA BEACH
"Due to the impacts of Hurricane Marie, the City of Santa Monica has canceled the inaugural Ocean Way Festival," Ocean Way states on their website. "Storm surf and runoff has caused significant beach erosion and the festival can no longer be safely held as planned."
California lifeguard dives into action to save a surfer in rough waves
🌊WATCH OUT: Lifeguards in Newport Beach, California, are warning about dangerous waves after swells swept a surfer over a jetty on Sunday. Tropical Storm Marie is churning hundreds of miles southwest of San Diego, but is still expected to generate life-threatening surf through Tuesday.
SEE IT: DRAMATIC RESCUE UNFOLDS AS TROPICAL STORM MARIE FUELS DANGEROUS WAVES ALONG CALIFORNIA COAST
Hurricane Marie never made landfall, but it did bring dangerous and life-threatening surf to the shores of Southern California.
The surf led to more than a dozen homes being evacuated in Long Beach due to seawall compromise and damage to the boardwalk, according to the Long Beach Fire Department.
A MESS IN MALIBU ‼️: The home of Hollywood blockbuster star Nicolas Cage was damaged after a massive sinkhole swallowed the driveway. Authorities said severe coastal erosion caused the collapse, with the sinkhole estimated to be about 30 feet by 30 feet in size.
— FOX Weather (@foxweather) September 9, 2026
Drone footage… pic.twitter.com/vuNcCT2eYF
"We were so excited to spend a weekend together on The Beach, but can share that plans are already underway to bring the festival to Santa Monica in 2027," says Ocean Way.