Surf contests, beach tennis, and a full South Bay weekend

Hello South Bay,

The South Bay’s been in that weird stretch lately where it’s gloomy all morning, sunny for a little bit, then cold again by night. Somehow everybody’s still outside anyway.

This weekend has surf competitions, beach tennis in Hermosa, outdoor concerts in Redondo, movie nights in El Segundo, and a Mattel sale that people are definitely going to show up for.

Here’s what’s going on 👇

This Week in My South Bay

Thursday, May 28
🛍️ Mattel Toy Store Summer Sale @ El Segundo (Thursday through Saturday)

Friday, May 29
🏖️ Beach Tennis Tournament @ Hermosa Beach

Saturday, May 30
🏄 Queen of the South Bay Surf Competition @ El Porto, Manhattan Beach
🇺🇸 America’s 250th Birthday Fundraiser @ Redondo Beach Main Library
🏃 Hills Are Alive 5K & 10K Run Walk @ Ernie Howlett Park, Rolling Hills Estates
🌊 YOU ARE ENOUGH 5K Run Walk @ Hermosa Beach
🎨 Mindful Mandalas Workshop @ Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, Rancho Palos Verdes
🎬 L.A. Confidential Screening @ Old Town Music Hall, El Segundo
🎶 Free Summer Concerts in the Garden @ Rockefeller Redondo Beach
🩰 Les Ballet Classique @ Norris Theatre, Rolling Hills Estates (Saturday & Sunday)
🎶 Pato Banton w/ Lowtide @ Deep End Live, Redondo Beach Pier

🏄 Queen of the South Bay Surf Competition

📍 42nd Street Tower, El Porto, Manhattan Beach
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 7:00 AM through Afternoon
💰 Spectator Friendly | All Ages

Queen of the South Bay is back at El Porto this weekend with an all-women surf competition that has quietly become one of the coolest community events of the year down here. Along with surf heats running all day, the event also brings yoga, live music, local vendors, and divisions ranging from first-time surfers to Moms vs Daughters and Golden Girls 55+.

🔹 El Porto packed with chairs, tents, and beach setups early
🔹 Live music, local vendors, and women-owned brands on the sand
🔹 One of the most genuinely community-driven surf events in the South Bay

👉 More Info

🛍️ Mattel Toy Store Summer Sale

📍 333 Continental Blvd, El Segundo
🕒 Thursday, May 28 through Saturday, May 30 | 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
💰 Free Entry

The Mattel Toy Store in El Segundo is doing one of its big summer sale weekends with discounts up to 70% off select toys, games, and collectibles. It’s one of those very specific South Bay things people randomly hear about every year and suddenly decide they need to stop by.

🔹 Discounts up to 70% off select toys
🔹 Barbie, Hot Wheels, board games and more
🔹 Easy daytime stop if you're near El Segundo

👉 More Info

🇺🇸 America’s 250th Birthday Fundraiser Event

📍 Redondo Beach Main Library
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
💰 Ticketed

The Friends of the Redondo Beach Public Library are hosting a community fundraiser this weekend celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary with live patriotic music, silent auctions, opportunity drawings, and more inside the Main Library meeting room.

🔹 Live performance from the Pennyroyal Players
🔹 Silent auction and community fundraiser activities
🔹 Easy afternoon stop in Redondo Beach

👉 More Info

🤫 Don’t Tell Comedy

📍 Secret Outdoor Bar Location, Hermosa Beach
🕒 Thursday, May 28 | 8:00 PM
💰 Ticketed | 21+

Don’t Tell Comedy is bringing one of its secret stand-up shows to Hermosa Beach this week. The exact location stays hidden until the day of the event, and the lineup usually mixes nationally touring comics with names people recognize from Netflix, late night shows, and bigger LA clubs.

🔹 Secret Hermosa location revealed day-of
🔹 Outdoor bar setup with surprise comedy lineup
🔹 Different energy from a normal comedy club night

👉 Get Tickets

🏖️ BTA Beach Tennis Tournament

📍 Hermosa Beach
🕒 Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31
💰 Spectator Friendly

Hermosa Beach turns into a giant sand court this weekend with beach tennis matches running across the shoreline. Even if you’ve never watched beach tennis before, it’s one of those events that ends up pulling people in once they walk by.

🔹 Matches happening directly on the sand
🔹 Strong local beach crowd all weekend
🔹 Easy thing to stumble into near the pier

👉 More Info

🎬 L.A. Confidential Screening

📍 Old Town Music Hall, 140 Richmond St, El Segundo
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 7:00 PM
💰 Ticketed

Old Town Music Hall might still be one of the coolest places to watch a movie anywhere in the South Bay. This weekend they’re screening L.A. Confidential, and the night starts with live music on the theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ before the film begins.

🔹 Historic El Segundo theater experience
🔹 Live Wurlitzer performance before showtime
🔹 Classic movie night that feels completely different from a regular theater

👉 Get Tickets

🌊 YOU ARE ENOUGH 5K Run Walk

📍 Tim Kelly Memorial Surf Statue, Hermosa Beach
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 9:00 AM
💰 Registration Required

This beachside run and walk focuses on mental wellness, connection, and community along the Hermosa shoreline. Expect ocean views the entire route, a strong local turnout, and one of those Saturday mornings where half the South Bay seems to end up outside before lunch.

🔹 Scenic beachfront route
🔹 Mental health awareness focused event
🔹 Community booths and post-run gathering

👉 Learn More

🎨 Mindful Mandalas Workshop

📍 Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Rd, Rancho Palos Verdes
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
💰 $50 Per Person

If your ideal weekend sounds more like a quiet morning in Palos Verdes than a packed pier crowd, this one might be for you. The workshop focuses on creating mandalas in a calm retreat setting overlooking the coast, with no art experience needed.

🔹 Peaceful retreat center setting on the Hill
🔹 Beginner-friendly creative workshop
🔹 Slower Saturday energy away from the crowds

👉 More Info

🏃 Hills Are Alive 5K & 10K Run Walk

📍 Ernie Howlett Park, Rolling Hills Estates
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 8:00 AM
💰 Registration Required

The Hills Are Alive Run returns with rolling Palos Verdes routes, ocean air, and a strong local turnout every year. Between the 5K and 10K options, this one usually brings a mix of serious runners, walkers, and families out early for the morning.

🔹 Scenic Palos Verdes course views
🔹 5K and 10K distances available
🔹 Local community favorite every spring

👉 Registration Info

🩰 Les Ballet Classique

📍 Norris Theatre, Rolling Hills Estates
🕒 Saturday, May 30 & Sunday, May 31
💰 Ticketed

Palos Verdes Ballet returns this weekend with Les Ballet Classique, featuring performances from internationally recognized dancers alongside local student performers. The production includes scenes from Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadère, La Esmeralda, and more, all set inside the Norris Theatre in Rolling Hills Estates.

🔹 Full classical ballet production with live performances all weekend
🔹 Guest dancers from Joffrey Ballet and San Francisco Ballet
🔹 One of the more unique weekend events happening on the Hill

👉 More Info

🎶 Summer Concerts in the Garden

📍 Rockefeller Redondo Beach, 1707 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
💰 Free

Rockefeller’s summer concert series is back in Redondo Beach this weekend with live music out on the garden patio, drinks flowing, and a crowd that usually sticks around well past sunset. Feels like one of those easy South Bay afternoons where you accidentally stay longer than planned.

🔹 Live performances from local bands and artists
🔹 Outdoor patio setup in Riviera Village
🔹 First come, first serve seating

👉 More Info

🎶 Pato Banton w/ Lowtide

📍 Deep End Live, Redondo Beach Pier
🕒 Saturday, May 30 | Doors at 7:00 PM, Show at 8:00 PM
💰 Ticketed | 21+

Pato Banton brings reggae, live music, and a small crowd atmosphere to the Redondo Beach Pier this Saturday night at Deep End Live. Between the oceanfront setup and limited-capacity venue, this feels more like a local summer night than a big concert stop.

🔹 Intimate live music venue directly on the pier
🔹 Reggae night with ocean views and outdoor energy
🔹 Easy dinner-and-show kind of Saturday plan

👉 Get Tickets

📸 South Bay Snapshot

That’s it for this week,

Feels like the South Bay’s waking back up again. Coffee runs turn into walking around for two hours, someone’s already barefoot before noon, and every “quick stop” somehow becomes the whole afternoon.

If you know someone who’s always asking what’s going on this weekend, send this their way.

See you out there,
Jaime
@MySouthBay