BeachLife Festival weekend attendance largest in six-year history

On Sunday, May 4, when the Beach Boys took the stage at the BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, it capped off a vibrant three-day weekend of musical acts. However, this performance held particular significance for festival co-founder Allen Sanford.

John Stamos joined forces with the Beach Boys as they performed “Barbara Ann,” during which he lifted Sanford’s 6-year-old daughter, Annika, to bring her onstage with him.

I listened to the Beach Boys with my dad growing up,” Sanford stated earlier this week, “and I felt that reflected many aspects of the culture we admire.

She looked like a deer caught in headlights,” Sanford commented. “I believe this is one moment she won’t forget.

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, John Stamos took the stage alongside The Beach Boys at the sixth annual BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach. (Photograph by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

During the third day of the sixth annual BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach on Sunday, May 4, 2025, Jackson Browne took the Lowtide stage. (Photograph by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

During the sixth annual BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach on Sunday, May 4, 2025, Jackson Browne took the Lowtide stage. (Photograph by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

On Sunday, May 4, 2025, Bruce Johnston from The Beach Boys played at the Lowtide stage as part of day three of the sixth annual BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach. (Photograph by Drew A. Kelley, Press-Telegram/SCNG)

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Featuring top acts like Lenny Kravitz, Sublime, and Alanis Morissette, alongside many other chart-toppers such as Pretenders, Jackson Browne, Mt. Joy, Train, Digable Planets, Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles, and O.A.R., the event drew approximately 35,000 attendees over the weekend, according to Sanford.

The event saw the highest turnout during its weekend since its inception in 2019, spanning over six years. According to Sanford, Orange County’s own Gwen Stefani, who topped the bill in 2023, was the sole day at the festival that sold out entirely.

There were few, if any, hitches over the three days, Sanford said, but there was some worry about a repeat of 2024, when high winds cut short the last few minutes of ZZ Top’s set and canceled Fleet Foxes, Trey Anastasio and Classic Tab, as well as headliner My Morning Jacket.

“Considering that a week ago, they were forecasting 35 mile per hour winds, we had a fantastic weekend, success on every level, great attendance, no significant issues of any kind, and unbelievable performances,” Sanford said. “So it went from a worry-ridden week of stress to a great execution.”

During the festival, however, a few attendees mentioned security concerns instigated by “aggressive” people, despite having a fun time overall.

Redondo Beach’s Jorge Farias, for example, is a longtime fan of the festival, who was there with his family.

“The lineups are great,” Farias said on Sunday. “Everything else is great, but there is a major concern with security (that) cannot be overlooked.”

“People were drunk, obnoxious, and we were looking around (for) security, and there was no security whatsoever in any place,” Farias said. “That can be a problem once this venue gets bigger and bigger.”

Sanford, on his end, mentioned that with 12,000 individuals at the gathering, “it’s inevitable to encounter someone problematic.” He noted that less than five arrests occurred throughout the weekend. Sanford recalled only one instance where an individual was being aggressive towards a law enforcement officer.

* \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe BeachLife Festival concludes its sixth annual event with prominent performers.

* BeachLife’s atmosphere is a four-letter term starting with ‘L’.

• BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach begins with an energetic kickoff following the initial day

* \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia Surf Club aims to build a ‘community’ at the Redondo Beach shoreline
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But overall, Sanford said, it was a “really clean, safe weekend.”

We maintain a command post over the weekend to oversee the whole area using drones, walking patrols, and closed-circuit cameras,” Sanford stated. “I found it secure enough that I felt quite at ease with my 6-year-old daughter and her friends playing around.

The festival served as an introduction for the recently unveiled 21,000-square-foot California Surf Club, which is centrally located within the BeachLife Festival grounds.

When attending festivals, you typically don’t consider high-end teak furnishings and luxurious restrooms, just a complete dining setup,” Sanford explained. “Fortunately, we anticipated the need to adapt our restaurant for these events, which proved successful.

Sanford has mentioned that BeachLife is continuing to become an integral part of the community’s fabric.

“We’re really thrilled that people keep enjoying BeachLife,” Sanford stated.