Huntington Beach events throughout the year to enjoy. Welcome to event-driven beach destination Huntington Beach. Got Beach? Yeah!

But HB also has plenty of events throughout the seasons to keep your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband, wife or family vacation just awesome. Let's get busy telling you about the annual events calendar chock-full of fun for everyone.

JANUARY - Start off New Year's Day with a Pier Plunge. It's held each January 1 at the Huntington Beach Pier. It's a morning to noon event with a small admission fee that provides funds for some special cause. It is sponsored by a local group and is attended by maybe 100 folks, give or take some. Parking is charged, but is plentiful near the HB Pier and Pier Plaza. The best place to stay for this event is either the Best Western, Hilton or Hyatt. They're all within walking distance.

FEBRUARY  brings a sanctioned, qualifying marathon. It has changed its name but is held every SuperBowl Sunday.  It sells out, attracting around 15,000 participants. It's not quite the Boston Marathon but the ocean front course is lovely.  When former Huntington Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau president Diane Baker fought to keep the event in town, she received much scrutiny but finally won over local residents. Hats off to a good deed, Ms. Baker!

MARCH is the National Professional Paintball League competition tour that launches usually in Huntington Beach, then heads throughout the US, returning to San Diego for its finale most often. HB was initially the home to this NPPL event but it was sold and now is operated elsewhere. It's very popular and was an event that former mayor Pam Julien Houchen fought to introduce to town. Not warmly received by all the community, the merchants and hotels hardily welcome participants who bring families, and seem to be a more affluent audience that spends money locally. NOTE: In 2009 the NPPL Paintball Games were cancelled and budgetary issues were cited as the reason.

March Events

Huntington Beach BeachCruiser Meet in Downtown HB - annual

APRIL is often some sort of surfing competition, possibly an Easter Hunt in the park or other such events. This is the month with lots going on and kind of the warm up month to the summer of endless events that never seem to end, especially if you work on the promotional end. April is a good month to travel and still grab some discount rates in the US and especially at the beaches. And in Huntington Beach, it usually is the start of the Surfing Sundays Concert Series featuring surfing bands.

April Events

Huntington Beach Easter Hunt in Central Park

Huntington Beach Taste of HB

Huntington Beach Video Easter Hunt - annual

MAY means Duck-A-Thon, for certain. It's been going on for a very long time. It is a fundraiser for community healthcare, and is one of many such rubber duck races throughout California. Sometimes in May the Association of Volleyball Professionals hosts AVP Pro Beach Volleyball. The organizers have almost pulled out several times because the beach regulations do not permit charging for events on our public beaches. The AVP managers say they need the ticket sales to make it worth their time.

May Events

Huntington Beach Elks Chili Cook-off and Classic Car Show - annual

Huntington Beach Memorial Day - annual

Huntington Beach Shipley Nature Center Spring Festival - annual

JUNE is usually the month in which the Concours d'Elegance car show is held in Central Park. I love cars, so it's one of my favorites.  By this time, the free concerts are in full bloom such as the Surfing Sundays bands sponsored by the Surfing Museum, the City of Huntington Beach Pier Plaza concerts and the Huntington Beach City Band concerts at Central Park. Now, if they could get all these concerts arranged so they didn't overlap, there would be more mileage amongst the pack of bands entertainment produced free of charge for the public.

June Events

JULY is the big daddy of events. 4th of July Parade, billed as the largest parade of its kind (there's a qualifier) west of the Mississippi launches the month with a bang. Ever since the city, city council and organizers fought to produce a fireworks show at the beach beginning in 2004, the event has stuck. Gridlock occurs when you try to depart the event. It can take over an hour to get out of the region afterward. The other big event is the US Open of Surfing and Beach Games. There's a week and a half of activities but the time tourists find most inviting is the last weekend with the surfing showdown, skateboard and other activities in full play.

July Events

Huntington Beach Surfing Walk of Fame Ceremony / Chris MacDonald - annual
Huntington Beach Surf Walk of Fame Photos by Chris MacDonald

Huntington Beach Surfers Hall of Fame - annual celebration

Spray On Tattoos at Beach Events

Huntington Beach Surfers Hall of Fame 2009 event

Huntington Beach US Open of Surfing Information and Links

AUGUST features Huck Finn Fishing Derby for kids. It's really cute and loads of fun. When the kids bring their fishing poles and dress up as two favorites characters (Huck Finn & Becky Thatcher) from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, you never know what kind of surprises await youth and adults seeking some old-fashioned fun.

August Events

Huntington Beach Summer Concerts in Central Park - annual

SEPTEMBER is the Civil War Re-enactment in Central Park (Labor Day weekend), Boardfest for girls, and the Smooth Jazz all day concert in Central Park. While this is possibly one of the busiest ends to the perfect summer, the big event is the beach itself. Many years the Huntington Beach lifeguards have reported their largest attendance day of the year falls on Labor Day Weekend.

September Events

Eddie Bertrand and the New Soundwaves 

OCTOBER  launches Oktoberfest in Huntington Beach, which actually begins in mid-September. It is a crowd pleaser for beer lovers, chicken dancers and sauerkraut fans. On October 31, there's Halloween and Trick-or-Treat on Main Street event. It's supposed to be for kids, but everyone attends.

October Events

Oktoberfest Old World

Chicken Dance

NOVEMBER is somewhat laid back.

DECEMBER features the Huntington Harbour Cruise of Lights boat tours fundraiser. Visitors can hop on boats and ride around the harbor for a show of home decorating lights.  This event goes up against some other events such as the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

December Events

Huntington Beach Holiday Parade & Lighting Ceremony for Youth Shelter - annual
Huntington Beach Video Woody Car in Christmas Parade

Huntington Beach Video Christmas Parade Downtown - annual
Huntington Beach Video Cruise of Lights Homes - annual
Huntington Beach Video Woody Car in Christmas Parade

Huntington Beach Coast City Ballet The Nutcracker Photos - annual
Huntington Beach Bella Terra Mall Tree Lighting Ceremony - annual
Huntington Beach Smooth Jazz Christmas Holiday Concert

Huntington Beach Video of Santa Arriving on a Fire Truck - annual

Huntington Beach Light of Love Kids Photos - annual

Car Shows-- There are a number of Car Shows throughout the year. You can see some of the car shows and clubs that have  hosted events in Huntington Beach, where classic cars, just seem right!

While we can't possibly list all the events going on in HB, the above features some of the highlights. A much better list can be found on the Huntington Beach Events calendar page. We continue the conversation about events throughout our site, and we also do a count on some of Orange County, California's top beach events.

When visiting Huntington Beach and attending events, travelers' preferences for accommodation vary wildly. From the budget Beach Boulevard properties such as Howard Johnson to a luxury resort, Hyatt Regency HB Resort & Spa, the prices can range by several hundred dollars with one room being approx. 3 miles from the beach and the other room having direct beach access.

If the Huntington Beach hotels don't suit your needs, check out Newport Beach to the south or Long Beach to the north.

Note: Additional Huntington Beach events posted on our site may be repeat annual events or one time events posted and linked here:

Hawthorne Food & Wine Fundraiser Event for Epilepsy Foundation Greater L.A.
Huntington Beach 100 Years Centennial Art Exhibit
Huntington Beach Video of Mall Free Concerts at Bella Terra
Huntington Beach Junior Lifeguards Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser - annual
Huntington Harbour Boutique of Lights - annual
Huntington Beach Eclectic Eye Photo Exhibit Anita Brace - once
Huntington Beach Supergirl Jam
Huntington Beach Tripadvisor Traveling Movie, also in San Francisco
Huntington Beach Labor Day Weekend Band Clash in  -postponed
Huntington Beach US Open Surfing All Girls Jam - annual event
Huntington Beach Dog Surfing Fundraiser
Huntington Beach Forever 21 Apparel Store Grand Opening
Huntington Beach Videos
Southland Senior Olympics Surfing
Beach Bonfire Craziness
We Love Huntington Beach
Senior Olympics Surfing Competition held in Huntington Beach
Street Performers at Huntington Beach Pier
Sunbathing is but one of Huntington Beach's favorite sports
Gibbs Butterfly Park Huntington Beach
HBHS Jazz Band
HB Tree Society Eagle Scout Project
Family Arts Day Huntington Beach Art Center Event
Natalie Kotsch - Surf Museum Founder
Dining - Main Street
Dog Beach
Kitesurf Sunset Beach
Lifeguard Rescue
Marine Safety
Tower 0 Lifeguards
Search & Rescue Volunteer Police Officers
Passport Service
Street Tap Dancers
Ruby's Diner on HB Pier
Pumpkin Patch GWC
Snowcone, Snocones, Shave Ice
Surfing
Swapmeet GWC
Huntington Beach Shoreline
Line Dance at Festival
Wetlands Conservancy Plans for Future and New Center