Marina High Alumni Beach Party - July 31, 2021

 * Please note that this scheduled event is subject to future beach regulations. If public events are not allowed by July 2021 on the beach, then people are still welcome to visit SeaLegs at the Beach (opens at 10 am) on the same day and time on Saturday, July 31st in 2021 for so long as it continues to remain open to the general public. If so, they can set up their own individual beach canopy tents just like many of us did in 2020 and rent private cabanas or fire pit ring areas in SeaLegs, if interested. Our beach party location is right adjacent to SeaLegs at the Beach, which is the largest beachfront restaurant and bar in Southern California. https://www.sealegsatthebeach.com/

This will be our 12th annual Marina Beach Party for all class years. Past alumni, faculty, friends, and family are welcome each year for this FREE annual event. The US Open of Surfing may or may not be starting on this same late July weekend in 2021 as well.

Event Coordinators: Patrick Knowles, Amy Mason, Shirley Flack, Lisa Evans Rockefeller, and Rick Tobin

Food Buffet and BBQ Chef - Shirley Flack; Sign-In Table - Patricia Caponiti and Jean Tobin; Key Party Personnel with Multiple Functions - Denise Clark Churchill, Teresa Flack, Shelley Flack, and 100+ other alumni who bring food and supplies to the party; RV and Motorhome Coordinator - Deanna Fowler Kavanagh; and Drone Video Production Wizard - Mike Sola.

On Saturday, July 31st, 2021 at 10 am, we will be holding our 12th annual Marina High Alumni Beach Party for all class years at the Bolsa Chica State Beach near Lifeguard Tower 26 in Huntington Beach, and right adjacent to the Sea Legs at the Beach restaurant and bar. This location is approximately a few hundred yards south of Jack in the Box, which is near the corner of Warner and PCH.

Here is a drone video taken at the 2018 Beach Party by Michael Sola which also includes a large number of photos from the party:

https://vimeo.com/282991840

For friends and family who don't have access to Facebook, please forward them the Marina Beach Party website link:

http://www.marinabeachparty.com/

To see more details and photos of past Beach Parties as well, please visit the "Marina High School Annual Beach Reunions" group page linked here with 2,300 members: https://www.facebook.com/groups/marinabeachpartyreunion/?fref=ts

In 2021, the Class Years of '71, '76, '81, '86, '91, '96, '01, '06, and '11 may be scheduling either mini-reunions or more formal events. Additionally, some class years in 2020 delayed their reunion gatherings until 2021. We had a record 30+ class years represented by Marina alumni at the 2018 Marina Beach Party. If these class years plan on holding their individual class reunions within the Beach Party as either their main reunion event or as a portion of their weekend reunion event, you are more than welcome.

PARKING INFORMATION: There is free parking north of Jack in the Box in Sunset Beach, and paid gated parking for $7.50 (disabled), $14 (senior), and $15 (general) in the adjacent lot several hundreds yards south. The earlier you arrive, the better the parking options will be on that same day.

Here is the beach parking lot link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24289

July 14th Updates - The Official Marina High Alumni Beach Party is Cancelled

Here's the latest updates for beach and restaurant restrictions that we're still researching since yesterday's (July 13th) newest state guidelines:

* SeaLegs at the Beach is not affected at all, per an email reply from their general manager to me this morning (July 14th).

* Most restaurants and bars with outdoor seating options should still continue to remain open, according to sources like the Visit Huntington Beach Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/VisitHuntingtonBeach/

* Please call any restaurant ahead of time to confirm this because their guidelines or management decisions can change rather quickly.

* The Huntington Beach Pier still remains open as do the beaches.

* Officially, the Marina High Alumni Beach Party is cancelled due to the beach restrictions that limit organized beach events. We cannot offer a community potluck or place several tents adjacent to one another as we've done over the past 10 years. Each person who attends the public beach setting is in charge of their own health, safety, and well-being.

* However, there will be many Vikings who will be setting up their beach canopy tents in the same location on the south side of SeaLegs closer to the parking lot area. This is the same usual spot where we have gathered for the past 10 years. If you plan to visit Bolsa Chica State Beach that continues to be open to the public just like SeaLegs at the Beach, please space your canopy beach tents, umbrellas, or towels six feet apart from others around you.

Key points: We can't place any tents too close to the SeaLegs entrance this year just in case there may be a line outside on the sidewalk as requested by the SeaLegs general manager. Also, please do NOT bring any alcohol into SeaLegs as several Vikings have done over the years at past Marina gatherings.

* Please bring a mask with you to the beach. As of today, masks are NOT mandatory to wear on the sand. Yet, SeaLegs may require them to enter their premises. I'm told that people may be able to remove the masks once inside SeaLegs for drinking, eating, and dancing (subject to change).

* SeaLegs at the Beach officially opens up at 10 am. This is the same time when many of us will be on the sand. https://www.sealegsatthebeach.com/

* On Friday, July 24th, several Vikings may be visiting the downtown Main Street (2nd block) region that now offers expanded outdoor seating for restaurants and bars. No cars are allowed on this second block near Main Street and PCH. It's scheduled to remain this way for at least three weeks.

* Beaches could shut down again in the near future. None of us are certain what may happen in the future. All I can say is that if you happen to be visiting the beach near SeaLegs on Saturday, July 25th, you are likely to see old friends and potentially have some fun. Go Vikings!!!

Updated Beach Restriction Rules for Bolsa Chica State Beach (July 12, 2020)

The Marina Beach Party is still being finalized subject to the latest beach restrictions. As noted before, there will NOT be a centralized potluck or any other area where large groups of people will gather. Bolsa Chica State Beach is one of the longest and widest beaches in the state, so it's easier to find more private locations on the sand six, 10, or 50+ feet away from others.

There is never an entrance fee for any Marina beach event or to get into SeaLegs. Younger people under the age of 21 are allowed into SeaLegs because it operates as an outdoor restaurant, so no ID is required to enter.

People may wish to think of this year's more "unofficial" event as more of a series of "parallel small gatherings" that are near one another on the sand. Each person who attends is technically their own private party whether you hang out on the sand, swim in the ocean, walk on the bike path, or enter SeaLegs or other nearby restaurants (Super Mex, Pacific Kitchen, Sea Salt Beachside Burger, Jack in the Box, Tsunami, etc.).

You can space out your beach canopy tents on the sand right adjacent to SeaLegs at the recommended six foot distance and share your own food and drinks that you brought with you. Under each beach canopy, you can sit there with your closest friends, family, or fellow class year members.

For individual class years thinking about possibly organizing their own mini-reunion gatherings on the beach or later this year, it's far more likely that you may be able to hold the event outdoors rather than indoors at any point this year. If so, you may consider bringing your own tents to set up on the sand six feet apart and/or bringing in your own motorhome to be parked adjacent to the SeaLegs property. Please check with the latest beach restrictions for motorhome gatherings before making this decision.

We suggest that people arrive before 10 am to grab the prime sand spots right in front of SeaLegs where we can listen to their music. If you wish to be more distant from others on the beach, then you may consider setting up your beach canopy tent, umbrellas, and/or towels on the sand closer to the water and further away from SeaLegs at the Beach.

SeaLegs and the Bolsa Chica State Beach are both partly or fully owned by the state of California and closely follow the state's latest health guidelines. As of today, you do not need to wear a mask on the beach. Yet, this could change in the near future before July 25th.

SeaLegs does suggest that people wear a mask when entering their one acre outdoor facility. If you forget a mask, SeaLegs may provide them for you at the entrance. People are in charge of their own safety and well-being on this public setting either on the sand or in SeaLegs.

If you're overly concerned about any potential health or safety risks or have any current health conditions (cold, flu, or weakened immune system), then you should probably stay home. You have the right to visit the beach and SeaLegs by yourself up to seven days per week as of the latest July restrictions whether or not any Vikings are there.

On Friday, July 24th, several Vikings may be on Main Street in downtown Huntington to visit the newly closed off second block region that allows outdoor seating for bars and restaurants.

We will keep you posted as we learn more details. We want people to have fun, but we also want them to feel safe while closely following the latest beach rules.