Most guides to summer in the Marina read like a restaurant list with a fireworks show stapled to the end. If you live here, you already know the restaurants. What actually changes between June and September is the way the harbor is stitched together. From mid-June through Labor Day, a small blue boat turns eight scattered waterfront spots into a single connected evening. Plan around it and the summer opens up.
This is a resident's read on what is worth your Saturday between now and September, with the specific dates, addresses, and lineups you need to make a plan.
The WaterBus is the schedule, not a side trip
Regular service runs Friday, June 19 through Monday, September 7, with extended special-event service on select dates through October 25. Boats run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays during the summer, plus the Fourth of July and Labor Day. Rides are $1 per person per one-way trip, cash only, and Fisherman's Village at 13723 Fiji Way is one of eight boarding stops around the harbor.
The math is the point. If you hop off at a stop and want to get back on later, that is another $1 per person when you re-board. A family of four doing a full round-trip costs $8, which is hard to beat for a harbor ride. A full loop takes about 45 minutes.
During the summer, service starts at 11:00 AM. It runs until 11:00 PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and the Fourth of July, and until 9:00 PM on Sundays and Labor Day. The late Friday and Saturday windows are the ones locals underuse. Dinner at one basin, dessert at another, and no re-parking in between.
The eight stops on the 2026 route include:
- Fisherman's Village at 13723 Fiji Way
- Burton Chace Park
- The waterfront walk near the Ritz-Carlton
- Wetland Park
- Del Rey Landing
Operated by Hornblower, it gives locals and visitors a water-level view of the harbor without having to move your car between stops. The service is worth learning once and using all summer.
Saturday nights belong to Burton Chace Park
Now in its 26th year, the Marina del Rey Summer Concert Series returns with exciting symphonic and pop concerts at beautiful Burton Chace Park. Enjoy a serene sunset by the water and brilliant music under the stars—for free!
The 2026 lineup runs Saturdays at 7:00 p.m.:
| Date | Performance |
|---|---|
| July 11 | Marina del Rey Symphony, Encanto in Concert Live to Film |
| July 18 | Los Lobos |
| July 25 | TBA |
| August 1 | Marina del Rey Symphony, Video Game Music |
| August 8 | Monsieur Periné |
| August 15 | D Smoke and Carl Thomas |
That schedule comes from the county's series listing, with the opening night pairing the Marina del Rey Symphony with a live-to-film screening of Encanto. The August 1 program is the sleeper of the season. A full symphony orchestra and chorus will perform epic scores from Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Medal of Honor, Journey, Sword of the Sea, God of War III, Starfield, Fallout, and World of Warcraft, among others.
A few things to know as a resident, not a tourist:
Due to the popularity of the Summer Concert Series, expect heavy traffic delays on the roads surrounding the Marina del Rey area. Public parking lots nearby the park rates typically $7 to $10. Gourmet food trucks arrive at 5:00 p.m., or pack your own picnic for a classic concert-in-the-park experience. Family-friendly, relaxed atmosphere for all ages. No reserved seating; arrive early for the best spots.
If you live within reasonable walking distance of any WaterBus stop, skip the parking problem entirely. Before the concert, hop on the Summer WaterBus for just $1 per person. This open-air boat stops at eight scenic locations throughout the marina, including Burton Chace Park, so you can enjoy a relaxing harbor cruise before the concert begins.
Weekend afternoons at Fisherman's Village
If Saturday night is Chace Park, Saturday and Sunday afternoons are Fiji Way. Fisherman's Village has free live music every weekend in June 2026. Bands play Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, with one Sunday show running 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM, right on the waterfront at 13723 Fiji Way in Marina del Rey.
Eight bands are booked across eight weekend afternoons in June. The styles run from oldies and pop to zydeco, surf rock, funky sax, country, and reggae, so there is something for just about every taste. The June schedule is part of the 2026 Summer Music Series that launched over the Grand Kickoff weekend at the end of May, and the weekend programming continues through July.
The practical footnote is seating. A low-back beach chair is recommended. Seating is festival style around the waterfront, so most people bring their own. On-site parking exists for a small fee, but the WaterBus stops here, and that is the better answer on a busy afternoon.
Wednesday evenings on the water
This one is easy to miss because you have to look up, not around. The iconic Sunset Series Regatta is a weekly sailing tradition in Marina del Rey since 1964. Taking place every Wednesday evening, this lively race lights up Santa Monica Bay with up to 75 sailboats competing across eight classes in 21 scheduled races. Held every Wednesday from April 15 to September 2, 2026.
Walk out to the end of the south jetty around sunset on any Wednesday between now and Labor Day and you get an hour of coordinated color moving against the water. It is one of the best free things this neighborhood does, and it is not advertised anywhere except by the boats themselves.
Daytime, when the light is easier
The Saturday routine locals actually keep is the market. This open-air Farmers Market by Mother's Beach is held every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., year-round. Free admission. Year-round matters. It is not a summer pop-up, and the summer produce is what you are showing up for.
Mother's Beach has an unusual overlay this year tied to the World Cup. The Marina is building an epic series of sand sculptures on Mother's Beach. Catch these Insta-worthy installations every match day from June 12 to July 10. Whether you follow the tournament or not, the sculptures are worth a walk, and Mother's Beach is one of the few genuinely swimmable stretches on the Westside for younger kids.
Then there is the Fourth. The display lights up the sky from 9:00 to 9:20 p.m., best viewed from Burton Chace Park, Fisherman's Village, or anywhere along the waterfront. Synchronized music plays at the main viewing spots, adding to the festive atmosphere. Twenty minutes is short for a July 4 show, which is the local trick to it: you can walk out at 8:55, watch the whole thing, and be back home before the crowd disperses.
The former Tony P's, and what's next for that corner of the harbor
One piece of news worth keeping on your radar if you have been wondering why that stretch of the seawall has felt quiet. Los Angeles County officials have entered a license agreement with the California Yacht Club for the former Tony P's Dockside Grill site, following the restaurant's closure. The Los Angeles County Department of Beaches and Harbors entered into the agreement, allowing the club to operate at the site while both parties work toward a lease amendment.
The project remains in the design phase and is aiming for a Spring 2026 opening. In the interim, the club will offer bar service for its members at the site. Club co-owner and president Jeff Weiss said the California Yacht Club is committed to connecting Angelenos to experiences on the water.
A separate opening to watch on the food side: Pita Cafe, a Mediterranean chain with a local following, is preparing to open a new location in Marina del Rey. The planned outpost would be at 3205 Washington Blvd. The addition would bring the chain to five Los Angeles-area locations. No opening date has been set.
A resident's operating plan
The pieces above are more useful together than apart. A workable weekend rhythm, using nothing but public infrastructure and the harbor itself:
- Saturday morning: farmers market at Mother's Beach, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Saturday afternoon: Fisherman's Village music from 2 to 5 p.m., reached by WaterBus.
- Saturday evening: Summer Concert at Burton Chace Park at 7 p.m., again by WaterBus, avoiding the $10 parking scramble.
- Wednesday evening: walk to the jetty for the Sunset Series Regatta.
- Mid-week daytime: the eight-stop WaterBus loop for the sake of the loop itself.
None of this requires a reservation, and most of it is free. What it requires is knowing the calendar, which is the one thing a resident has that a visitor does not.
At Jambi Property Management, we manage single-family homes, condos, and townhomes across Marina del Rey and the surrounding Westside and South Bay markets. If you own a Marina property and want a calm, appraisal-informed read on rental pricing, leasing strategy, or whether to hold, renovate, or sell, we would be glad to talk. Request a Free Rental Analysis and we will get back to you promptly.
