For years, Manhattan Beach summers followed a familiar split. The south side of the Pier hosted some of the most competitive beach volleyball in the country. Polliwog Park filled with picnic blankets every Sunday. The downtown restaurants, meanwhile, stayed reliably upscale and reliably safe. In 2026, that gap is closing. The storefront turnover along Manhattan Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard has caught up to the ambition of what happens on the sand, and the calendar this summer is one of the densest overlaps between the two the city has seen in a while.
Here is what a resident actually needs to know about the next twelve weekends.
The Sunday spine: Concerts in the Park
The city’s free Concerts in the Park series runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Sundays at Polliwog Park. That schedule is familiar. What feels different this year is how easily a concert can anchor the rest of the day.
Metlox Music is scheduled from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on July 12, 19, and 26. That leaves a natural break before the Polliwog performance, provided you allow time to change locations and account for limited parking near the park.
The remaining Sunday lineup is:
| Date | Performer | Style |
|---|---|---|
| July 12 | Las Chikas | Latin pop and dance |
| July 19 | The Amplified | Classic and modern rock |
| July 26 | Kenny Metcalf as Elton | Classic pop rock |
| August 2 | Jimmy’s Buffet | Island rock |
| August 9 | Cobra Cowboy | Country rock |
| August 16 | Gypsy Dreams | Fleetwood Mac tribute and classic rock |
| August 23 | The Police Academy | New wave rock |
| August 30 | Stone Soul | Motown, soul, and R&B |
| September 6 | ABBA LA | Pop and disco |
Seating is free and first-come, first-served. The city recommends arriving early and walking, carpooling, or using rideshare. Bring a blanket or low-backed chairs. Leave pets, barbecues, scooters, skateboards, and roller blades at home.
That practical detail matters because this summer works best when it is planned as a sequence, not a series of separate reservations.
Thursday now comes with its own itinerary
The most complete example is at Manhattan Village, where two programs have finally been placed on the same clock.
The new Manhattan Village Farmers Market runs every Thursday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. The free Summer Concert Series runs Thursdays from July 9 through August 13, with DJ sets and LA Galaxy activities beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the featured band starting at 6:00 p.m.
A simple Thursday plan:
- Arrive after 3:00 p.m. for produce, flowers, honey, handcrafted goods, and artisan products.
- Pick up dinner or settle into one of the center’s restaurants.
- Stay for the 6:00 p.m. performance.
- Finish the market before it closes at 8:00 p.m.
The remaining concert dates are Presley Tenant Band for Country Night on July 16, Pet Project on July 23, Roderick Chambers on July 30, The Lucky Ones for Reggae Night on August 6, and Yacht Rock Night on August 13.
This is the clearest answer to what has changed. Manhattan Beach has always had a full summer calendar. In 2026, the supporting pieces are being timed to work together.
Downtown’s reset is real, but the opening dates matter
A July 8 MB News report documented turnover across Metlox Plaza, Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Manhattan Avenue, and Highland Avenue. Some businesses are open. Others have signed leases or started construction but are not yet ready for a summer plan.
Open now
Bacio di Latte is open at 451 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in Metlox Plaza. Its arrival gives the plaza an easy post-lunch or post-event stop that does not require another full meal.
Coucou is open at 1131 Manhattan Avenue in the former Nando space. The French bistro opens at 4:00 p.m., with a daily apéro hour from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. It stays open until 9:45 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Those hours fit the summer schedule particularly well, whether the plan starts with an afternoon downtown or ends after an event near the Pier.
Sand Spa and Polish by Sand Spa have also opened on Highland Avenue.
Close enough to watch, not firm enough to build a day around
Ounce of Salt Jewelry is preparing its gallery at 1016 Manhattan Avenue. Founder Jen Baick is a third-generation jeweler, and the gallery will feature custom work and a dedicated collection of titanium fine jewelry. The business was expected to open in mid-July, but confirm its status before making a special trip.
Gum Tree is expected to open in its new Highland Avenue space this month. Beyond Yoga is planned for the former Gum Tree location, while Velvet by Graham & Spencer is expected in the former Gelato & Angels space. Firm public dates were not available.
Great White remains a project to follow rather than an opening to announce. As of June 24, it was still under construction at 401 Manhattan Beach Boulevard in the former Pitfire space. Its approved plan includes a large ground-floor patio, which says something useful about the direction of downtown. New restaurant investment is being designed around outdoor use and the pedestrian pace of the district.
Blank Street Coffee, Alfred Coffee, Framebridge, Sogna Toscana, and Parakeet Café are also in various stages of leasing, approval, construction, or delay. Framebridge has a fall target. Parakeet Café has no announced opening date. Sogna Toscana’s approved plan includes a small patio facing Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
For residents tracking Manhattan Beach summer events and new openings, that distinction is the difference between a useful guide and a wish list. Coucou and Bacio di Latte can be part of this weekend. Great White and several other names belong on the watch list.
Mid-July is where the overlap becomes visible
The weekend of July 12 makes the case in one day.
The 63rd Chevron Manhattan Beach Grand Prix runs on its longstanding 1.3-mile course. Valley Drive, Ardmore Avenue, and part of 15th Street are scheduled to close from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with several nearby parking areas also closed. Metlox Music is set for 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., followed by Las Chikas at Polliwog Park from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
It is a strong day to leave the car at home where practical. If driving is necessary, check the closure map and allow more time than usual.
The next stretch layers culture and sports rather than forcing a choice between them:
- July 16 through 19: The 58th Manhattan Beach Open Tennis Tournament takes place at the Live Oak Park and Mira Costa tennis courts.
- July 16 and 17: Shakespeare by the Sea performs Macbeth at 7:00 p.m. at Polliwog Park. The free performances allow picnics, blankets, and low-backed chairs.
- July 19: The Amplified closes the weekend at Polliwog Park from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
- July 21: The Downtown Manhattan Beach Farmers Market celebrates its 20th anniversary from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- July 24: The Annual Community Exhibition opens at the Manhattan Beach Art Center with a free reception from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The Annual Community Exhibition continues through October 4. It features painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and mixed media by more than 100 artists connected to Manhattan Beach. That longer run gives the summer calendar a cultural anchor after the opening-night energy has passed.
The sand takes over from July 29 through August 2
The International Surf Festival runs July 29 through August 2, with several Manhattan Beach events concentrated around the Pier.
The Charlie Saikley 6-Man Beach Volleyball Tournament takes place July 31 and August 1 on the south side of the Pier. August 1 also brings the International Bodysurfing Championships on the north side and the South Bay Boardriders Club Summer Surf Off on the south side.
The Junior 6-Man and the Velzy-Stevens pier-to-pier paddle follow on August 2. That Sunday ends with Jimmy’s Buffet at Polliwog Park from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
This may be the cleanest full-day pairing of the summer: competition near the water, time downtown, then an evening concert in the park. The schedule has range without requiring a complicated plan.
The AVP weekend is the final major peak
The Manhattan Beach Open by AVP runs August 13 through 16. The qualifier begins Thursday, August 13, at 7:30 a.m. and continues until 6:00 p.m. The Volleyball Walk of Fame ceremony begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Pier.
Main-draw play runs from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on August 14 and 15. The final rounds are scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on August 16. General admission is free, with optional premium ticket areas.
Street and parking closures are expected, so this is another weekend when biking, walking, or arranging a drop-off can be more efficient than circling downtown.
The August 16 finals end at the same time Gypsy Dreams begins at Polliwog Park. Residents hoping to do both will need to leave the volleyball early or arrive late to the concert. It is less of a handoff than the August 2 pairing, but it still offers a full day built around two of the city’s defining summer settings.
The larger shift is about rhythm
The opening calendar and event calendar do not match because every storefront is finished. Several anticipated businesses still lack firm dates.
They match because the city now offers more complete ways to use a summer afternoon. Thursday has a market, dinner options, and music in one place. Sundays can move from downtown programming to Polliwog Park. The major beach tournaments now sit alongside a downtown district with several new reasons to stay after the final point.
That is the practical change in summer 2026. The established events remain the backbone. The new openings and better-timed weekly programs are filling in the hours around them.
For thoughtful local guidance grounded in how Manhattan Beach is actually changing, Liz Bird Fine Homes is here to help with calm strategy and a clear point of view.
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