Del Mar's surf heritage gets a four-day celebration this fall when the Surf Del Mar Festival takes over Powerhouse Park, Del Mar Plaza and other local venues from Thursday, Oct. 8, through Sunday, Oct. 11.

Organized by the Del Mar Historical Society, the festival pairs a surfers' reunion, live music, film screenings and a climate symposium with a Surfwriter's Book Fair featuring world champion surfer Shaun Tomson and legendary surf photographer Jeff Divine, who will launch his new book "Divine Surf" on the final day.

Jazz guitarist Peter Sprague headlines the opening night reception at Del Mar Plaza on Oct. 8. Sprague, a 2024 San Diego Music Hall of Fame inductee who has toured with Chick Corea and Sergio Mendes, grew up surfing Del Mar's breaks after settling in the city in 1961. Filmmaker Jim Lischer, who began filming surf culture in 1968 and spent 40 years as a Del Mar ocean lifeguard, is another central figure in the festival.

The two go back decades.

"Peter put so much feeling into his turns; his surfing was like an artistic expression," Lischer wrote about Sprague in Surfer Magazine in February 2002.

Lischer organized community surf contests during his career with the City of Del Mar and marks his 54th year as a training videographer in 2026, according to the festival's website.

Schedule highlights:

  • Thursday, Oct. 8: Climate Symposium at St. Peter's Parish Hall (11 a.m.–4 p.m.) with conservationist Serge Dedina of WildCoast and Kevin Whildon of Sea Trees, moderated by Jeff Lehmann; Art Walk at Del Mar Plaza (1–6:30 p.m.); Opening Reception with Peter Sprague and Group (3–7:30 p.m.) and Legends and Champions Awards emceed by Jim Kempton of the California Surf Museum.
  • Friday, Oct. 9: Surfing Film Festival at St. Peter's Hall (11 a.m.–7:30 p.m.) featuring Shaun Tomson's "Bustin' Down The Door" with a Q&A.
  • Saturday, Oct. 10: Surfer's Reunion at Powerhouse Park (11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.); Surfwriter's Book Fair at L'Auberge Hotel Ruby Room (10 a.m.–3 p.m.) in collaboration with Camino Books of Del Mar; Woody Wagon Parade through Del Mar with display at the Del Mar Train Station (noon–3 p.m.); the Mar Dels concert at Powerhouse Park (2–5 p.m.); outdoor screening of "The Endless Summer" on the Powerhouse Park lawn starting at dusk.
  • Sunday, Oct. 11: Surfwriter's Book Fair continues (10 a.m.–3 p.m.) with Jeff Divine and Grant Ellis; Student Art Walk at L'Auberge featuring work by Torrey Pines High School and Earl Warren Middle School students (11 a.m.–3 p.m.); Women on Waves panel (1–8 p.m.) with author Kim Dwinell and mother-daughter team Valerie Du Prat, a scientist and surfboard shaper, and champion teen surfer Victoria Du Prat.

The Mar Dels, a seven-piece nostalgia band performing San Diego shows since 1982, handle Saturday's afternoon set. Four Torrey Pines High School students built the festival's schedule page.

Full details are available at surfdelmarfestival.com.