A 14th Birthday Beach Picnic for 30 in Manhattan Beach

Most of our picnics happen in Santa Monica, but in September 2024 we packed the van and headed south to Manhattan Beach. A local family wanted to celebrate a 14th birthday with a beach party for around 30 guests, right on the stretch of sand near their home by El Porto.

The request was clear from the start: seating for everyone, a few umbrellas for shade, and an extra table to hold a buffet of the family's own food. We loaded in through the El Porto parking lot and had the picnic fully set and ready by 3pm, with seating for the whole group, umbrellas across the sand, a buffet table standing by for the spread, and a chalkboard wishing the birthday girl a happy 14th.

The party ran through the afternoon until 7pm, giving the teens and their families four unhurried hours on the beach. It's a good reminder that a birthday picnic doesn't have to be at one of our usual lifeguard towers: with a workable spot for loading in and out, we can bring the full setup to other beaches around Los Angeles.