A 50th Birthday and Farewell Beach Party for 60 at Tower 28

Some birthdays double as a send-off. This July 2025 party marked the host's 50th birthday and a farewell to Santa Monica, and she wanted a relaxed vibe on the beach instead of a formal seated dinner, somewhere friends could drop in over a Thursday afternoon for food, drinks and music. The guest list grew from about 40 to 60 as RSVPs came in.

We set up at Lifeguard Tower 28 in Ocean Park, a spot we have used for years south of the pier. Instead of one long row, we spread low tables across three rugs in separate sections so people could gather in small groups, and added ten foldable chairs for anyone who wanted a seat off the sand. String lights ran around the perimeter, a Beach Canopy package provided shade, and we built a small booth to one side for the DJ.

A shaded buffet held catering ordered through the Rustic Canyon Restaurant Group, delivered to the lot so our team could carry it down, plus dishes friends brought to share. We added extra coolers with ice and a tumbler at each seat. Cornhole, Spikeball, ladder toss and bocce kept the afternoon moving until sunset.