Westside Summer Is Here: World Cup Fever, New Openings, and Everything Happening From Santa Monica to Marina del Rey

From outdoor watch parties in Culver City to sand sculptures on Mother's Beach, here is your guide to the biggest moments shaping the Westside this summer

There is nothing quite like summer on the Westside, and this year it comes with an extra layer of energy. Between World Cup matches taking over our parks and patios, new businesses opening their doors, and neighborhood events popping up from Culver City to Marina del Rey, this is one of those seasons where it genuinely feels good to live here. If you have been wondering what is happening across Santa Monica, Culver City, Playa Vista, and Marina del Rey lately, let me walk you through it.

The World Cup Has Taken Over the Westside

You do not need a ticket to SoFi Stadium to feel the World Cup energy this summer. Culver City kicked off a month long series of free, public outdoor watch parties at Veterans Memorial Park, giving neighbors a place to gather, cheer, and celebrate together all season long. If you would rather skip the drive entirely, Metro has expanded bus service directly from Santa Monica and the Culver City Transit Center to SoFi Stadium for just $1.75 each way on match days, making it easier than ever to catch a game without worrying about parking.

Down by the water, Marina del Rey is leaning into the celebration in its own coastal way. Burton Chace Park is hosting free outdoor watch parties on select match days, and Mother's Beach has been transformed with soccer themed sand sculptures on display through mid July. Local restaurants and lounges along the marina are running match day food and drink specials all tournament long, so there is no shortage of places to settle in and watch.

Even the Getty Center has joined in, installing new outdoor screens at its cafes so visitors can catch a match with a view.

New Openings Worth Checking Out

Beyond the World Cup buzz, the Westside has been welcoming some exciting new additions this season. IKEA opened a new, smaller format store in Culver City's Helms Design District, with a grand opening block party that brought the neighborhood out in full force. Just down the road, Super King Market opened its doors with a sprawling selection of international foods, specialty ingredients, and fresh produce, quickly becoming a go to grocery destination for the area.

Over in Santa Monica, the Third Street Promenade welcomed a new flagship Raising Cane's, designed with a coastal theme that fits right into the neighborhood's beachy character. It is a small thing, but it is the kind of steady investment in our retail corridors that keeps these walkable, beloved areas thriving.

Neighborhood Events to Put on Your Calendar

Culver City has also launched a downtown Entertainment Zone, allowing visitors to enjoy drinks in designated outdoor areas during select special events, giving the downtown corridor an even livelier feel on event nights. Santa Monica is celebrating its first standalone Make Music Day on June 21, with live performances filling parks, beaches, sidewalks, and even the downtown Metro station. And if you are looking for a classic Westside summer weekend, the Santa Monica Pier 360 Beach Festival returns June 27 and 28 with two full days of music and activities right on the sand.

Out at the marina, the $1 WaterBus returns starting June 19, giving residents and visitors a fun and affordable way to hop around Marina del Rey by water all summer long.

Why This Matters If You Live Here, or Are Thinking About It

This is exactly the kind of season that reminds me why people fall in love with the Westside. New businesses opening, packed community events, and easy access to the water and to each other are not just nice perks. They are signs of genuinely healthy, walkable neighborhoods, and that energy tends to show up in how people feel about their homes here too. Whether you are settled into Culver City, exploring Playa Vista, or dreaming about a place near the marina, summers like this one are a great reminder of what makes Westside living so special.

If you are curious about what is happening in your specific neighborhood's market, or just want to chat about your next move, I would love to connect.

Sarina