Spooky surfers decked out in costumes hit Newport Beach’s waves
Members of the free community surf group, Surfista, pose for a photo on the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Debby Falese, left, and Jennifer Calonico, both of Huntington Beach, make their way along the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Laura Steel of Newport Beach rides a wave just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Che Shayne, left, of Costa Mesa and Sarah Evangelista, right, of Huntington Beach, show off their costumes on the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer rides her surfboard just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Russell Toler rides a wave with his daughter, Summer, 8, both of Costa Mesa, just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wearing a Richard Nixon mask, Bill Morck of Costa Mesa rides his surfboard just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the free community surf group, Surfista, pose for a photo on the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer rides his surfboard just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Charles Mendola, left, and Jessica Stiffler of Huntington Beach make their way along the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Debby Falese of Huntington Beach rides her surfboard into the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer makes his way through the shore break just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A surfer looks back at the beach as he makes his way out to ride the waves just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Surfers ride their surfboards just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wearing a Richard Nixon mask, Bill Morck of Costa Mesa makes his way along the beach just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jennifer Calonico, left, and Debby Falese, right, both of Huntington Beach, show off their costumes just north of the Newport Beach Pier early on Saturday morning, October 28, 2023, as surfers wearing a variety of Halloween costumes gather for the annual holiday event of riding the waves in Newport Beach. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Surfers got spooky in Newport Beach on Saturday, Oct. 28, just north of the pier, joining an annual gathering that has grown through the years and draws a big crowd to watch the festivities.
For 20 years, surfers young and old have braved the waves in Halloween costumes – which usually get shredded pretty quickly by the salt water and wipeouts. Now more of an information gathering, the tradition was started by the Blackies Classic Longboard Association, which at first gave out prizes and awards, with judges on the sand.
It’s one of those days when surfers don’t mind taking party waves together, mostly for fun photos, as the crowd hoots and hollers.
While the Blackies event is the largest of it’s kind around, there were also surfers who hit the water on Saturday further south at Boneyards surf break at Doheny State Beach. And, the Wahine Kai women’s surf group rode waves in costumes at Bolsa Chica State Beach.
If you missed the fun, an event at 10 a.m. on Saturday in the Dana Point Harbor will bring paddlers and kayakers decked out in witch costumes together to cruising around the waterways. Last year, more than 150 people joined in. The event is open to the public.
