Cirque du Soleil raises the Big Top for its first production at the Santa Monica Pier since 2014

From October 19 through December 1, 2024

Tickets available now for Club Cirque members.

General on-sale begins on May 6th.

The thrilling, internationally-acclaimed Cirque du Soleil production, KOOZA, is coming to the Santa Monica Pier from October 19 through December 1. Audiences are invited under the iconic Big Top at the Pier to be part of the joyous return of Cirque du Soleil to this much-loved location that is home to both magic and memories. From daredevil performances to mischievous clowns, KOOZA delivers a signature Cirque du Soleil experience in its most exciting form with high-flying acrobatics, whimsical characters, lavish costuming, colorful sets, hilarious clowning, and a powerful live score. Acclaimed the world over since its opening in 2007, KOOZA has mesmerized close to 8M spectators with over 4K performances in 65 cities across 22 countries. This marks Cirque du Soleil’s first Big Top show in Santa Monica since 2014.

A breathtaking return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil, KOOZA pays tribute to traditional circus in all its splendor with audacious acrobatic prowess and bold slapstick comedy. Filled with chills, thrills, laughter and wonder, KOOZA unfolds a non-stop, adrenaline-packed series of edge-of-your-seat surprises. Under the watch of a mysterious trickster with electrifying powers, KOOZA follows the self-discovery adventures of the Innocent who is magically transported to an exotic yet zany kingdom.

“We are thrilled to announce the return of Cirque du Soleil to the beautiful Santa Monica Pier said Duncan Fisher, President, Touring Shows Division at Cirque du Soleil. It has been 10-years since our last visit to this iconic site that has created such amazing memories over the years. Cirque du Soleil’s relationship with Santa Monica dates back to 1987 where we received such a warm welcome that it sparked our climb to global prominence. As we celebrate our 40th anniversary, it is only fitting we return to the community and fans who supported us from the very beginning. We look forward to welcoming visitors, old and new, into the world of KOOZA” he concluded.

Undeniably the most daring Cirque du Soleil touring production, KOOZA takes audiences on a thrilling emotional ride with its nail-biting, mind-boggling acrobatics. Inspired by traditional circus arts from around the globe, the show’s performances display remarkable showmanship, exceptional execution, and incredible agility – notably in the High Wire, Teeterboard and Wheel of Death acts.

As previously announced, Cirque du Soleil will perform under the Big Top at the Laguna Hills Mall from June 8th through July 21st. Cirque du Soleil In Santa Monica

Cirque du Soleil made its first United States debut at the opening of the Los Angeles Festival in 1987. The Big Top first set ground at the beautiful and iconic Santa Monica Pier for its first international staged-show in 1987 which led to a turning point in the growth of Cirque du Soleil. The performance received such a warm welcome that it was followed by a tour of California which brought an incredible visibility for Cirque du Soleil. Since then, the company returned with 10 different productions over the years to a location that became a favorite tour residency destination. Cirque du Soleil will visit the Santa Monica Pier for the first time since 2014 with anticipation.

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for Santa Monica performances of KOOZA are available online exclusively to Club Cirque members starting today. For free subscription, Click Here. General on-sale to start on May 6th, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

The lifeless bodies of the 3 Missing Surfers in Mexico havbe been found.

They were discovered at the bottom of a cliff located in the Punta San Jose area in the area known as the lighthouse in the delegation of Santo Tomas, Ensenada municipality.

They were Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson (33 and 30, respectively), and American Jack Carter Rhoad, 30, who were last seen on April 27th at northern Baja surf spot, K-38. The Robinson brothers had attended the Coachella music festival before going to Mexico to surf. Callum was based in the U.S. and Jake, who worked in regional hospitals across Australia, had flown out two weeks ago to visit him.

The mother of the brothers reported them missing shortly shortly after, when she noticed their social media posting of their trip had stopped and she found out they failed to check into their AirBnB accommodation in the city of Rosarita on April 28. She pleaded for help via social media, sparking others to help spread the word.

The last image posted to Callum's Instagram shows the group made to San Miguel beach in Ensenada before going off the radar:



The truck they had been traveling in was a white Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck at the beach ion Rosarito.

That same vehicle was later found burnt-out in the Santo Tomás area after the ranch manager called 911 on Thursday. Police also say they found three abandoned tents south of Ensenada, with local media reporting that blood was found on them.

On Friday, May 3, unconfirmed local reports that two of the bodies were found in a well, but other outlets have described the location as 'near a cliff'. The local police had suspected foul play as their burned-out car was found as well as an abandoned campsite with traces of blood.

Three suspects have been arrested in connection with their dissappearance. A 23-year-old Mexican woman who reportedly was discovered in possession of a mobile phone belonging to one of the brothers, along with methamphetamine.

Two men, also Mexican, were also arrested as part of the investigation, said Baja California’s chief public prosecutor Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez.

Police were able to make the arrests after one of the brothers' mobile phones was turned back on, and pinged a local mobile tower.

"The detainees are the brothers Cristian Alejandro "N" and Jesús Gerardo "N" (a) "El Kekas" partner of Ari Gisel "N" who was secured on Wednesday morning in the possession of the cell phone of one of the missing tourists and had pointed out who gave it to.

In all cases the suspects would be in possession of various doses of drug when arrested.

As reported, this Wednesday, the municipal police carried out an operation in the area of La Bocana to search for three surfers missing since Saturday, April 27 when their relatives stopped contacting them.

The missing tourists are 30-year-old Jake Robinson, 33-year-old Callum Robinson (brothers) and Carter Rhoad, 30, who were last seen Sunday 28 in the La Bocana area.

They intended to return to a house they had rented for vacation at an AIRBNB in Rosarito and were traveling aboard a white Colorado-branded pick up with plates 70189W1.

The operation was carried out in the area near the Bocana de Santo Tomás in the site known as San Juan de las Pulgas and Punta San Jose 150 kilometers south of the city of Ensenada, bordering the coast.

Unofficially it is known that in the search area they located an abandoned cottage, apparently from surfers and traces of violence."



Australian brothers Jake, 30, (right) and Callum Robinson, 33, pictured below:

They were travelling with 30-year-old American Jack Carter Rhoad. Pictured below in an image uploaded by Callum last Saturday, shortly before the trio went missing.

Mike, aka German in Venice, vlogs about daily life in Venice Beach, and the nearby communities.

"It's really sad to say, but I had to close down my business on Venice Beach do the lack of tourism and maybe the bad economy. Thank you so much for all the people there support me over the years. Thank you."

Film by Don Aron at Topanga Beach in 1979.

The Pacific Wheel will light up in red, white, and green from Friday, May 3 to Sunday, May 5 in celebration of Cinco de Mayo 2024.

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “Fifth of May”, is a yearly celebration held on May 5. It commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This victory is notable because the Mexican army prevailed over the larger and better equipped French force.

Widely celebrated in Southern California, Cinco de Mayo was first commemorated in Columbia, California, just days after the historic battle. Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news of the victory that they spontaneously let off fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made speeches.

Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day. This is celebrated on September 16, and commemorates the “Cry of Delores” (the call to revolt) that initiated the Mexican War of Independence. Cinco de Mayo has now become associated with a more general celebration of Mexican-American culture.

We’re honoring the occasion by lighting the Pacific Wheel in the colors of Mexico. Enjoy this special event from Friday, May 3 through to Sunday, May 5. You can see the Pacific Wheel lights from dusk until 11:35 PM each evening.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

3 men who went on a surf trip to Mexico are now missing.

Brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend Jack Carter Rhoad, failed to check into their accommodation in the city of Rosarita on April 28.

It's understood they were surfing and camping at the popular surfing spot Punta San Jose near the city of Ensanada.

Local media reported while searching for the men around La Bocana, authorities discovered one of the trio's phones had been switched on around an hour's drive of where the men were last seen.

"A woman … about 25 years old … was detained in possession of it [in the upper part of Maneadero]," reporter Mario Muñoz told the press, citing local police sources.

He said she was also found carrying drugs and would be handed over to the state attorney general's office.

"The state prosecutor's office will investigate the disappearance of the three tourists," Mr Muñoz said.

Mr Munoz supplied pictures of the area in Punta San José where police are searching.




Police in Mexico say they have made another two arrests as they investigate the disappearance of the trio.

The mother of the two brothers, Debra Robinson, has been using social media to appeal for help finding her sons.





"They have not contacted us since April 27 … they are travelling with another friend; an American citizen," she wrote.

"Callum is a Type 1 diabetic so there is also a medical concern.

"Please contact me if you have seen them or know their whereabouts."



Baja California Attorney General María Elena Andrade Ramírez told reporters that three Mexican people were arrested in connection with the case.

Ramírez said three tents belonging to the trio had been found south of the city of Ensenada.

A truck belonging to one of the brothers was also found burnt out on a nearby farm. The torched vehicle was about 400 metres from a stream and a vineyard within the property. The area has been cordoned off.

Mexican government statistics show Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo have reported significant increases in drug-related violence, particularly murder.

Baja California Sur and Baja California are among the states with the highest homicide rates. According to Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), residents of Baja California reported 27,211 criminal incidents per 100,000 people in 2022, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Baja California is also among the worst states in Mexico when it comes to violent crime, with ongoing conflicts amongst drug cartels contributing to a spike in the local homicide rate.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, emergency responders were called to Santa Monica Beach after receiving reports of an assault. Los Angeles County Lifeguards, Santa Monica Police Officers, Santa Monica Firefighters and Paramedics, and Santa Monica Harbor Patrol Officers attended the scene where a couple's argument had escalated into violence.

According to eyewitnesses, a dispute between the couple culminated with the male partner, described as an African American man, striking the female partner over the head with a wine bottle. The assault left the woman temporarily unconscious with a head injury. Lifeguards and firefighters provided first aid until she was transported to a hospital by ambulance for further medical care.

The suspect fled the scene immediately after the incident. Authorities have since launched a search to locate him, with potential charges of domestic violence and assault with a deadly weapon pending upon his capture. Eyewitnesses praised the prompt response of the emergency services, highlighting the quick arrival of both lifeguards and police at the beach.

This violent incident has heightened community concerns about safety and security in popular public areas like Santa Monica Beach."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair

Venice's Glen Walsh is thrilled to announce the documentary ‘Out in the Lineup’ is celebrating its 10 year anniversary with a screening at the Dana Point Film Festival on Saturday, May 4 at 1pm!

"Can’t believe it’s been 10 years since I music supervised and co produced this ground breaking documentary about LGBTQ surfers. So much progress has been made , of course we will have a ways to go towards equality and acceptance! Come see the film that launched a movement! Would love to see you all there with Riley Herman and mysel are doing a Q&A after! Or we will just surf!"

Time: Sat, May 4th, 1:00 PM @
Location: Dana Point Women's Club

For more info, and to get tickets, Click Here.


Originally released in 2014, and featured in film festivals around the world, ‘Out in the Lineup’ is a documentary following two gay surfers as they travel the world and learn why gay men and women surfers find it impossible to get sponsorships, or find acceptance in a sport which is supposed to be renown for it's laid back, free-spirited culture.



Join David and Thomas from the east coast of Australia to Hawaii, California, Mexico and the Galapagos Islands as they meet and surf with people from all corners of the surfing community. There’s some amazing stories, and beautiful surfing – contradicting a comment from a pro surf spectator that “gays just aren’t strong enough to paddle a surfboard”. There’s an openly gay three-time world champion, an award winning big wave rider, and former US Congressman and his surfer husband, along with everyday surfers, gay and straight coming together to help build acceptance. The story even inspired a current national champion surfer to come out and share his story – an amazing finale to the film.

Throughout their travels David and Thomas hear stories of fear, isolation and self-doubt, but are also inspired by tales of hope, self-empowerment and transformation. They witness the conflicts created by the marketing image of surfers (straight white males and women in tiny bikinis), and how it inhibits personal expression in a sport that’s supposed to be so free. Numerous attempts to get comments from the professional surfing associations, or the mega-corporations that sell billions of dollars of merchandise built on the surfing stereotypes were unsuccessful, as the film documents.



Why are homophobic slurs so common in the lineup? When homosexuality is now being accepted in pro sports including basketball, football and soccer – why is the surf industry unwilling to make any comment at all? How do gay surfers reconcile their identities as athletes when role models are invisible?

These topics and others are revealed as the journey of David and Thomas unfolds. They, along with the 5,000+ members of GaySurfers.net, their friends, families and communities hope this film can help create change in surf culture, looking to the surfing’s grassroots values of freedom of spirit, open-mindedness and love for the ocean.



Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

Who’s counting days til May 4th at Malibu?!?! We can’t wait to share the stoke, countless smiles and good times with all our AWOW Athletes, volunteers, families and friends. Come support if you can and big thanks to all our ‘Bu partners and people who make these events possible. See ya soon




For more info, Click Here.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.