Beach Cities Weekend: Volleyball, Chalk Art and a Tea Party

It's shaping up to be a busy weekend in the Beach Cities. Despite the last minute pullout of sponsor AVP, the 50th anniversary Manhattan Beach Open will dig into the sand Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday brings the 8th annual Chalk Art Festival on the Redondo pier, and the 4th annual Beach Shorts Film Fest at the Hermosa Beach Community Center. And the South Bay Tea Party will gather for an event called "Celebrate Freedom America: Don't Tell Me It Can't Be Done" on Sunday night at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. 

The Manhattan Beach Open is getting off to a late start this year due to a smaller number of entrants. Normally there are qualifying matches on Friday, but those weren't necessary this year; some of the sport's biggest names decided to give the event a pass. Olympian Kerri Walsh is among those who protested organizer J. Parker Saikley's decision to put on an old-school tournament with long court boundaries and side-court scoring. Saikley promised less fanfare. Sure enough, as of late Friday morning, a few promotional tents were set up but deserted, just like the courts themselves. Also missing: grandstands for spectators. 

The Chalk Art Festival begins at noon Sunday on the Redondo pier and continues until 4 p.m. The event will be followed by the 5th annual Dolphin Dash at 4:30 p.m. The event benefits the Redondo Beach Library Foundation and will help support the city's new North Branch Library, which opens Sept. 28. 

The Beach Shorts Film Fest will showcase amateur surf films and previews upcoming work by professional surf filmmakers. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show at the Hermosa Beach Community Center cost $10.

"Celebrate Freedom America" begins at 6 p.m. Sunday. A fundraiser and rally for candidates including Nathan Mintz, Bruce Brown, Mattie Fein and John Stammreich, it will take place at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. The documentary "I Want Your Money" will screen from 8:45 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. Tickets cost $20-$30. 

Check back for Patch coverage of these events and breaking news this weekend.