Grab Your Boardshorts and Bikinis for Switchfoot's Free Concert, Surf Contest at Moonlight Beach

Written by Juliet Saunders

Switchfoot’s 10th Annual Bro-Am will be making waves in Encinitas once again this year. The Bro-Am, hosted by Grammy Award-winning band Switchfoot, will be held Saturday at Moonlight Beach. 

The annual festival is part surf contest, part community event, part concert and part fundraiser.

All proceeds from the family-friendly event will go to the Switchfoot Bro-Am Foundation, which aims to provide help to local at risk youth. Part of the funds raised will go to SIMA’s 2014 Humanitarian Fund.

Since the event's start in 2005, more than $900,000 has been raised.

“We’re definitely going to pass the million dollar mark this year. I’d love to see us raise $250,000-$300,000 this year,” said Mia Stefanko, Bro-Am co-director.

In addition to raising money for youth, the event is also focused on being eco-friendly.

“It’s always been important to us to stay as eco-friendly as possible,” said Stefanko.

Stefanko said that the event has become even more earth-friendly since Hurley and popular surfer Rob Machado joined the efforts a few years ago. Saturday’s festivities will have water filling stations for re-usable bottles. Approximately 90 to 100 volunteers will also be in attendance to keep the beach clean. And a solar powered sound system will provide the audience members with a free and green concert. The focus is on emitting less CO2.

Encinitas is the perfect venue for the event since two members of the band, brothers, Jon and Tim Foreman grew up in Encinitas for part of their lives and both brothers graduated from San Dieguito Academy.

“The Encinitas community has always been near and dear to them,” said Stefanko. “They wanted to give back to the community that gave them so much,” she added.

The event includes a charity surf contest, the Bro Junior, live music, food, activities and other vendors.

Bro-Am 411

• Where: Moonlight Beach. 400 B. St., Encinitas, CA 92024.
• When: Surf concert is Saturday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Musical performances will be held starting at noon and go until 5 p.m.
• Parking: Since parking at the beach is limited, there will be a free shuttle from San Dieguito Academy at 800 Santa Fe Dr. Those in attendance are also encouraged to use parking at city hall, 505 S. Vulcan Ave. and take the Coaster.
• Performances: The bands donating their time to the charity event are: Switchfoot, Cody Lovaas, The Future’s League and Run River North.
• Vendors: Honest Tea, Clif Bar, Pizza Port Brewing Company, Wahoo’s, Rob Machado Foundation and many others.
• Surf Teams: Nixon, UNIV, Hurley, Surf Ride and more.
  

Film Screening and Charity Auction

The weekend’s events will start on Friday with the Switchfoot Bro-Am Auction Night Soiree held at an estate in Olivenhain. Guests will be treated to food and drinks from some popular North Country Restaurants such as Bull Taco, Pacific Coast Grill, Jake’s Del Mar and Pizza Port Brewing Company.

Switchfoot will perform at the auction, which will include silent and live auctions and drawings. A meet and greet with the band will be held for VIP ticket holders before the nighttime event starts. Tickets are $175-$250.

The film screening of Switchfoot’s documentary Fading West, along with an intimate Switchfoot performance, will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday at La Paloma Theatre. 471 S. Coast Hwy 101. 

Tickets are $35 for general admission and $50 for VIP, which includes a meet-and-greet with the band and a signed copy of the film. Tickets can be purchased at switchfoot.com/switchfoot/c/bro-am.