SoCal Corgi Beach Day Roundup
SoCal Corgi Beach Day takes place 2-3 times a year at Huntington Dog Beach in Southern California and is by far one of the largest gatherings of corgis, honorary corgis and corgi fans in the country. Even going for the second time in a row and knowing what to expect, it was extremely overwhelming. Although we have yet to perfect it ourselves, here is are our tips for attending Corgi Beach Day.
Coming from out of town?
Get There the Day Before
CBD starts at 10 am and runs until 3 pm. The first time I went to Corgi Beach Day I drove in from Phoenix the day of, and we got there at 12pm. By then, parking was a mess, and we were already exhausted.
This year we got into Huntington on Friday afternoon and didn’t feel rushed to get there. We were able to get a good night sleep, grab some coffee and breakfast, and still get to Huntington Dog Beach early Saturday morning.
Staying nearby was also nice because we had the option to either walk to the beach or take Lyft. We decided to Lyft because we had quite a few beach supplies with us, and didn’t want to exhaust all of our energy before even arriving.
Stay in a Pet-Friendly Hotel
We stayed at Kimpton Shorebreak Resort for the second time, and as usual, it was the best hotel experience we could ask for. The hotel is just half a mile from the dog beach, and directly across from Huntington Beach Pier and a ton of great shops and restaurants. But the best part is that dogs stay free, and are treated like royalty (as they should be).
The entire staff is always so friendly, and so excited to see Willo. They always take a polaroid of their dog guests and hang it in the hotel lobby, which I find so endearing.
They allowed us to check in early, and when we walked into our room we were greeted with dog supplies for Willo, treats, and snacks for the grown ups - chips, salsa, guac and tequila!
Shorebreak also has an adorable restaurant called Pacific Hideaway that has a dog menu! Willo was treated to a beef and veggie bowl and loved every bite.
Eat Breakfast
Because CBD is long and busy, I always recommend eating breakfast before going. It’s a long day, so fuel up and get all the energy you can before going.
Get There Early
Get to the beach early to find parking, set up a home base, and check out all the vendors before it gets too crowded. It gets really packed, so if you’re driving and get there late, be prepared to walk a bit to get to the beach, and be prepared for lots of people.
Bring Lots of Water and Shade
It gets pretty hot in the sun, especially for the doggos, so make sure you bring shade. Whether it’s an umbrella or a tent, I think shade is a must-have if you’re going to last at Corgi Beach Day.
Also, bring plenty of water. There are several food trucks, but the lines are always long. So bring a few water bottles for you and your pups!
Set Up a Basecamp
Having a place where friends can easily find you, and you can hang out with other pups is always a good idea. Lots of experienced people bring pens to keep their dogs in, and cabanas for shade. I actually loved having a pen to put Willo in where she could play without her leash.
Vendors
There are tons of vendors that have awesome deals and samples. We got a raincoat from Long Dog Clothing Company for $20 when they’re usually over $60. But make sure you bring cash! Their card readers don’t usually work out on the beach, so if you just bring a card you may be S.O.L.
Here is a list of just some of the vendors that we’re at Fall Corgi Beach Day 2019:
Pet Supply HB
Events
The organizers put on a bunch of fun corgi competitions throughout the event. If you want to participate, you usually have to sign up a few days prior to CBD. You can sign up on their website http://socalcorgibeachday.com/events
Here are the events that took place during October 2019’s CBD:
Yoga with your Corgi
Cutest Cardigan Corgi Contest
Musical Corgi Chairs
Best Costume Contest
Corgi Limbo Competition
Best Momo (aka Corgi Butt) Contest
Corgi Eating Contest
Corgi Bubble Spectacular
