The San Diego County Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation hosts an annual fundraiser every year, Art Gala or Night for the Sea — all for our ocean, waves, and beaches. When one of our Executive Committee members said they were interested in planning a drag show for our annual fundraiser, I said, “OK! Let’s do it!”
You might be wondering—what does a drag show have to do with Surfrider?
For us, ocean protection is about community. The fight for clean water and healthy beaches is stronger when everyone feels welcome in the movement. Drag has always been about self-expression, joy, and resilience—values that resonate deeply with Surfrider’s mission to create inclusive spaces where people can come together to care for the coast. By celebrating creativity and connection, we’re reminding everyone that the ocean belongs to all of us.
A Night to Remember
The inaugural Sirens of the Sea Drag Show and Costume Contest was a night full of laughter, glitter, and purpose. Our amazing and beautifully talented drag performers were fierce and brought the energy we needed, all to help us raise funds to support Surfrider’s mission.
Thanks to the incredible support from Palomar and our friends at Paradise Point Resort & Spa and Tidal Restaurant – one of our local Ocean Friendly Restaurants – we were able to bring this vision to life in a way that truly reflected the spirit of our community.
In Reflection
For me, seeing our community come together that night reaffirmed something powerful: we should always show up as our authentic selves, and the people who welcome that are the ones we want by our side. I am genuinely grateful for the community that decided to spend their time and money with us that night all in support of our mission, each other, and our performers.
Sirens of the Sea reminds us that activism can take many forms—art, performance, laughter, and shared joy among friends. Every time we come together in community, whether at a cleanup or a drag show, we’re building a movement rooted in love for the ocean and for each other.