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“Black Tie Beach Party” at Ocean Beach

A formal flash mob party & potluck at Ocean Beach – sun, fun and fancy dress
By - posted 9/15/2018 No Comment

Fight the bitter cold summers of SF by throwing on your classiest outfit and spending a fun afternoon at Ocean Beach. Bust out that fabulous colorful dress, tie, suit, or socks on Sunday, September 16, 2018. This year’s theme is ‘Bring on the Color.

Bring normal beach items (e.g. towel, blankets, sandcastle building tools, boogie board, Frisbee, kite, etc.) as well as food/snacks to share for the potluck.

Aside from formal wear, everything else about this day at the beach will be normal.

2018 Black Tie Beach Party
Sunday, September 16, 2018 | Noon to 5 pm
Ocean Beach Parking Lot | Great Highway btwn Fulton & Lincoln, SF – Map
FREE (Please bring a dish/snacks to share plus BYO Booze and Blanket)

It’s also a fundraiser for Miles for Migraine– a nonprofit 501(c)3 that supports Teens and Families with debilitating Chronic Migraine. Consider buying raffle tickets at the event to support the cause.

Black Tie Beach Event Wear
Buy your outfit at second-hand store or simply wear that worn out dress or suit you hardly ever wear.

  • Men: Black or white tuxedo (black suit with a white shirt if a tux can’t be found)
  • Women: Long evening gown of any color. No wedding dresses please.

Where to get fancy, cheap clothes: 
Goodwill, Buffalo Exchange, CrossRoads Exchange, etc. A half-hour rummaging through several Haight/Ashbury stores should get you what you need. Or, do a simple random scan through your parents’ closets.

If you plan on swimming in the cold ocean in your attire, you should try to find cheap/used clothes you no longer care about. And, it’s OK if your clothes are stained, damaged, or ill-fitting. Just find the best you can find, but please no jokey outfits. It is recommended to wear a bathing suit underneath your outfit rather than underwear.

Where to meet: They will spend the day right on the beach in front of the parking lot along Great Highway (between Lincoln Avenue and Fulton). Parking in the lot is free, but you can also park in or around Golden Gate Park.

Is this a “flash mob?”
Sort of… If anyone asks you why you’re wearing formal wear, reply that you just “felt like dressing up” or “enjoy dressing up at the beach because SF beaches are so cold.” Claim that you do not know anyone other than the few people you might be with. Never say it is a prank, stunt, or flash mob. Keep a straight face. That will make it much more fun.

Started in NYC by Improv Everywhere, SF is joining in on this annual crazy mission – Bay Area style.