Duke’s Malibu Restaurant kicked off its summer celebration June 16 at 7 p.m. with its 8th Annual Big Wednesday night promotions presented by Surfer Magazine.
Sponsors such as KROQ, Roxy and Quicksilver, as well as celebrity surfers slated to bartend, help support the event, which aids Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Bay and local lifeguards.
Duke’s will feature celebrity surfers Wednesdays through Aug. 18 to help raise money for the mentioned causes. Celebrities will bartend for the night in the Barefoot Bar, serving a variety of drink and weekly food specials.
“There are many slated to come throughout the summer, but you know, they’re surfers. So it will be interesting to see which ones come and which don’t,” said Perique Iacangelo, marketing manager for Duke’s Malibu. Iacangelo is hopeful more will attend in future weeks, as it is a great event for those involved in surfing and the Malibu beaches.
Opening night included a booth supported by KROQ DJs with live music as well as prizes from many surf and action sport companies. Sponsors of the event include Becker Surfboards, O’Neill, Quicksilver, Malibu T-shirts and Budweiser, among many others. Big Wednesday event goers will have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in surf merchandise, as well as snack on fish tacos, shrimp cocktails and a variety of choices from Duke’s staple menu.
Members of the Surfrider Foundation tabled a booth in which they answered individual’s questions and offered information about the organization. Pamphlets, literature and basic fact sheets about the Foundation’s campaigns and projects were available to those interested, as well as applications to apply for membership.
Like the creators of Duke’s, the members of the Surfrider Foundation, Heal the Bay, and local lifeguards are concerned about the welfare of the ocean for surfers and other beachgoers. The mission statement of the organization, according to the Surfrider Foundation, is “dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education.” Some of the Surfrider Foundation programs include Beachscape, Blue Water Task Force and the Chapter Activist Network.
Heal the Bay was created in 1985 with the mission to fight for a “fishable and swimmable bay.” Heal the Bay projects include the Malibu Lagoon restoration, Stream Teams and the Pier Outreach Program. Some areas Heal the Bay specializes in are public health and education (i.e., Beach Report Card and Bay Days), as well as beach cleanups, which include the organization’s Adopt-A-Beach and Coastal Cleanup Day.
Local area lifeguards will also benefit from the event as they work to keep beachgoers safe during their time at the beach. Malibu beaches are among the most populated beaches in California in the summer and throughout the year.
Duke’s Malibu will be celebrating its Big Wednesdays each Wednesday through Aug. 18 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m. KROQ music and the Duke’s raffle will be happening throughout the summer as well. Duke’s is located at. 21150 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu.