Orange County Nightlife Is Moving Into the Daylight
- Ivy Dai
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
From rooftop house music to Halloween-themed pool parties, day parties don't wait until the sun goes down to have some fun.
There’s a lot of advantages to partying when the light is out – you can get a good night's rest and also enjoy the warm weather and sun. Nightclubs have traditionally been open only late at night, but with the advent of day parties people can dress up and have fun with their friends in the afternoon.
The concept has been around in Orange County for at least a decade or so in a relaxed and laidback beach atmosphere, but has since become more niche and exclusive in recent years. The most popular ones are outdoors and take advantage of beach views and water features like pools.
Azure Day Party is first on the list, at the Bungalow’s rooftop venue in Huntington Beach. The New York production features the hottest names in house music from 2-9 p.m. every Sunday this summer (until Sept. 27). Tickets start from $20 for general admission, up to $3,000 for VIP tables.
Just recently they featured Levi from Australia, a fast-rising Australian DJ known for blending piano-driven Afro-house rhythms with 2000s R&B nostalgia. They also had Night Hills as a headliner, a British and Australian duo that recorded with Blondish and Shallou. Night Hills tours nationwide but is based in L.A.
The outdoors event boasts ocean views, and draws about 400 people every weekend, from ages 21 to 50. Azure is in nine markets internationally, including Washington D.C., Colombia, Amsterdam and Nashville. DJ Luke Alexander from New York is the owner of Azure.
“The whole brand started as a party in the Hamptons, people flew in from all over to go to New York,” said Bryan Sosa, DJ and managing partner of Azure. Sosa DJed for Tiesto and T-Pain. He is based in Las Vegas, and comes out to Orange County once a week to manage the event. The San Luis Obispo native lived in Huntington Beach from 2020 to 2021.
The goal of the event is for people to enjoy the music, build community and have fun, said DJ Tommy Marini, a Huntington Beach local who is also part of the Azure management team. He has DJed for 17 years and helped open nightclubs.
Day parties are more approachable and friendlier, he said. They wanted to offer something house-centric, not generic music.
“We want you to feel like you're enjoying the beach,” Marini said. “We are taking what we enjoyed and bringing it here, and we’re bringing in top talent from around the world.”
Another unique day party concept is Summerween at Villain’s Brewing Company in Anaheim. The-open air bar and restaurant has a back area with a pool they closed off when they first opened. The group that organizes Summerween parties asked to do a trial run Halloween-themed pool party. It was a hit.
“Halloween is celebrated year-round,” said Villain’s manager Tommy Stockberger. “People come dressed up like their favorite slasher film.”
Stockberger says it's a great way to draw a different crowd that usually wouldn’t come to a brewery. There’s a special 666 menu with $6 beers, sliders and street dogs. $15 admission includes one drink.
The theme changes every week with fun names like Tiki Goth and “I Know What You Did Last Emo Summer.” The event maxes out at around 80-90 people and is usually sold out every weekend with pre-sales online.
And finally there are the SeaLegs open-air concerts at Bolsa Chica Beach. They’re celebrating their 10th anniversary this year with 80’s rock music from 2-6 p.m. Saturdays and reggae 2-6 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free. Along with music there is a full food and drink menu, fire pits and a toes-in-the-sand atmosphere.
“Everyone comes, gets a tan and listens to music,” said director of operations Sergio Garcia. The event draws 1,000+ people in a laidback casual environment right on the beach.
Sea Legs offers California-inspired coastal eats like poke nachos, pulled pork sandwiches, breakfast burritos, and s'mores for the fire pits. On the drink menu there are local craft beers, wine and refreshing cocktails. General seating is first-come, first-served for customers, while private cabanas and fire pits can be reserved in advance.
There are a mix of local and tribute bands on Saturdays, and top local and regional acts like Tropical Drip and Eureka Sound.
Another extra bonus for those who like country music is the sister venue Sea Salt at the Beach next door on the weekends.
Azure Day Party
When: 2-9 p.m. Sundays until Sept. 27
Where: The Bungalow, 21058 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach (Located in the Pacific City Shopping Center)
Cost: $20+; VIP $1000 (6 tickets); $3000 (20 tickets)
Information: azuredayparty.com/socal
Summerween
When: 1-6 p.m. Sundays until Aug. 30
Where: Villain’s Brewing Company, 555 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim
Cost: $15 (includes one drink). Event flier on Instagram has a QR code to scan to buy tickets.
Information: (714) 829-4337, instagram.com/halloweenon.events
Sealegs Live / Reggae Sunday
When: 2-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays (until Oct. 31/ Nov. 1)
Where: Sealegs at the Beach, 17851 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach (at Bolsa Chica State Beach). By Car: enter Bolsa Chica State Beach from Pacific Coast Highway through the main entrance located in the center of the park. After entering, take a right and continue all the way to the end of the park.
Cost: Free
Information: sealegsatthebeach.com/events/sealegs-live, sealegsatthebeach.com/events/raggae-sundays
