A weekend of surf-themed movies, posers music and more, put on by the California Surf Museum in Oceanside

The California Surf Museum is a clean, well-lighted space in Oceanside that preserves and protects over 100 years of surfing history. There are classic surfboards, photographs, exhibits and all together a very nice presentation on the sport of kings–all put together by hard-working volunteers.

The California Surf Museum operates under a lease agreement with the city of Oceanside which gave the museum a perfect, 5600 square foot space in a perfect location in return for certain things.

One of those certain things was that the CSM would strive to produce a surf film festival every fall. THat was no problem and for its second year, CSM has added more than film to make it an all-encompassing surf culture event: “We decided to call it the California Surf Festival,” Said Tara Torburn, a volunteer for the CSM. “This year, the street banners that are hanging say ‘Surf Music*Surf Movies*Surf Culture.”

There was a time when surfers would gather together in local theaters and watch surf movies and hoot and holler and have a blast. The California Surf Festival is a return to those times. For 2009 they are featuring more than a dozen feature films and short subjects — including a sneak peak at the trailer for Kelly Slater’s new IMAX film. Those movies will show at three different venues over the four-day event.

But that’s not all. This is a surf culture festival which will feature performances, speeches and slideshows from three of the most talented people to bubble up out of the surfing world: Evolutionary surfer and author Nat Young, master ukulele strummer Jake Shimabukuro and Clark Little — whose shorebreak art photography offers stunning views of surf and sea.

The complete schedule for the California Surf Film Festival is evolving as we speak. For more information and ticket purchases, go to the California Surf Festival website at www.californiasurffestival.com or call 760-721-6876.