Sabbath by the Sea: Cars and coffee with a dose of California chill

Cars and coffee has become something of a norm these days. In almost any town on any weekend, you’ll find a parking lot full of auto enthusiasts sipping coffee and shooting the breeze with each other about what they drove up there that day. From celebrities like Mike Wolfe and Jay Leno to Jack Shmack and Joe Schmoe, it’s just what car people do. But what if you wanted to do something a little different? Maybe that donut parking lot in Chino Hills or the Western Bagel in Northridge really isn’t your scene.

Imagine this. Take the initial idea of cars and coffee, put it at a really cool beach location, and add a bunch of gearheads enjoying the waves and listening to Black Sabbath.

You’ve just arrived at Sabbath by the Sea. 

Sabbath by the Sea takes place every third Sunday of the month from 8 a.m. to noon at the Royal Palms State Beach in San Pedro, California. Here’s how it works. Do you have a bitchin’ boogie van, chopper, muscle car, or truck? Cruise on down, pay the parking fee, slide on in, grab a cup of complimentary coffee or a donut, and check it out. 

Sabbath by the Sea started a couple years ago when founder of RidingEasy Records Daniel Hall (as well as yours truly) decided to do something a little different with the concept. Initially, Sabbath by the Sea was just a few dudes with their vans drinking coffee, smoking left-handed cigarettes, and listening to Black Sabbath. Since the inaugural event, it has evolved into a throng of vintage vehicle lovers. 

Vans, bikes, cars, trucks, and even a couple vintage RVs have cruised down to Royal Palms Beach to check out what’s going on with this grassroots, family-friendly gathering in sunny southern California. 

The word about Sabbath by the Sea (or SBTS) has spread like wildfire through the channels of social media and has developed somewhat of a cult following. People from across the country and even into Canada have made their way down to this beach party based on the pictures and stories they’ve read online or heard from their friends. A couple from Arizona even showed up one Sunday in their van. The wife’s explanation for the trip? “It’s my husband’s birthday, and when I asked him what he wanted to do, he said, ‘I want to go to Sabbath by the Sea.’ So we hopped in and headed out.” Rad!

Is Sabbath by the Sea for you? As long as you have a good attitude and a cool vehicle, then this off-beat gathering is absolutely something you should check out.

If you want more information on Sabbath by the Sea, you won’t find a dedicated website or a car show list with its schedule of events. Just hop on your ol’ smart device and follow @ridingeasyrecords and @rollingheavymagazine on Instagram, or check the hashtag #SabbathbyTheSea on Twitter. Before each third Sunday of the month, you’ll see a flyer posted.

Oh, and one last thing. Yes, we know that’s the ocean and not the sea, but Sabbath by The Ocean doesn’t really have the same ring to it.