The 56th Annual International Surf Festival has arrived, with a colorful array of events spanning the entire weekend in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach.

First up is the popular Charlie Saikley 6-Man Volleyball Tournament, also known as the 6-Man or 6-Woman, taking place at the Manhattan Beach Pier on Friday and Saturday. 

Other highlights include the L.A. County and Southern California Lifeguard Championships (Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 p.m. at the Hermosa Beach Pier); the International Bodysurfing Championship and Surfing Championships (6:45 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., respectively, at the Manhattan Beach Pier), and the Dick Fitzgerald 2-Mile Beach Run, at 8:00 a.m. at the Hermosa Beach Pier.

Saturday night features the Judge Taplin Three-Mile Medley Relay, which consists of four swimmers, four paddlers, and four 2-man dory teams. This annual lifeguard event - first held in 1936 - is the most prestigious lifeguard event in the United States. Teams from various lifeguard services from throughout Southern California compete in this event each year. The winning team gets the honor of holding the "Taplin Bell" perpetual trophy until the following year's race.

Sunday morning events begin at 7:45 a.m. with the Velzey-Stevens Paddleboard Race starting at the Manhattan Beach Pier, the Dwight Crum Pier to Pier Swim at 9:00 a.m. beginning at the Hermosa Beach Pier, and the Jr. 6-Man Volleyball Tournament at 9:00 a.m. at the Manhattan Beach Pier. 

On Sunday, don't forget to enter Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation's Sand Castle Design Contest - with prizes brought to you by DigMB - a fun event for kids, families, or teams. Registration for the event begins at 7:00 a.m. at the Manhattan Beach Pier. Sand castle building will take place between 7:30 and 9:30 a.m.; with judging at 9:30 and prizes announced at 10:00.