Santa Monica is welcoming the summer with a weekend of competitions that are all about beach culture.

The Pier 360 Beach Festival returns to the city’s pier next week with a mix of beach sports, live music and a look at the city’s coastal history.

“It’s a tribute to the unique culture that was born right here on the Santa Monica Pier,” said Jim Harris, its executive director and historian.

The competitions will be visible from the pier and will include classic beach sports featuring some serious athletes. “Some are professional, some are amateurs and many will probably be in the 2028 Olympics,” Harris said.

Competitions will include paddleboard races, beach volleyball tournaments, lifeguard challenges and — given the city’s skateboarding roots — skating contests, clinics and demos.

“With skateboarding we’re honoring Dog Town and Z-Boys, who were Santa Monica and Venice kids who changed skateboarding forever,” Harris said.

With another nod to the area’s culture, a strongman contest will have more than 80 male and female athletes competing across multiple weight classes.

“It’s a great fit and the best way for us to give a nod to the original Muscle Beach,” he said.

Nonathletes can get into the activities too, since there will be a pop-up roller rink on the pier. Live music is planned throughout both days, starting with Polynesian performances.

Visitors can also learn more about the city at a pop-up museum near the merry-go-round that will look at the history of surfing and Muscle Beach through artifacts like paddleboards, surfboards and more.

“Everything that we do here, competitionwise and activitywise, ties back to Santa Monica beach being the birthplace of Southern California beach culture,” Harris said.