Place Your Bids: Getaways, VIP Experiences and Pier Treasures Take Center Stage at ‘A PIERfect Benefit’

From luxury California getaways and VIP entertainment experiences to one-of-a-kind adventures on and beyond the Santa Monica Pier, the auction at A PIERfect Benefit is giving supporters plenty of reasons to place their bids for a good cause.

The Santa Monica Pier Corporation has assembled an impressive collection of auction offerings for its second annual fundraiser on Saturday, September 19, with experiences ranging from a luxury Calamigos Ranch & Spa escape and oceanfront Santa Monica hotel stays to passes for the inaugural Ocean Wave Festival, a VIP LAX airfield tour and a year of unlimited fun at Pacific Park.

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Hosted inside the historic Merry Go-Round Building, A PIERfect Benefit will transport guests back to the glamour and intrigue of the legendary SS Rex, the famed gambling ship once anchored offshore in Santa Monica Bay. The immersive Casino Night will feature casino-style gaming, live Carousel Horse Racing, cocktails, culinary offerings, live entertainment and opportunities to win prizes—all while raising funds to support free, year-round programming on the Santa Monica Pier.

And guests don't have to wait until September 19 to get in on the action. Online bidding is now open at givebutter.com/pierfectbenefit2026, allowing supporters to browse the complete auction catalog, register and place bids from anywhere. Bidding will continue during A PIERfect Benefit, where guests can follow their favorite items and compete for winning bids throughout the evening.

Among this year's confirmed auction highlights:

Escape in Style

- Calamigos Ranch & Spa Getaway — A two-night stay at Calamigos Guest Ranch in Malibu Wine Country, complete with a spa treatment, valued at $3,500.

- Fairmont Oceanfront Escape — A two-night stay in a Premier Ocean View Room, including daily breakfast for two at FIG Restaurant and complimentary valet parking, valued at $1,780.

- The Georgian Hotel Getaway — Two nights at Santa Monica's historic, award-winning Art Deco hotel across from the beach, including a food credit and parking, valued at $1,200.

- The Pierside Santa Monica Getaway — A one-night stay in a Coastal King Room just steps from the Santa Monica Pier, including a $100 food and beverage credit at The Surfing Fox, valued at $920.

Music, Entertainment and Only-in-L.A. Experiences

- Ocean Wave Festival — Four two-day General Admission passes to the inaugural Ocean Wave Festival, September 26–27, featuring two days of music on the beach adjacent to the Santa Monica Pier, valued at $1,596.

- VIP LAX Airfield Tour — Go behind the scenes at Los Angeles International Airport with a VIP airfield tour for four guests, plus a travel gift basket, valued at $600.

- Private Mezcal Tasting — A private tasting experience for 15–20 guests at the winner's home or preferred location, valued at $500.

- The World-Famous Magic Castle — A VIP pass for four to Hollywood's legendary private clubhouse of the Academy of Magical Arts, where guests can experience an evening of close-up magic, stage performances and illusion.

From the Santa Monica Pier

- Pacific Park Premium Annual Pass Package for Four — Four Premium Annual Passes providing 365 days of unlimited rides, including the world-famous Pacific Wheel; four Game Play Cards loaded with $100 each; and a giant plush prize, a package valued at $1,250.

- Santa Monica Pier Premium Swag Collection — A collection celebrating the Santa Monica Pier, including Pier merchandise, an LED sign and a copy of "Santa Monica Pier: America's Last Great Pleasure Pier" by Pier Historian Jim Harris.

- Playland Arcade Gift Tote — Classic Pier fun featuring a $50 Playland Arcade Game Card, plush toy, water bottle and other Playland collectibles.

Wellness, Art and Local Experiences

- Pause Wellness Studios — Two Hero's Journey packages featuring contrast therapy, float therapy, cryotherapy, LED light bed sessions and Signature IV Drips, with a combined value of $1,000.

- Tom Brittain Santa Monica Pier Art — Original works from the artist's series of paintings depicting the Santa Monica Pier in the 1970s.

- ARTime Barro Pottery Experience — A pottery class for two designed for beginners and experienced artists alike, valued at $250.

- Santa Monica Travel & Tourism Signature Gift Collection — A curated Santa Monica package featuring a $300 Lunetta gift card, champagne, AirPods and a collection of Santa Monica travel essentials and keepsakes, valued at $500.

Additional confirmed offerings include dining, entertainment and experiences from local favorites with Upper West, Gilbert's El Indio, Lares, The Brixton, Sogno Toscano Cafe & Wine Bar, The Albright, McCabe's Guitar Shop, The Lobster, Diner Antonette, Santa Monica Seafood, Good Body Pilates and more.

"A PIERfect Benefit's auction is about more than taking home something special—it's an opportunity to experience the places, people and traditions that make Santa Monica and the Pier so distinctive," said Jim Harris, Executive Director and Historian of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation. "Every bid supports our nonprofit mission and helps us continue creating experiences on the Pier that are free and accessible to everyone."

How to Bid

- Online: Visit givebutter.com/pierfectbenefit2026 to browse the complete auction catalog, register and place bids from a computer or mobile device. Supporters do not need to attend A PIERfect Benefit to participate in online bidding.

- At A PIERfect Benefit: Guests can continue bidding throughout the evening using their smartphones, a QR code and bidder number, and monitor their favorite items until bidding closes.

- Winning Bidders: Winning bidders will be notified by email following the close of the auction.

Take a Chance Aboard the SS Rex

The auction is only part of the action. Throughout the evening, guests can try their luck at casino-style games inspired by the legendary SS Rex and its colorful connection to Santa Monica Bay. The action will also move to the historic carousel for live Carousel Horse Racing, with guests cheering on their favorite mounts as a race announcer calls the action around the "track."

Guests who purchase gaming tickets in advance receive 50% off the day-of-event price. Winners at each gaming table receive raffle tickets for chances to win exclusive prizes throughout the evening. The more successful the play, the more chances guests have to take home a prize.

Guests are encouraged to embrace the evening's vintage atmosphere and arrive in period attire inspired by the 1920s and 1930s. Adele's of Hollywood, the legendary Los Angeles costume house established in 1945, is offering A PIERfect Benefit guests 15% off costume rentals and purchases with the promotional code PIER.

Proceeds from A PIERfect Benefit directly support the Santa Monica Pier Corporation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to preserving and enhancing the Santa Monica Pier through free, year-round programming, including Youth Day, which welcomes underserved children from across Los Angeles County for a day filled with joy, play and discovery, and the annual Pier 360 Beach Festival.

There's still time to save on admission. The EARLYBIRD promotional code has been extended through September 8, providing 20% off event tickets.

A PIERfect Benefit takes place Saturday, September 19, at the historic Merry Go-Round Building on the Santa Monica Pier. Tickets, casino gaming packages, auction information, sponsorship opportunities and tax-deductible donations are available at givebutter.com/pierfectbenefit2026.

Produced by Santa Monica Pier Corporation, A PIERfect Benefit thanks the following sponsors for their generous support: Harding Larmore Kutcher & Kozal LLP, Kiwanis Club of El Segundo, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Maria Sol, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, Playland Arcade, RASA, Red Bull, and Santa Monica Travel & Tourism.

Arrive by Rideshare, Metro, Bus or Bike. The Santa Monica Pier is located at 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

The Santa Monica Pier Corporation (SMPC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to preserving and enhancing the Santa Monica Pier experience for every visitor. Through impactful, location-specific programming offered year-round, SMPC ensures that the Pier remains a vibrant, world-class destination that is accessible to all. For more information on happenings at the Pier, please visit santamonicapier.org, or follow us onFacebook, Instagram,X, orThreads.