Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach July 4

Pre-judging at 10 a.m. | Finals at 1 p.m.

Venice Recreation Center
1800 Ocean Front Walk
Venice, CA
Free to see
$100 competition fee, $70 additional classes, musclebeachvenice.com

Each year on the 4th of July you when you visit California beaches you see lots of activity, plenty of skin (nudity not allowed at most beaches,) and one unmistakably eye-popping event -- Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach held in the heart of L.A.'s beaches at Venice Rec.

One of the nation's premier outdoor competitions during the 4th is somewhat the antithesis to Coney Island's Hot Dog chomping contest in which a California (Joey Chestnut) has won the honors many times.

No crossovers between figure, bikini, and women's physique or between Men's bodybuilding and
Teen's BB
Men's Open BB
Men's Novice BB
Master's Men BB
Women's Physique
Couples (Mixed Pairs)
Classic Physique
Wheelchair Division
Teen's Physique
Men's Physique
Men's Master's Physique over 35/45
Bikini Open
Bikini Master's  over 35/40
Figure Open
Figure Master's over 35/45
Vintage Swimsuit

Muscle Beach is described as the embodiment of the California beach lifestyle. On the 4th of July you can watch patriotic, tanned competitors vie for Mr. & Ms. Muscle Beach honors in the annual Muscle Beach 4th of July Contest. Finals at 1 p.m.   Admission is free.

Muscle Beach is owned and operated by Los Angeles Recreation & Parks Department, as Venice is an unincorporated town, part of Los Angeles. A 2.5 mile paved beach path or strand features what many tourists consider a circus like atmosphere-locals don't pay much attention.

Opened as Venice of America in 1905, it was designed with canals, a 1,200 foot Kinney pleasure pier, dance hall, salt water plunge and arcade filled with entertainment. The old style entertainment has disappeared, but the fun remains at a place called the Pen, where body builders work out in an outdoor atmosphere where tourists can watch and gawk. There's a beautiful, flat sandy beach, beach basketball courts, shopping, outdoor dining beach concessions for bicycle rentals, and much to do in a beach atmosphere.

In the 1930s Muscle Beach sprang from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) which installed exercise equipment next to the beach  just south of the Santa Monica Pier. Vic Tanny, Jack LaLanne, and Joe Gold were a few of the fitness personalities who used the outdoor platform equipped with weight lifting and bodybuilding machines and weights.

The City of Los Angeles 1987 ceremony dedicated Muscle Beach Venice, a separate entity  from the original Santa Monica Muscle Beach. City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department maintains  Muscle Beach Venice weight pen with barbells and weight training equipment. The City of Los Angeles officially dedicated "Muscle Beach Venice" with the added word of 'Venice' in the title to distinguish it from the original "Muscle Beach" in Santa Monica

In 1989 Santa Monica Muscle Beach was rededicated to serve gymnasts, acrobats and youth.