About this event
A Walk On Water (AWOW) brings its free, inclusive Surf Therapy program to Newport Beach on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM PST. The current first-party event page says athlete preregistration and volunteer registration are open. Each person in a party must be included in the RSVP so AWOW can plan food and water; registration is available only to logged-in members who have already signed the required waiver. AWOW welcomes athletes with any disability, illness or obstacle that could benefit from ocean-based surf therapy. Participation is not limited to autism, there is no published minimum or maximum athlete age, and non-swimmers are accepted. The program is structured mainly for children and young adults, with approved surf instructors, Water Safety and Beach Safety teams, athlete chaperones, fitted wetsuits and personal-flotation-device life vests, beach activities, food, water and a trophy celebration. Each athlete should reserve one assigned surf-session time; additional water time is subject to instructor availability. Every volunteer age 18 or older must create an individual site account and RSVP in one preferred category. Minor volunteers are listed as guests of a parent or guardian. When a preferred category is full, applicants can use the page's waitlist form and AWOW fills cancellations as space permits. Surf instructors require preapproval. Water Safety is an age-18+ ocean role requiring excellent swimming endurance, several hours in the surf, and the ability to lift an adult athlete onto a board; wetsuits, booties and fins are required, although AWOW can supply fins. Beach Safety should be age 16+ and comfortable carrying athletes and boards in waist-deep water. Non-water roles include registration, wetsuits, athlete chaperones, family greeting, food and beverage, art, music, photography/video, and setup/teardown. AWOW's official page currently names Newport Beach but does not publish a final street-level check-in point. A secondary action-sports listing identifies 56th Street Beach, so that location is retained as a useful lead rather than first-party confirmation. The exact page does not publish numeric capacity, a registration deadline, individual session inventory, volunteer call times, parking allocation, sand-access instructions, sensory accommodations or an event-specific cancellation policy. Confirm the final RSVP assignment and beach-access directions before travel.
At a glance
Athletes with any disability, illness, or obstacle that can benefit from surf therapy are welcome. Not limited to autism. Non-swimmers are accepted. The program mainly serves children and young adults but publishes no minimum or maximum athlete age.
open
56th Street Beach (secondary listing; AWOW check-in point TBA)
In person
Event links
Official Newport Beach Sunday event and RSVP page
Create an Athlete/Parent account and sign waiver
Create a Volunteer account and sign waiver
AWOW participation, waiver and event-day FAQ
A Walk On Water events calendar
Secondary 56th Street event listing
City of Newport Beach parking information
City beach information and beach-wheelchair details
Map to 56th Street in Newport Beach (confirm final check-in)
A Walk On Water on Instagram
Current official Sunday event hero image
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