Carlsbad’s Endless Summer Giveaway: A Seaside Celebration of Local Magic
Photo by Katrina Marie Photography
Even as the calendar inches forward, Carlsbad has a way of stretching summer just a little longer. Golden afternoons, warm sand, cool breezes… the kind of days that remind us how lucky we are to live by the coast.
To celebrate the launch of Carlsbad Days and the incredible community behind it, we hosted our first-ever giveaway: Carlsbad’s Endless Summer Giveaway. A curated, sun-soaked experience created in partnership with some of our favorite local Carlsbad businesses.
And wow, what a day it turned out to be.
The Experience
Our winner Daniella
Our giveaway winner, Daniella, showed up with the warmest smile and the kind of joyful energy that instantly set the tone for the entire afternoon. By the time her feet hit the sand, The Beach Genie had already transformed the shoreline into a dreamy coastal setup for two. Think classic beach chairs, towels, beach toys to Bluetooth speakers, and that effortless “How is this so perfect?” styling they’re known for.
Katrina Marie Photography captured every detail beautifully: the sun glinting on the water, the snack spread, the shaded hats, the surprise, the happiness. Her photography style and talent turned the beach day into a gallery of frame-worthy memories.
It was the perfect Carlsbad moment. Relaxed, beautiful, and filled with local love.
Local Brands Who Made It Happen
The Beach Genie, Katrina Marie Photography, COOLA, Always Hungry Grocery & Goods, Hemlock Hat Co., City Living Network
This giveaway was made possible by an incredible group of local partners who brought their talent, generosity, and coastal style to the experience.
The Beach Genie
The Beach Setup
The Beach Genie isn’t just a beach-setup service, they’re a full-on beach concierge that takes care of everything so you can just show up, relax, and enjoy. For our giveaway, they provided the Beach Setup and transformed a simple stretch of sand into a luxe, postcard-worthy sandy retreat complete with chairs, beach towels, a table, and their signature umbrella to cast the perfect shade.
The Beach Genie considered every detail: from a Bluetooth speaker and beach games to a cooler bag pre-stocked with ice cold waters. They made it so convenient for our winner, Daniella, and told her to text them shortly before she planned on leaving and they would be back to handle packing up everything from the beach setup. What a great way to end a sun soaked day!
What sets them apart is their commitment to a sustainable beach-day experience. Their chairs are crafted from North Carolina oak, umbrellas from Florida, and many of their accessories come from small, U.S.-based makers. By choosing high-quality, reusable gear over disposable items, Beach Genie delivers a luxe vibe without contributing to beach clutter… a win for both comfort and the coast.
In short: The Beach Genie doesn’t just set the stage for a beach day, they create the perfect coastal moment. For our Endless Summer Giveaway, they didn’t just deliver chairs and towels, they delivered an epic beach day.
Katrina Marie Photography
Preserving Everyday Magic in Every Frame
Partnering with Katrina Marie Photography was an unforgettable part of this giveaway experience. From the moment she stepped onto the sand, Katrina brought an effortless grace to the day. She has that rare ability to blend into the moment while elevating it at the same time. She also managed to make us smile and laugh more than once (which we appreciate). Watching her work wasn’t just impressive, it was inspiring. The talent truly seems to seep out of her skin.
But what makes Katrina truly special is that this is what she does every day:
she preserves everyday magic.
Whether she’s photographing families, maternity sessions, newborn snuggles, seniors, engagements, intimate weddings, or branding imagery for local businesses, her work has a signature warmth. It feels nostalgic, joyful, and rooted in real connection.
The final gallery from our giveaway was stunning: sun-soaked, heartfelt, and full of movement. Katrina managed to capture not just what the day looked like, but what it felt like… and that is her greatest gift.
Carlsbad is lucky to have photographers like her, and we couldn’t have imagined this experience without her.
Carlsbad Days Endless Summer Giveaway 2025 | COOLA | Photo by Katrina Marie Photography
COOLA
Carlsbad-Based Sun Protection That Puts Skin (and the Planet) First
No Carlsbad beach day is complete without sunscreen, and we were thrilled to partner with COOLA, a brand that was born right here along the Southern California coast and is based in Carlsbad. Their mission includes creating suncare that feels as good as it is effective which fits beautifully with everything the Carlsbad Days Endless Summer Giveaway was about: sunshine, wellness, and effortless coastal living. It is also one of those sunscreens that just makes us happy to put it on.
COOLA donated an incredible assortment of their classic, reef-friendly sun protection essentials, including:
Classic Body Organic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 (Guava Mango) — a silky, antioxidant-rich lotion with a tropical scent that instantly puts you in a sunshine state of mind.
Classic Body Organic Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 (Fragrance-Free) — gentle, clean, and ideal for sensitive skin or anyone who prefers a no-scent beach day.
Classic Body Organic Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 (Tropical Coconut) — lightweight, hydrating, and easy to apply between dips in the ocean.
Classic Body Organic Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 (Fragrance-Free) — powerful protection with a barely-there feel.
They also tucked in a few COOLA extras including a reusable pouch and their branded beach towels which made for a extra nice surprise for Daniella! It was a way to make her feel spoiled with COOLA love.
Having COOLA on board for this day was the perfect way to keep it protected and glowing, from start to finish.
Carlsbad Days Endless Summer Giveaway 2025 | Always Hungry Grocery & Goods | Photo by Katrina Marie Photography
Always Hungry Grocery & Goods
Curated Coastal Snacks With Heart
Partnering with Always Hungry Grocery & Goods was a very joyful part of this giveaway. If you’ve ever stepped into their Carlsbad shop, you know it’s not just a grocery store, it’s a bright, creative celebration of food, community, and the small makers they champion. Everything on their shelves feels intentional, playful, and full of personality, and Katie brings that same spirit into every box, bag, and basket she assembles.
For our Endless Summer Giveaway, she curated a beautiful beach-ready assortment packed with locally sourced treats, organic snacks, artisan chips, sparkling beverages, nuts, olives, cheeses, and more — the kind of spread that turns a simple beach day into something elevated and memorable. The crate looked like it came straight out of a coastal picnic editorial… but with that fun, laid-back Always Hungry twist. Watching her put it together in her shop was mesmerizing. The way she curated the perfect balance of items that she loves was like watching magic happen.
But what makes Always Hungry Grocery & Goods truly special is the mission behind the brand:
to build a place that celebrates good food, good people, and the joy of gathering.
Their shelves are filled with products from small-batch makers, local artisans, women-owned brands, and sustainable producers thoughtfully chosen to spark connection and make daily life feel a little more delicious.
Their contribution added warmth, flavor, and heart to our giveaway and we couldn’t imagine this Carlsbad beach experience without them.
Carlsbad Days Endless Summer Giveaway 2025 | Hemlock Hat Co. | Photo by Katrina Marie Photography
Hemlock Hat Co.
California Sun Protection With Effortless Coastal Style
A Carlsbad beach day isn’t complete without the right shade, and nobody does sun protection with personality quite like Hemlock Hat Co. Known for their iconic lifeguard hats, Hemlock blends function, durability, and unmistakable California style in a way that feels perfectly at home on our coastline.
For our Endless Summer Giveaway, they contributed their Signature Lifeguard Hat. A hat that is lightweight, breathable, and designed to keep you cool and covered from sunrise to golden hour. It’s the kind of hat you instantly want to toss into your beach bag, your car, and your everyday rotation.
Rooted in Southern California and inspired by days spent outside, Hemlock Hat Co. brings a playful, sun-loving spirit to everything they make.
Carlsbad Days Endless Summer Giveaway 2025 | City Living Network | Photo by Katrina Marie Photography
City Living Network
City Living Network’s Apolis Bag
To round out the experience, City Living Network generously donated their signature Apolis Market Bag — a beautifully crafted, ethically made tote that’s as functional as it is iconic. It’s the perfect carry-all for farmers market mornings, beach days, or everyday Carlsbad errands, and it added the sweetest finishing touch to our seaside setup.
As a network dedicated to celebrating local communities, their support added a thoughtful touch and aligned so naturally with what Carlsbad Days is all about: uplifting the people and places that make our city feel like home.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To every local who entered, followed, shared, and cheered this giveaway on, thank you. Your support during the launch of Carlsbad Days has meant everything. The excitement, the kindness, the community energy… it has all reaffirmed why this project exists: to celebrate the everyday magic of living here.
To our partners — thank you for contributing to this experience. Your generosity made this day unforgettable.
And to our wonderful winner Daniella, @cookiebunnyy — thank you for bringing your joy, gratitude, and sunshine. You were the perfect person to help us kick off this new chapter.
