Sonya McNack Atkins and Sheila Arroyo at Tiki Oasis, San Diego, California, August 6, 2022. Photo by Monique A. LeBleu.
This year, Tiki Oasis will once again celebrate with “The Enchanted Sea”, August 2 – 6, 2023, at San Diego’s newly-renovated and elegant mid-century modern hotel, the Town and Country, in Hotel Circle.
As “the original and largest Tiki event in the world”, Tiki Oasis welcomes you to enjoy five nights and four days of live music, pool-lounging, fashion shows, swanky suites (and suite parties), themed and special social meet-ups and photo ops, sunset dinners, disc jockeys, art exhibits, educational seminars, a bustling Tiki Marketplace, tropical cocktails curated by top mixologists, and so much more.
Set sail toward a bounty of entertainment including a Cruise Line Captains Dinner Show, the Infernal Order of the Black Flame, the Skip Heller and the Hollywood Film Noirchestra, Jason Hanna and The Swingin’ Bananas, Les Baxter Orchestra with Skip Heller, Tikitronic, Draculina, The Charades, the Tikiyaki Orchestra, I Belli Di Waikiki, L’Exotighost, Shorty’s Swingin Coconuts, SeaBase, Tom Kenny and the High Seas, Messer Chups, King Kukulele, Man or Astroman?, The Black Widows, Sir Bald Diddley, Mohama Saz, Disco Iskander, Amy Bellydance, the Black Widows, Ghouly Gal and her Theremin, Par Avion, Pearl Harbour Country, the ever-effervescent magnificent mermaid, Medusirena, and more.
Tiki Oasis 2022. Photo illustration by Monique A. LeBleu
“Let the sound of the waves crashing on the reef be your siren beckoning you toward a quiet village beside a sleepy lagoon. Heed the warning of the foghorn, but tack fearlessly to the safety of your snug harbor and sound your brass ship’s bell, letting your crew of seamen know they can disembark.” – Tiki Oasis
Family-owned since its inception as a 40-room roadside lodge in 1953, the Town and Country Hotel in San Diego’s Hotel Circle underwent significant expansions in 1968 and 1969, completing a 70 million-dollar renovation in 2020 that has been re-imagined into a modern retreat, unlike any other hotel in San Diego.
Some of this year’s seminars and events include The History of Swimwear, Our Own Paradise – the History of Black-Owned American Resorts, Sea is for Cocktail: Navigating the Murky Waters of Nautical Libations, Beach Bohemians of the 20th Century – The History of Beachcomber Style, The Legend Returns: Don the Beachcomber, The Chinese Connection, The Marriage of Tiki and Surfing – Unlocking the Courtship through Sport, Music, and Media, The Secret Life of Vincent Price, The Evolution of Surfing Movie Music 1958-1972, Catalinaland with Charles Phoenix, Dances from the Caribbean Islands – Merengue, Cha Cha, Salsa, and especially the 9th Annual San Diego Bartender Battle, and more!
As always, you can enjoy the largest tiki marketplace in the world from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m., Friday, and 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. “Shop for vintage and handcrafted clothing, jewelry, home goods, furniture, barware, paintings, tiki mugs, and carvings from more than 100 vendors.” LA Beat favorites include House of Modern Antiquities’ tiki mugs, Abby Normal accessories, TikiRob’s tiki mugs, Audrey K Boutique’s swim caps, and the Witch Doctor’s Den, who have wicker puffer fish purses this year. Special limited edition items have been created especially for Tiki Oasis, included a limited edition Trader Vic’s 2023 Mai Tai Glass.
The Skipper and Lil’ Buddy at Tiki Oasis, San Diego, California, August 5, 2022. Photo by Monique A. LeBleu.
Tiki Oasis is committed to creating a culture of inclusion and respect and makes a concerted effort to ensure all our attendees feel valued, safe, and free to be their most authentic selves. The event prides itself on being all-inclusive and everyone is welcome to join the fun. Several meet-ups have been scheduled to help connect like-minded folk on all-things-Tiki. Be prepared for group photos.
Wednesday
5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Mysterious Magical Tiki Oasis Opening Night Meet ‘n Mingle, Dress to Impress!, Town and Country
Thursday
8:30 a.m. – Friends of Bill W. Meeting, Palm Room 3
2:00 p.m. – Swizzle Stick Swap, Palm Room 3
5:00 p.m. – Mx Tiki Oasis 2023 Poolside Strut
Friday
11:30 a.m. – The 9th Annual Cabana Suit Strut, Town and Country Foyer
4:00 p.m. – The Melanated and Marvelous Meetup hosted by Cocoa Desoto and Dacara Marie, on the Lookout Patio of the Pacific Ballroom
9:30 p.m. – The Animal Print Meetup at Lucca’s Snakebite Lounge (suite party, location TBD)
Saturday
1:00 p.m – Aloha Caftan Society Walk
3:00 p.m. – Mermaids and Mermen meet up with Medusirena the Fire Eating Mermaid (mermaid tails, aquatic fishy outfits, ocean-themed hair pieces), Poolside
4:00 p.m. – The Lavender Luau LGBTiki Meet-Up, on the Lookout Patio of the Pacific Ballroom
Sunday
12:30 p.m. – The Pooch Parade (dress up your dog friends in their finest aloha wear)
1:00 p.m. – The Enchanted Tiki Room Glee Club, grand staircase outside of the conference rooms (near the Marketplace)
Live DJ’s will play daily to get you in the mood including, in order of appearance, Lee Joseph, Otto von Stroheim, Lucky Ritz, Tanoa “Somoa Boy”, Tiki Pops, Eric Musick, Tropicana Joe, Rockin’ DJ Amy Dee, Nuria, Madame X, Señor Amour, Bird Calls, Astro 128, Garage Volcano with DJ Dirt Chylde, Mike LaVella, Tony Tyger, Anja & Mike Stax, Zombierella, Big Tiki Dude, and as well as more in the Pacific Ballroom from 10 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.
Capping the evening’s entertainment is the spectacular Midnight Burlesque show, from Thursday through Saturday. Late Thursday night, at midnight, Emcee Tito Bonito and Ruby Champagne will present Wild Tiger Woman, Nadia Lotte, Core D’Luxe, Yvette Santos & Moxie Gold. Late Friday night, Emcee Vita DeVoid will present Kitten de Ville, Winter Sinclair, Jolie Goodnight, Something Blue, Bunny Pistol, Coco L’Amour, Ruby Joule, and Tito Bonito. And late Saturday, at midnight, Emcee El Vez. Will present Goddess Egypt BlaqueKnyle, Lola Demure, Bo Vixxen, Pinkie Valentine, Lola Coquette, Holly Dai, Nelly Love, and Eva D’Luscious.
Tickets are $199 to $499, Thursday – Sunday and tickets are available now.
The art exhibit and Tiki Marketplace are FREE and open to the public and Symposium and Wednesday and Sunday Night tickets are available ala carte from $35 – $45.
TIKI OASIS: THE ENCHANTED SEA – August 2-6, 2023, Town and Country Resort,
500 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108
