Basking in the sun’s first appearance in weeks, hundreds of people crowded Anisq’ Oyo’ Park on Saturday for the annual Concert for the Coast to learn about coastline issues, drink from the beer garden and listen to music.

Isla Vista Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, which organized the event, raised $600 during the concert for local charities and education programs about environmental threats to the Santa Barbara coastline. Concert-goers danced, laid out in the sun, and drank Fat Tire Beer out of the 14 kegs in the fenced off beer garden, which was moved closer to the stage mid-concert so drinkers could enjoy the music.

Bands including Iration, White Buffalo, Blue Turtle Seduction, the Jason Beard Band, the Nikhil Korula Band and the Kinsella Brothers played at the event, which ran from noon to 7 p.m.

Amy Zimmer-Faust, co-chair of I.V. Surfrider, said the kegs went dry quickly last year, so the organizers decided to hike up the beer prices this year to raise more money.

Zimmer-Faust, a second-year environmental studies major, said the group raised money to benefit such charities as the Save Naples Coalition, a group working to preserve beach access and stop development on the Gaviota Coast.

“We do a lot of fundraising and beach cleanups,” Zimmer-Faust said. “This is our biggest event. We’re going to start petitioning at [UCSB] for Save Naples to get kids involved in coastal issues, and to get UCSB more aware of the coastal stuff that’s going on.”

Another organization benefiting from the fundraiser will be I.V. Ocean Kids, an organization that teaches children living in I.V. how to surf, Zimmer-Faust said.

“If we raise enough money we really hope to teach them ocean awareness, give them a few surf lessons, and we’ll be able to give them their own wetsuits and paddle boards so they can take advantage of what is right here,” Zimmer-Faust said.

In addition to its charity support, Surfrider is currently trying to prevent Vintage Communities, a California-based luxury homebuilder, from moving forward with plans to develop housing along the Gaviota Coast.

“What [the company] wants to do is to build about 50 mansions all along the coastline and up in the hills, and it’ll destroy the view, probably add to erosion problems, and then it will limit public access,” Meyerhof said.

Second-year Spanish major Jenna Newburn, a co-chair of I.V. Surfrider, said the biggest logistical challenge of the concert was getting sound equipment. Newburn said a number of local businesses, including Keg ‘N’ Bottle, S.O.S., Pita Pit and Woodstock’s helped fund the concert with donations.

“I learned a lot, like networking in different businesses in Santa Barbara and learning how to get sponsorships,” Newburn said. “We got all this stuff donated to us. Seriously, you just ask people, and they’re willing to help out.”

Attendees were pleased with the bands’ performances and considered the event a success, including first-year environmental studies major Caitlin Dunn, who said she has attended similar concerts held in Isla Vista’s parks.

“I think [the concerts are] a great way to spend a good day with live music and lots of people,” Dunn said. “Honestly, the reason I’m coming is to see Blue Turtle Seduction.”

Tiffany Johnson, a fourth-year environmental studies major and member of Surfrider, said she was happy with the concert.

“It’s not out of control, but it’s fun,” Johnson said. “People look happy. It’s chill.”