For 63 years and counting, the Spirit of the Sea Festival will take over White Rock this Friday through Monday.

Director Matt Todd said he's expecting some 60,000 to party through the seaside city of 19,000 for good food, live music and events that haven't been seen in the festival.

"We're really excited about a new event this year - paddleboard races," said Todd, detailing the seven-kilometre route from West Beach to East Beach and back.

"They do a loop around the end of the pier - that's probably going to be the exciting part because they pass underneath the pier as they race back to the finish line."

The four-day festival kicks off Friday night with the White Rock Youth Ambassadors Gala at the Coast Capital Playhouse and an outdoor dusk screening of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom at the Semiahmoo First Nation.

The weekend features pirate-themed events for kids, including a pirate hat contest and a parade led by Korki the Clown on East Beach. There is also a salmon bake at the First Nation from noon to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Torchlight Parade headlines the Saturday night events, with interspersed square dancing and high-energy Zumba dancing in the streets for all interested participants while they wait for the floats. If you'd like to pass the time another way, the organizers are working on some alternatives.

"I'm hoping for a giant Jenga game, so there might be some other things that people can participate in while they're waiting for the parade," said Todd.

Sunday has the waiters' race near the White Rock Museum & Archives, showing off the athletic abilities of local restaurant servers. At 10 p.m. that night, fireworks will go off for 20 minutes over East Beach.

Live music runs on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along the beach, as well as on the Spirit Stage on Monday afternoon.