SURF CITY, N.C. (WECT) - Ocean Fest kicked off in Surf City on Thursday.

Salty Turtle Brewing Company held an Ocean Fest lager release party for a new Mexican beer. All of the money raised benefits local causes and organizations aimed at improving the ocean and the environment.

Dmitri Brown, Ocean Fest Director, says you’ll see a lot of passionate people at the event.

“Ocean Fest is for the community,” said Brown. “We’re just out here having a good time to promote the thing that we love the most, which is the ocean.”