Seafest | San Clemente Chamber of Commerce

San Clemente Chamber is a 5-Star Accredited Member

San Clemente Seafest

Come to beautiful San Clemente and enjoy a day at the beach and the cool waters of the exquisite Pacific Ocean at our Annual

San Clemente Seafest held on the Sunday, following the first Wednesday in October.

The Seafest features a Chowder Cook-off, Fisherman’s Lobster, T. Patterson Surf Shop, Business Exposition, Arts & Craft Show, Entertainment provided by the Gemtones and a U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo Operation all taking place at the historic San Clemente Pier area.

Chowder Cook-off
The Seafest is famous for its Chowder Cook-Off Competition held on the historic San Clemente Pier. Area citizens, restaurants, and businesses contend for the best tasting chowder this side of New England. Visitors arrive from all over the county to sample the many unique variations of Chowder. Click Here for a registration application.

Business Teams
Market your business to over 5,000 people and have a great time doing it. The Chowder Cook-Off is a great opportunity for businesses to highlight their goods & services. As a contestant, you have the benefit of displaying your promotional and marketing material to thousands of visitors. Utilize your decorating skills and create a booth, which reflects your enterprise. By participating in the Cook-Off your company name will be displayed in numerous advertising pieces and as a winner; your business will be listed in the local papers.

Individual Teams
Individual Teams and Clubs & Organizations eagerly await the annual Seafest. These folks have favorite recipes, some passed down from generations. Contestants in the “Individual Category” bring their friends and family and make a celebration out of the competition, including decorating their booths to suit their festive style, all to the delight of the attendees.

Restaurants
As a restaurateur, you consider your Chowder to be the best. Showcase your outstanding blend and see where it stakes up again the other area establishments. What a terrific way to market your business. In addition, Seafest guests are sure to visit your restaurant, post event, to enjoy more items on your sumptuous menu.

Restaurant teams are required to cook a minimum of forty gallons of Chowder & Individual teams are required to cook a minimum of twenty-five gallons.

Public Tasting
Spectators purchase tickets for tasting prior to and during the event and decide which contestants Chowder they would like to try. There are five tastes per ticket and tickets cost $6.00. Chowder tasting begins at approximately 10:00 a.m. and concludes at approximately 2:00 p.m.

Click Here for event ticket inquiries or general information

Judging
The Chowder is judged on a point basis for overall Best Tasting Chowder. Each team receives a judging cup prior to the judging period. Contestants then bring their Chowder to the judging area by 10:30 a.m.

The Best Decorated Booth award will be determined by our judging panel based on point’s awarded for originality of costume and booth decorations.

The People's Choice awards will be judged by individual taster’s ballots.

Awards Categories
Awards are presented to the winners in each of the following categories:

Best Chowder Individual 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th place
Best Chowder Restaurant 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th place

Judges Favorite Chowder

Best Decorated Individual 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th place
Best Decorated Restaurant 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th place

Judges - Based on originality of costume & table decoration

People's Choice - Individual 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th place
People's Choice - Restaurant 1st 2nd 3rd & 4th place

Favorite Chowder

Fresh Seafood
Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar will be serving a variety of their culinary delights right on the beach - fresh seafood such as lobster, Oysters on the Half Shell, crab, steamed mussels and clams and much more.

Paddleboard Contest
First annual Stand Up Paddleboard Surf Contest. This exciting event features local amateur paddleboarder's competing for trophies in their respective class. Click Here for a SUP application. To see the official Heat Sheet, Click Here.

Business Exposition
With an audience of over 3,000 people expected to attend, the Seafest Business Expo is a great opportunity for businesses to highlight their goods and services. The Expo gives companies direct contact with numerous potential new customers in a single day!

This Exposition is one of our many Chamber benefits. You must be a member to participate. Registration cost is $200.00. Space

is limited, so sign-up soon and don’t be left out of this unique marketing experience. Click Here for a registration application.

Marketing Spaces
Market your business to thousands of visitors in just one day, while enjoying the beautiful San Clemente Beach. What a great way to obtain business exposure and promote your product or service.

Click Here for a Marketing Space application

Arts & Craft Exhibit
The Seafest will feature an arts & craft show. This exhibit showcases only handcrafted merchandise from talented individual from Southern California. Click Here for a registration application.

Entertainment
The Gemtones, a local power trio, will be rocking and rolling audiences in true 70’s fashion. With fire strength and conviction, the band performs classic rock, blues and surf covers, as well as a growing catalog of original songs. Don’t miss this fantastic group.

The event will also include the United States Coast Guard Search and Rescue performing a Demo Operation, face painting, Balloon Art and much more.

Sponsorship
Sponsoring the Seafest is a tremendous opportunity to develop public awareness of your business and/or service. It also sends a message of your willingness to extend goodwill toward your community. The Chamber would be honored to market your enterprise at this family event.

Free Shuttle Parking
Free shuttle parking is available at the San Clemente High School, 700 Ave. Pico.

For information regarding the event, tickets, surfing, vending and sponsorship opportunities call the Chamber office at (949) 492-1131.

Current San Clemente Chamber Members: