69th Annual Clam Festival

One of the many reasons to love living in a small town like Pismo Beach and the surrounding communities are the seasonal festivals that mark the passage of a year. Like clockwork we have the Arroyo Grande Strawberry Festival in May, Taste of Pismo in April, Harvest Festival in September, Morro Bay Harbor Festival early in October — but the crown jewel of the Central Coast Festival calendar is undoubtedly the Annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival.

In its 69th year the upcoming Clam Festival promises to be more activity-packed and fun-filled than ever before with fantastic weather as well! Beginning Friday night, October 16, local businesses who are members of the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce kick off the festivities with a Wine Walk. $20 gives you a glass and a pass to sip and nosh all over the downtown area. Try yummy bites from many local restaurants and stop in to say hello to local business owners! All participant will have a passport to enter into a drawing for prizes. The best part for me is that I find businesses I never knew were there or go inside ones that I haven’t ever tried and they become my favorites!

Saturday kicks off with a Surfing at 8 a.m., a Parade at 10 a.m. and the Clam Chowder Contest from 12-2. Yum! Where else can you have ALL of the great local restaurants in one tent on the pier with fantastic views serving you tastes of their chowder?!? With the many styles and variations you will leave inspired and full! Entry to just the Clam Chowder Contest is just $10!

Sunday the 18th will highlight our area history with a Clam Dig and Clam Bake — the way it was done when Pismo became famous for its Clams and was dubbed the Clam Capital of the World. Grab your clam fork and roll up your dungarees and head out to learn how to find, measure and then cook a Pismo Clam. Finally, at the end of the weekend there will be a fantastic fundraiser to “Stop Hunger Now” — more information on our website and in our newsletter.

A pass for the entire weekend can be purchased for just $55 — a fantastic deal. If you want to just partake of the culinary events a two-day pass can be purchased for just $30 that includes the Friday Night Wine Walk and the Saturday Clam Chowder Contest.

This Festival showcases all there is to love about Pismo Beach and the Central Coast — the businesses, the restaurants, the people and the atmosphere of our quaint little seaside town. Make it a weekend!

For more information on local events please contact us at 805-773-7715 or help@pismohomes.com.