A community tradition since 1946, the annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival is October 20-22, 2023. This event attracts generations of families and visitors from the entire state, who look forward to spending three days overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Pismo Beach.
The event kicks off Friday, Oct. 20 with the Clam Festival Wine Walk hosted by the Pismo Chamber of Commerce. The Wine Walk partners with local businesses to provide the opportunity to try great beers and wines at Pismo Beach’s downtown businesses and enjoy supporting the local community.
Saturday’s family friendly event features the Clam Festival parade at 10am. Join us on Price Street for the Surfin’ Safari themed parade this year and be sure to join us to cheer for your favorite entry.
The Clam Festival is a free event that includes live music, local vendors and food trucks, and a huge FREE Kids Zone that includes bounce houses and inflatables!
Enjoy local wine, beer and Clam Chowder while enjoying live music from About Time Duo, Dante Marsh and the Vibe Setters and Steppin’ Out on Saturday and The Skylites, Ghost/Monster and Wolf Jett on Sunday.
As always, attendees can enjoy the classics they have grown to love, including the Friday night wine walk. Visit participating local businesses and enjoy the wines of the area. Saturday’s best local clam chowder cook-off contest is a crowd favorite where local Pismo Beach restaurants get the chance to compete for the title of Best Local Clam Chowder Winner. Pick your favorite and be the judge for the People’s Choice winner. This highly anticipated event always sells out so be sure to get your tickets before they are sold out. Visit experiencepismobeach.com for your information on how to purchase tickets.
We are proud to feature the Pismo Beach Stewardship Program at the Clam Festival again this year. This program offers project-based experiences to “hear, see and feel” both community and scientific knowledge of our ocean and coastal environments. Check out partners California State Parks, Cal Poly Marine Conservation Lab, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, The Land Conservancy and Central Coast State Parks Association as they support stewardship through environmental awareness and education in Pismo Beach.
And new this year, we welcome kids 12 and under to join us Sunday for a Kids Clam Rescue at 11am at the Pier Plaza. We are partnering with State Parks and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to share information about the Pismo Clams and our efforts to restore their numbers and instruction on how to rebury the clams. Participants will learn how to protect these creatures and receive prizes for their efforts!
The City of Pismo Beach looks forward to this legacy event every year, as it celebrates a momentous time in the City's history when the Pismo Clam was a vital piece of putting Pismo Beach on the map.