San Clemente Ocean Festival

July 20-21

Join the excitement with a weekend of activities on and around San Clemente Pier, July 20th and 21st at “The Greatest Show on Surf!”

This year’s Ocean Festival has a treasure trove of new and exciting events. Joining the Ocean Fest’s fun-in-the-sun lineup are the Tandem Boogie Bodyboarding Contest (sure to be a crowd pleaser), Pier Bowl Surf Classic (both long and short boards welcome) and Junior Lifeguard competitions (including the action-packed return of beach flags).

Head down to the end of the Pier on Saturday for an all ages Fishing Clinic and Derby and the Push-In Division of the “Groms Rule” Surf contest for ages 7 and under who will ride waves north of the Pier. The 11th Annual Dolphin Dash Kid’s Beach Run, with nearly 200 children from ages 4 to 12, will take place south of the Pier.

Ocean lifeguards will compete for cash prizes and awards in multiple events that include the Surf Race, Rescue Relay, Surf Ski, Paddleboard Rescue Relay, International & American Ironman’s and 10’6” Paddleboard Sprint. Don’t miss the super exciting thrills and spills of the National Doryman Association Races — where two person teams paddle 300lb. dory boats in and out of the crashing surf!

Learn about ocean safety and how to ride waves at the bodysurfing and new tandem bodyboarding clinics south of the Pier, just beyond the event’s entertainment, games and family fun at the Youth Pavilion. Check out 15 different Woody cars being displayed on the Pier each day, and Saturday evening you can pull up your beach blanket as the sun sets over Dana Point to enjoy a barbeque and free concert featuring Dead Men Don’t Surf – the ideal way to end an amazing day of surf and sun.

Start off both days from 7 to 11 a.m. with a hot and tasty pancake breakfast prepared by the San Clemente Lifeguards and Cadets. Monies raised will support the San Clemente Surf Lifesaving Association for lifeguard equipment and programs.

Sunday brings mouth-watering corn-on-the-cob, sweet and delicious strawberry shortcake, juicy watermelon, and more. Stroll along both sides of the San Clemente Pier to check out the Sand Sculpting competitions, family entertainment and activities. Don’t forget to stop by the ocean art show just above the beach in Parque del Mar for that something special to take home.

To the north side of the historic San Clemente Pier, check out a 5K beach run, 1-mile ocean swim (separate competitions for men and women), Biathlon, and Splash & Dash Relay. The first-ever Tandem Boogie Bodyboarding Contest will feature two-person teams riding oversized bodyboards in the surf. The Pier Bowl Surf Classic, showcasing the speed, athleticism and style of open surfing competition is open to all and is fiercely competitive among the many high-level surfers who hail from Orange & San Diego counties. You can also check out the next generation of surf stars with the continuation of the Groms Rule Surf Contest, a hotly contested surf competition for local kids (boys & girls, 14 and under).

There’s something for everyone to enjoy at San Clemente’s Ocean Festival. To avoid traffic and parking hassles, park at the Outlets at San Clemente and grab the complimentary shuttle from the Outlets at San Clemente or take the train right to the festival.

ADMISSION IS FREE.

For more information about the different activities, a complete schedule of events, to register for competitions and contests, or to volunteer, please visit the website at oceanfestival.org.

The San Clemente Ocean Festival is a 501(c) non-profit organization that works in partnership with the City of San Clemente. Monies raised from the Ocean Festival help fund many worthwhile local community organizations and provide scholarships to local high schools.