California Lobster Festivals and Events

FOUNTAIN VALLEY:  Original Lobster Festival September 8-10, 2023

Fountain Valley Sports Park (next to Huntington Beach)
16400 Brookhurst St.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(Brookhurst and Heil Ave.)
Free parking

$tickets, originallobsterfestival.com

SoCal's Lobster Festival 

Live Maine Lobster (flown in daily) then steamed in the world's largest cookers, live music, free souvenir ephoto, DJ and dance instructions, in addition to our infamous Signature Feast there is a food court with all kinds of tasty eats like Lobster Egg Rolls, Lobster Wontons, Lobster Roll/Lobster Crunchy Roll, Lobster On-A-Stick, Lobster Fried Rice, Grilled Lobster and more.

Carnival rides and games, El Baston del Rey complimentary tastings, kid's stage - magic illusion show and more.

Food, entertainment with Cajun, Zydeco and Blues bands, plus a big shaded dance floor on the outdoor lawns. Cocktail bar & beer sales, too. The annual event has been around for 20 years or more and gets around 15,000 people attending over a three day period.

About Lobster

Lobsters are ten-legged crustaceans related to shrimp and crabs. As bottom-dwellers found in all of the world's oceans, they have poor eyesight but highly developed senses of taste and smell. They feed on fish, mollusks, algae, plant life and even other lobsters.

Two popular types of lobster sold in the United States are the American Lobster recognized as the Maine Lobster, and the Spiny lobster or rock lobster off the coast of Florida and California. Most of the lobster tails sold in the U.S. come from spiny lobster.

Newshell or softshell lobster represents 90% of the catch during the summer months. It is less expensive and generally contains sweeter and juicier meat than the Hardshells, but less meat content. Newshell lobster is often shipped pre-cooked. A minimum size lobster will weigh around 1 lb., while a maximum size lobster will weigh between 3-4 lbs.

The most plentiful, and most popular size of Maine Lobsters are 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 lb. each. If you are offered a smaller or larger lobster than this, you can guarantee it is not a genuine Maine Lobster.

The lobsters that most people know from their dinner plates are the American and European clawed lobsters, cold water species that live on either sides of the northern Atlantic Ocean. There are also tropical lobsters that are widely consumed, but these are generally clawless varieties called spiny and slipper lobsters.

Lobster was so abundant during the 17th & 18th century that it was used for fertilizer. Laws were passed forbidding people to feed servants lobster more than twice a week. Its reputation as a delicacy grew once others around the U.S. had an opportunity to taste it.

Upcoming dates to be announced

REDONDO BEACH: Redondo Beach Lobster Festival  Discontinued? Taking Hiatus in 2018 and may or may not be back
Location: Seaside Lagoon
Redondo Beach, CA
lobsterfestival.com
Three days of seaside entertainment includes vendors, food booths, the main Lobster Feast. Bands perform on stage throughout the event. The beach, the bands, lobster & steak make this a delicious festival worth every penny!

BELMONT: Rotary Club of Belmont and Redwood Shores Lobster Fest January 27, 2018
belmontrotary.org

CAPITOLA: Capitola Aptos Rotary Club Lobster Feed June 9, 2018
capitolaaptosrotary.org
 

SANTA ROSA:   Annual Lobster Feed! July 21, 2018

Enjoy a truly authentic Sonoma County experience produced by Harvest Moon Winery. Put on your bibs, grab your cracking tools and immerse your senses in fresh Maine lobster. We will also have fresh local Pacific Oysters paired with our Sparkling Chardonnay & Sparkling Pinot Noir. RSVP, sells out every year!  Location: 2192 Olivet Road, Santa Rosa, California, harvestmoonwinery.com

TUSTIN: Tustin Lobsterfest Lobsterfest May 18, 2018, 4:30-8 p.m.

Peppertree Park
200 S. C Street
Tustin California 
Sponsored by the Tustin / Santa Ana Rotary
Tickets go on sale in December, tustinlobsterfest.com

CORONA: Rotary Club Crab Feed in June
coronalobsterfest.com

VILLA PARK: Villa Park Rotary Lobster Fest May 18, 2018
rotaryclubofvillapark.org

WATSONVILLE: Rotary Maine Lobster Feast & Auction  June 9, 2018
Harvest Building, Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds
Watsonville, CA. Tickets sold on eventbrite

WINDSOR: Rotary Club Crab Feed in April
windsorrotary.org

YORBA: Sunrise Rotary Club Crab Feed in May
yllobsterfest.com
 

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.