7-17-2026 5:10am

San Clemente Ocean Festival | San Clemente Pier | Jul 18 & 19

Eric Bergstrom Editor

Saturday

Pier Bowl Surf Classic
Jr. Lifeguard Competition
Dolphin Dash
International Lifeguard Competition

INFO & REGISTRATION

Sunday

Groms Rule Surf Contest
5K Beach Run/Walk
Ocean Multi-Sport Challenge
Ocean Paddle Series

In 1976, Sheridan Byerly, a Marine Safety Captain for San Clemente Lifeguards, wanted to increase participation in the Orange County Beach Games, which up to this point only drew lifeguards from the local area.

MORE INFO

Captain Byerly’s hope was to increase the involvement in the games and include the general public in hopes to engage lifeguards and families in fun activities on the beach.

Support your local news!

Over the next year the Orange County Beach Games grew into the San Clemente Ocean Festival with the help of publicist Dorothy Fuller. Dorothy, who will always be remembered as ‘The Mother of the Ocean Festival’, developed the slogan, “The Greatest Show on Surf” in 1981 and trademarked the King Neptune event logo in 1983. The San Clemente Ocean Festival is organized and run by a board of talented volunteer directors and hundreds of community volunteers who provide the manpower during the two-day event.

Despite the phenomenal growth the event has experienced over the past three decades, the San Clemente Ocean Festival remains a family oriented event with a wholesome atmosphere for families to enjoy as either spectators or participants. Today, the event attracts nearly 50,000 people annually from Orange, San Diego, Riverside, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, in addition to visitors from as far as Hawaii and Australia.