Hundreds turn out for Clam Festival in Pismo Beach

The city of Pismo Beach is celebrating the 70th Annual Pismo Beach Clam Festival this weekend.

A surf contest, parade and clam chowder cook-off were a few of the events that took place on Saturday in what organizers call the “clam capital of the world.”

The chowder cook-off is Saturday’s main attraction. Local restaurants and chefs prepared their best recipes for judges and attendants.

Pismo Beach City Manager, and chowder judge, Jim Lewis says the clam chowder contest is serious business.

“This year people brought it to the competition,” Lewis said. “This year was the most challenging year I think we’ve had. It was very difficult. All of the chowders were good.”

KEYT/KCOY’s own Melissa Newman was one of the judges in the year’s contest. On Twitter, Melissa said she was blown away by the variety of chowders.

You wouldn’t think chowders could taste so different but holy cow pic.twitter.com/OWJxcStqma

— Melissa Newman (@KCOYMelissaN) October 22, 2016

No word yet on who won this year’s contest, but all attendants agreed that the clam is definitely one magnificent mollusk.

The festival continues on Sunday with a clam dig and clam bake. More info can be found here.