Saturday, February 22 – Sunday, February 23, 2025
2-Day Event—Rain or Shine
Amateur chefs will compete on Saturday, followed by professional chefs on Sunday.
Join the delicious festivities as amateur and professional chefs prepare their finest clam chowder recipes along the Boardwalk.
Teams compete in the friendly competition, hoping to win prizes and bragging rights for BEST CLAM CHOWDER in the country’s largest and longest-running clam chowder competition!
Try Some Clam Chowder!
The Boardwalk admission is free! Just purchase a Tasting Kit to sample the clammy concoctions.
Tasting Kits are $15 and include 6 taste tickets, spoon, cup, and a People’s Choice ballot.
Come Early! Supplies are limited.
100% of Tasting Kit sales benefit Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation.
Pre-purchase your tasting kits & merchandise!
Enter a Team!
The competition features four categories.
Competing Saturday
- Amateur Boston
- Amateur Manhattan
Competing Sunday
- Professional Boston
- Professional Manhattan
Awards will be given for Best Clam Chowder in each category, plus People’s Choice, Most Tasted, and Best Theme.
Awards include plaques, cash prizes and bragging rights!
NEW! All Professional teams who compete will be featured on the website after the cook-off.
Registration deadline: Feb. 7, 2025 or until full
Cook-Off Schedule
Saturday, February 22, 2025 • Amateur Teams
- 10am: Tasting Kits go on sale
- 10am-11am: Preparation period (no heat)
- 11am-1pm: Cooking period
- 1pm: Public tasting begins
- 4pm: Amateur Division winners announced at the Pirate Ship Stage
Sunday, February 23, 2025 • Professional Teams
- 10am: Tasting Kits go on sale
- 10am-11am: Preparation period (no heat)
- 11am-1pm: Cooking period
- 1pm: Public tasting begins
- 4pm: Professional Division winners announced at the Pirate Ship Stage
The Clam Chowder Cook-Off is an important fundraiser for the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department. Last year, more than $130,000.00 was raised!
Thank You to our Clam Chowder Cook-Off Sponsors
