West Coast may be the best coast (okay, we may be a little biased), but the East Coast summer tradition of lobster bakes at the beach sound like a ritual worth adopting. Lucky for us, we can still enjoy the waves and weather on Southern California’s golden shores while tucking into a delicious meal of fresh Maine lobster during the 10^th Annual Lobsterfest at Newport Beach.

Lobsterfest in Newport Beach first kicked off in 2009 as a fundraiser for the Costa Mesa and Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Clubs. Since Maine lobster and pounds of melted better sounds good to just about everyone, the event was a hit and we’ve been celebrating every summer since.

This year the event will be held Sunday, Aug. 5, 3–8 p.m. at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina. If you only eat the catch of the day, don’t worry, because these Maine lobsters are flown in the morning of. While you may be tempted to spend the afternoon savoring only these large-clawed sea creatures, the menu also includes NY strip steak, red potatoes, corn-on-the-cob, salads, freshly baked rolls, and dessert.

Purchase your General Admission tickets here for $75 in advance, which includes one whole Maine lobster, plus the additional menu items listed above. If you plan to take a walk around the Newport Dunes Back Bay to work up a bigger appetite, add an additional lobster for $30. Or, go for the all-you-can-eat option and buy the VIP ticket for $150.

Lobsterfest hits full-on party mode with the addition of the four-piece dance band West Coast Party Crashers. After doing the crack and dip (crack your lobster, dip in butter), you can pull out some classic dance moves like the shopping cart or the funky chicken. This band plays covers spanning the decades and genres, from today’s hip-hop to ‘70s disco, so they’re bound to play a few of your favorite hits.

While the chance to gorge on succulent lobster may be enough to book your ticket, you can feel good about the fact that the proceeds will go to the local chapter of two charities: Make-A-Wish® Orange County and the Inland Empire and Leadership Tomorrow – Orange County. Make-A-Wish® grants once-in-a-lifetime wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. The Lobsterfest Foundation will adopt a local child’s wish and provide the funds to make their dream come true. The funds donated to Leadership Tomorrow will be used in a series of workshops focused on helping citizens of Orange County develop leadership skills in order to engage in and strengthen their community.

If you don’t get a chance to purchase your tickets in advance, a limited number of General Admission tickets may be available at the door, first-come, first-served. Don’t wait, book your tickets today!

Written By: Kelly Barcus