Thousands of visitors are expected in Ocean Beach to enjoy food, drinks, chili, live music, art and great people-watching at the Ocean Beach Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off Festival on Saturday, June 27. The 36th annual festival will include an oceanfront chili cook-off, vendor and food booths, Artists Alley, a beachside beer garden, live music and entertainment, family-friendly activities, carnival rides and games, art, and the community mural project. “As always, the Street Fair will celebrate the eclectic personality of the neighborhood,” said Denny Knox, executive director of Ocean Beach MainStreet Association. “Visitors and resident Obecians are invited to spend the day with us – enjoying activities geared to all ages and interests.” This year’s theme will be “It’s All About the Beach,” with a focus on music and entertainment.
As part of the street fair theme, Rock and Roll San Diego will be offering a free interactive music experience in the middle of the 4900 block of Newport Avenue. In less than 10 minutes, people will have the opportunity to learn a few bars from some of their favorite songs. They will choose from a variety of instruments, from the guitar, drums, bass, tambourine and even their own voice. The chili competition will feature more than 20 tastings from amateur entrants competing for the titles of Hottest Chili, Judges’ Award and the grand prize winner, People’s Choice Award. Tastings will begin at 11 a.m. and will end when contestants run out of samples. Tastings can be purchased for $2 per chili entry, or attendees can buy a Master Ticket to try every recipe for $20. Proceeds from the chili cook-off will benefit the annual Fourth of July fireworks show off the OB Pier.
Back by popular demand, the Hodad’s Burger-Eating Competition will offer contestants a chance to be featured on the Hodad’s Wall of Fame at the Ocean Beach location. Contestants will qualify to enter the contest through social media to eat as many burgers as they can within a certain amount of time. The Bloody Mary competition will make a return, with more than 10 Ocean Beach restaurants and bars competing for the title of Best Bloody Mary in Ocean Beach. Tickets can be purchased for $20, which allows you to sample each entry and vote for your favorite. Children and adults of all ages are welcome to purchase a $10 square to contribute to this year’s mural project. The Ocean Beach Community Mural Project was recently awarded the 2015 Coastal Living Magazine Design Award for exceptional seaside style in the year ahead. An Artists’ Alley will feature accomplished artists and their handcrafted items. There will be five stages of nonstop music throughout the day. Music genres include acoustic, rock, blues, alternative, Americana and more. Family-friendly attractions include the Wonderland Children’s area – located in the parking lot adjacent to US Bank near Sunset Cliffs Boulevard and Newport Avenue – with a magician, face painting, cliffhanger slide, bounce house, kids’ mechanical shark and more. There will also be a various inflatable obstacle courses. The street fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the 4800-5000 blocks of Newport Avenue, along the waterfront and in the pier parking lot and along the cross-streets of Newport Avenue at Bacon Street and Cable Street. Free trolley services will run from the Knights of Columbus parking lot on Bacon Street between West Point Loma Boulevard and Voltaire Street (every 30 minutes) and the parking lot at the intersection of SeaWorld Drive and Pacific Coast Highway (every hour) from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There will also be a free bike valet at the intersection of Bacon Street and Newport Avenue, courtesy of the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition. Admission to the event is free. For more information, visit oceanbeachsandiego.com.