Redondo Beach Lobster Festival Sept. 23-25, 2011

The Redondo Beach Surf “N” Turf Lobster Festival is three days of eating, dancing and drinking in the Seaside Lagoon Park at ocean-side, which will be taking place next weekend, September 23-25, 2011. There will be fresh Maine lobster dinners, or Certified Angus Beef New York Strip Steak and Main Lobster Tail dinners, plus other international food booths, arts and crafts booths selling cool beach items, and live music from some of the best Tribute Bands in Southern California. There is a dance floor, children’s area, beer garden, super shark slide and arcade-style games with prizes. And my favorite, the free mechanical bull ride will be bucking all weekend.

I start off my visit with my lobster dinner, which is part of my package that included my admission ticket and a Lobster Festival T-shirt. The gentleman on the left was one of the lobster crackers provided by the festival. I was really happy for him to do that messy job so I could just sit down at a table and dig in. My dinner included a roll, steamed potatoes, cabbage slaw and buttery dip. If you want to dunk your lobster in melted butter, you’ll have to smuggle some in. However, nothing could detract from the wonderful, succulent lobster meat.

The bands will be playing the theme Dance through the Decades featuring music from the 1950’s to the present. Some of the best Tribute Bands in Southern California will be playing on Saturday featuring the music of Johnny Cash, The Eagles and Steely Dan, or the Beach Bash on Sunday when it’s California Dreamin’ and your favorite tunes from Dick Dale, The Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett and the Beatles. My husband is going on Saturday specifically to hear Pretzel Logic, the Steely Dan tribute band, which he says is excellent.

There is something for everyone to see and do, so take the kids for a relaxing day. They are open Friday: 5:00pm – 11:00pm; Saturday 12:00 noon – 11:00pm; and Sunday 12:00 noon – 7:00pm. Tickets are $12 at the gate, $10 online, and half-price admission for all on Friday. Free admission with military I.D. all weekend.

Check out the arts and crafts booths and get yourself a souvenir. Don’t you need a hat?

By now you might be hungry again, so check out the many other food booths. This is just an example, but next time I’m going to have some of those charred meat skewers. They looked so good.

And now, my favorite part, the free mechanical bull ride. I stood and watched the bull riders for about an hour, and the interesting thing is that no guys were willing to ride it. So their women rolled their eyeballs and volunteered. What does this tell you?

This Marlboro Man Cowboy gave each rider a training lesson before beginning, encouraging them to keep their arm in the air for balance.

There was also a second Cowboy, in the black hat, who was the announcer and gave a running commentary through each ride. His voice was broadcast on the speakers throughout the park and he encouraged everyone to come down and ride the bull.

Here is another gal, whose guy refused to ride. Neither of these cowgirls fell off the bull and both finished their rides with style.

The sun began its descent behind the Seaside Lagoon as hungry diners finished their Lobster Dinners. I hope you will be able to make it to the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival next weekend. Go with a friend, drink beer, listen to music and dance, and eat lobster. A fitting end to summer.