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Winter on the Wharf

Celebrate the holidays at the Wharf! Rain or Shine!

  • Date: 12/20/2025 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
  • Location: Santa Cruz Wharf
    21 Municipal Wharf
    Santa Cruz, California 95060
  • Introduction: The Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, Police and, Fire Departments welcome you to come celebrate Winter on the Wharf! Be sure to bring a food item or toy for our food & toy drive!

The Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, Santa Cruz Police and the Santa Cruz Fire Departments welcome you to come celebrate Winter on the Wharf! This event happens Rain or Shine!

Come enjoy holiday decorations, Wharf specials and see Santa arrive on the Wharf by a vintage fire engine!🎅

📸Take photos with Santa from TBD

☃️ Scroll to the bottom for Wharf Specials! ☃️TBD

✉️ Bring your letters for Santa, we will have special mailbox for him to take back to the North Pole! ✉️

❄️Play in the snow area with Elsa and Anna from Disney's Frozen!❄️

🎈Enjoy custom balloon designs from Lee Balloons!🎈

🎨 Get your face painted or feathers in your hair!🎨

🚂We have partnered with Toys for Tots & Second Harvest Food Bank and we request that you bring an unwrapped toy or canned food item to be donated back to our community! As a thank you for your donation, you will get a limited addition, custom event sticker designed and donated by BroPrints!🎁

Thank you to our friends at Big Creek Lumber for being our "Frosty Friend" and loyal sponsor to the event!

Thank you to Patchen Tree Farm for donating the Holiday Tree this year as well as providing a special coupon (See Below)! Check them out in the Santa Cruz Mountains!🎄 

 

 

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2025 Clam Chowder Cook-Off Winners- Congratulations!

Amateur Competition Results – Saturday, February 22, 2025

Best Boston Clam Chowder

🥇 1st Place: The Silence of the Clams
🥈 2nd Place: Millie’s Best Boston
🥉 3rd Place: All Clams Matter

Best Manhattan Clam Chowder

🥇 1st Place: Little Neck Rex
🥈 2nd Place: Dragonmama’s Portuguese Red
🥉 3rd Place: Clam Halen

People’s Choice Winners

Boston: 🏆 4 Men and a Clam – 395 votes
Manhattan: 🏆 The Pink Flamingos – 397 votes

Most Tasted

🥇 1st Place: Silence of the Clams – 1,656 tastes
🥈 2nd Place: 4 Men and a Clam (Boston)
🥉 3rd Place: Bloody Brilliant Chowder

Best Booth Theming

🥇 1st Place: The Silence of the Clams
🥈 2nd Place: Rocky Horror Clam Show
🥉 3rd Place: The Krusty Klam

Professional Competition Results – Sunday, February 23, 2025

Best Boston Clam Chowder

🥇 1st Place: The Rustic Table
🥈 2nd Place: The Point Kitchen and Bar
🥉 3rd Place: Ideal Bar and Grill

Best Manhattan Clam Chowder

🥇 1st Place: Seascape Golf Club: Masters Edition
🥈 2nd Place: Redwood Sluggers
🥉 3rd Place: Bearded Clams Unite

People’s Choice Winners

Boston: 🏆 Ideal Bar and Grill – 520 votes
Manhattan: 🏆 Redwood Sluggers – 590 votes

Most Tasted

🥇 1st Place: Ideal Bar and Grill – 2,405 tastes
🥈 2nd Place: Dominican Oaks
🥉 3rd Place: Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge

Best Booth Theming

🥇 1st Place: Seascape Golf Club: Masters Edition
🥈 2nd Place: Jack O’Neill Restaurant & Lounge
🥉 3rd Place: Chowder Slugs/Redwood Sluggers