Redondo Beach Lobster Festival
Lobsters, Bands and Beer By the Beach

t's a real feast, a full lobster dinner washed down by a cold Bud.

RB Lobster Festival 2012
Sept. 21-23

A lagoon with lobsters, a beach with beer (and cocktails) and lots of live music.

The annual Dive 'n Surf Redondo Beach Lobster Festival is a true "Rock Lobster." No, the B52s aren't there, but just about everyone in the South Bay sure is for the three day-and-night event in Redondo Beach, CA,

Held in late September  –  Sept. 21-23 in 2012 – it features one-pound lobster dinners (flown in fresh each day), a plethora of other food booths, shopping areas and cocktails.There is now a "surf and turf" option.

It's party time for the South Bay singles at the Lobster Festival.

Bands rock the stage at the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival.

Here's the lineup of bands for 2012:
• Friday, Sept. 21 – 5:30-7:30: Buzz Campbell (Rockabilly), 8-10 p.m.: LA ALLSTARS.
• Saturday, Sept. 21 – 2-3 p.m.: Blue Kind. 5:30-7:30, Dog N Butterfly, 7:30-9, Cafe R&B, 9:30-11, LA ALLSTARS.
• Sunday, Sept. 23 – Noon-1 p.m.Reactors, 1:30-2:30 p.m., Shari "El" Puorto Band, 3-4 p.m., Scott Bruce as Elvis, 4-6:30 p.m., Pretzel Long, Steely Dan Revue.

Tickets are $5 for Friday, $10 for Saturday and $5 for Sunday. Lobster Festival hours are: Friday 5-11 p.m., Saturday, noon-11 p.m., Sunday, noon-9 p.m. Lobster and steak dinners are $33 and surf & turf dinners are $38.

What's a lobster festival without good, cold beer!?

T he Bud beer tents provides beverages to wash down the lobster.

Bud, Bud Light, Michelob Amber Bock and Shock Top Belgium Wheat are $5; pre-made margaritas and all kinds of mixed drinks are $7 and wine is $6, and $8 for premium selections. The drink tent volunteers seem to be having as good a time as their customers.

People pack the Redondo lagoon all three days for the Lobster Festival.

Workers crack the claws and make it easy to eat the lobsters.

Give me lobster and beer, every day of the year.

Normally, it's packed on Friday and Saturday nights, and people enjoy eating, drinking and being entertained under the sun on Sunday. Friday seems to turn into an unofficial "singles night," as many unattached guys and gals arrive not for lobsters, but for beer and the bands (plus the mingling).

Regardless of the weather, it's a big drew for many South Bay singles, who love to mingle to the live entertainment.

Goofy times at the Lobster Festival.

When the lobster is gone, the beers keep flowing.

Shari "El" Puorto returns to the Lobster Festival on Sunday.

Rocking music keeps the Lobster Festival lively.

Many locals travel to the Lobster Festival on their bikes.

A couple of years ago, Joe's Band was a hugely popular choice as the Saturday headliner. Joe's Band has long been the #1 party band in the South Bay and they proved it again; when they did their signature "Hot, Hot, Hot" cover song, they invited the entire crowd on stage with them. The crowd formed a conga line and poured onto the stage to dance, dance, dance. It was a PARTY!

This was followed up the next evening by a Beatles cover band, which ended the festival on a high-energy note.

One year, the Friday headline entertainer was Dick Dale, One could not find a more appropriate musical guest than the King of the Surf Guitar. Dale's grinding guitar sounds are meant to emulate the powerful forces of the waves he feels while surfing. Most people probably know him for the Pulp Fiction song but he's been playing these surf sounds since the late '50s. For a community that thrives on riding the waves, Dale was spot on, as ideal at the perfect wave.

Of course, the event's namesake is its main attraction. The lobsters are cooked and come wtih red potatoes, cole slaw, a roll and rich drawn butter. A "cracking station" provides a free service to have every piece of meat removed for customers (they do crack for tips).