Chowder, Cheers & Sea Lion Barks: A New Maritime Museum Tradition Comes to Chowderfest!

Shoshanna Hnat
5 days ago
2 min read

Chowderfest, hosted by the Channel Islands Maritime Museum, is known for delicious chowder, harbor cruises, live music and friendly competition for the best Chowder in Ventura County. This year, we're adding something nobody saw coming: a sea lion imitation bark-off.

For the first time ever, Chowderfest attendees will have the chance to compete in the first Ever Sea Lion Imitation Contest, a fun & lighthearted competition designed to find the person with the most convincing, creative and downright entertaining sea lion impression.

Yes, you read that right. Sea lion. Barking. Competition.

And we have a feeling it’s going to be unbelievable!

The Details

The competition will begin with open tryouts from 1:00–2:30 pm at Chowderfest, giving attendees & volunteers the chance to step up to the plate and unleash their inner sea lion. Ten contestants will advance to the semifinals before five finalists take the Main Stage at approximately 3:15pm for the grand finale.

While this may sound like a joke, and let's be honest, it definitely will be hilarious, there will be official judges, serious competition along with a very real title and bragging rights on the line!

Contestants will be judged on their bark, their vocal range, their sea lion character, their creativity and their overall sea lion impression. This may be your chance to finally put all those years of making strange animal noises to good use.

Think You Have the Bark of a Champion?

The contest is open to Chowderfest attendees & volunteers. No experience is required. No professional sea lion training is necessary. A complete lack of shame may, however, be helpful.

Maybe you’ve secretly perfected your sea lion impression. Maybe your friends have always told you that you were born to bark. Or maybe you’ve never made a sea lion noise in your life but are suddenly wondering, “Could I win this thing?”

There’s only one way to find out.

Come for the chowder. Stay for the bark-off. Cheer on your favorite contestant. And maybe, just maybe, discover that you have a hidden talent for sounding like a sea lion!