August 20, 2012 – SAN PEDRO, CA – First Class Tickets for the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival are now on sale. With all their perks like weekend admission, they are widely regarded as the way to go for guests who want to avoid the crowds, get to the head of the line and dine in a secluded area all while supporting a local charity. $13.00 of the purchase price does directly to Harbor Interfaith Services.
First Class tickets may be ordered three ways: Online at http://lobsterfest.com/tickets-firstclass/, by calling Harbor Interfaith at 310-241-0292 or in person during normal business hours at the Harbor Interfaith offices 670 W. Ninth St., San Pedro. Last year profits from the First Class ticket sales went to support Harbor Interfaith’s food bank and family intervention services and helped feed over 2,000 people for two months.
First Class Guests can choose from two options – with and without a lobster meal. With the meal tickets cost $41.00 (plus tax) and without the meal only $25.00. If purchased separately all the First Class benefits would cost over $60.00.
First Class guests check-in at a private area at the entrance of the festival, have a special dining area reserved just for them, can come and go all weekend long for no extra charge, and get a special wristband that allows them to buy drinks and pickup meals without waiting in line. The First Class meal includes a slice of watermelon in addition to a 1.25 lb fresh steamed Maine lobster, potatoes, cole slaw, sweet bread roll, butter and lemon wedges. First Class guests also enjoy a welcoming beverage with their meal (must be 21 or older for alcohol), and a collectable full color poster from rock artist Jeff Nicholas’ Uprising Creative (while supplies last). For only $13.00 each they can also add extra lobsters to their plate. Credit cards are accepted at the First Class booth.
Tickets may be ordered by calling the Harbor Interfaith offices at 310-241-0292 or by logging on to the festival’s secure order page at http://lobsterfest.com/tickets-firstclass/ and click on the “ticket” image at the top of the page. There is no need to order in advance like other festivals, First Class Tickets are available for purchase on site each day.
“Our First Class Ticket is a real bargain. Best of all we’re able to deliver the benefits of First Class service and give our guests a choice in meals. A lot of folks told us they would pay a little more for a lot more convenience and that’s what a First Class Ticket gives them. We’ll still be selling the same great lobster meal for only $19.00 each – a price that has only gone up one buck in six years. There is no better dining and entertainment bargain in Southern California. Compare our First Class ticket with similar offers at other festivals, and see what a good deal it truly is.”
The Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival has raised almost $250,000.00 for local non-profit groups. Main beneficiaries of the 2012 Lobster Festival are Harbor Interfaith Services and the San Pedro Rotary Club.
Saturday, Sept 19 the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival surpassed the old record for The Most Seafood Prepared at an Outdoor Event of 3,835 lbs and one ounce in two hours and fifteen minutes, and at 9 pm set a new Guinness World Record of 12,537.4 lbs. Unlike the old record which included mostly sardines, but some other seafood as well, the Lobster Festival weighed only lobsters and nothing else.
Under the supervision of The Fine Living Network’s Chef Chris Cognac, aka The Hungry Detective, and Guinness Adjudicator Carlos Martinez, San Pedro Fish Markets cooked and prepared the meals.
The record setting meal was purchased by James Lam of Alhambra, California. Councilwoman Janice Hahn announced the new world record shortly after 9 pm in a ceremony in the lobster serving area.
The festival would like to thank all the dedicated people at the Port of Los Angeles who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this happen.
Already recognized as the largest lobster festival in the world, the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival will attempt to make it official on Saturday, September 19 by setting a new record for “The Most Seafood Prepared at an Outdoor Event” in the Guinness Book of World Records. The World Record attempt will officially begin at 1 pm and last until 9 pm when the new record will be announced.
On hand to oversee the Lobster Festival as it breaks the record will be Mr. Carlos Martinez, an official Adjudicator from Guinness World Records. The record of 3,835 pounds and one ounce is currently held by the resort town of Silver Beach in Port Edward, South Africa. Supervising the cooking of the lobsters will be Food Network celebrity Chef Chris Cognac of the “Hungry Detective” show.
“I’ve spared no expense to bring this honor to San Pedro,” said Lobster Festival Producer Jim Hall. “I’m personally paying the enormous costs of applying for the record, and going the extra mile for my home town by flying an official Guinness World Records Adjudicator to oversee our attempt. We will also have an official, licensed weighmaster on hand certify the weight of every single lobster cooked. With the Adjudicator present Guinness will certify the new record on the spot.”
The record attempt will take place over an 8 hour period, with two key milestones. The first milestone is when the existing record is broken which San Pedro Fish Markets estimates will be about 4 pm based on conservative sales estimates. The second milestone occurs at 9 pm when the new record is set. In each case the person receiving the milestone meal will receive a commemorative shirt and other small prizes.
In celebration of the world record attempt the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival will be serving a special “Guinness Book of Records” meal on Saturday featuring a wedge of delicious Laughing Cow Cheese and a King’s Hawaiian sweet bread roll in addition to their World Famous Discount Lobster Meal of a 1.25 lb fresh steamed Maine Lobster, cole slaw, lemon wedges and butter.
“I have no doubt we will win and set an almost unbeatable world record,” said Hall. “San Pedro is going to have some pretty big bragging rights by 9 pm on Saturday night. I’m going to let Los Angeles and the world know that if you want seafood in Southern California, San Pedro is the place to go.”
