The 46th OB Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off, Saturday June 27 from 10 AM-8 PM in Ocean Beach. Free admission, 2 music stages, eating contests, beer garden, and chili.
Overview
The 46th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off returns to Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach on Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Presented by Buzz Cannabis, it's one of San Diego's longest-running summer kickoff traditions — and easily the most distinctive. Tens of thousands attend for a full day of chili, live music on two stages, beachfront entertainment, art, shopping, eating contests, and a beer garden with an ocean view.
If you've ever wanted to spend a Saturday eating chili while looking at the Pacific, this is your day.
What You Actually Need to Know
- Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Where: Newport Avenue (4800–5000 blocks) + surrounding waterfront parks, Ocean Beach, CA 92107
- Street fair admission: FREE
- Chili tasting: $2 per tasting or $25 Master Ticket (sample every recipe and vote)
- Chili tasting hours: 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- All-ages event with kid-friendly zones plus a 21+ beer garden
What's Happening at the 2026 OB Street Fair
The Chili Cook-Off (the headliner)
The Chili Cook-Off competition takes over the grassy area between Newport Avenue and the Pacific Ocean, with amateur and restaurant divisions competing for several awards:
- Hottest Chili
- Judges' Award
- Grand Prize: People's Choice Award
Tasting tickets: $2 per tasting, OR $25 Master Ticket to sample every recipe and vote for your favorite.
The Cook-Off started in 1984 — founded by Ocean Beach local Mike Akey, whose father Angie Scaramuzzo founded the Lake Havasu City Chili Cook-Off — making the OB Cook-Off one of the longest-running of its kind in the country.
Two Stages of Live Music
The Street Fair features two stages of nonstop live music all day. Expect:
- Acoustic and folk acts
- Rock and alternative
- Blues and Americana
- Local San Diego musicians + acts from across Southern California
The music keeps going from 10 AM through the evening — making this one of the best free music days of the year in San Diego.
Hodad's & OB Dirty Birds Eating Contests
Two iconic eating contests take the main stage in the afternoon:
- Hodad's Burger Eating Contest — featuring the famous OB burger institution
- OB Dirty Birds Wing Eating Contest — wings from the local sports bar
These are spectator sports as much as competitive events — the crowds are enthusiastic, the food is real, and the participants are unhinged.
The Ocean Beergarden
The 21+ Ocean Beergarden runs near the main stage all day with ice-cold beer, cocktails, and unobstructed ocean views. It's structured so you can watch live music with a drink in hand without leaving the Beergarden — a smart setup for the adult crowd.
Artists' Alley + Seaside Family Fun Zone
- Artists' Alley — handmade items from local San Diego artisans
- Seaside Family Fun Zone — kid-friendly activities, games, and entertainment
- Community mural projects — collaborative public art happening throughout the day
- Food and merchandise vendors along Newport Avenue
When and Where
Saturday, June 27, 2026 from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Location: Newport Avenue (4800-5000 blocks) and adjacent waterfront parks, including:
- Ocean Beach Pier Parking Lot
- Veterans Plaza Park
- Ocean Beach Lifeguard Parking Lot
- Saratoga Park
- Streets affected: Newport Avenue (4800-5000 blocks), Abbott Street, Bacon Street, and Cable Street between Niagara and Santa Monica Avenue
Tickets
- Street Fair admission: FREE
- Chili tasting: $2 per tasting or $25 Master Ticket
- Beergarden purchases at standard event pricing (21+ only)
No tickets required to walk Newport Avenue, browse vendors, or catch live music. Only the chili tastings have a ticket.
Getting to Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is small, and the street fair takes over the entire downtown — parking will be brutal. Free shuttle, bike valet, and rideshare are all better options than driving.
- Free Parking & Shuttle: Free parking at the Sun Runner parking lot on Sea World Drive on Pacific Coast Highway, with free trolley shuttle service running from 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM
- Free Bike Valet: At the intersection of Bacon Street and Newport Avenue
- Rideshare: Standard pickup/drop-off zones — expect surge pricing during peak hours
- MTS Bus 35 stops along Newport Avenue if you're coming from elsewhere in the city
What to Bring
- Cash and cards (cash for chili tastings, cards for vendors)
- Sunscreen and a hat — the fair runs through peak afternoon sun
- Comfortable shoes — you'll cover several blocks
- Layers — Ocean Beach gets breezy in the evening
- A reusable water bottle (refills available at various vendor stations)
- An empty stomach for the chili, eating contests, and food vendors
Who It's For
- Chili enthusiasts — duh
- OB locals and Point Loma residents — this is your hometown party
- Music lovers — two stages of free live music all day
- Families — Seaside Family Fun Zone keeps the kids busy
- Foodies — the eating contests alone are worth the trip
- Anyone who's never been to OB — this is the best day of the year to experience it
Good to Know
- The fair is family-friendly until evening, when the energy shifts toward the Beergarden and music crowd
- Pets — well-behaved leashed dogs are welcome, but the crowds can be overwhelming for sensitive animals
- No outside alcohol — beer and cocktails must be purchased in the Beergarden
- Live music wraps around 8:00 PM
- Stick around for sunset — Ocean Beach's sunsets are legendary, and the fair coincides with golden hour
- Pair with Sunset Cliffs afterward for one of the best sunset views in San Diego
- Organized by Ocean Beach MainStreet Association (OBMA)
For more events happening in San Diego this June, check out our full June events calendar or browse our Ocean Beach neighborhood guide.