Fried fish. Music. Beer. Must be the Seal Beach Lions Club Annual Fish Fry this weekend near the pier.
The club invites the public to come out and enjoy food, drink and live entertainment at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday during the 68th edition of its annual event, its primary fundraising activity.
All proceeds are either given back at the local level, through surface projects, or donated to other charitable organizations.
“You’re so focused on trying to produce a great event, but you do it because you know it’s for a great cause,” said Scott Newton, the club member in charge of the fish fry. “It’s not for any personal benefit, but there is a great reward in being able to have a successful event where the community really enjoys it and you’ve raised significant funds for less fortunate people and the community.”
Newton is one of many members excited about the upcoming event. When it's over, "we can’t wait for the next one,” he said. For him, the fish fry is different from other events. “It draws people within Seal Beach to one location. It’s truly a hometown event where people come out and they can see their friends and have the opportunity to see a lot of people that you don’t see but once or twice a year.”
When the Lions Club’s fish fry began in 1944, it was a celebration of the local fish harvest. The club prides itself on keeping this tradition alive, and while it no longer harvests its own fish for the celebration, the spirit of coming together to enjoy good food and good company is still very much in keeping with the club’s roots.
