6th Annual California
Seaweed Festival
At - A - Glance Schedule
Friday, October 10th
Seaweed Speakeasy Fundraiser
(Learn more and get tickets HERE!)
Where: Lands End Berth 60 at AltaSea, Port of Los Angeles
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Lightning Talks (5-6 pm) and Innovation Showcase – Hear from innovators in aquaculture systems, marine robotics, bioplastics, processing, and more, in talks and live demos, maybe even drive an ROV in the kelp bed.
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Make your own customized duds, bring something to print. Get a custom made shirt, in fact it could be done right on a shirt you already own!
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Algae Bar - Savor cocktails, mocktails and a specially commissioned seaweed beer created by Smog City Brewing Co.
Blue Table Bites – Sample culinary delights featuring seaweeds and sustainable seafoods and meet the chefs who created them, plus raw bar by local grower Grassy Bar Oyster Co.
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Blue Echo Exhibition - Experience a collection of projects created by emerging artists from California Institute of the Arts in collaboration with World Resources Institute; with the ocean at its heart the projects span disciplines from sound and sculpture to performance and graphic design.
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1 - 5:30 pm Tours and Workshops!
1-4pm: Ocean to Ocean: a kelp's journey in seaweed farming
Hands-on workshop for 20 participants ($100) (SOLD OUT)
At AltaSea at the Port of Los AngelesA full hands-on experience of all of the steps of processing kelps for seaweed farming, led by Michael Marty-Rivera, Seedbank Collection Curator at Kelp Ark.
4-5pm: Tours of the AltaSea Campus
No charge, but pre-registration is required
AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles is dedicated to accelerating scientific collaboration, advancing an emerging blue economy through business innovation and job creation, and inspiring the next generation, all for a more sustainable, just and equitable world. Their portside campus has converted a 120-year old warehouse into a venue for a wide variety of Blue Technology businesses and projects. Come tour what is happening with one of AltaSea's staff before joining us for the Seaweed Speakeasy.5pm and 5:30pm: Tours of Grassy Bar Oyster Hatchery, San Pedro Two tours limited to 15 participants each ($20)
Grass Bar Oyster Company will provide industry tours of their San Pedro hatchery facility. Come learn where baby oysters get their start and why eating more oysters is a great way to support sustainable food systems. Grassy Bar's oysters will be featured later in the evening at the Seaweed Speakeasy!
Saturday, October 11th
California Seaweed Festival at Sea Fair
Festival Theme: Urban Ocean Ecosystems
When: 10 am - 6 pm Where: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Hands-on activities, Vendors, Food & Cooking Demos, Science & Technology, Live Music, Magical Creatures, Touch Tanks & more
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10:15am -11:15am: Seaweed in a Solidarity Economy, with Julia Dunn, Earth Equity
Short Workshop for up to 25 participants ($10)
Sponsored by CSU Northridge & NOAA
As the seaweed industry grows, there's a repeating conversation around "scaling up" which often winds up replicating the same extractive values that caused the climate crisis our industry hopes to mitigate and heal. This interactive workshop explores cooperative economies as an answer to this "problem of scale" and considers how seaweed farmers can be leaders in a just transition.
11:30am -12:30pm: Identifying Common Seaweeds: Southern California Seaweed Taxonomy and Morphology, with Adi Khen and Jen Smith, Smith Lab at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
Short workshop for up to 40 participants, includes a Southern California Seaweed ID card ($40)
Sponsored by The Azulito Fund
Learn more about Southern California seaweeds-- how to identify them, where they grow, and why they're important. Participants will receive a field guide featuring pictures and information on 24 common species.
12:45 -1:45pm: Glow with Kelp: DIY Sunscreen from Ocean Science, with Jason Williams, UCLA
Short workshop for up to 30 participants, includes samples to take home ($50)
Explore the science of natural extracts and how they interact with zinc to form nanoparticles with unique sun-blocking properties. Following a live demo of nanoparticle formation from kelp extract, participants will work together in small groups to blend their own natural sunscreen cream using ocean-derived ingredients. Along the way, discuss kelp's ecological importance and how green chemistry can replace harmful industrial processes.
2:00 - 3:00pm: Artistic Seaweed Pressings, with Karina Arzuyan, Nuzhdin Laboratory, USC, and Hayden Schneider, Kelp Ark.
Short workshop for up to 40 (change to 30) participants, take your own seaweed pressing home! ($40)
Learn to make seaweed pressings that highlight unusual natural aspects of algae, both large and small. After reviewing a variety of examples and a short demonstration, each participant will have an opportunity to select seaweeds and complete their own artistic, alternatively angled pressing.3:15 - 4:15pm: Seaweed Ink, with Jenny Gil, Algy Lab
Short workshop for up to 40 participants, take your own box of seaweed inks home! ($50)
Learn about the pigments produced by algae (chlorophyll, phycocyanin and carotenoids) and a step-by-step process for making ink from microalgae. We will end by using the inks to paint on paper or wood and participants receive a tin box of algae inks to take home. Algy Lab is dedicated to creating workshops and products inspired by algae.
4:30 - 5:30pm: Algae Jello as Abalone Feed, with Johanna Hultberg, Aquarium of the Pacific
Short workshop for up to 40 participants ($30)
Use carrageenan to make algae "jello" that can be used to feed invertebrates. The workshop leader uses it to increase diet variation for endangered white abalone leading up to breeding season, but there are many additional possible applications, especially for times or areas where it is difficult to provide live algae to invertebrate populations. -
Science Lighting Talks - Learn from 5 min presentations on cutting edge research
Seaweed Figures: Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities
CMA Puppet Show
Aquaculture and Farming - Hear from seaweed farmers across the country!
Seaweed Storiesby Lonely Whale - Enjoy a video screening & panel in collaboration with Lonely Whale
California's Kelp Trends through the Ages: from Deep Time to the Present and Future
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Indigenous People’s Forum - Hear Gabrielino/Tongva women share the challenges and ongoing work as traditional caretakers of the ocean.
Seaweed Applications in Farming and Health - Learn about the vast array of seaweed uses from biostimulants to cellular health
Urban Ocean Ecosystems - Get insight into the cultural and ecological impact of where ocean and urban environments intersect
Restoration & Seaweed Solutions - Engage in a panel on current kelp restoration and blue carbon initiatives
Cooking Demos - Taste and learn about using seaweed in everyday food preparations
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Free Activities!
Seaweed Pressing
Seaweed Printing
Seaweed Collage Table
Epoxy Resin Pendant making - limited
Ocean Jenga
Meet the Mermaid’s of the Kelp Forest
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Come one come all to see real live mermaids at the California Seaweed Festival! Mermaid Sura and Mermaid Kairi have swam from the kelp forests to join us in celebration of their favorite oceanic fauna. Come say shello, listen to stories of their underwater tales, and take a photo to commemorate your day!
Schedule
🌿
2025
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Schedule 🌿 2025 🌊
California Seaweed Festival at Sea Fair
When: Saturday, Oct 11th 10 am - 6 pm Where: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
Festival Theme: Urban Ocean Ecosystems
Hands-on activities, Vendors, Food & Cooking Demos, Science & Technology, Live Music, Magical Creatures, Touch Tanks & more All day fun free activities: Seaweed Pressing, Seaweed Printing, Seaweed Collage Table, Epoxy Resin Pendant making - limited, Seaweed Jenga, Meet the Mermaid’s of the Kelp Forest, Bingo rally, Loteria and more!
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10:00 – 10:15 AM Welcome with Tribal Elder – Lawn on Stage
10:00 – 11:00 AM Indigenous People’s Forum – Courtyard
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Mermaids in their grotto, Mermaids Sura and Kairi - Activity Area
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (all day activities) Seaweed Pressing – Activity Space Seaweed Printing – Activity Space Seaweed Jenga – Lawn Collage Table - Activity Area ResilienSea - Festival grounds Seaweed Stories - Poster art tent Food tastings - Courtyard Touch tanks - Courtyard
10:15 – 10:45 AM Eb and Flow Meditation by CalArts – Entertainment Stage on Lawn
10:15 – 11:15 AM Seaweed in a Solidarity Economy – Classroom
10:30 – 11:30 AM Aquaculture/Farming (5 min. presentations & panel) – Auditorium
10:45 – 10:50 AM Makena Rush Choreographed Dance
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM Christian Clemesha – MUSIC -Entertainment Stage on Lawn
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Identifying Common Seaweeds – Classroom Epoxy Resin Pendants – Activity Space
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Science Lightning Talks – Auditorium Seaweed Applications in Farming and Health Panel – Courtyard
12:00 PM – 4:00 PM Underwater VR Experience - Under The Blue Line, Activity Area
12:45 – 1:45 PM Glow with kelp: DIY Sunscreen from Ocean Science
1:00 – 2:00 PM Seaweed Figures: Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities – Auditorium Urban Ocean Ecosystems Panel – Courtyard Children's Book Reading; Wee Kelpy's Forest - Library
1:15 – 3:15 PM Jetpack – MUSIC - Entertainment Stage
2:00 – 3:00 PM Artistic Seaweed Pressings – Classroom
2:00 – 3:30 PM Poster Presentations – Aquatic Nursery
2:00 – 5:00 PM Mermaid in her grotto
2:15 – 3:15 PM Cabrillo Marine Aquarium Puppet Show – Auditorium Restorations and Seaweed Solutions Panel – Courtyard
3:15 – 3:45 PM Bilingual Loteria – Entertainment Stage on Lawn
3:15 – 4:15 PM Seaweed Ink – Classroom
3:30 – 4:30 PM California’s kelp trends through the ages: deep time to the present and future – Auditorium
3:45 – 5:45 PM Noral Twins – Entertainments Stage on Lawn
4:30 – 5:30 PM Algae Jello as abalone feed – Classroom
4:45 – 5:45 PM Seaweed Stories by Lonely Whale: Screening and panel - Auditorium
Where: Auditorium What: Panels, Presentations, & Puppet Show When:10am-5:45pm
10:30am - 11:30am
Aquaculture/farming/ (5min Presentations & Panel)
Moderated by Rafel Cuevas Uribe, Cal Poly Humboldt
Nick Mangini - SWAMC/KISS KELP
Cindy Wilcox - Marine Bioenergy
Nathan Churches - Holdfast Aquaculture/Grassy Bar Oyster Co Antonio Tovar - NAMA
11:45am - 12:45pm
Science Lighting Talks (5 min Presentations) Moderated by Lais Lima, UCSD
Dr. Lauren Smith, TNC / UCSB Jennifer Burnaford, CSU Fullerton Frej Tulin, Carnegie Science Phillip Tahimic, Cal Poly Humboldt Evan Simpson, Cal Poly Humboldt Yuanzi Huo, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute Mei Blundell, UC Davis Dan Abbot, Reef Check Foundation
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Seaweed Figures: Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities
Moderated by Melody Jue, UCSB
Joe Riley, UCSD David Stentiford, Stanford Kenan Chan Sohl Lee SUNY, Stony Brook
2:15pm - 3:15pm
CMA Puppet Show
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium
3:30pm - 4:30pm
California's Kelp Trends through the Ages: from Deep Time to the Present and Future
Moderated by Jess Carstens-Kass, UCLA
David Jacobs, UCLA Dr. Maura Sullivan, Chumash linguist Gauwain Antell, UCLA Siobhan Braybrook, UCLA
4:45pm - 5:45pm
Seaweed Stories by Lonely Whale - Screening & Panel
Moderated by Simona Augyte, CA Sea Grant
Charlie Yarish, UCONN Catherine O'Hare, Sway Nancy Caruso, Get Inspired Lucy Bellwood, Adventure Cartoonist
Where: Courtyard What: Panels & Cooking Demo When:10am-4:00pm
10:30am - 11:30am
Indigenous People's Forum
Moderated by Cindi Alvitare, Gabrieleno/Tongva Hear Gabrielino/Tongva women share the challenges and ongoing work as traditional caretakers of the ocean.
Weshoyot Alvitre, Tongva/Scottish Paahavet Carmelo, Tongva, Kumeyaay, Nahua
11:45am - 12:45pm
Seaweed Applications in Farming and Health Panel Moderated by Kalani Ortiz, UCSD
Doug Bush, Ocean Rainforest Emily Power, OceanMade Julia Perederiy, OmBiome Kendall Barbery, Greenwave
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Urban Ocean Ecosystems Panel
Moderated by Janet Kubler, CSUN
Renee Angwin, Port of SD Cheyenne Bridge, UCSD Chloe McKenna, Hebridean Coastal Stories
2:15pm - 3:15pm
Restoration & Seaweed Solutions Panel
Moderated by Jules Marsh, Santa Monica College
Erica Nielsen, TNC/UCSB Lais Lima, UCSD Meliza Le, Cuidemos el océano, A.C. Benjamin Grime - TNC
3:30pm - 4:30pm
Cooking Demo - Poke with Ogo
Demonstrated by Emily Miller & Iris Romero of CA Sea Grant and Delta Stewardship Council, and Ann Bishop of The Cultured Abalone Farm
When: 10:15am-5:30pm
Where: Classroom What: Workshops
(Tickets required) CLICK HERE
10:15am - 11:15am
Seaweed in a Solidarity Economy
Lead by Julia Dunn, Earth Equity
11:30am - 12:30pm
Identifying Common Seaweeds Lead by Adi Khen & Jen Smith, UCSD
12:45pm - 1:45pm
Glow with Kelp: DIY Sunscreen from Ocean Science
Lead by Jason Williams, UCLA
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Artistic Seaweed Pressings
Lead by Karina Arzuyan, USC
3:15pm - 4:15pm
Seaweed Ink
Lead by Jenny Gil, Algy Lab
4:30pm - 5:00pm
Algae Jello as Abalone Feed
Lead by Johanna Hultberg, Aquarium of the Pacific
When: 10:00am-5:00pm
Where: Various Locations What: Activities
10:00am - 5:00pm, Activity Area Seaweed Pressing
10am-5pm, Activity Area Seaweed Printing
10am-5pm, Activity Area Collage Table
11:30am-12:30pm, Activity Area Epoxy Resin Pendant - Limited Availability
10am -1pm & 2-5pm, Activity Area Mermaids Sura and Kairi
10am-5pm, Lawn Area Seaweed Jenga
12pm - 4pm, Activity Area Underwater VR Experience - Under The Blue Line
1pm - 2pm, Library Children's Book Reading; Wee Kelpy's Forest
10am-5pm, Festival grounds ResilienSea
10am-5pm, Poster art tent Seaweed Stories
10am-5pm, Courtyard Food tastings
10am-5pm, Courtyard Touch tanks
When: 2pm-3:30pm
Where: Aquatic Nursery What: Poster Presentations
Rachel Le - Cal Poly Pomona Luke Miller - San Diego State University Kelsey McKenna - Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Deidre Sullivan - Catalina Island Marine Institute
Jennifer Burnaford - CSU Fullerton
Makena Rush - UC Santa Cruz
Chloe McKenna - Hebridean Coastal Stories Frej Tulin - Carnegie Science
Antonio Tovar - NAMA
Daniel O'Shea - TNC/ UCSB Mackenzie Grebner - UCSB
When: 10:00am-5:45pm
Where: Entertainments Stage on the Lawn What: Entertainment
10:00am - 10:15am
Welcome with Tribal Elder
10:45am - 10:50am Makena Rush Choreographed Dance
11:00am - 1:00pm Christian Clemesha - Music
1:15pm - 3:15pm Jetpack - Music
3:15pm - 3:45pm Bilingual Loteria
3:45pm - 5:45pm The Towels - Music
PARTICIPATING VENDORS & EXHIBITORS
Baja Naturals - All natural, nutritious and sustainable KELP dog treats!
Blue Echo Exhibition - Selected projects by emerging artists from California Institute of the Arts, designed to spark conversation and inspire action around the ocean as a vital solution to the world’s climate challenges. Several different works to engage you in different ways.
By Maps - Hats with seaweed slogans.
California Sea Grant UCSD - A unique partnership that unites the resources of the federal government, state of California and universities across the state to create knowledge, products and services that benefit the economy, the environment and the citizens of California.
Cal Poly Humboldt - Learn about careers in Fisheries Biology, Marine Biology, Biology, Oceanography, Wildlife and Zoology.
CSU Long Beach STABB (Stingray and Butterfly Biomechanics) Lab - Our undergraduate research lab studies the movement and behaviors of animals, and we are currently focused on the round stingray. Come learn all about how stingrays strike, the differences in their barbs, and how to stay safe on the beach.
Friends of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Information about how you can be involved with your local aquarium!
Get Inspired! - Our non-profit is dedicated to community-based ocean restoration projects. We have worked to restore the giant kelp forests of Orange County and are working on green abalone, white seabass and Pismo clams, with the help of students in classrooms and our volunteers.
Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute - Exhibit of a modular, land-based Integrated Multi-Trophic Recirculating Aquaculture System (IMTRAS) designed for finfish, sea cucumbers and seaweeds, which optimizes resource utilization and reduces seawater use and nutrient discharge.
Kelp Ark - Our seaweed biobank, a carefully curated collection of seaweed seed stocks and their microbial communities, will pave the way for a more sustainable and biodiverse future by facilitating marine conservation and implementation of eco-friendly solutions.
Kelp Art - A celebration of seaweed and surfing, combining cyanotypes of live kelp and film photography from surf and underwater adventures to create art that brings a piece of the ocean to your home.
Kelp Clothing LLC - Garments made from kelp-based fibers—naturally renewable, ocean-friendly, and incredibly soft. As a fiber source, kelp grows fast, requires no fresh water or pesticides, and actually absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Limu & Moore - Handmade, local seaweed art inspired by the beauty and science of the ocean, including pressings, collages, cards, stickers and more, using seaweeds mostly from the La Jolla area. I am influenced by the many female phycologists who have come before me, and their legacy in sharing knowledge about seaweed in food, art and science.
Low Tide Landing - Hand-forged, ocean-inspired sterling silver jewelry featuring sea glass, seashells and stones.
Malibu Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project - Learn about projects and activities to connect aquatic corridors by removing barriers such as dams.
90DA - Stickers, charms and prints!
OC Habitats - We protect native habitats and species through education and outreach, restoration projects and species monitoring in Orange County and surrounding areas.
Ocean Art by Angela Jones - Handmade custom algae presses, algae art, underwater photography and handmade, ocean-inspired functional pottery.
Ocean Institute - Learn about Giant Kelp anatomy and ongoing uses of kelp, and check out our tank of local Giant Kelp from Dana Point harbor.
Ocean Made - Eco-friendly biodegradable seed starting pots, made from kelp!
Ocean Rainforest - Display of their new seaweed biostimulant, MakroBoost, derived from local Macrocystis pyrifera and designed to improve the sustainability of regional agriculture. Product samples and info about a planned offshore seaweed aquaculture site in Ventura.
OmBiome - Algae botanicals for the mouth and gut. Our flagship Spirulina Oral Care line offers an innovative nutrient-rich approach to your daily hygiene regime.
OoMee - Healthy beverage crafted with red seaweed to help curb cravings and support everyday wellness.
Origin Seaweed - Hand harvested wild Mendocino seaweeds and seaweed products.
Palos Verdes/South Bay Audubon Society - We are dedicated to protecting birds and the places where they live, including shores and oceans.
Pelagic Problems - Sustainably sourced and eco-friendly stickers, magnets and apparel that celebrates seaweed, marine conservation and Los Angeles coastal culture.
Port of San Diego - Learn about the Seaweed and Shellfish Aquaculture Program (SSAP) and Blue Economy Incubator (BEI) projects happening down south.
Reef Check Foundation - Leading citizen scientists to promote stewardship of reef communities worldwide. Join us in our mission to create a sustainable future through education, research and conservation.
Salmon Seas - Handmade jewelry using fish otoliths, plus stickers, patches and hand-painted found fishing buoys.
Salty Snail Studio - Responsibly sourced red abalone art pieces, including frames, hanging wind chimes, jewelry, dining and gardening accessories, and natural shells. All of our shell is sources from a California commercial abalone farm.
San Pedro Soapworks - Bath, body and hair care products inspired by the natural beauty of coastal California and infused with nourishing marine ingredients like kelp and seaweed extracts, marine collagen, and sea salts.
Seatrees - Our mission is to regenerate the health of our ocean planet. Check out our educational information or buy some merch to support our cause.
Sequoia Siren - We design and make jewelry as scientifically accurate representations of native flora, fauna, and fungi, with a dash of folklore. Earrings, pins, hair accessories, necklaces, ring and more, each with fun facts about the species and a map of where you can find them.
7 Seas Collective - Learn about our non-profit organization’s citizen science opportunities and ocean steward community.
Shark Stewards - A project of Earth Island Institute, protecting endangered sharks from overfishing and the shark fin trade. Fun shark activities for kids!
Shera Dolmatz Finkel - Upcycled art made from recycled flipflops, handcrafted in Kenya. We upcycle more than 1 million flipflops each year and support jobs for nearly 100 artisans.
Southeast Conference, Alaska Mariculture Cluster - A coalition that includes members of Alaska’s mariculture industry, tribal organizations, regulatory agencies, universities, Economic Development Districts, trade groups and others to catalyze a sustainable mariculture industry.
Thunderbird Design Studio - Graphic design and small batch art and goods inspired by the natural world, with a portion of every sale going to support wildlife and conservation groups like Trout Unlimited and the Coastal Conservation Association.
Ti’at Society - Traditional California Indian products, including jewelry, clothing and herbal products, created by a variety of Tingva community members.
University of Southern California Sea Grant - Check out our interactive activities about sustainable ocean farming and more!
Versily - Necklaces handcrafted from wild ocean-grown algae. Each piece carries raw, organic textures never seen in jewelry before.
West Coast Kelp Ltd - Canada’s go-to implementation partner for researchers and non-profits testing kelp restoration and cultivation at scale. We have a commercial land-based nursery and permitted ocean sites, providing the infrastructure and technical support to turn lab ideas into field-ready projects.
WhimSea - Seaweed art squares, plus t-shirts, greeting cards, necklaces, keychains and tea towels with California seaweed designs.
OUR MISSION
Celebrating the interdependence of people, seaweeds and coastal ecosystems.
OUR STORY
The California Seaweed Festival arose from decades of studying seaweeds, admiring their beauty and learning myriad ways that seaweeds make life better. We want to share the beauty and diversity of seaweeds on our coasts.

Help us celebrate seaweeds in California by becoming a sponsor!
Our 2025 Sponsors & Partners
Collaborators







Our 2025 Sponsors
Kelp Forest Sponsors


Frond Sponsors





Holdfast Sponsors






In-Kind Donors
Smog City Brewing Co, Kachemak Kelp, Uncharted Alaska, North Coast Seafoods, Morgan Morgan, CSUN, Monterey Bay Seaweeds, Karn's Kelp, Blue Evolution
Join us, we’re social!
It’s always a good time to celebrate seaweeds in California.