Chowderfest is a fundraiser that has been organized by the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce since 1989 to provide funding for out-of-area marketing, ongoing business/nonprofit support programming, and scholarships. It is planned and managed by volunteers of the business community through the Chamber Board and Chowderfest Committee. Spanning over three decades, the festival continues to evolve to keep the mission of reaching new audiences, raising awareness of Long Beach Island, and bringing people together for the unofficial end of summer.