Belmar drawbridge Everyone in Belmar is ready for the summer of 2011, and now there is only one thing left that matters.
“We just need the weather” to cooperate, said
Mary Brabazon, the tourism administrator of the popular Jersey Shore destination.
The summer season will begin this week in the Monmouth County community that remains a draw for people who come from near and far in search of a good time.
The first in a long list of summer events in Belmar will kick off at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27, when Dennis Coughlin performs in concert at Pyanoe Plaza, Ninth Avenue and Main Street.
A farmers market will arrive at Pyanoe Plaza at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 28, as the Memorial Day weekend picks up steam. The farmers market takes place every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The New Jersey Seafood Festival, which is expected to attract a total of 100,000 visitors to Belmar on June 10-12, will take place in Silver Lake Park at Fifth and Ocean avenues. Admission is free, and plenty of delectable seafood will be sold.
The New Jersey Sandcastle Contest is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13, at 18th Avenue on the beach. The fun will get under way at 8:30 a.m., with judging at noon.
Belmar also hosts Cruise Nights at Pyanoe Plaza on Thursdays, June 16, July 21, Aug. 18 and Sept. 15.
The Belmar 5-Mile Run will be held Saturday, July 9; Belmar Pro Surf Week is set for Sept. 9-18.
Antiques by theAtlantic will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, at Taylor Pavilion, Ocean Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the Belmar Fall Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, on Main Street. For more details visit www.belmar.com.
Last September, Belmar hosted the Beer on the Pier event, which will return on Saturday, Sept. 24. There are also free concerts on the beach every Friday night. For more information, visit www.visitbelmarnj.com or call 732-681- 3700, ext. 214. Brabazon noted there are between 40 and 50 restaurants in Belmar. Visitors are welcome to dock their boat and take a short walk downtown to enjoy a variety of food establishments. Transient dockage and boat slips are available.
The tourism administrator is enthusiastic about the summer and said Belmar remains a place where people want to be.
“We are seeing [many people making] Belmar a day destination, but we would like to invite people to make an extended stay to see all that we have to offer,” she said.
Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty said, “Belmar is a great destination for middle-class families because we have affordable and accessible beaches and a Main Street with a variety of shops and restaurants.”
Belmar’s beaches and boardwalk are open year-round. During the summer the Belmar Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Department invite the public to swim, sun, fish, surf, boogie-board and kayak at its sandy white beaches and to take a stroll on its landscaped boardwalk.
The mile-long boardwalk offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean from Ocean Avenue, and the drive-up parking spots along the boardwalk allow for a view of the horizon from the comfort of your car.
Surrounded by water on three sides, the 1-square-mile town of Belmar has the Atlantic Ocean on its easternmost shore, the Shark River Inlet to the north and the Shark River to its west. Fishing and recreational boats of all shapes and sizes can be seen making their way from the Belmar Marina on the Shark River under or through the drawbridge that separates Belmar from its neighboring town of Avon, and out to the ocean via the Shark River Inlet.
The town has many food options for families and singles to enjoy, ranging from beachfront concessions to fast food, coffee and doughnuts, ice cream, local fare such as crab cakes, and many notable restaurants along the water and throughout town, plus hot spots for evening entertainment.
Shoppers might want to sign up for a VIP card at www.visitbelmarnj.com. The card offers discounts at participating merchants.
Nautical, surfing, skating and cycling supplies can be found in local shops in addition to art and much more.
Surfing lessons can be arranged right on the beach. There is a playground on the beach for young children to enjoy and volleyball for older youths. Parasailing boats depart from the Belmar Marina, providing scenic views of the beach from the sky above the ocean.