BELMAR – Fans of one of the Jersey Shore’s signature events, the popular New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar, will find it much easier to get to and around the event this year. This year’s 30th anniversary celebration, scheduled for May 13-15 in Silver Lake Park on Ocean Avenue, is a month earlier than in previous years and far ahead of the heavy summer beach traffic, making it much easier to get in and out of town and visit the festival’s many vendors and activities.
“By moving the Seafood Festival earlier in the year and away from the summer beach traffic, we hope to eliminate the traffic problems that snarled our roads last year,” says Mayor Matthew Doherty. “We invite visitors to enjoy Belmar’s broad sandy beaches, restaurants, and marina that make the town the perfect summer destination. The festival’s winning combination of great food, entertainment, crafts, vendors and family fun is the solid foundation upon which we’ve been able to continue adding new and exciting events and features each year.”
Warm ocean breezes, live entertainment, kids’ activities and unique crafters and artisans add to the myriad of tastes and selection of the area’s freshest seafood and other delicacies as the event celebrates its 30th consecutive year in Belmar.
Admission is free to the festival, and visitors can purchase offerings from over 45 of the area’s best restaurants and food vendors serving everything from traditional items like steamed lobster, shrimp on a stick, crab cakes and fried clams to the trendier sushi, fish tacos, exotic conch fritters and alligator sausage.
Seafood lovers will find Belmar restaurant favorites Brandl, Mr. Shrimp, Klein’s Waterside, Jake’s Crab Shack, Ragin’ Cajun, 10th Ave Burrito Co. and 9th Avenue Pier and Simply Southern Cuisine. Look for long-time local favorite Jersey Shore BBQ, as they trade in hogs for hooked delights at this seafood-only event. Jack Baker’s Lobster Shanty from Point Pleasant Beach, The Palm from Atlantic City, and Ike’s Crab Cakes from Ocean City are among the other New Jersey restaurants that will be showcasing their seafood savvy.
The shrimp are boiling, the lobsters steaming and the entertainment is rockin’ by the time the festival officially opens for Local’s Night on Friday at 4 p.m. “Moving the festival a month earlier takes it away from the summer beach traffic and will make it much easier to navigate both the festival and the town,” says Mary Brabazon, Belmar’s Director of Tourism and organizer of the event. “The Friday afternoon opening gives locals and early birds a chance to enjoy the festival before the weekend rush.”
Once again this year, Ocean Avenue will be closed to traffic between 5th and 6th Avenues, and Ocean Avenue around 5th Avenue will be filled with plenty of tables and seating for visitors to sit and enjoy their meals. At the opposite end of the park, the 21 and over crowd can enjoy a wide range of cold brews or glass of wine in the Leinenkugel beer garden and Barefoot Bubbly wine tent adjacent to Silver Lake and the gazebo.
Live entertainment throughout the weekend keeps the party rolling, with the Manasquan High School Jazz Band and the Danny White Band launching the fun on Friday. Shore Blue opens the festival on Saturday, followed by Belmar’s own HOLME at 2 p.m. and Cody McCorry at 5 p.m. The Chuck Lambert Band opens the festival on Sunday, followed by the VooDUDES and the Blackberry Blues Band. Visitors are encouraged to bring blankets and beach chairs to enjoy the day. The festival features an enticing selection of artisans and vendors to browse while you eat.
“The festival’s popularity has given us the opportunity to develop more family-friendly events,” added Ms. Brabazon. “During the summer, Belmar hosts Movies on the Beach on Saturday evenings during June, July and August, Friday night concerts in Pyanoe Plaza, the New Jersey Sandcastle Contest in July, 90.5 The NIGHT’s Songwriters on the Beach series on Thursday evenings during July and August, and so much more. When summer ends, we continue the fun with the Feast of San Gennaro and the Belmar Pro Surf Tournament in September and an Oktoberfest. There’s always something happening in Belmar!”
Don’t let traffic stand in your way of a good time. NJ TRANSIT’s North Jersey Coast Line will bring you right to downtown Belmar, and your ticket entitles you to discount beach passes. Visit www.NJTRANSIT.com for schedules and information. If you’re driving to town, take advantage of free parking in Belmar’s downtown district located just south of the NJ Transit Station (10th Avenue), the Municipal parking lot at 5th and River Road, the Belmar Marina located on 10th Avenue and Route 35, or at Dempsey Park on 16th Avenue. Free shuttles will run through Belmar continuously from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday, with stops at the Marina, the NJ TRANSIT train station, parking areas and downtown, delivering visitors to the end of Silver Lake at 5th Avenue.
Admission is free to the rain or shine festival, produced by the Belmar Tourism Commission, and takes place in Silver Lake Park on Ocean Avenue between 5th and 6th Avenues in Belmar on Friday from 4 – 8 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Belmar boasts several lovely bed and breakfast inns, perfect for a weekend getaway any time of year. For more information on the Seafood Festival, Belmar events or lodging follow us on Facebook at VisitBelmarNJ, go to www.VisitBelmarNJ.com or call 732-681-3700, extension 214. For sponsor or vendor information, contact [email protected].
Photo: Colleen Leslie