For the past 26 years, visitors from all over New Jersey and the region have marked the beginning of summer with one of the Shore’s favorite traditions — the New Jersey Seafood Festival. This year, the festival celebrates its 27th consecutive year in Belmar on June 7, 8 and 9.
More than 175,000 people are expected to descend on Belmar’s Silver Lake Park to enjoy one of the oldest and largest seafood festivals in the country.
Ocean breezes, live entertainment, children’s activities and unique crafts add to the experience of a myriad of tastes and treatments of the area’s freshest seafood.
Admission is free, and visitors can enjoy culinary offerings from 45 area restaurants and food vendors serving everything from traditional fare like steamed lobster, shrimp on a stick, crab cakes and fried clams, to trendier sushi, fish tacos and seafood quesadillas and the more exotic conch fritters and alligator sausage.
Forty North Oyster Farms, the state’s only coastal oyster farmer, will be on hand with a delectable raw bar.
In addition, visitors can enjoy the Wine Garden or the Beer Tent adjacent to the lake and gazebo. No pets allowed. NJ Transit will bring festival-goers right to Belmar, and the ticket entitles visitors to discount beach passes.
Visit www.njtransit.com for schedules and information. For those driving to town, there is free parking in the downtown located just south of the NJ Transit Station (10th Avenue) at the Belmar Marina on 10th Avenue and Route 35, or at Dempsey Park on 16th Avenue. Festival shuttles will run continuously until 8 p.m. on June 8-9, with stops at the marina, the train station, parking areas and downtown.
For more information on the New Jersey Seafood Festival or lodging, go to www.visitbelmarnj.com or call 732-681-3700, ext. 214.
Festival dates:
June 7, 8, 9
Hours:
Friday 4 – 8 p.m.;
Saturday 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.;
Sunday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Location: Silver Lake Park,
Ocean Avenue between 5th & 6th
avenues
Entertainment schedule:
Friday June 7:
4-6 p.m., Blue Sky Duo
6-8 p.m., Danny White Band
Saturday June 8:
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Red Wagon
2 – 4:30 p.m., Holme
5 -7:30 p.m., The Shore Blues Band
Sunday June 9:
11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.,
Manasquan High School Jazz Band
2 -4 p.m.,
The Blackberry Blues Band
4 -6 p.m.,
Slim Chance & The Gamblers