The 2024 New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar, New Jersey, will take place the weekend before Memorial Day at Silver Lake Park on Ocean Avenue. The 2024 Belmar Seafood Festival dates are Friday, May 17; Saturday, May 18; and Sunday, May 19.
Every day of the New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar will offer an ultimate feast of crowd-pleasing favorites — from scallop kabobs and lobster rolls, to coconut shrimp, crab legs, and more.
Admission to the festival is free, with grab-and-go fare for sale at each individual food vendor.
Local restaurants Ragin' Cajun, Klein's, Mr. Shrimp, Playa Bowls, Santo Ceviche, and Brandl will be among the Belmar, NJ, Seafood Festival participants this year.
If you are looking for some savory sides to add to your seafood platter, you'll find food trucks selling street corn, empanadas, blooming onions, lobster and crab fries, mac and cheese, and more.
For your sweet tooth, take your pick from vendors selling funnel cakes, Caribbean rum cakes (moist and decadent!), fried Oreos, deep-fried brownies, cannoli cream waffles, and ice cream treats.
In addition, 10th Ave. Burrito Co. has teamed up with ShorePoint Distributors to host the beer, wine, and hard seltzer tent (admission fee applies plus the cash bar).
Local Tip No. 1: Don't miss Point Lobster Company's hot butter-bathed lobster roll served on a soft potato bun. It is sinfully delicious. I also love the blackened scallop kebabs. So fresh and just the right amount of spicy kick!
Last year, I also tried the fried grouper sandwich from the legendary Ike's Crab Cakes of Ocean City, New Jersey, kicked up with coleslaw and sriracha on top — a flavorful combination! You also must check out the moist and flavor-packed Caribbean rum cakes from Goodway Gourmet Bakery out of Troy, New York. They sold out last year, so make sure you don't miss out on a sweet slice of rum cake in 2024.
In an interview with the TapInto Belmar publication, Belmar's Tourism and Special Event Coordinator John Walsh expressed that the Borough wanted to bring back a more local flair to the event this year, which celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2023.
"It’s going to be the same Seafood Fest people know and love," Walsh said in the interview. "My approach was really to take it back to a more localized festival. Almost all the businesses are Jersey businesses. It’s called the New Jersey Seafood Festival; I wanted to make sure we were showcasing New Jersey restaurants… (We) tried to really make it a taste of New Jersey, not a taste of carnival food from around the country."
RELATED: Dining In Belmar, NJ
Shopping And Vendor Market
Throughout the Belmar Seafood Festival weekend, an assortment of local artisans and market vendors, including Belmar's own Daffodil Consignment and Señor Juan's Cigars, will have merchandise for sale in Silver Lake Park. Downtown Belmar businesses and restaurants will also be open during the event – a great time to browse the clothing boutiques and specialty shops along Main Street.
Make sure you also stop by the Borough of Belmar visitor table, where you can spin a prize wheel and win some fun Belmar gear.
NJ Seafood Festival Live Music Schedule
Along with the food, musical entertainment is also a big part of the Belmar Seafood Festival. The lineup of bands for 2024 will be announced, but in 2023, the scheduled included performances by local musician Danny White, owner of Beach Music Studios in Belmar, and the Beach Music Rock Band, as well as local favorites Holme, The Wallnutz, Spare Parts, E Boro Bandits, Little X Little, and blues band Tommy B and the Deep Blue Sea.
All performances will take place in the Huisman Gazebo in Silver Lake Park, which is stop #33 on the Belmar Treasure Trail.
Getting Here: Tips From Town Officials
To minimize parking and traffic issues, out-of-town visitors are encouraged to ride New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line to Belmar to get to the Seafood Festival.
If you are coming from Monmouth or Ocean County, park at your closest local train station and ride New Jersey Transit into Belmar. The Belmar train station in Belmar Plaza is conveniently located just steps from the festival fun between 9th and 10th Avenues.
Train schedule for the New Jersey Transit North Jersey Coast Line to the Belmar train station.
36th Annual Belmar NJ Seafood Festival
Silver Lake Park
500 Ocean Avenue
Belmar, New Jersey 07719
Friday, May 18, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 18, 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 19, 11:00 am. - 6:00 p.m.
Rain or shine event. No dogs permitted in the festival area.
If you are an interested food or marketplace vendor, contact Belmar Tourism officials at 732-681-3700, ext. 214, for more information about reserving your spot in the 2024 Belmar Seafood Festival at the Jersey Shore.
Story and photos © copyright by Christine Cardellino, owner of www.VacationInBelmar.com and publisher of the award-winning Belmar Beachcomber Blog, a travel and tourism guide for the Belmar region of the Jersey Shore. Do not copy any content (including images) without our permission. All rights reserved.
Live Like A Local: Rent A Belmar Beach House
Day trips down the shore are fun, but it's even better to rent a beach house for the week to experience everything wonderful about the Belmar area. For couples, solo adults and small families, the two-bedroom Blue Hydrangea Cottage rental in Belmar, New Jersey, is the perfect getaway place. The home sleeps up to four people and is consistently rated five stars for cleanliness, amenities and location. Learn more at www.vacationinbelmar.com.
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