With summer in full swing, so too are the many food festivals at the Jersey shore that showcase some of the best mouthwatering summertime bites. Think along the lines of crawfish dishes on the boardwalk, chipotle-mayo crab cakes on the beach and, of course, rosé-infused cocktails on the pier. Here are six shore food festivals to visit this summer.
Get into the summertime spirit with a food truck series. The picturesque winery will host over 20 gourmet food trucks, six wine bars, and live entertainment from local bands throughout the summer. Watch the fireworks from the VIP pavilion and firepit, or rest in the boutique lounge area, which includes luxury perks like a complimentary tasting of Laurita’s newest Riesling and a complimentary charcuterie board served table-side. Tickets from $8, VIP tickets from $750, times vary, 85 Archertown Road, New Egypt, N.J., lauritawinery.com
Shore-goers will get to taste delicious meat-free and plant-based cuisine at the Atlantic City Vegan Food Festival. Treat yourself to eats from over 150 food vendors serving an array of vegan-inspired dishes like kale and mashed sweet potato samosas or sesame seed cookies dipped in chocolate. Afterward, visitors can enjoy live music at the festival’s exclusive afterparty. Prices vary, times vary, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, N.J., sprouteverywhereevents.com
Head over to Brighton Park for Atlantic City’s first annual Taco Festival. Visitors can try over 75 different types of tacos from some of the best restaurants and food trucks in the area and then escape to the margarita beach bar for cocktails and mariachi music. Enjoy extra perks with the VIP package—including early admission to the festival, a free drink of your choice, five taco vouchers, access to an exclusive party area and more. Tickets from $14.95, VIP tickets from $54.95, times vary, 124 Park Place, Atlantic City, N.J., tacofests.com
Crack open a crustacean and a cold one on the Emlen Physick Estate grounds at the Cape May Craft Beer, Music and Crab Festival. The all-day event promises to be bigger and better with live entertainment from an old-fashioned Victorian circus of acrobats and jugglers. Try some of the local breweries craft beers and spirits to help wash down summer eats like crab cakes, pulled pork and fried shrimp. Free, food and drink prices vary, 11 AM, 1048 Washington St., capemaymac.org
Sipping wine on a warm summer afternoon sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? Taste authentic Italian wines and eats at Monmouth Park Racetrack’s Italian Festival and Wine Tasting. Sample five different types of fine wine, ranging from dry to semi-sweet, as you watch the park’s horse racing extravaganza. Then, savor some scrumptious Italian fare from vendors like The Zeppole Guys and Pie Oh My Woodfired Pizza. Tickets from $5, 11 AM, 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport, N.J., monmouthpark.com
Nothing screams Labor Day weekend like a shellfish soirée. This Shore favorite festival will have more than two dozen vendors, including Jake’s Crab Shack, Point Lobster, Tiger’s Tale and Simply Southern—plus live entertainment from six bands and over 150 craft and specialty vendors. Free, food prices vary, 11 AM, 500 Ocean Ave., Bradley Beach, N.J., bblobsterfest.com
Photography by: Photo courtesy of Sprout Everywhere Events
