NJ Seafood Festival Relocating To Downtown Belmar

Officials in Belmar, New Jersey, are relocating the 33rd annual New Jersey Seafood Festival from Silver Lake Park on Ocean Avenue to the downtown Belmar Plaza parking lot this year. The event takes place Friday, May 17, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, May 18, 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, May 19, 2019, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Under the new setup, food vendors will be located in the Belmar Plaza parking lot behind Pyanoe Plaza. Craft and market vendors will have their wares for sale on the 8th Avenue sidewalk, while live musical entertainment will be performing in the center of Pyanoe Plaza (the area between the Belmar Bagel Shop and Don's Pizza King).

Local Belmar merchants have responded with enthusiasm to news of the festival's move downtown.

"Belmar is known for a beautiful beach and marina," says Kate Walters, owner of Sweet Tease Tea Room and Café at 604 Main Street, "but how many visitors know that Belmar is also home to several amazing bake shops, a tea shop, a vintage vinyl records store, a retro arcade, cigar shop, vintage and contemporary clothing, painted furniture — the list goes on and on. Anyone coming to the festival will find many reasons to return any time of year!"

The Belmar Business Partnership (BBP) has also applauded the change in venue. "We are supportive of the borough’s proposal to relocate the event from Ocean Avenue to Main Street and the downtown plazas. Such a move would bring lots of visitors to this area of town and provide great exposure to all the family-owned small businesses, restaurants, and retail shops that our community has to offer," the BBP said in a statement.

To mitigate the impact on parking and traffic during the festival, out-of-town visitors are encouraged to ride New Jersey Transit's North Jersey Coast Line to Belmar this year. If you are coming from points in 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 steps from the festival fun between 9th and 10th Avenues.

Hometown favorites Ragin' Cajun, Klein's, Jake's Downtown, Simply Southern, and Mr. Shrimp Seafood Restaurant are among the participating Belmar restaurants this year. The festival is a rain-or-shine event.

Story and photos by Patch Mayor Christine Cardellino, publisher of the Belmar Beachcomber Blog.

Read More

Upcoming Belmar events
Belmar Business Partnership news