Why This Food Festival in New Jersey Is Considered One of America

If you love to eat (and who doesn’t?), New Jersey is basically a giant playground in the summer and fall. There are food festivals popping up all over the place, and each one’s got its own personality. Whether you’re into seafood, BBQ, or the sweet stuff, there’s probably a festival happening not too far from you.

Food festivals all over NJ

At the Shore, you’ll find tons of seafood fests. Think giant trays of clams, lobster rolls, and buckets of shrimp with cold beer to wash it down. Then there are the pizza festivals that show off some of the best slices in the state. You can spend the afternoon just going from booth to booth, grabbing a slice here, maybe a meatball sub there. By the end you’ll need to be rolled out. Trust me.

Photo by Stéfano Girardelli on Unsplash

Live music and local vendors

The best part is these festivals aren’t just about stuffing your face, though that’s a big part of it. Most have live bands playing, local shops selling everything from hot sauce to handmade soaps, and games for kids. It’s kind of the perfect weekend plan. You get outside, try a bunch of awesome food, and still feel like you’re doing something social.

What is New Jersey's best food festival?

The foodies at Lovefood traveled the country with the challenging assignment (yeah, right) to identify the best food festival in every state. Their choice for Jersey?

Matt Ryan, Townsquare Media

New Jersey’s shores are showcased in a different way at this seafood festival, which has been held as an end of summer gathering since 1975. People come to feast on seafood dishes, with restaurants and food trucks serving crab cakes, paella, lobster, and prawn skewers. The location is in downtown Point Pleasant, which is right by the boardwalk, and local musicians provide the soundtrack.

The 47th annual Festival of the Sea in Pt. Pleasant Beach is set for September 20, 2025, from 10 am-7 pm on Arnold Avenue. Don't miss it.