NJ Seafood Festival in Belmar and more things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore
We hope you're hungry.
Nearly 100 seafood and craft vendors, as well as a beer and wine tent, will be present at the 2024 New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar.
The fest is taking place from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in Silver Lake's Ferruggiaro Park, 5th and Ocean avenues.
Admission is free. Live music will be played throughout the weekend. On Friday, Little X Little will play at 4 p.m. Friday, followed by the Eddie Testa Band at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, Danny White Band plays at noon, followed by Holme Band at 2 p.m., Tommy B and The Deep Blue Sea at 4 p.m., and the E Boro Bandits at 6 p.m.
Beach Music Studio starts things off at noon Sunday, followed by the Wallnutz at 1:30 p.m., and the Pat Roddy Band at 4 p.m.
Vendors include BaySide Under Tow, Point Lobster Company, Santo Ceviche, Harvest Hospitality, Brandl, Jonathan's Harbor, The Fry Guy, Ike's Famous Crabcakes, Mr Shrimp, Blossoms, Rosa’s Kitchen, Ragin Cajun, Sweet Pepper Empanada Express, The Boiling Point, Klein's FishMarket, Donny D's, Angelottis, 10th Ave Burrito and more.
Go: New Jersey Seafood Festival, Silver Lake's Ferruggiaro Park, 5th and Ocean avenues; 732-681-3700, belmar.com.
Here are some other things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore and beyond, including a "Spring Fling" in Manahawkin and a Greek Festival in Piscataway.
NJ Sharing Network 5K in Ocean Grove
NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life brings together thousands of organ and tissue donation supporters Saturday at Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove.
The event begins at 7:30 a.m. with music, entertainment, dancing, the Sponsor Village, as well as giveaways and refreshments. The USATF certified race starts at 8:30 a.m.; the walk steps off at 10 a.m.
Presented by Hackensack Meridian Health, it is one of the Garden State’s largest and most-recognized charitable events. Funds raised by event participants, teams, sponsors and contributors will support the Sharing Network Foundation, which is committed to increasing the number of lives saved through clinical advancement, family support, public awareness and education.
To sign up to participate in the 5K Celebration of Life or contribute to a team, visit SharingNetworkFoundation.org/5K.
NJ Sharing Network, headquartered in New Providence, partners with 54 local hospitals to provide hope for the nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents currently waiting for an organ transplant. More information is at NJSharingNetwork.org.
Go: NJ Sharing Network 5K, 7:30 a.m. Saturday, race begins at 8:30 a.m., walk at 10 a.m., Ocean Pathway, Ocean Grove; sharingnetworkfoundation.org/5K.
Horse Rescue United open house in Wall
Horse Rescue United is a volunteer-run nonprofit "that follows up for life on all adopted animals," a news release said. Specializing in Standardbred horses, the rescue evaluates each animal while they undergo rehabilitation or retraining.
HRU's free open house, which takes place rain or shine from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at a farm in Wall, features the following vendors, each donating a portion of proceeds to the rescue: Fairy hair styles by Shimmer My Strands; homemade cat toys by Cross'd Paws Farm Sanctuary; Davey B'zz's ice cream & shaved ice truck; lemonade/water stand run by HRU’s youngest volunteers; and a merchandise stand with Horse Rescue United T-shirts, hooded sweatshirts and more.
Children’s author, Marlboro native and HRU volunteer Diana Tuorto will sign her latest picture book and other titles at the event; 50 percent of her sales go to HRU. Tuorto will sign "Ms. Alberta: Feline Barn Manager" and other titles. Buy a copy of "Ms. Alberta" ($10) or two copies of her other books to get a free plush kitten or unicorn, while supplies last.
Due to limited parking, registration is required per vehicle. To select an arrival time for your party and register, visit Facebook.com/HorseRescueUnited, click on the "upcoming event" open house, and click on “Tickets.” After registering, attendees will receive an email confirmation with the farm address (note that the address on GPS may say Farmingdale). Email lunar_aradia@yahoo.com or send a Facebook message to Tuorto if you are unable to register or have questions.
Go: Horse Rescue United open house, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Wall, free; Facebook.com/HorseRescueUnited, HorseBooksForKids.com.
Jazz in Toms River with James Austin Jr. Quartet
James Austin Jr. is an accomplished jazz pianist and bandleader who hails from Chicago. A featured performer and semifinalist in the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, he has performed alongside an illustrious list of singers and musicians in diverse settings throughout the world.
He comes to the Grunin Center for the Arts at 3 p.m. Sunday, along with saxophonist Jarrard Harris, bassist Ben Rubens, and drummer Kayvon Gordon. Tickets are $24, $20 for seniors.
"Songs in the Key of Wonder," Austin's debut album, showcases instrumental arrangements of Stevie Wonder classics. In 2019, thejazzword.com said "[Austin's] interpretations are easygoing and respectful of the original intent by Wonder. Played with finesse and solid panache, the stylish rendering augurs well for this debut artist."
Go: James Austin Jr. Quartet, 3 p.m. Sunday, Grunin Center for the Arts, 1 College Drive, Ocean County College, Toms River, $24; grunincenter.org/event/james-austin-jr/.
Dreaming big in West Long Branch
The "Let Them Dream Big Concert,” hosted by The Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation, takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday at Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch.
Tickets are $25, $15 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds help provide a child with a week of performing arts education.
Leaders from the community will take the stage with the children. The Rockin’ & Rollin’ Cultivator of Creativity award honoree is Nick Ditri, an artist, investor and one half of the globally acclaimed production duo Disco Fries.
Go: "Let Them Dream Big," 2 p.m. Sunday, Shore Regional High School, 132 Route 36, West Long Branch, $25; ApplaudOurKids.org.
All Saints' annual auction in Atlantic Highlands
All Saints’ Memorial Church, also known as The Stone Church, is hosting its annual auction at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The night will be full of food and "festive beverages" while bidding on an array of silent auction items such as gourmet baskets and certificates to popular restaurants. The live auction features getaways, tickets to sporting events, cooking demonstrations and more.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 per person. Contributions, a release said, allow All Saints to assist with outreach commitments, and help to upkeep the National Historic Landmark campus, a release states.
Go: All Saints' Memorial Church auction, 7 p.m. Saturday, 202 Navesink Ave., Atlantic Highlands, $40; 732-291-0214, allsaintsnavesink.org/annual-auction.
'American Menu' in Middletown
Dunbar Repertory Company at the Middletown Arts Center presents "American Menu" by Don Wilson Glenn this weekend and next.
The play is set in May 1968 in rural East Texas in the kitchen of a segregated diner. It's a month after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and a month before the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Five African- American women toil in this sweatbox where they must battle prejudice, poverty, ignorance and each other as they search for inspiration.
These women are the daughters and granddaughters of slaves — and each is seeking hope and major change amid the turbulent times. Directed by Mark Antonio Henderson and Damien S. Berger, the show takes place at 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday. If you miss it this weekend, you can catch it at 8 p.m. Friday May 24, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and 4 p.m. Sunday, May 26.
Tickets are $22.
Go: "American Menu," Friday through May 26, Middletown Arts Center, 36 Church St., $22; 732-706-4100, middletownarts.org.
'Spring Fling' in Manahawkin
This year’s annual “Spring Fling” art show has an “Art in Bloom” component. As part of Sunday's reception in the Stafford gallery, nearly a third of the exhibit’s paintings will have an adjacent floral interpretation created by 10 Pine Shores’ garden-savvy members.
The judge for this year’s painting awards is Judith Hummer, vice president of the Garden State Watercolor Society. The 2024 fine art winners will be revealed during the reception. All attendees will have the opportunity to participate in selecting the floral arrangement winners.
The event is free. The exhibit runs through Wednesday, June 26. The gallery is open Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 7 to 9 p.m.
Go: "Art in Bloom" reception, 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Poine Shores Art Association, 94 Stafford Ave., Manahawkin section of Stafford, free; redcanoestudio@comcast.net, pineshoresartassociation.org.
Greek Festival in Piscataway
New Jerseyans love stuffed grape leaves, baklava, pastitsio and moussaka. How do we know? For 51 years, tens of thousands have attended St. George's annual Greek Festival in Piscataway. The big event returns Thursday through Sunday.
In addition to the homemade Greek fare, there will be music and traditional dancing from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
About 15,000 people are expected to attend.
In the indoor dining area, visitors will find dishes such as roast chicken Athenian, sliced lamb and mezedaki platters. The outdoor taverna will feature souvlakia, gyros, octopus, Greek fries, loukoumades (honey puffs) and more. Vegetarian options are also available.
Go: Greek Festival, 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 1101 River Road, Piscataway; 732-463-1642, gocnj.org/news/annual-greek-festival.
Jenna Intersimone contributed to this story.
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore things to do include Seafood Festival in Belmar
