The Greater Long Beach Island Region has always celebrated the spirit of the bay, but with the recent honor of Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce member Tuckerton Seaport being named one of the top outdoor festivals in the state, there is even more to celebrate.
Tradition, activities, food and fun combine to make the Baymen’s Seafood & Music Festival listed as one of the “Top 10 Outdoor Summer Festivals in New Jersey” by Countryside Magazine. Midwest, the in-flight magazine of Midwest Airlines, named the festival among its “Top 50 Ways to Celebrate the Coming of Spring.”
Be sure to catch this year’s festival on June 21 from 11 am to 5 pm in the Seaport's recreated maritime village in the heart of Tuckerton, Ocean County NJ. New this year are live marine animals in an aquatic exhibit. On the seaport’s menu, festival-goers can chow down on New England clam chowder, grilled scallop or shrimp kabobs, fish and chips, and clams and oysters on the half shell. The scallops are donated fresh from Viking Village in Barnegat Light and the oysters are local bounty from the nearby shell fishing town of Bivalve. And that’s only half of it – Star of the Sea Seafood is a quality vendor that is bringing a feast including: crab cakes, lobster patty sandwiches, calamari, fried shrimp, fried oysters, flounder, clam strips, steamed clams, crab bisque, clam chowder and crab balls. On the non-seafood side, vendors are planning pulled pork, pierogies, cheese steaks, chicken fingers and spareribs. Beach Bum Blonde Ale and Michelob Ultra are tapped for the festival, along with plenty of non-alcoholic refreshments. For dessert, Seaport Deputy Director Paul Hart is promising homemade blueberry ice cream (or it’s said he’ll be forced to walk the plank of the kids’ pirate ship on site.) After diving into the food, friends and families will find enough to do to make the seaport a daylong port of call. Peek in all 16 buildings that exhibit traditional Barnegat Bay area heritage and livelihoods. In Parsons’ Clam House, chat with commercial fishermen or take part in hands-on demonstrations like clam shucking. Landlubbers can play explorer and tour the mile-long nature trail while mariners hop aboard the Melody II and let Captain Fred Kalm guide a calm venture down the scenic Tuckerton Creek to the bay and back. Those equally at home on land and sea will appreciate the two classic houseboats open only during the festival.
Live music fs the toe-tappin’ backdrop to more fun, including a craft fair and kids’ pony rides. Find out how to tie knots with the most nautical of ’em, or take a class in basket making or decoy carving. The Jersey Shore Folklife Center at the Seaport has assembled rare opportunities to meet and learn from commercial fishermen. Award-
General admission is: $8 for adults; $6 for seniors; $3 for children 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and younger, and free for members. Food items are sold a la carte. The gift shop in the Visitor’s Center will be open so guests can take a taste of the shore home.
For more information, call (609) 296-8868 or visit www.TuckertonSeaport.org.
