Savor the flavors of summer at New Jersey's festive events. You'll find plenty of opportunities to sip, snack and stuff yourself—plus enjoy live entertainment and more. Here are 10 fests to plan your summer around. Download and print—or send as a tempting email invitation to your foodie friends.
Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival
Dig in to tender scallops and more while you groove to some cool vibes. Viking Village, Barnegat Light, Saturday, June 25 (2:30-5pm).
30th Annual Red, White and Blueberry Festival
Visit the "Blueberry Capital of the World," chow down on blueberry muffins and blueberry-filled cannolis, and cheer on contestants in the blueberry pie–eating contest. Hammonton High School, Sunday, June 26.
Blueberry Festival
Head out to Alstede Farms in Chester for lots of blueberry treats, pick-your-own blueberries and farm fun for the whole family. Weekends of July 9-10 and July 16-17.
NJ State BBQ Championship & Blues Festival
Enjoy live cooking demos, tasty barbecue and top regional and national blues acts. North Wildwood, July 8-10 (Friday 4-11pm, Saturday 10am-11pm, Sunday 10am-6 pm).
Bacon Fest
Sizzling fun includes a bacon-eating contest, food trucks and pig races. Tuckerton Seaport, July 9-10 (Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-6pm).
22nd Annual Clam Fest
Get ready for clam-eating and clam-shucking contests, plus games, rides, live entertainment and the freshest seafood around. Huddy Park, Highlands, August 4-7 (Thursday 6-10pm, Friday 6pm-11pm, Saturday noon-11pm, Sunday noon-8pm).
"Truck"erton Food Truck & Brew Fest
Sample fare from more than a dozen gourmet food trucks at the summer edition of this popular food event. Live music, too. Tuckerton Seaport, August 13-14 (Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-5pm).
19th Annual Beach Plum Festival
Help raise funds for grass planting on the dunes at Island Beach State Park and taste beach plum jam (described as a mix of plum, strawberry and apricot). Food vendors, games and beach plum picking, too. Sunday, September 11 (9am-4pm).
Asbury Park Oysterfest
Celebrate seafood, especially oysters, at this free event. Historic Cookman Avenue from downtown to the boardwalk becomes a promenade with seafood and craft vendors, music and activities/rides for kids. September 9-11 (Friday 5-10pm, Saturday noon-10pm, Sunday noon-6pm).
Wine on the Beach Festival
Connoisseurs: learn about wine, listen to live music and sample from a dozen New Jersey wineries—all on Seaside Heights' white-sand south beach. (Food, too!) September 10-11.
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