VENTNOR – The Downbeach Seafood Festival returns to Ski Beach 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 20. The event celebrates coastal flavor and local pride, where visitors savor the best of the region’s culinary scene in the city’s beautiful bayfront park.
Hosted by Good Team Tricycle Productions, the Downbeach Seafood Festival transforms Ventnor’s waterfront into a haven for seafood lovers. Approximately two dozen local and regional restaurants, seafood purveyors, farmers and culinary artisans will be onsite, each offering their own take on fresh, seafaring fare. From clam strips to lobster rolls, grilled octopus to oysters on the half shell, and even pineapples overflowing with garlic shrimp or spicy rice, the diversity of dishes reflects the depth of South Jersey’s food culture and the talents of its chefs and restaurateurs.
More than a tasting event, visitors will find the laid-back rhythm of beach life perfectly balanced with vibrant culinary offerings, Jersey-made craft beer, chef-led cooking demos, and the sounds of live music filling the air. Locally crafted art, interactive exhibits, family friendly activities, and sand sculpting add even more texture to this dynamic weekend.
As part of National Hunger Action Month, the festival continues its proud partnership with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey through the always popular Chowder Cook-Off. Guests can purchase tasting tickets, sample a wide variety of chowders from area restaurants, and cast their votes for the best bowl. All proceeds from the cook-off go directly toward providing meals for families in need, with the 2025 goal set to surpass $5,000, enough to provide roughly 15,000 meals across the state.
In 2024 the festival introduced “The Oyster Tour of The Shore,” presented by Cape Harbor Shellfish. This new offering was a huge hit, allowing guests to sample oysters harvested from waters up and down the coast, meet the farmers who cultivate them, and learn the art of oyster shucking from professionals at the Demo Stage. So, of course, we are doing it again. It’s an immersive addition to the event’s mission of honoring the bounty of the sea and the hardworking individuals behind it.
Advance tickets are available at www.downbeachseafoodfest.com at a cost of $10 per person, plus tax and fees. Tickets are also available at the door for $15. Children aged 12 and under are admitted free.
Complimentary shuttle service will be available from the Wellington Avenue remote parking lot throughout the event.
Learn more at www.facebook.com/DownbeachSeafoodFest
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