JULY
10-12: Nothing says summer more than barbecue and blues! This year’s New Jersey State BBQ Competition is sure to deliver those and more. Taking the main stage at this three-day festival will be the championship barbecue competition, featuring live demonstrations, special displays and plenty of food and drink vendors.
11: Taste Caribbean culinary delights at Wiggins Park on the Camden Waterfront! At the 15th South Jersey Caribbean Festival, attendees can enjoy native food and music while imagining themselves on white-sand beaches, all without leaving the state.
18: Get crackin’ and head to the New Jersey Crab Festival in Wildwood, where bushels of blue crabs and beer gardens are promised. Bring the kids for crab races at 6pm and stay for a performance by Parrotbeach, a Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band, taking the stage at 7pm.
22-25: Feast your eyes (and bellies) at St. Ann’s Italian Festival in Hoboken. The city’s streets and sidewalks will be booming with Italian specialties throughout this four-day festival.
30-August 2: Clam down everyone, the annual Clamfest in Highlands is back. Now in its 21st year, this 3-day celebration boasts fresh seafood, beer and wine gardens and live entertainment. By the time you leave, you’ll be happy as a clam!
Courtesy of quinnanya via Flickr/Creative Commons
AUGUST
8: Crab walk down to Cape May for the Craft Beer & Crab Festival! There will be plenty of crabby creations and other summer sustenance including pulled pork, hot dogs and hamburgers. Cape May, Tuckahoe and Victory Brewing Companies will also be in attendance.
15-16: Watch as the Shore Chefs compete in this year’s Shore Chef Crab Cake Cook-Off to find out who will take home the coveted prize. This event isn’t just for the crab lover, either—there will be nearly a dozen local food vendors in attendance.
23: Cooking demos and samplings are the highlight of Flemington’s Corn & Tomato Festival. What’s even better? Printed recipes will be available so you can take your favorite dishes home with you…well, kind of.
SEPTEMBER
5-7: The annual BBQ & Craft Beer Festival is back and better than ever before, this year with three days. Enjoy ribs, pulled pork and brisket, try a refreshing craft brew (or two) from the beer garden, which has over 40 choices.
Courtesy of elbiffster via Flickr/Creative Commons
6: Spend the day tasting from the tables of Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) at ScanFest in Budd Lake. Food isn’t the only tradition this festival celebrates, though—clothing, music and dance native to the northern nations will also be celebrated.
10-13: There’s even more Italian culture to feast on at the Hoboken Italian Festival.
12-13: Spend two days surrounded by the sea (and seafood, of course) at Bader Field for the 2015 Atlantic City Seafood Festival. Family events and exhibits make this a festival for the whole family!