Downbeach Seafood Festival continues Sunday, Sept. 19.
VENTNOR – So, you missed the Downbeach Seafood Festival on Saturday? Well don’t fret, you can attend on Sunday, the second day of the two-day festival.
Thousands of people attended the festival on Saturday, Sept. 18, and it is likely thousands more will be enjoying tastings from 20 of the area’s best seafood restaurants and steakhouses on Sunday. The lines for lobster roll were long, but the craft beers were flowing easily under the beer garden tent.
Ventnor’s public officials took to the stage at 1 p.m. to thank organizer Jon Henderson of Good Times Tricycle Productions for holding the event in the city for a second time. The first event was held in September 2019, but COVID-19 caused its cancellation last summer. This year, the Henderson made up for lost time by holding the event over two days instead of one. The festival was first held at Gardener’s Basin in Atlantic City in the early 1990s and moved to Bader Field for seven years starting in 2012.
People milled about the bayfront park called, Ski Beach, at the end of Dorset Avenue, under bright blue skies.
Brenda Ruth of Egg Harbor City attended the event with her daughter Francesca. They were seriously involved in the Chowder Cookoff sponsored by Bimbo’s Bakery. They plopped down $10 to taste the various entries, with the proceeds going to the Food Bank of NJ Southern Branch. According to Good Time Tricycle Productions, the Chowder Cookoff is part of Hunger Action Month. The event hopes to double the $5,000 raised at the 2019 event, which is enough to purchase 30,000 meals for the hungry.
“The chowders were great,” Brenda Ruth said. “I like it being in the Downbeach area right on the water”
Francesca Ruth said it was a unique experience to taste the different chowders – each made to their chef’s liking.
“It’s just nice that we can have these festivals again,” she said.
J.B. Sless of Ventnor said it was his first time attending the Seafood Festival.
“The chowders are excellent, and it was worth every penny and worth every taste,” he said.
The Seafood Festival continues Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Entry fee is $10 per person; free for children 12 and under. Parking is available at 4800 Wellington Avenue with a complimentary shuttle service to and from the festival.
For more information, see www.downbeachseafoodfest.com.
