Chowderfest On Long Beach Island Expanding Attractions This Year

Got chowder?

There will be plenty of it at the 29th annual Chowderfest coming up this weekend in Beach Haven

The event will also feature more room, more local vendors and more handmade products during the two-day event held each year at the Taylor Avenue and 9th Street waterfront in Beach Haven, said Lori A. Pepenella, CEO of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce.

The weekend begins on Saturday, Sept. 30 with a free Merchant Mart, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with music provided by Jimmy Brogan, White Rabbit and The Impulsives. A "Makeshift" row tent has also been added for more market space for handmade products for sale.

There will be more custom beers and hard ciders added to the beverage menu in the beer garden. They include Landshark Lager , Blue Point Toasted Lager, Spaten Oktoberfest, Goose Island IPA, Stella Cidre, Strongbow and McKenzie Black Cherry. Extra taps will make for shorter lines.

"Everything we are doing is to showcase the local musical talent, restaurants and businesses" said event coordinator Todd Elsasser. "The expanded footprint is a great way to see what local businesses and people can do"

Attendees can spend the day with dozens of merchants to shop for end of season bargains, localized specialties and gourmet food. The expanded grounds include more seating and elbow room for everyone, a Southern Ocean Chamber Partner and Sponsor lounge, additional tent for merchants and a featured beer garden.

The Chowder Cook-Off Classic kicks off on Sunday, Oct. 1 as the best restaurants in the region compete for votes for the best red, white and creative chowder samples, Pepenella said.

VIPs can start sampling at 10 a.m. and get an official 2017 T-shirt with a VIP ticket purchase. The Platinum VIP level is limited to 150 tickets.

So far the entries for the chowder contests include: Country Kettle, Chicken or the Egg, Cuisine on the Green, Howard’s Restaurant, Shore Fire Grille, Sunny Rae’s, Lefty’s Tavern, Stefano’s Seafood, Black Whale, Delaware Avenue Oyster House, Buckalew’s, La Bamba, and the Blue Water Café.

The Sunday music lineup includes The Pickles, Ted Hammock and Jason Booth.

The closing ceremonies are slated for 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are on sale at www.chowderfest.com or by contacting the Southern Ocean County Chamber at 609 494 7211, their Visitor Center at 265 W Ninth Street Ship Bottom, or via email at info@sochamber.com.

Toddlers under 3 are free, Tickets for the Oct. 1 Cook Off range from $10 for children up to age 12. General admission for adults if $25. VIP admission is $55 and Platinum VIP tickets are $100.

Proceeds from the event go to hundreds of local charities, scholarships to Pinelands Regional, and Barnegat high schools. The funds are also used to operate and maintain the Ship Bottom visitor center, pay for advertising and produce other Chamber of Commerce events like the LBI Wedding Show in the spring.

For the most up to date information on Chowderfest Weekend, go to the Official LBI Chowderfest Facebook page or by visiting both chamber websites www.visitLBIregion.com or www.chowderfest.com .

If you are a local business and are interested in finding out more about the new Chowderfest Retail Partnership, contact the chamber office at 609 494 7211.

Photo: Patricia A. Miller