OT- Seafood Fest in Belmar

[RUfinal4]

I went for the 1st time this past Saturday. While it looked very nice I was unimpressed.

- there was a lack of parking and the town didn't post any signs for where the lots were forcing many cars circling the streets
- the lines by the food areas were ridiculously long
- the demographic of the crowd by the food areas and the seating seemed to be more urban / city types and not the typical types I expect in beach towns. I can guess that a lot didn't want to pay to go on the beach so just hung out at the festival.

We honestly walked through it and then hit one of the seafood restaurants in town. Waiting 30 mins to get fried seafood where you would need to stand up and eat just wasn't what we were looking for.

I heard they closed Belmar down to incoming traffic yesterday (Sunday).

 

[thad23]

a. You didn't know that a ton of people go to the Belmar Seafood Festival?

b. What time did you arrive? I'm guessing not early.

c. What are urban/city types?


We went last year, but couldn't make it this year. I was never impressed. However, my wife wants to get out with the kids and that's something relatively close. I liked Clamfest in Highlands better...of course we lived down the street and walked the 3 blocks to get there and didn't have to worry about driving anywhere.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

I went once...nuff said.

 

[MulletCork]

I went to Belmar Saturday to go to the beach.

Best thing I can say about the Seafood Festival was that at least the actual beach where we sat was empty.

We got down there at about 9:30am and parking was a piece of cake at that hour. Walked through the seafood festival around noon and it was a mob scene. Got outta that area real fast and went back to my chair!

Leaving at around 4:30pm was traffic city. I was around 3rd Avenue, so I cut over the bridge to Avon and got outta there because Belmar itself had so much traffic.

 

[Knight Shift]

I make a point to stay home and/or do something far away from these types of events because of traffic and overcrowding.

On Sunday, the Mayor "closed Belmar" to incoming traffic coming off of Route 35 at 3 p.m.

Belmar used to be a well run town when Ken Pringle was Mayor. The current administration -not so much.

 

[Knight Shift]

Looks like tons of fun:

Never understand why the newspaper has to publish close up picture of a person shoving food in their mouth:

 

[e5fdny]

I am not aware of locals that go to these various "festivals." I make a point to stay home and/or do something far away from these types of events. The idea of overpaying for a piece of seafood that has not been properly refrigerated and/or has been sitting out in the hot sun, eating off of a flimsy paper plate with plastic utensils in the hot sun at a dirty table near overflowing trash receptacles or worse yet at the edge of the boardwalk is not my idea of fun.

On Sunday, the Mayor "closed Belmar" to incoming traffic coming off of Route 35 at 3 p.m.

Belmar used to be a well run town when Ken Pringle was Mayor. The current administration -not so much.

Be careful Knight Shift,

If the Doherty Machine finds you...look out. LOL

 

[Knight Shift]

Be careful Knight Shift,

If the Doherty Machine finds you...look out. LOL

I am shaking in my Warrington boots. LOL.

 

[Leonard23]

Looks like tons of fun:

Never understand why the newspaper has to publish close up picture of a person shoving food in their mouth:

 

[bac2therac]

What a bunch of complainers. .the seafood fest is what it is...people who dont like crowds or warm weather should stay away. I havent been in about 6 years but been there a half dozen times. Its a nice event to be outdoors eat some fish and people watch

 

[Knight Shift]

What a bunch of complainers. .the seafood fest is what it is...people who dont like crowds or warm weather should stay away. I havent been in about 6 years but been there a half dozen times. Its a nice event to be outdoors eat some fish and people watch

Exactly why I stay away. But is has gotten a LOT more crowded in the last few years.

Waiting for the next Pork Roll or LoBro festival in the winter months. . . . . .

 

[knightfan7]

I worked a wedding last night where a number of folks came in from out of state. A few of them said they went to the festival and enjoyed themselves although it was really crowded.

Isn't that part of the idea? Get people who wouldn't normally be spending the day at the beach? Promote Belmar and surrounding area? People need to understand what these events are all about and stop the constant bitching.

 

[RUSK97]

Geez - a seafood fest that's crowded and you might be exposed to sun and warm weather...beachside. Oh, and exposure to unsavory urban dwellers who've never experienced the pleasures of having lunched at the country club. Yeah, I think I'd rather sit on a glacier in Canada and gnaw on a crab leg by myself.

Heck, I don't know why I go to Rutgers football games. There's people all over the place. I mean I have to sit on aluminum bleachers with people in front of me, behind me, next to me. Pisses me off! And it's hot and sweltering during those September games too! I'm done.

 

[ruready4somefootball]

Nobody goes there anymore, because it's too crowded,lol:stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

 

[PeteGiam07]

a. You didn't know that a ton of people go to the Belmar Seafood Festival?

b. What time did you arrive? I'm guessing not early.

c. What are urban/city types?


We went last year, but couldn't make it this year. I was never impressed. However, my wife wants to get out with the kids and that's something relatively close. I liked Clamfest in Highlands better...of course we lived down the street and walked the 3 blocks to get there and didn't have to worry about driving anywhere.

c. scary people that make him not feel safe

Your a joke OP.

 

[RUfinal4]

c. scary people that make him not feel safe

Your a joke OP.

You are entitled to your opinion about me. Whether you are trying to attack my post or just joke, it is fine. I started the thread and opened myself up to criticism.

I was a bit frustrated that it took 25 mins to find parking while I was unable to locate a lot (lack of signs). In general I felt it was attracting more of a working class citizen then my expectations going in. It was more of a typical summer street type fair with a few extra seafood items included then a straight seafood festival. The event was below my expectations and I am unlikely to go again in the future.

 

[rurichdog]

Some people like Black Friday shopping, others NYE at Times Square. My wife and I enjoy the hustle & bustle of the Belmar Seafood Festival. Been going for years. I've never seen it so busy so early though. The train station lot filled very early and I ended up parking by the Board of Ed building.

 

[RUSK97]

You are entitled to your opinion about me. Whether you are trying to attack my post or just joke, it is fine. I started the thread and opened myself up to criticism.

I was a bit frustrated that it took 25 mins to find parking while I was unable to locate a lot (lack of signs). In general I felt it was attracting more of a working class citizen then my expectations going in. It was more of a typical summer street type fair with a few extra seafood items included then a straight seafood festival. The event was below my expectations and I am unlikely to go again in the future.

In all seriousness OP and others, is there a similar (or maybe I should say not so similar) festival/event you would recommend?

 

[thad23]

OP, did you expect people in polos and khaki shorts? Seriously, it's Belmar. And if you know Belmar, most of the parking is on the street. Next time I suggest heading over to the Parker House and retell the story how you braved being surrounded by working class people. lol

 

[Knight Shift]

OP, did you expect people in polos and khaki shorts? Seriously, it's Belmar. And if you know Belmar, most of the parking is on the street. Next time I suggest heading over to the Parker House and retell the story how you braved being surrounded by wodking class people. lol

There is a reason they have those big brick gates at the entrance to Spring Lake. :rolleyes: The surrounding towns have seemed to have problems with some of Belmar's visitors.

A comment below the Asbury Park Press Story indicates Avon needs more separation from Belmar--the bridge and the inlet are not enough:
http://www.app.com/story/news/local...give-belmar-seafood-festival-thumbs/71187414/

"
John January ·
St. Joseph's College
Why towns that are near Belmar have to deal with the problems caused by Belmar is beyond me. Today we had the pleasure of a group of young men peeing in front of our house in Avon. I know the people of Belmar have to deal with this on a regular basis but this is a 1st for us. The traffic was horrible for 2 days, because the people coming to the festival seem to only know a few ways to get to the beach. For the record, ALL roads heading east will get you to the Atlantic Ocean, and since you might need some additional facts about the Ocean it is really, really large, go east and you can't miss it."

 

[koleszar]

We went on Saturday, normally we go Friday night but friends wanted to attend with us. Got our food by 11am with no lines then walked around a bit and got out of there. It did seem to get very crowded as we were leaving. But we are not rookies to this event as I lived in Belmar for a long time and new exactly where to park. Those who arrived later on were fooling themselves if they thought they would find parking and it would not be over crowded.

 

[RU4Real]

She's got way too much tooth. Bad form. Would not bang.

 

[Knight Shift]

She's got way too much tooth. Bad form. Would not bang.

Sooner or later, someone would bite on that picture. So, what you are saying is you would take the other one in the picture?

 

[RU4Real]

Sooner or later, someone would bite on that picture. So, what you are saying is you would take the other one in the picture?

Not my thing.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[RU to the Core]

I went to Asbury Park Instead. Asbury Underground Festival. Saw acoustic music at an art gallery, bought some artwork and at seafood at FISH on cookman. Wasn't crowded. Food was good. Vibes were cool. That was prob more your speed. That is why I didn't go to the seafood fest b/c it has gotten way too crowded.

 

[FanuSanu52]

Geez - a seafood fest that's crowded and you might be exposed to sun and warm weather...beachside. Oh, and exposure to unsavory urban dwellers who've never experienced the pleasures of having lunched at the country club. Yeah, I think I'd rather sit on a glacier in Canada and gnaw on a crab leg by myself.

Heck, I don't know why I go to Rutgers football games. There's people all over the place. I mean I have to sit on aluminum bleachers with people in front of me, behind me, next to me. Pisses me off! And it's hot and sweltering during those September games too! I'm done.

+1 OP sounds pretty incredibly toolish.

 

[Rutgers1976]

Nobody goes there anymore. It's too crowded.

 

[LadyRU09]

I went to AnimeNEXT in Somerset. It was really crowded there, too, but they're moving it to Atlantic City next year, which is significantly bigger than the Garden State Exhibit Center.

 

[Knight Shift]

For those of you yelling at the whiners, even Belmar admits this year's festival was too big for Belmar:
http://www.app.com/story/news/local...15/seafood-festival-outgrown-belmar/71265326/

 

[RU_DIO]

We always went to the seafood fest because we lived on 13th in Belmar for 10 years during the summers when I was a Benny. I would never make a special trip just to go to the festival now.

 

[NotInRHouse]

Food lines way too long, but delcious. Lots of RU people based on hats and shirts.

 

[e5fdny]

Food lines way too long, but delcious. Lots of RU people based on hats and shirts.

So now we know what the OP meant by "urban-types" :D

 

[PeteGiam07]

I can somewhat understand if you have never been before, but i find it comical it was thought of a different "type" of festival just because it was seafood and it was in a beach town. It is the same as any street festival in new jersey, just with seafood and a beach and always has been.

I think Belmar marketed the event too much this year, I definitely saw quite a few ads in places this year (many on nj.com) and never really saw much any other year. I always remembered the weekend of the festival because it is always the same weekend as Portuguese Fest in the Newark Ironbound.

It is good if you would like to try a variety of foods for a cheap price, but going there and expecting wine & cheese , polo, khaki pants type of a crowd is pretty laughable.