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Summer festivals bring music superstars, lots of food, art and more to the Jersey Shore

A trip to the Jersey Shore this summer is a trip to festival central.

Music fests featuring big-name artists will take place on the beach and close to shore, including two big country music festivals: Barefoot Country Music Festival, June 15 to 18 in Wildwood, and TidalWave Music Festival, Aug. 11 to 13 in Atlantic City.

There's more, including a lineup of concerts at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, The Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park, and Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

Designate your driver, bring earplugs and giddy up.

There will also be food, wine and arts festivals. Here's a look at what's to come.

PNC Bank Arts Center

  • Charlie Puth: The Charlie Live Experience, June 3

  • TLC, Shaggy, En Vogue and Sean Kingston, June 10

  • Luke Bryan, June 24

  • 3 Doors Down, June 28

  • Big Time Rush, June 30

  • Counting Crows with Dashboard Confessional, July 6

  • Sam Hunt, July 8

  • Sad Summer Festival with Taking Back Sunday, July 14

  • Matchbox Twenty, July 15

  • Bret Michaels Parti Gras Tour, July 16

  • Dave Matthews Band, July 18

  • Kidz Bop, July 21

  • Dierks Bentley, July 27

  • Godsmack and Staind, July 29

  • Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, Too Short and more, Aug. 2

Snoop Dog will be joined by Wiz Khalifa and Too Short at PNC Bank Arts Center this summer.
Snoop Dog will be joined by Wiz Khalifa and Too Short at PNC Bank Arts Center this summer.
  • Fall Out Boy, Aug. 5

  • Outlaw Music Festival with Willie Neslon and Family, Aug. 6

  • Disturbed, Aug. 11

  • Goo Goo Dolls and O.A.R., Aug. 12

  • All-American Rejects, Aug. 15

  • Slightly Stoopid and Sublime with Rome, aug. 17

  • Thunderfest with Dan and Shay, Aug. 18

  • Gov't Mule with Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin show, Aug. 19

  • Pentaonix, Aug. 20

  • Smashing Pumpkins, Aug. 24

  • Eric Church, Aug. 25

  • Foreigner Historic Farewell Tour, Sept. 3

  • James Taylor, Sept. 4

  • ZZ Top and Lynyrd Skynyrd Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour, Sept. 10

  • Zac Brown Band, Oct 7

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Go: 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel. Ticket prices vary; livenation.com.

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The Stone Pony Summer Stage

  • Indigo Girls, June 1

  • Young the Giant with Milky Chance, June 2

  • AP Pride Party with Carly Rae Jepsen, June 3

  • Rainbow Kitten Surprise, June 9

  • The Used and Pierce the Veil, June 12

  • North 2 Shore presents Demi Lovato, June 16

  • North 2 Shore presents the B-52s, June 17

  • Stick Figure, June 25

  • An Evening with Goose, July 3 and 4

  • Yellowcard, July 6

  • Trey Anastasio, July 7

  • Yacht Rock Revue, July 8

  • The Head and the Heart and the Revivalists, July 9

  • Yungblud, July 15

  • Bouncing Souls with Bayside and 7 Seconds, July 22

  • Louis Tomlinson, July 28

  • Backseat, Aug. 1

  • Incubus, Aug. 8

  • War on Drugs, Aug. 18

  • Pixies and Modest Mouse, Aug. 20

  • Almost Queen, Sept. 1

  • Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Sept. 2

  • Yacht Rock Revue, Sept. 3

Go: 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. Ticket prices vary; stoneponyonline.com.

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Count Basie Center for the Arts

Leslie Jones will perform at Count Basie Center for the Arts this summer.
Leslie Jones will perform at Count Basie Center for the Arts this summer.
  • Crowded House, May 26

  • Boz Scaggs. May 27

  • BobFest tribute to Bob Dylan, May 31

  • Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, June 1

  • Remember Jones: Bat Out of Hell, June 2

  • Kevin James, June 3

  • Chris Botti, June 8

  • Get the Led Out, June 9

  • Joshua Bell, June 10

  • Disco Biscuits, June 15

  • Leslie Jones, June 16

  • Bobby Bandiera Does the Rolling Stones, June 17

  • Three Dog Night, June 22

  • Rufus Wainwright, June 25

  • Tori Amos, July 2

  • Happy Together with the Turtles, Little Anthony and more, July 27

  • Michael Carbonaro, July 29

  • Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Lou Christie, July 30

  • Diana Krall, Aug. 9

  • Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald, Aug. 10

  • America, Aug. 16

  • Righteous Brothers, Aug. 17

Go: Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. Prices start at $29 and vary. thebasie.org.

Music festivals

311 will co-headline the 2023 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival presented by Ocean Casino Resort on Sunday, June 4.
311 will co-headline the 2023 Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival presented by Ocean Casino Resort on Sunday, June 4.

Adjacent Music Festival

Blink-182 and Paramore will headline the inaugural Adjacent Music Festival, set for May 27 and 28 on the beach in Atlantic City. The pop-punk and emo Adjacent lineup has a strong Jersey presence with state-born bands Thursday, Midtown, Bleachers, Front Bottoms, Folly, and L.S. Dunes featuring Frank Iero of My Chemical Romance.

Go: Noon to 11 p.m. May 27 and 28, One Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City. Tickets start at $189 per day; adjacentfestival.com.

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Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival

Festival co-headliners 311 will have their own beer, Original India Pale Ale, for sale at this fest. The brew is a collaboration between the band and California’s El Segundo Brewing Company.

Dropkick Murphys play June 3, and 311 plays June 4 for the festival, presented by Ocean Casino Resort.

Go: 2 to 6 p.m. June 3, noon to 4 p.m. June 4, Bader Field, 545 Albany Ave., Atlantic City. Tickets start at $70 per day; acbeerfest.com.

Barefoot Country Music Festival

Blake Shelton, Kid Rock, Darius Rucker and Jon Pardi headline the boots-optional Barefoot Country Music Festival, taking place on the beach in Wildwood.

Go: 6 to 11:30 p.m. June 15, 1 to 11:30 p.m. June 16 to 18, 3601 Boardwalk, Wildwood. Tickets start at $239 for multiple days; barefootcountrymusicfest.com.

Bayville Fest VII

Reggae rock and related grooves served up all day. Badfish: The Sublime Tribute Band, Kosha Dillz, Ballyhoo!, Mike Pinto, Reis Brothers, Toymachine, DJ Headtrip, Green Knuckle Material and more will play at B2 Bistro + Bar.

Go: Noon to 9 p.m. June 24 at B2 Bistro + Bar, 125 Bayview Ave., Bayville section of Berkeley Township. Tickets start at $50; b2bistro.com.

Halsey will perform at New Jersey's inaugural North 2 Shore festival in June.
Halsey will perform at New Jersey's inaugural North 2 Shore festival in June.

North 2 Shore

The inaugural state-sponsored North 2 Shore music and technology festival features Halsey, Santana, Bill Burr, Jay Wheeler, Stephen Colbert, Alanis Morissette, Marisa Monte, Demi Lovato, Daymond John, Natalie Merchant, the Smithereens, Brian Fallon, Southside Johnny and more at multiple New Jersey venues in June.

Gov. Phil Murphy said residents have “been through so much together” and that it is “time for New Jersey to gather with friends to celebrate, to let our hair down and to showcase more creativity than has been presented in one state in one month ever.”

Go: June 7 to 11 in Atlantic City, June 14 to 18 in Asbury Park, June 21 to 25 in Newark. Ticket prices vary; northtoshore.com.

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Sea Hear Now

The Foo Fighters and The Killers will headline this year's Sea Hear Now music, art and surfing festival, taking place at North Beach and Bradley Park in Asbury Park. Greta Van Fleet, Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats, Sheryl Crow, Weezer, The Beach Boys and more are also on the bill.

Go: Sept. 16 and 17, 1300 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. Sold out; waitlist and resale tickets available at seahearnowfestival.com.

TidalWave Music Festival

How about a country music fest on the beach in Atlantic City? The second TidalWave Music Festival, presented in part by Live Nation and the city of Atlantic City, will feature headliners Thomas Rhett, Jason Aldean and Brooks & Dunn.

Go: 1 to 11 p.m. Aug. 11 to 13, One Atlantic Ocean in Atlantic City. Tickets start at $259 for multiple days; tidalwavefest.com.

Thomas Rhett will perform with Brooks & Dunn and Jason Aldean during the TidalWave Music Festival in August.
Thomas Rhett will perform with Brooks & Dunn and Jason Aldean during the TidalWave Music Festival in August.

Food and wine festivals, plus county fairs

Music not your thing? No worries, there's plenty of fun waiting for you, too.

Atlantic County 4-H Fair

The Atlantic County 4-H Fair features a car show, baby parade, pet parade, open mic and pie-eating contest.

Go: 2 to 10 p.m. Aug. 11, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 12, Atlantic County 4-H Fairgrounds, 3210 Route 50, South Egg Harbor City; free admission/parking costs $4; ac4hfair.org.

Create in the Crest Arts Festival, Wildwood Crest

The second annual event features artists, entrepreneurs, musicians and other creators demonstrating, displaying, selling and teaching their arts.

Go: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 18, Centennial Park, Wildwood Crest; free admission; wildwoodcrest.org.

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New Jersey Irish Festival, Oceanport

There will be a traditional Irish mass followed by Irish foods, vendors, dancing, music and the annual Human Horse Race. Family activities include clowns, face painters, pony rides and a bounce house.

Go: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11, Monmouth Park, 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport. General admission costs $6; children 12 and younger are admitted free of charge; monmouthpark.com.

Italian Festival & Wine Tasting, Oceanport

Abbondanza on the back stretch. The Italian Festival & Wine Tasting will feature Italian food from the area’s top restaurants and food trucks, plus Italian wines presented by Opici Wines & Spirits. Purchase a $15 wine ticket to receive five 2-ounce samples, plus a commemorative glass.

Pez Head plays Saturday and the West End Dogs on Sunday.

Go: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 29 and 30, Monmouth Park, 175 Oceanport Ave.; Oceanport; $15 wine ticket and $6 general admission; monmouthpark.com.

The 47th anniversary IAATO Italian Festival, Ocean Township

Italian food, rides, Italian food, games and did we mention Italian food at this big fest, presented by the Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean. The festivities include Galbani’s Celebrity Chef Marco cooking demos.

Go: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Aug. 9 to 13, Joe Palaia Park, 200 Whalepond Road, Oakhurst section; free admission; iaato.com.

Latin Festival: Tacos & Tequila, Oceanport

This fun fest features live music by Xol Azul and food from trucks like El Lechon de Negron, Empanada Guy, Empanada Beast, Mozzarepas, Playa Bowls, Sweetpeppers Empanadas, The Mexiboys, Tortas Lokas, Twelve, and Del Toro Tapas.

Go: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 6, Monmouth Park, 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport; $6 general admission; monmouthpark.com.

Try patatas bravas (from left) and brochettas de solomillo, de gambas and de pollo (skewers of steak, shrimp and chicken) from Del Toro Tapas at Monmouth Park's Latin Festival in August.
Try patatas bravas (from left) and brochettas de solomillo, de gambas and de pollo (skewers of steak, shrimp and chicken) from Del Toro Tapas at Monmouth Park's Latin Festival in August.

Manalapan Day, Manalapan

Manalapan Day is like a big county fair but with small-town appeal. This year, the Trammps ("Disco Inferno" from "Saturday Night Fever") are the headliners, and there will be fireworks and more.

Go: 3 to 10 p.m. June 17, Manalapan Recreation Center, Route 522, Manalapan (kids rides open at 2 p.m.); free admission; mtnj.org.

Monmouth County Fair, Freehold Township

See animals, shows, music and more at the Monmouth County Fair.
See animals, shows, music and more at the Monmouth County Fair.

Lots of fun will be had with Robinson’s Racing Pigs, Bwana Jim Wildlife Show, The Raptor Project, Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy, Mutts Gone Nuts, horse shows, Aaron Bonk’s Fire, Whips & Danger Tricks, the Flying Fools High Diving Show and more, plus live music.

Go: 4 to 11 p.m. July 26 to 28, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 29, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 30, East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Admission costs $8; no charge for children 12 and younger, veterans and active duty military with identification; monmouthcountyparks.com.

New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning

The three-day fest at Solberg Airport in Readington (Hunterdon County) takes place July 28 to 30 and features the spectacle of up to 100 balloons taking flight twice each day. Everclear and Lit headline the festival on Friday, KC and the Sunshine Band headline on Saturday. In addition to music, there's plenty of family entertainment.

Go: New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning, July 28 to 30, Solberg Airport, Readington. Tickets start at $28 per day, $10 for kids ages 4 to 12; 973-882-5464, balloonfestival.com.

Ocean County Fair, Berkeley Township

Riders take a turn on the Ring Of Fire during last year's Ocean County Fair.
Riders take a turn on the Ring Of Fire during last year's Ocean County Fair.

The Ocean County Fair is filled with entertainment for all ages, with food, rides and more.

Go: 5 to 11 p.m. July 12 and 13, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 14 and 15, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 16, Robert J. Miller Air Park, Route 530, Berkeley Township. $10, free admission for kids younger than 10; oceancountyfair.net.

Rally for the Two Rivers Eco-Fest, Rumson

Celebrate the mighty Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers in an environmentally friendly way with hands-on educational activities, river seining, music, eco-friendly face-painting and more. The day is presented by Clean Ocean Action, the Rumson Environmental Commission and Rally for the Two Rivers Alliance.

Go: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 3 at Victory Park, 1 Lafayette St., Rumson (rain date is June 4); free admission; cleanoceanaction.org.

School's Out Food Truck Festival/Teacher Appreciation Day, Plumsted

Celebrate the end of the school year with friends and family at Laurita Winery. Wine and dine while listening to music from local and area bands. There will be food trucks on site. Supervised children are welcome. Pets are not allowed.

Go: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. June 24 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 25, Laurita Winery, 85 Archertown Road, New Egypt section. Tickets cost $13 in advance and $15 at the gate; free admission for those younger than 21; 609-752-0200, lauritawinery.com. Visit newjerseywines.com for more winery events taking place this summer.

Soulsational Music and Wellness Festival, Berkeley Township

The annual Soulsational Music and Wellness Festival is the epicenter of good vibes at the Jersey Shore. The day features music on two stages, vendors, craft, food trucks, a beer garden, an art gallery, free yoga, a kids village and more.

Go: July 29, Veterans Park, Bayville section; free admission; soulsational.info.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore: Summer festivals include music superstars and more