If your family loves live music, then we’ve got just the event for you- the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park happening this weekend September 19-21. When you head to this two-day family-friendly festival, you can expect a weekend that mixes live music, the beach, surf contests, food, art, and so much family fun all around you. The festival is held along the Asbury Park waterfront and brings more than 25 bands to three different stages and the music happens both right on the sand and in the park. Between sets, you can watch a professional surf competition, grab some delicious food from local vendors, check out artwork created by musicians, or take a walk on the boardwalk. One of the best parts about the festival besides kids 8 and under being FREE? Everything is focused on showcasing and celebrating local businesses and artisans. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect at the festival with the family and be sure to check out our NJMOM guide to family-friendly festivals around New Jersey. (featured photo credit: NJ Mom taken at Sea.Hear.Now Festival)

Sea.Hear.Now Hosts A Weekend Of Live Music in Asbury Park

Listen to live music

One of my family’s favorite parts of going to the Sea.Hear.Now Festival is finding a spot to settle in and listen to the live music. My husband and I have been taking our kids to this festival for years and it’s a core memory that we love. There are multiple stages spread throughout the festival making it easy to move around and catch different artists but sometimes, it’s fun to pick a spot and stay there. With the ocean as the backdrop, hearing the music combined with the waves is both relaxing and thrilling. This year, some of the artists include Mumford & Sons, The All-American Rejects, Goo Goo Dolls, Fitz and the Tantrums, Ziggy Marley, and dozens more.

Eat delicious food from local and regional food vendors

As a mom, having multiple options for food and drinks is SO important and Sea.Hear.Now delivers. There’s enough choices to keep everyone in my family happy including some of our favorites this year like Taco Papi, Get Baked, Local Smoke, Betty’s, and Asian Bistro. It’s also so convenient they offer free water stations all around the festival grounds. Bring your favorite reusable water bottle and fill it up for free all weekend.

sea hear now asbury park festival

Watch the surf contest at Sea.Hear.Now in Asbury Park

The North Beach Rumble Surf Contest is happening during the festival and is so fun to watch with little ones. Sometimes, you need a break from the hustle and bustle of the main festival area so heading to the beach and watching the surfers race across the water and pull off impressive moves is the perfect way to do that. During this contest, there will be 16 surfers competing so make sure you head over there and take in this one of a kind experience.

sea hear now asbury park festival njmom1

Take in the fun beyond the music

There’s so many fun things to do at this festival that take you beyond the music which I was thrilled about with my little ones. A few things we could do is wander along the boardwalk, check out photo opportunities, relax in the shade, and explore different vendors and activities throughout the festival. For the 21+ crowd, head to Good Times with Josh Cellars and find crafted wines made for sunny sets and good company. If you need a little pick me up, stop by Jolene Coffee Cart at concessions, bars, or the coffee cart and grab a Cold Brew or Oat Milk Latte. Make sure you also see the beautiful art made by performing musicians that are so cool to see.

sea hear now asbury park festival

FAQs About Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park

Is Sea.Hear.Now Festival family-friendly?

Yes! This is an all-ages festival so families can attend with kids of any age (and kids 8 and under are FREE). Strollers are welcome, and we encourage bringing one for tired feet!. Our kids love playing in the sand while mom and dad listen to music on the beach and we’ll pack a few tiny toys to keep them engaged. It can get loud with all the speakers around so we always bring our kids’ headphones to protect their ears.

Do kids need a ticket for Sea.Hear.Now?

Kids ages 8 and under can attend the General Admission areas for FREE when accompanies by a ticketed adult. Each ticketed adult can bring up to 2 kids ages 8 and under.

Can I bring a stroller to Sea.Hear.Now Festival?

Yes! Strollers and wagons are allowed. Keep in mind that the festival grounds include paved areas, boardwalk, sand, and gravel, so it is a little challenging in certain areas with a stroller.

How much are tickets for Sea.Hear.Now?

General admission for one day starts at $180 per person and general admission for both days starts at $309 per person. They typically sell out on the day they go live so look for them on their verified marketplace.

Does Sea.Hear. Now have places to get water?

Yes! There is free, filtered water available at hydration stations throughout the festival. Bring an empty reusable water bottle that you can refill during the day.

Can I leave Sea.Hear.Now and come back later?

You can leave and come back to the festival but you need to follow the re-entry procedure. Your wristband needs to be scanned when you leave so you can re-enter that same day.

What is parking like at Sea.Hear.Now?

Parking can be challenging so make sure you plan ahead. There is no parking on-site and metered parking around Asbury Park can fill up quickly so you should either arrive early or you can take NJ Transit with the station being about a 15 minute walk from the festival. Rideshare is also available with a designated drop-off and pickup area on the 100 block of Fourth Avenue.

For more information about the Sea.Hear.Now Festival, visit the website, Facebook page, and Instagram.

Sea.Hear.Now Festival
1200 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712

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