As members of the community in the Toms River area (we provide plumbing services in Toms River), we love to get out and take in the iconic Toms River food festival.
To follow up on our recent post about the history of Tims River, we wanted to put a spotlight on one of our favorite events in the area.
All around the region, people know about this event in Toms River and they come from miles around to enjoy the festivities.
We decided to do a bit of research about this event and share what we enjoy most.
Toms River Food Festival
The Toms River Food Festival is a tradition that has been taking place for six years now. Every May, locals and visitors to the region look forward to the outdoor festival, which replaced the former Founder’s Day festival that was previously held in June each year. The Toms River Food Festival is an all-day celebration that offers a variety of activities and entertainment for all ages, including a wide array of tasty foods, arts and crafts, children’s activities, shopping, live music and much more.
Fun For All Ages
This year the Toms River Food Festival took place on May 14 and was the biggest celebration to date. Like every year, the event was hosted in the downtown part of Toms River, NJ on Washington Street. It has become the largest township-sponsored downtown festival attracting well over 25,000 people.
“If you’re looking for a perfect blend of live music, food, kid’s activities and shopping, Toms River Food Fest offers something for everyone,” Recreation Director Jared Tate said.
For the younger ones, the festival has a lot of fun activities including free rides, a rock climbing wall, arts and crafts and face painting. Adults, on the other hand, are treated to a fully stocked beer and wine garden sponsored by Toms River Fire Company.
In addition to the beer and wine garden, adults can also enjoy a full day of musical entertainment. Performers have included Shorty Long & the Jersey Horns, Southrail, Strictly 60’s and Nash East. Greater Media radio stations provide DJs from the stations 100.1 WJRZ and 95.9 WRAT on stage emceeing the event and giving lucky attendees the chance to win various prizes and giveaways.
While the music plays throughout the day, a large selection of food trucks and vendors from the area tempt appetites with the most delicious dishes around. Festivalgoers can enjoy specialties like barbeque, seafood, sausage and peppers, gyros, empanadas, cheesesteaks and tacos. For those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of treats, such as funnel cakes, fried Oreos, cupcakes, kettle corn and more. As Plumbers in Toms River, NJ, we send our team out every year to taste the delicious food, interact with the community, and form relationships with local merchants.
If that was not enough, the Toms River Food Festival also offers guests with a delightful shopping experience. Art, crafts and jewelry are just some of the merchandise that is sold from an enormous selection of vendors. You may just have to splurge on a gift for yourself or for that special someone.
Event Information
If you missed this last event, make sure you catch the next one coming next May. The Toms River Food Festival is always open to the public and there is no admission charge. All the food and the merchandise at this event are available at very reasonable prices. For your convenience, ATMs are located in various spots around the event. For those that do not know, pets are not allowed in the event unless they are properly authorized service animals.
Mark your calendar for next May and be sure to check out this not to be missed annual festival! It is a great opportunity to support the local community, have some fun and enjoy a day with friends, family and neighbors.
For more information about attending the Toms River Food Festival or participating as a vendor, visit the website for the Township of Toms River, NJ or check out the news about the Toms River open space purchase.
Hopefully, you’ll get the opportunity to come out and enjoy the food festival, it’s a wonderful event!