National spotlight continues to shine on the Wildwoods in 2025

Islands.com recently named the Wildwoods' Beaches among "America's Best White Sand Beaches" and Discoverer.com named the Wildwoods Boardwalk as one of the "6 Historic Beach Boardwalks Everyone Should Visit"

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS -  The national spotlight continues to shine on the Wildwoods in 2025, where beautiful beaches and an iconic Boardwalk have earned widespread acclaim. 

Islands.com recently named the Wildwoods' beautiful beaches among "America's Best White Sand Beaches" and praised the Wildwoods Boardwalk as having an "all-American vibe, while Discoverer.com named the Boardwalk one of "6 Historic Beach Boardwalks Everyone Should Visit."

These accolades further solidify the Wildwoods' position as one of the nation's most premier seaside travel destinations.

"The Wildwoods continue to shine on the national level, recognized for our beautiful beaches, iconic Boardwalk and one-of-a-kind events. These recent accolades from Islands.com, Discoverer.com and other leading publications recognize what our visitors have always known: the Wildwoods are one of the nation's most beloved seaside resorts," said Louis M. Belasco, Greater Wildwoods Tourism & Improvement Development Authority Executive Director.

Run the scenic Wildwoods Boardwalk at sunrise for the 5 Mile Beach Half Marathon, 10K and 5K on November 1st

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THE WILDWOODS - The Five-Mile Beach Half Marathon, 10K and 5K is set to take place just after sunrise on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in the Wildwoods. Runners will take on a fast, flat and breathtaking course that winds through the coastal communities of Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.

This event is open to all ages and offers a variety of race options for any level of runner to enjoy the stunning ocean views, the crips autumn air and the sound of crashing waves as they push towards the finish line. This race offers an unforgettable experience with on-course support, enthusiastic spectators and a festive post-race celebration.

The Half Marathon begins at 8 am, followed by the 5K at 8:15 am and the 10K at 9:15 am.

Relive the music and magic of the '50s, '60s and '70s in the Wildwoods ~ October 17 & 18

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THE WILDWOODS - Get ready to travel back in time with a night of unforgettable music at the Oceanfront Arena inside the Wildwoods Convention Center!

The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce presents the 20th Annual '50s, '60s and '70s Weekend on Friday, October 17 and Saturday, October 18 in the Wildwoods, New Jersey. 

This two-day extravaganza celebrates the iconic eras of the 1950's and beyond, while also honoring the pivotal role the Wildwoods played in the birth of Rock 'n Roll music.

Post Malone announced as headliner for Barefoot Country Music Fest 2026

Global superstar will make his BCMF debut on Wildwood Beach - Tickets on sale now!

PRESS RELEASE

WILDWOOD - Barefoot Country Music Fest (BCMF), the Northeast's largest outdoor country music celebration, has announced the first headliner for the 2026 event: Post Malone.

Known for rewriting history, breaking records and blurring the boundaries of genre, the 9x diamond-certified, GRAMMY Award-nominated artist will bring his chart-topping catalog and high-energy live performances to Wildwood, NJ when BCMF returns June 18-21, 2026.

Post Malone is fresh off The Big Ass Stadium Tour after the release of his debut country album, F-1 Trillion. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and has already produced major hits including "Guy For That" featuring Luke Combs, "Pour Me A Drink" featuring Blake Sheldon, and the mega-smash "I Had Some Help" with Morgan Wallen.

Upon release, "I Had Some Help" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, earning "the highest weekly sales and streams since 2020" and holding the top spot for six consecutive weeks. The critically acclaimed projects, combined with collaborations with Beyonce and Taylor Swift, earned Post eight 2025 GRAMMY nominations.

The Wildwoods hot 19th Annual Olde Time Italian Festival ~ September 26 & 27

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THE WILDWOODS - The vibrant and flavorful traditions of Italy will once again come alive at the Olde Time Italian Festival, set for Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, 2025 at Fox Park in Wildwood.

Hosted by the Sons of Italy, Sylvester Grande Lodge #1838, Wildwoods, this 19th annual fundraiser promises to transport attendees to the heart of Italy with a weekend full of mouthwatering cuisine, lively entertainment and cultural experiences.

The event will be held at Fox Park, located on Ocean Avenue between Burk and Montgomery Avenues, across from the Wildwoods Convention Center. The festival begins on Friday from 5 pm to 10 pm and continues on Saturday from noon to 10 pm.

The FREE two-day festival celebrates Italian culture and heritage and is a feast for the senses, with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted pork, sizzling sausage and peppers, chicken cutlets, pasta, fresh cannoli, zeppole and more filling the air. There will also be rows of vendors showcasing Italian specialties and handmade goods, kids' activities, a meatball contest, raffle baskets, 50/50 chances and live music and performances to keep the crowds entertained.

Monster Truck Races rumble onto the Wildwoods Beach ~ September 26 & 27

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS - Brace yourselves for a spine-tingling, earth-shaking weekend as the Monsters on the Beach Monster Truck Races event revs its engines and returns to the Wildwoods Beach - Friday, September 26 and Saturday, September 27, 2025.

Presented by Renegade Monster Truck Tour, this adrenaline-pumping spectacle promises a thrilling experience for monster truck enthusiasts and families alike.

The Monster-ous weekend begins on Friday with the Monsters on Main Street Event. Each of the 8 Renegade Monster Trucks will be on display in Wildwood Crest from 12 pm to 5 pm before they all fire up and parade through Wildwood Crest to the Performance Area on the Beach!

Fireworks, live music and free family entertainment highlight Wildwood Crest's Seafarers Celebration ~ Saturday, September 20th

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS - Spectacular beachfront fireworks, a wide variety of terrific live music, enjoyable family entertainment and much more will highlight the FREE Wildwood Crest Seafarers Celebration schedule for Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 9 am to 9 pm. 

The Seafarers Celebration begins at 9 am with a massive street festival along the beautiful banks of Sunset Lake, located along New Jersey Avenue between Rambler Road and Miami Avenue. The event features craft vendors, live music, delicious varieties of food and other free and fun entertainment for the entire family. 

The live music lineup includes performances by the Roundhouse Band (dance and party hits), Animal House (dance and party hits), Loose Ends (rock/pop hits) and the Star Band (Motown, oldies, pop). 

(See below for the specific live music schedule)

The Wildwoods Boardwalk and Convention Center will be revved up for the Fall Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show ~ September 19-21

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS - The Wildwood Classic Car Show is returning to the world famous Wildwoods Boardwalk with the Fall Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show!

As the sun rises over the Atlantic Ocean, the sound of revving engines can be heard, signaling the start of a weekend filled with classic cars, hot rods and vintage vehicles on Friday, September 19 through Sunday, September 21, 2025.

The Fall Kustom Hot Rod & Muscle Car Show will feature classic cars displayed on the Wildwoods Boardwalk from 26th Street to Burk Avenue, as well as in front of the Wildwoods Convention Center. Visitors can stroll the boards from 10 am to 3 pm and experience the craftsmanship and beauty of hundreds of restored classic cars on Friday and Saturday. 

The Wildwoods celebrate Celtic Heritage during the 34th Annual Irish Fall Festival, September 18-21 ~ Featuring a Thursday night USA vs. Ireland matchup to host boxers from Dublin, Ireland

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS - The 34th Annual Irish Fall Festival, the East Coast's largest Irish Festival, is expected to draw thousands of visitors to North Wildwood - Thursday, September 18 through Sunday, September 21, 2025.

This festive, four-day event is sponsored by James J. Reilly, Division 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The AOH is an organization that fosters and preserves Irish culture and heritage. The festival is designed to celebrate Irish culture and heritage through a variety of exciting events throughout the weekend that are sure to entertain.

Final hours to secure early access for Barefoot Country Music Fest 2026 tickets

Deadline is TONIGHT at midnight - Lock in the lowest price of the year before headliners are revealed... 

PRESS RELEASE

WILDWOOD, N.J. (September 3, 2025) –  Barefoot Country Music Fest (BCMF), the Northeast’s largest outdoor country music celebration, is set to make waves in 2026. Returning to Wildwood, New Jersey, June 18–21, the fest will once again transform the beach into a four-day country music takeover. Today marks the final opportunity for fans to sign up for Early Access to BCMF tickets, with the deadline set for midnight tonight.

Past ticket holders are automatically included, while new fans can register before the cutoff to claim exclusive Early Access when it opens Thursday, September 4, at 10 a.m. This window offers the lowest ticket prices of the year and first pick of ticket types — from General Admission to the Super VIP experience — before tiers begin selling out. Tickets open to the general public Friday, September 5.

Since its debut, Barefoot Country Music Fest (BCMF) has transformed the beaches of Wildwood into a four-day celebration of country music, uniting more than 40 of today’s biggest stars and rising talent across multiple stages just steps from the ocean. Recognized as one of the premier destination festivals in the country, BCMF has earned national media attention from outlets like USA Today, Billboard, and Rolling Stone. With multiple sellouts in its first five years, the festival has quickly become a bucket-list experience, drawing tens of thousands of fans from across the United States and beyond to the Jersey Shore each summer.

Why Early Access:

• Best Price of the Year: Secure tickets before headliners are announced and save big.
• First Pick of Ticket Types: From GA to Super VIP, lock in your preferred experience.
• Tiered Pricing Advantage: Once tiers sell out, prices go up — even during 
• Early Access.
High Demand: With growing attendance each year, Early Access is the safest bet to guarantee your spot.
• Easy Payment Plans: Lock in your weekend for as low as $40 down when sales open.

“Early Access is our way of saying thank you to the incredible fans who make BCMF possible,” said Bob Durkin, co-founder of Southern Entertainment. “It’s your chance to lock in the best deal and be part of an unforgettable weekend.”

Fans can also follow along as #BCMFHints roll out on social media this week, offering cryptic clues about the superstar headliners set to be revealed in the coming weeks.

To sign up for Early Access before tonight’s midnight deadline, and lock in your weekend for as low as $40 down when sales open, visit BCMF.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. 

About BCMF: 
Barefoot Country Music Fest™, (BCMF), the Northeast’s largest outdoor country music fest, is located in Wildwood, NJ, between the famous Morey’s Piers on the beach. BCMF is host to the industry’s biggest stars with 40+ artists slated for June 18-21, 2026, bringing a unique blend of today’s country headliners, regional stars, up-and-comers and locals favorites. With the combination of country music and the scenic Wildwood’s backdrop, this family-friendly, four-day fest is a summer vacation destination.

About Southern Entertainment:
Southern Entertainment is a full-service event and production company. Our unwavering commitment to excellence has led us to produce over 500 events across the United States. We specialize in planning, marketing and executing a wide range of concerts, festivals and other live music events with some of the music industry’s biggest stars.

Oktoberfest Incoming! Morey's Piers welcomes guests to Oktoberfest on Mariner's Pier ~ mid-September through early October

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOOD - Morey's Piers, located on the Wildwoods, NJ Boardwalk, welcomes guests to Mariner's Pier for Oktoberfest 2025!

The festive event runs for five weekends and includes Oktoberfest-themed decorations, live German music, food, beer and all the games and rides visitors know and love.

Mariner's Pier will be open for its annual Oktoberfest event on weekends starting September 12 and running through October 12. The pier will open from 6 pm to 10:30 pm on Fridays, 12 pm to 10:30 pm on Saturdays, and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sundays. 

Tickets are available now, and more information can be found HERE.

Here's what's going on at Morey's Marnier's Pier this Fall:

The 140th Annual New Jersey State Firemen's Convention: Meeting in the Wildwoods for 50 Years

Thousands of firefighters and their families representing every county in New Jersey migrate to the five-mile island for the weekend's equipment displays, meetings, seminars, vendors and a grand parade of trucks and equipment...

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS, NJ - The 140th Annual New Jersey Stage Firemen's Convention returns to the Wildwoods on Friday, September 12 and Saturday, September 13, 2025.

This year marks the 50th year the convention will be held in the Wildwoods during the second week of September.  

Fire equipment vendors from the East Coast will display the latest Fire Apparatus in the Wildwoods Convention Center parking lots as part of the NJ Fire Expo. In addition to the apparatus, there will be vendors of fire-related products - often described as the largest exposition of its kind east of the Mississippi - at Fox Park, across from the Convention Center.

The NJ Fire Expo takes place on Friday, September 12 from 8 am to 6 pm, and Saturday, September 13 from 8 am to 1 pm. 

One of the highlights and main attractions during Firemen's Weekend is the NJ Firefighter's Memorial Parade - a grand procession of gleaming firetrucks and apparatus/equipment that's a family favorite. This year's parade will be held on Saturday, September 13 at 2 pm along New Jersey Avenue, from Cresse Avenue in Wildwood Crest, proceeding north to 21st Avenue in North Wildwood.

Boots at the Beach Country Music Festival returns to North Wildwood ~ September 12 & 13

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOOD - Pack your cowboy boots and hat and head to the Wildwoods for some good 'ol country music!

Boots at the Beach returns to North Wildwood's Seaport Pier for a 2-day country music festival on September 12 & 13, 2025.

The two-day festival features a fantastic lineup of live performances, line dancing lessons by DJ Ashley Rose, food, drinks and a variety of vendors selling Western apparel and crafts.

This family-friendly festival promises a weekend full of music, dancing and fun all on the Wildwoods Beach and Boardwalk at Seaport Pier, located at 2201 Boardwalk in North Wildwood.

Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol announces late-season lifeguard coverage (2025)

PRESS RELEASE

WILDWOOD CREST - The Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol has announced its late-season beach coverage for 2025.

All beaches will be open and protected by lifeguards, weather permitting, from 10 am to 5:30 pm through Monday, September 1 (Labor Day), and on the weekend following Labor Day (Saturday & Sunday, September 6-7).

Due to limited available staff, four beaches will be protected by lifeguards from Tuesday, September 2 through Friday, September 5. Those include Crocus, Lotus, Louisville and Pittsburgh.

Full lifeguard coverage for the 2025 season will conclude on Sunday, September 7.

A response team will be available for emergency calls from 10 am to 5 pm on the weekends of September 13-14 and September 20-21. Transport service for the handicapped will be available from 11 am to 4 pm daily through Sunday, September 7.

The Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol strongly advises all bathers to swim at lifeguard protected beaches and only during the hours of operation. For further information, call the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol at 609-522-3825.

 

Tast of best of the Wildwoods' dining scene during Restaurant Week, featuring beakfast, lunch & dinner specials ~ August 24-28

PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS – Embark on a culinary journey through the Wildwoods' most esteemed and renowned dining establishments during Wildwoods Restaurant Week, from Sunday, August 24 to Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Presented by the Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce and held several times throughout the year, this event showcases the best of the Wildwoods' dining scene.

A carefully selected group of the Wildwoods' favorite restaurants will participate in Restaurant Week, each offering special price fix breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. This event provides the perfect opportunity to explore new dining spots or revisit beloved favorites, enjoy gourmet meals at a great value, and celebrate the vibrant food culture of this seaside resort. 

The Wildwoods are celebrated for their vibrant beaches and bustling boardwalk, and now is the time to discover the island's culinary delights. From fresh seafood and sizzling steaks to creative international cuisine and classic boardwalk favorites, there's something to satisfy every preference.

Whether dining in a cozy restaurant or a lively family-friendly eatery, Wildwoods Restaurant Week promises delicious dishes, warm hospitality and a true taste of the Wildwoods. Enjoy an unforgettable week of delicious dining and discover why the Wildwoods are not only a top beach destination but also a food lover's paradise.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and their menus, call 609-729-4000 or visit www.WildwoodsRestaurantWeek.com.

For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.