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Weekly Roundup 8/18/2026

Weekly Roundup 8/18/2026

The Asbury Park Seafood & BBQ Festival Is Here, The Great Whaleboat Races of 2026, Pass the Crab Legs: Palmetto Is Hosting a Seafood Boil, Craft, Sip & Get a Little Coastal, Live Music Lowdown

Sophie Prince
August 18, 2026

Happy Tuesday, Monmouth County! Apparently a python was found under a shed in Freehold after swallowing an entire opossum. I’m sorry, but if I opened my shed and found that, I would simply close the door and moved out.

On the docket:

The Asbury Park Seafood & BBQ Festival Is Here
The Great Whaleboat Races of 2026
Pass the Crab Legs: Palmetto Is Hosting a Seafood Boil
Craft, Sip & Get a Little Coastal
Live Music Lowdown

The Asbury Park Seafood & BBQ Festival Is Here

Get ready for a weekend where the hardest decision is whether to go for seafood or BBQ first. The 2nd Annual Asbury Park Seafood & BBQ Festival is coming to Bradley Park from August 28-30 with three days of food, live music and plenty of summer fun.

More than 20 gourmet food trucks and concessions will be serving up everything from seafood favorites to smoky BBQ, while the adult beverage garden will have craft beer, sangria, hard seltzers and more. There will also be live music throughout all three days, plus kid-friendly activities including pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables and sand art.

Bring the family, grab some friends, pack a lawn chair and come hungry. Dogs are welcome too, because apparently even they deserve a weekend centered around good food. More details included in the link below!

The Great Whaleboat Races of 2026

History is getting a little more competitive this summer. On Saturday, August 29, the Great Whaleboat Races of 2026 will bring Matawan, Aberdeen and Keyport together for a Revolutionary-inspired showdown on Lake Lefferts in honor of America’s 250th anniversary.

Inspired by Capt. William Marriner’s daring 1778 whaleboat raid, teams from all three towns will race across the lake to a floating dock, “capture” their mayor and row back to shore. The first team to return with their mayor and raise their town flag wins the coveted Golden Oar Trophy, which will then have a very important new home in the winning town hall.

There will be live music, food, kids’ activities and plenty of hometown cheering throughout the day. The races run from 5 to 7:30 PM at Lake Lefferts Park, and the event is free and open to everyone.

Basically, it is local history, but with a lot more rowing and a Golden Oar on the line.

Pass the Crab Legs: Palmetto Is Hosting a Seafood Boil

A pile of seafood, a table full of friends and the ocean nearby sounds like a pretty solid way to spend a Wednesday night.

On August 26 from 6 to 8 PM, head to Palmetto for a classic Seafood Boil on the boardwalk. For $55 per person, you'll dig into a generous spread of mussels, clams, shrimp, snow crab legs, sausage, corn and potatoes.

Come hungry because this is not exactly a light snack situation. It's the kind of dinner that calls for sleeves to be rolled up, napkins nearby and absolutely no concern about looking elegant while cracking into a crab leg.

Reservations are limited, so make your plans early and get ready for a very seafood-heavy summer evening by the water.

Craft, Sip & Get a Little Coastal

Grab a pint and get your creative juices flowing at Bakes Brewing Co. on Wednesday, August 26 for a night of sea glass art with J&J Art.

From 6 to 8 PM, guests will create their own beach-inspired piece on a glass frame using colorful sea glass, crushed glass and shells. No need to be an art expert, just bring your creativity and prepare to make something that looks like it belongs in a beach house.

The best part? A Bakes pint is included with your ticket, because every craft project is better with a beer in hand. Bring your friends, make something cute and enjoy a laid-back night of art, brews and a little coastal flair.

Live Music Lowdown