Atlantic City Convention Center – Local Festivals
Atlantic City regularly hosts special events of all kinds. This is especially true at the Atlantic City Convention Center, a massive venue that has hosted huge conferences like the Pizza and Pasta Northeast Expo, Atlantic City National College Fair, and the Annual NJ School Boards Workshop.
In addition to welcoming big-name performances into town, Atlantic City hosts its very own festivals year-round. Check out the list of local festivals below, and you may find one that lines up with your upcoming visit to the Atlantic City Convention Center.
Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival
You won’t have to go far to check out the Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival, as it takes place right inside the Atlantic City Convention Center. This festival began in 2006 and has been growing exponentially ever since. The entire 500,000-square-foot facility is packed with beer, music, and other activities.
Dozens of breweries are added to the lineup each year, which has attracted millions of visitors over the course of its history. Some of the big names include Allagash Brewing Company, Dogfish Head, Yards Brewing Company, Angry Orchard, and Goose Island. In addition to these recognizable brands, there are more than 100 smaller breweries present at this massive convention.
After sampling tons of beer, you may want to hop on an inflatable bounce horse and race other attendees to the finish line. You can also shop at one of the festival’s many vendors, which sell everything from honey to hot sauce.
Atlantic City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Atlantic City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has been a hugely popular event since 1986. Bar and pub owners in the city created the parade to celebrate one of the most rambunctious holidays around. The founders aimed to recreate the Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and since then have made their parade successful in its own right.
The Atlantic City St. Patrick’s Day Parade has become a beloved city tradition. More than 40 local businesses, organizations, and even casinos take part by creating colorful floats. It’s a treat to watch as bands, dancers, and community groups create a river of green and march down the Atlantic City Boardwalk. The parade is fun for all ages, and the older crowd will enjoy the many parade afterparties.
Atlantic City Food Truck Festival
Food trucks are popular in cities around the United States, and Atlantic City celebrates them with the annual Atlantic City Food Truck Festival. This foodie paradise takes place in Brighton Park, a five-minute drive or 15-minute walk from Atlantic City Convention Center.
The Atlantic City Food Truck Festival has been bringing amazing food trucks together since 2014. There’s a huge variety to choose from, so guests can indulge in comfort food, seafood, burgers, dumplings, barbecue, and more from the best food trucks in the area.
After sampling all different types of food, guests can cast their vote for their favorite in order to crown the “Atlantic City Food Truck Festival Champion.” This family-friendly event also has live music, celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, and a kids’ zone featuring face painting. For two days, visitors to the Atlantic City Convention Center have the opportunity to try some of the best food trucks available.
Atlantic City Airshow
Probably the biggest event in the city, the Atlantic City Airshow takes place each August, much to the delight of hundreds of spectators. This show is free for everyone to enjoy, and there is plenty of space on the boardwalk and beaches to watch the performance.
Participating aircraft include old propeller planes, the Royal Air Force Red Arrows, skywriters, the United States Air Force Thunderbirds, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights. The Golden Knights skydive from their aircraft, opening up a huge parachute emblazoned with their symbol. Sometimes the skydivers even release colored smoke to brighten up the experience.
Visitors from all over enjoy this spectacle every summer. Binoculars are recommended, and radios can be used to tune in to the show commentary. While visiting Atlantic City Convention Center, make sure to step outside, look up, and witness one of the greatest free festivals in the city!
The Downbeach Seafood Festival
The Downbeach Seafood Festival has been celebrating the area’s best seafood since the early 1990s. Because of the city’s oceanfront location, local restaurants have access to the freshest seafood possible. Many brick-and-mortar restaurants have booths at The Downbeach Seafood Festival, providing them with the opportunity to introduce their dishes to a wider audience.
In addition to seafood, the festival features businesses that sell cupcakes, kettlecorn, hot sauce, and more. There is live entertainment throughout the day as well as cooking demonstrations. Seafood fans will rejoice when attending The Downbeach Seafood Festival, which takes place 15 minutes from Atlantic City Convention Center.
Atlantic City Comedy Festival
For the past decade, the Atlantic City Comedy Festival has brought plenty of laughs to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. This two-day event features a number of famous comedians, five to six of whom perform each night. Some of these big-name comedians include Mike Epps, George Wallace, Earthquake, and Kountry Wayne. More than 100,000 fans have attended the festival over the years, making it a notably popular event.
Atlantic City is known for its nightlife entertainment, and this comedy festival is a great example of that. The Atlantic City Comedy Festival takes place less than a 15-minute walk from the Atlantic City Convention Center.
In addition to world-class performances and outstanding nightlife, Atlantic City holds all types of family-friendly festivals throughout the year. There are even more festivals than the ones listed above, so make sure to do your research and see if any take place while you’re at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Whether you’re interested in the culinary arts; want to laugh, drink, enjoy live music, or party; there’s sure to be something going on in Atlantic City that’s right up your alley.