The Highlands Seafood and Music Festival in Highlands, New Jersey, offers an adventurous blend of fresh coastal flavors and lively tunes set against the unpretentious charm of this small shore town. Here, the Atlantic's whispering waves dare you closer, pulling you into an energetic scene packed with seafood stalls, live bands, and community spirit. This festival doesn’t just invite you to taste; it invites you to experience the pulse of the New Jersey shore at its most genuine.

Held typically over a weekend in late May, the festival occupies the waterfront district where fishermen unload their daily catch and local chefs craft that bounty into dishes fresh off the grill. The salty scent of grilled scallops, steamed clams, and crispy calamari competes in the air with the hum of guitars and brass instruments. Music stages scatter through the festival area, featuring genres from blues and folk to classic rock, each set feeding the vibrant energy that flows like an undertow through crowds of locals, visitors, and food lovers.

For practical planning, parking can be sporadic—arrive early, ideally before noon, to secure a spot without stress or take advantage of nearby public transit options. Comfortable footwear is a must; the festival areas include uneven sidewalks, bustling walkways, and intermittent sandy patches near the beach’s edge. Hydration is also key, especially as May begins to warm things up. Water stations are scattered but bringing your own refillable bottle is advisable.

Beyond food and music, the festival shines as a springboard for exploring Highlands itself. Consider arriving a day early or staying after the event to explore hiking trails that snake along Hartshorne Woods Park. They feature modest elevation gains and shaded forest sections with occasional views overlooking the Shrewsbury River — an ideal counterpoint to the festival’s vibrant chaos.

The Highlands Seafood and Music Festival is firmly rooted in community pride; many vendors are locals who have fished or cooked in the area for decades. This grounded authenticity prevents the event from tipping into tourist kitsch, instead offering a reliable taste of regional culture, music, and maritime tradition.

Whether you come for the seafood, the music, or the simple joy of feeling the salt breeze push you toward new tastes and sounds, the festival's rhythm is infectious. It moves with the tides of the Atlantic—steady, inviting, always fiercely itself.