After drawing hundreds of thousands of fans in its inaugural year – and $7.6 million in ticket sales – the statewide North to Shore Arts and Ideas Festival will make its return next summer. 

The brainchild of Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, the three-day, three-city festival was designed to spotlight New Jersey’s culture, diversity and spirit of innovation.

When unveiling the 2023 festival, the governor compared it to Austin’s South by Southwest Film Festival, but said the Garden State’s celebration would be all about “shining a light on the diversity, creativity and energy that makes New Jersey unique.” The event’s tagline is: The Festival Only Jersey Could Handle.

This year’s celebration – once again produced by New Jersey Performing Arts Center along with other presenters and partners – will take place in: 

• Asbury Park: June 10-16 
• Atlantic City: June 17-23 
• Newark: June 24-30

“What makes the North to Shore so exciting is that — even if you only spend one day at the festival — there’s so much to hear, to see, to learn and to do. It’s a perfect introduction to New Jersey’s incredible arts scene,” NJPAC President and CEO John Schreiber said in the Oct. 10 announcement for next year’s event. 

This year’s musical headliners included New Jersey native Halsey, as well as Eric B. & Rakim, Santana, Marisa Monte and Jazmine Sullivan. The 2024 headliners will be announced in March. 

In addition to music concerts, the 2023 North to Shore fest also included film screenings, art exhibits and panel discussions on innovation in technology, climate change, health care, business and more. Many of the presenters and performers were New Jerseyans themselves. 

Organizers noted that, along with ticketed events, the majority of the festival offerings are free to the public. 

Again this year, the event will award grants to New Jersey artists to support their festival performances. A total of 56 artists earned the funding in 2023.  

“North to Shore Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded to artists, producers, small businesses and nonprofit organizations based in each festival city, to self-produce performing and visual arts events during the festival,” organizers said.  

New this year, grants will also be offered to artists interested in performing on the North to Shore Festival Community Stages, which are centrally located performance venues in each city. 

Grant applications are due by Nov. 10. Virtual information sessions will take place in October and November, and those chosen to appear at the festival will be notified by late December, organizers said. For more information, click here.