Hundreds of New Jersey artists were added to the lineup of the first North to Shore Festival, doubling the size of the state’s brand-new, multi-city celebration of arts, film and technology.

Scheduled for three consecutive weekends in Atlantic City (June 7-11), Asbury Park (June 14-18) and Newark (June 21-25), the mega-festival’s calendar of events now includes theatricals, comedy performances, spoken word poetry readings, dance performances, storytelling events, fashion shows and street fairs.

In a May 9 press release, the festival’s organizers announced more than 60 new events, all of which are being made possible through dozens of grants awarded to a diverse roster of artists from across the three cities.

Highlights in Atlantic City include hardcore bands jamming alongside skateboarders showing off moves, live pottery-making demonstrations and a one-woman play about the seaside resort town’s history.

An immersive musical theater performance about cartoon supervillains, a Japanese water-marbling workshop and a drag queen story hour are included in the Asbury Park lineup.

In Newark, there will be a poetry slam competition, an evening of musical performances and cocktails at a whiskery distillery, and a night celebrating and teaching the Jersey Club dance style.

Many events are free and are all scheduled to allow festival-goers to attend multiple concerts, film screenings and other happenings over the course of each weekend, according to organizers.

More details about the grant awardees can be found here.

Celebrating all NJ has to offer

The newly added performers join previously announced global headliners, including Halsey, Santana, the B52s, Ricardo Arona, Jay Wheeler, Stephen Colbert, Jazmine Sullivan, Alanis Morissette, Marisa Monte, Daymond John and Natalie Merchant.

Conceived by Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy, North to Shore seeks to encourage the continued growth of the state’s tourism industry by spotlighting New Jersey’s cultural diversity and technological innovation.

In a statement accompanying this week’s announcement, Murphy said the additional performers and events “will bring New Jerseyans and tourists from throughout the region to our cities, spurring significant economic activity and opportunities for our world-class restaurants, performance venues, hotels, and shops.”

He added, “We look forward to celebrating all New Jersey has to offer across hundreds of events in three of our most iconic cities.”

Tammy Murphy agreed, saying the “unforgettable” performances made possible by the grants will help further the festival’s goal of highlighting “New Jersey’s best and brightest talents alongside world renowned entertainers.”

“We are thrilled to see the excitement from folks across the state as we grow closer to the start of the festival, and we look forward to showing the world what the Garden State has to offer,” the first lady stated.

In December 2021, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority put out a call for applications for the NJ Arts and Innovation Festival Challenge Grant, a $2 million competitive grant to support operational costs for a festival that incorporates live music and arts, as well as tech demonstrations, panel discussions with innovators and other activities.

NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said the agency “is proud to support the North to Shore Festival, which serves as a testament to Gov. Murphy’s vision to make New Jersey the best state to live, work, and play.”

“The North to Shore Festival will provide an economic boost to Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark by attracting visitors, generating tourism spending, and showcasing our cultural diversity and legacy of innovation,” he also said.

After being awarded the NJEDA grant – which was allocated in the fiscal year 2022 budget and assigned to the economic recovery fund – the New Jersey Performing Arts Center has been busy planning a world-class festival that will not only bring attention and resources to New Jersey, but also set the stage for long-term growth.

NJPAC is producing North to Shore in collaboration with partners including Montclair Film, Newark International Film Festival, TechUnited/Propelify and MediaSense. Music and comedy programming will be presented in partnership with SJ Presents, Madison Marquette, Live Nation, Platinum Productions and Absolutely Live!

David Rodriguez, NJPAC executive vice president and executive producer, said, “A Jersey festival isn’t a Jersey festival unless it’s an authentic reflection of the artists who bring their creativity to work in this state 365 days a year.”

“We’re proud that this festival is a genuine microcosm of the special character of each of the cities that will be hosting this new celebration,” said Rodriguez. “I encourage everyone who plans to attend one of our large venue events to be sure to experience the city-wide creativity that will be on offer during the North to Shore weekend.”

Additional information and tickets are available at NorthtoShore.com

Leadership support for the event is being provided by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority, New Jersey Travel and Tourism, NJM Insurance, PSEG and RWJBarnabas Health. United Airlines is the official airline sponsor for the festival.

Support for North to Shore in Atlantic City is provided by the Casiello Philanthropic Foundation. Support for the festival in Newark is provided by Audible, Newark City Parks Foundation and Newark Alliance, according to organizers.