Statewide Summer Festival Bringing Music, Comedy + More To 3 NJ Towns

NEWARK, NJ — A new month-long festival will bring music, comedy, and tech innovation to stages and beaches across New Jersey, with both national superstars and local favorites on the docket.

The “North to Shore Summer Festival” will feature 100 events in a trio of cities over three weekends in the month of June, said organizers.

On Monday, the Gov. Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy announced a statewide summer festival will be coming to three Garden State towns: Newark, Asbury Park, and Atlantic City.

The mayors of these cities (Ras Baraka, John Moor, and Marty Small Sr.) were also present for the announcement, which is touted as the biggest festival ever in New Jersey.

The governor said he and First Lady Tammy Murphy wanted to celebrate the state’s diversity, talent, and economy with a festival in NJ that might rival SXSW (South by Southwest) in Austin. They made their announcement in Newark at the NJ Performing Arts Center at Prudential Hall on Monday.

"These festivals will generate economic activity and have a significant impact on our region and we look forward to shining a light on the diversity, creativity, and energy that makes New Jersey unique this summer," Gov. Murphy said.

Big names splashed across the stage included Halsey, Demi Lovato, The B-52s, Natalie Merchant, Alanis Morisette, Stephen Colbert, Jim Gaffigan, Ross Matthews, Bill Burr, Santana, Daymond John, Gavin DeGraw, and Colbie Caillat. As well as music and comedy performances, North to Shore will also feature film screenings and conversations with leaders in business, tech, and clean energy.

Arts Center CEO and president John Schreiber said the festival will celebrate big names in music, comedy, film, tech and innovation as well as NJ-based creatives and innovators “who make the arts hum up and down the state all year long.”

“We will be showcasing many more performers who are destined to be the headliners of tomorrow,” Tammy Murphy added. “We look forward to sharing New Jersey’s exceptional culture with the rest of the country and enjoying a festival that will undoubtedly be like no other.”

Here are the dates:

• Atlantic City: June 4-11
• Asbury Park: June 14-18
• Newark: June 21-25

More artists and guests will be announced later.