Sandcastles, Seafood Fest, Tube Races: See What's Coming Up In Point Pleasant Beach

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, NJ — Labor Day weekend may mark the end of summer for some, but Point Pleasant Beach has a number of events scheduled for September to keep the summer vibe going.

Bring your buckets and your best sand-sculpting tools to the Point Beach Arts Sandcastle Contest on Sunday, Sept. 10 at Jenkinson's Beach. Please register in advance online. Check-in begins at 8 a.m. on Sept. 10 and judging begins at noon. There are categories for kids age 11 or younger and for those ages 12 or older. All ages are welcome to the free family event. Beach admission will be free for contestants.

The 45th Annual Festival of the Sea and the 9th Annual Point Pleasant Beach Seafood Fest 5K are set for Saturday, Sept. 16. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 17.

The Festival of the Sea will include seafood offerings from a number of area restaurants, along with foods for the landlubbers in the crowd. There will be craft vendors, artists, clothing and fun and games for the kids. The Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce says there will be free parking with shuttle service available from the following parking lots: Point Pleasant Boro High School; Arnold & Ocean Avenue; Central & Ocean Avenue; Baltimore & Broadway; and Washington Avenue & Route 35 North. Arnold Avenue will be closed from Route 35 west to Lincoln Avenue.

The Seafood Fest 5K has 400 race spots available; registration is available online and closes when the event is sold out. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. on Sept. 16 and the race event begins at 8 a.m. The registration fee is $40 and includes a T-shirt & finisher medal for the first 200 registrants, entertainment, food, and drink. New for 2023 is a 1-mile Fun Run open to kids 12 or younger. The fun run will take place at 9:30 a.m. There will be no prizes, T-shirts or awards for the fun run but finisher medals will be provided. The registration fee for the kids' run is $12. Register online by Sept. 15. Net proceeds from the race will benefit the Point Pleasant Beach Recreation Committee and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

On Sunday, Sept. 24, Point Pleasant Beach is reaching way back into its history and reviving the Hey Rube! Still Got Your Tube? inner tube race on the ocean. The event includes a parade and the tube race.

The entry fee for the tube race is $40 with a race T-shirt, $50 with a sweatshirt. Entrants must be 16 or older. All entrants will receive a "Hey Rube!" mug. You can register online here.

Tubers must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life vest and must supply their own automobile tire tube. Official tire tubes can be purchased at Tire Craft of Point Pleasant Beach, 1450 Richmond Ave.

The day begins with a parade on Ocean Avenue from Inlet Drive to the parking lot at Jenkinson’s Aquarium. The parade begins at noon, with check-in from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Participants can walk, ride bicycles and classic cars and floats are invited. Those entering cars and floats must register in advance online. Participation is free. Cash prizes awarded for the best float, with $200 for first place, $100 for second and $75 for third. There will be gift cars for the top three best costumes.

The tube race check-in begins at 9 a.m. on race day and all tubers are required to sign in at Jenkinson’s Pavilion beach entrance on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. At that time race officials will inspect the racer's life vest and inner tube and give you a number.

The tube race begins at 2 p.m. in front of the Jenkinson's Pavilion beach entrance ramp and ends at the beach in front of Martell's Tiki Bar, where there will be an after party. Tubers must check in again 30 minutes before the race and those without a number will be disqualified.

The start of the race will be signaled by an announced signal. Tubers will run from the starting point to the Atlantic Ocean and enter the water. Once in the water tubers will assume the tubing position of paddling backwards and attempt to complete the racecourse. Tubers who are not paddling backwards throughout the course will be disqualified.