Beach Haven Events Calendar 2026
Every festival, parade, concert and tournament on the Beach Haven calendar — with confirmed 2026 dates.
Beach Haven runs 20 annual events across the 2026 calendar, weighted toward sporting events, food & drink and cultural & heritage events. The Heart of LBI. August is the busiest stretch with 6 scheduled events, and 3 of the town's events are free to attend.
The anchor event is Beach Haven Chowderfest at Bay Village, Beach Haven, held October 3-4, 2026.
Daily beach badges run $10 ($50 for the season), so budget for those on top of any ticketed event. Everything below is drawn from our Ocean County events dataset — 20 of the 20 entries carry a confirmed 2026 calendar date.
April in Beach Haven
All April shore events →May in Beach Haven
All May shore events →June in Beach Haven
All June shore events →Lighthouse International Film Festival
18th annual film festival named among world's 25 coolest by MovieMaker magazine.
Beach Haven Tuna Open
LBI big-game tuna tournament — bigeye, bluefin, longfin, and yellowfin.
Hop Sauce Festival
Craft beer and hot sauce festival with live music for the Jetty Rock Foundation.
Guys and Dolls — Surflight Theatre
The Frank Loesser classic anchors Surflight's Broadway-at-the-Beach season on LBI (runs into July).
Cinderella (Children's Theatre) — Surflight
Surflight's family-friendly children's-theater production of Cinderella.
July in Beach Haven
All July shore events →Pretty Woman: The Musical at Surflight Theatre
Three-week run of Pretty Woman: The Musical at Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, part of the Broadway at the Beach season.
Festival of the Sea
Annual summer festival with seafood, rides, and family fun at St. Francis.
August in Beach Haven
All August shore events →57th Annual Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational
Beach Haven's 57th annual white marlin tournament. Teams fish two of four days for marlin, tuna, dolphin and wahoo, with public weigh-ins on Dock Road.
Dock Road Marlin Fest
Waterfront festival on Dock Road held alongside the Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational weigh-ins, with vendors, live music and food.
1776 at Surflight Theatre
Surflight Theatre stages the Tony-winning musical 1776 in Beach Haven, timed to the nation's 250th anniversary year.
LBI Surf Fishing Classic
One of America's oldest surf fishing tournaments with $25,000+ in prizes.
LBI ParaCon - A Paranormal and Psychic Expo
All-day paranormal and psychic expo at the LBI Historical Association Museum in Beach Haven with readers, speakers and evening investigations.
100 Waves for Recovery
Charity surf event at the Wooden Jetty beach in Holgate where participants ride 100 waves to raise money for addiction recovery.
October in Beach Haven
All October shore events →Sea Shell Resort Striped Bass Derby
Boat-based striped bass tournament with weigh-in at Sea Shell Resort.
Beach Haven Chowderfest
LBI's signature fall food festival with 20,000+ visitors tasting competing chowders.
LBI Chowderfest
LBI's premier fall food festival with 20+ restaurants competing for best chowder.
Chowderfest LBI
LBI restaurants compete for best clam chowder at Bay Village.
December in Beach Haven
All December shore events →LBI Christmas Parade
Annual island Christmas parade down Long Beach Boulevard.
Also on the Beach Haven calendar
- Surflight Theatre Summer Season — June-September
- LBI Run for Wellness — Early June
- Free Summer Concert Series — June-August (Weekly)
- July 4th Fireworks — July 4th
- Fire Pit Fridays — Summer Fridays
- Christmas in Beach Haven — Early December
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Beach Haven events — frequently asked questions
What events are happening in Beach Haven, NJ in 2026?
Beach Haven has 20 annual events on the 2026 calendar. Confirmed dates include LBI Spring Surf Fishing Derby (April 4 - June 21, 2026), LBI Grand Slam Surf Fishing Tournament (May 31, 2026), Lighthouse International Film Festival (June 10-14, 2026), Beach Haven Tuna Open (June 13-20, 2026), Hop Sauce Festival (June 13, 2026). Full listings by month are on this page.
What is happening in Beach Haven in July and August 2026?
Peak season in Beach Haven brings 8 dated events: Festival of the Sea on July 28 - August 1, 2026, Pretty Woman: The Musical at Surflight Theatre on July 28 - August 16, 2026, 57th Annual Beach Haven White Marlin Invitational on August 10-15, 2026, Dock Road Marlin Fest on August 11-14, 2026, 1776 at Surflight Theatre on August 18-30, 2026, LBI Surf Fishing Classic on August 29 - November 29, 2026, LBI ParaCon - A Paranormal and Psychic Expo on August 29, 2026, 100 Waves for Recovery on August 29, 2026.
Are there free events in Beach Haven?
Yes — 3 of Beach Haven's 20 annual events are free, including Dock Road Marlin Fest, 100 Waves for Recovery, LBI Christmas Parade.
What is the biggest event in Beach Haven?
Beach Haven Chowderfest, held at Bay Village, Beach Haven, is the largest event on the Beach Haven calendar, drawing around 20,000+ people. LBI's signature fall food festival with 20,000+ visitors tasting competing chowders.
Where should I stay for Beach Haven events?
Beach Haven sits in Ocean County, and event weekends book out well ahead — especially anything falling on a summer Saturday. Hotels and vacation rentals in Beach Haven and the neighbouring Ocean County towns are the practical options; book before the headline events fill the town.
Where to stay for Beach Haven events
Event weekends are the hardest nights of the year to book in Beach Haven. Compare hotels and vacation rentals before the calendar fills.
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Keep exploring Beach Haven
- Beach Haven town guide
- Things to do in Beach Haven
- All Ocean County events
- Jersey Shore events hub
- Events near long-beach-township
- Events near Ship Bottom
- Events near Surf City