There are beach festivals, there are summer concerts, and there are community celebrations. Then there is Beachstock.
What’s New For 2026
- Jetty x Ben Gravy Pineapple Surf Classic: Running from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, this brand-new, multi-division surfing tournament features men’s and women’s divisions alongside a “Foamie Free-for-All” session, headlined by East Coast surfing personality Ben Gravy.
- The Phillie Phanatic: For the first time in Beachstock history, the beloved Philadelphia Phillies mascot will make a special guest appearance on the beach to entertain families.
Schedule & Entertainment Lineup
Live performances will take place all day across multiple stages, featuring a dedicated 100.7 ZXL stage.
- 11:00 AM: National Anthem by Teddi Fusco
- 11:30 AM: The Shoobs (Main Stage)
- 11:30 AM: Tiki Beach Bar & Beer Gardens officially open
- 2:30 PM: No Clue Band (Main Stage)
- 4:20 PM: Right Turn at 40 (Main Stage)
Beachstock After Dark
- 6:45 PM: Free family movie on the beach
- 8:00 PM: Traditional lighting of the twilight beach bonfire
- 8:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Live performance by iCandee at the Tiki Bar to close out the night
Food, Drinks, & Activities
- The Food Court: Dozens of vendors will be present, including local favorites like Tacocat, South Jersey Smoke House, Margate Dairy Bar & Burger, Cali Shakes, The Muffin Top, DonutNV, and the Margate Clam Shack.
- Tiki Beach Bar & Beer Garden: A 21+ waterfront setup featuring refreshing cocktails, craft beer, wine, and complimentary tastings from Alibi Gin, Beach Whiskey, and Sea Isle Iced Tea.
- Daytime Activities: Free sand-sculpting lessons with Matthew Deibert, a Kid’s Treasure Hunt, limbo contests, free volleyball, cornhole tournaments, and free kite-flying lessons from the Air Circus Kite Shop.
- Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby: Taking place from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on the Granville Ave. beach, where hitters get 10 swings off a tee to compete for prizes (advance registration is hosted on the official Margate Has More website).
For one extraordinary day each summer, Margate transforms a stretch of Atlantic Ocean beachfront into something much larger than a traditional festival. It becomes a showcase for everything people love about the Jersey Shore: live music drifting across the sand, families gathering under bright summer skies, surfers chasing waves, children racing through treasure hunts, food vendors serving local favorites, and visitors from across the region sharing a day that feels uniquely New Jersey.
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, Beachstock returns to Margate City for another edition of what organizers proudly call “The Planet’s Biggest Beach Party,” bringing twelve hours of entertainment, activities, food, sports, and shoreline excitement to the beaches between Huntington and Granville Avenues.
From 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., the beach will serve as the center of one of the largest free summer events along the Jersey Shore. Admission remains completely free, no beach tags are required within the festival area, and visitors can spend an entire day experiencing the kind of community atmosphere that has helped make Beachstock one of South Jersey’s most anticipated annual traditions.
What separates Beachstock from many seasonal events is its ability to appeal to virtually every type of visitor. Families arrive for the children’s activities and interactive experiences. Music fans come for the live entertainment. Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts gravitate toward the surfing competitions, volleyball courts, and beach games. Food lovers discover a rotating collection of local culinary favorites. Others simply come to spend a summer day enjoying the Atlantic Ocean backdrop while taking in one of the most energetic gatherings of the season.
The 2026 edition introduces several notable additions that further elevate the event’s profile.
Among the most anticipated new attractions is the inaugural Jetty x Ben Gravy Pineapple Surf Classic, a surfing competition that immediately adds a new layer of excitement to the festival. Running throughout much of the day, the tournament will feature multiple competitive divisions while bringing together surfers from across the region. The event is being headlined by East Coast surfing personality Ben Gravy, whose energetic approach to surf culture has earned him a substantial following throughout the coastal community.
The addition of a dedicated surfing competition feels especially appropriate for Margate. While many visitors associate the city with its family-friendly beaches, vibrant dining scene, and iconic shoreline attractions, the community has long embraced beach culture as a central part of its identity. The Pineapple Surf Classic places that culture front and center while introducing new opportunities for spectators and participants alike.
Another first for Beachstock arrives in the form of a very familiar face.
For the first time in event history, the beloved Phillie Phanatic will make a special appearance on the beach, bringing one of professional sports’ most recognizable mascots directly into the heart of the festivities. The appearance reflects the deep connection many South Jersey residents maintain with Philadelphia sports while adding another family-friendly attraction to an already packed schedule.
Throughout the day, live music will provide the soundtrack to the celebration. Multiple stages will host performances spanning a wide range of styles and influences, creating an atmosphere that feels equal parts beach party, summer concert, and community festival.
The entertainment begins with a performance of the National Anthem by Teddi Fusco before transitioning into a full day of live music. The Shoobs will take the Main Stage during the late morning hours, followed by the No Clue Band and Right Turn at 40 as the afternoon progresses. As the sun begins to set, the energy shifts toward Beachstock After Dark, a special evening component that has become one of the event’s signature experiences.
The transition from daylight to evening often produces some of the most memorable moments of the festival. Families gather on the beach for a free outdoor movie while the shoreline takes on an entirely different atmosphere. As darkness approaches, the traditional twilight beach bonfire is lit, creating a dramatic visual centerpiece against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean. The evening concludes with a live performance by iCandee at the Tiki Beach Bar, allowing visitors to continue celebrating well into the night.
Food has always been an essential part of the Beachstock experience, and 2026 continues that tradition with a lineup that showcases many of the flavors that define South Jersey summers.
The festival food court will feature an impressive collection of vendors serving everything from tacos and barbecue to desserts and boardwalk-inspired favorites. Local establishments including Tacocat, South Jersey Smoke House, Margate Dairy Bar & Burger, Cali Shakes, The Muffin Top, DonutNV, and the Margate Clam Shack will help create an outdoor dining experience that reflects the diversity of the region’s culinary scene.
For adult visitors, the Tiki Beach Bar and Beer Garden offers a distinctly coastal atmosphere where guests can relax with cocktails, wine, craft beer, and specialty tastings while enjoying ocean views. The addition of beverage tastings featuring brands such as Alibi Gin, Beach Whiskey, and Sea Isle Iced Tea reinforces the festival’s celebration of regional flavor and Jersey Shore culture.
One of the event’s greatest strengths remains its commitment to hands-on participation. Rather than simply observing, visitors are encouraged to become active participants throughout the day.
Professional sand sculptor Matthew Deibert will offer free sand-sculpting lessons, giving attendees an opportunity to learn techniques used to transform ordinary sand into impressive works of temporary art. Kite-flying lessons provided by Air Circus Kite Shop add another interactive element that feels perfectly suited to the beach setting.
Children can participate in treasure hunts while families test their skills in cornhole competitions, limbo contests, and beach games. Volleyball courts will remain active throughout the day, encouraging friendly competition and social interaction among visitors.
The Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby represents another fan favorite. Held on the Granville Avenue beach, the competition gives participants ten swings from a tee in pursuit of prizes and bragging rights. It is a simple concept, but one that captures the spirit of Beachstock perfectly—accessible, fun, and designed to bring people together.
Events like Beachstock have become increasingly important to communities throughout the Jersey Shore because they reinforce something that cannot always be measured in attendance numbers or economic impact studies. They create shared experiences.
The Jersey Shore has always been more than beaches and boardwalks. It is a collection of communities with distinct personalities, traditions, and histories. Festivals like Beachstock provide opportunities for residents and visitors alike to engage with those communities in meaningful ways. They support local businesses, highlight local artists and musicians, promote outdoor recreation, and showcase the unique character that makes each shore town different from the next.
For Margate, Beachstock serves as both a celebration and a statement. It reflects the city’s commitment to creating experiences that are inclusive, family-friendly, and unmistakably coastal. It also demonstrates how a community can leverage its greatest asset—the beach itself—to create an event that attracts visitors from throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and beyond.
As summer officially settles across the Jersey Shore, Beachstock arrives at the perfect moment. Schools are out, vacation season is underway, and residents are eager to embrace everything that makes this stretch of coastline special. Whether visitors come for the surfing, the music, the food, the games, the bonfire, or simply the opportunity to spend a day with family and friends on the sand, they will find an event designed to capture the spirit of a New Jersey summer.
For twelve hours, the beaches of Margate will become a destination where generations gather, traditions continue, and new memories are created. That combination of community, entertainment, and shoreline energy is precisely why Beachstock has become one of the Jersey Shore’s signature summer events and why the 2026 edition promises to be one of its biggest and most memorable celebrations yet.
