You won’t want to miss delicious family fun with steamed crabs, steamed shrimp, pulled pork, local and regional craft beers, wine, spirits and all-day entertainment during one of Cape May’s most popular summertime events on the grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate, at the Craft Beer, Music & Crab Festival Saturday, Aug. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., presented by the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) and sponsored by PNC Bank, with additional funding by DeSatnick Real Estate, Equity Communications, Flying Fish Studio, Gold Coast Production Management, Paramount Air Service and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Come to the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St. and stretch out on your lawn chair or relax under the tent during this all-day festival that celebrates the best of summer in Cape May and was named one of the 5 Best New Jersey Summer Festivals by CBS NY.
Have fun cracking open freshly steamed crabs or peel a handful of steamed shrimp and savor these seaside favorites. Choose from other summertime favorites including crab cake sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches and hot dogs.
Food truck vendors will offer an eclectic variety of tasty items for purchase, including selections from Coffee Bouteaque, Crespella, Gaiss’ Market, Matt’s BBQ, Rolling Bones, Mermaid Mutineer, Nick’s Roast Beef, Empanada Mama and House of Cupcakes.
Wash down these delicious summertime foods with craft beer from local and regional breweries on the estate lawn. Purchase and enjoy a variety of local and regional craft beers including those from 7-Mile Brewery, Bucket Brigade Brewery, Cape May Brewing Co., COHO Brewing Co., Cold Spring Brewery, Ludlam Island Brewer, MudHen Brewing Co., and Slacktide Brewing Co. Wine smoothies will also be available and a selection of other beverages will be offered by Nauti Spirits, Cape May Distillery, Tito’s Pete’s Soda.
Listen to live music on the outdoor stage beginning at 11 a.m. Bring a lawn chair or spread out your beach blanket for a great afternoon of non-stop musical performers. Live musical performers will include: The HoneyHawks; Hambone Relay; The Danbees; The Missing Frets; and James Arlowe & The Primal Daze.
Explore the wide variety of crafts and collectibles vendors on the estate grounds selling hand-made and vintage items. Stop by and see inside the Good Housekeeping trailer; representatives with product giveaways will be on hand. Purchase customized festival T-shirts produced on-site from Flying Fish Studio.
Author Maggie Fitzroy will be signing her book “Beacon Beach,” a novel of love and adventure, set in Cape May in 1886, at the festival.
Bring the entire family to enjoy kid-friendly activities including acrobats from the Give & Take Jugglers, who will delight and entertain throughout the day. A dog-friendly refreshment area also will be available to help keep pets hydrated.
Admission to the grounds is free. Free and paid parking is available off-site. Free trolley shuttles will operate throughout the day, and stop at the paid Acme parking lot near the Washington Street Mall Information Booth and the free parking lot at the Cape May Lutheran Church at 509 Pittsburgh Ave. A parking map is available in this year’s Craft Beer, Music & Crab Festival brochure with parking locations and trolley stops, and online. Visit www.capemaymac.org/cape-may-craft-beer-crab-festival
There will be a charge for crabs, food, and beverages. Commemorative pint glasses will be available for purchase.
Proceeds of the event benefit MAC’s numerous free educational outreach programs. Each year, over 16,000 children throughout Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic counties and beyond benefit from free or low-cost educational programming provided by MAC educators. MAC educators provide educational programs in school classrooms and assemblies, or at MAC’s three historic sites, on dozens of topics related to local and national history, and the arts. By doing so, MAC helps our local schools to fulfill their obligations to meet New Jersey Core Curriculum standards, often at no cost.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts & Humanities (MAC) is a multifaceted not-for-profit organization committed to promoting the preservation, interpretation, and cultural enrichment of the Cape May region for its residents and visitors. MAC membership is open to all. For information about MAC’s year-round schedule of tours, festivals, and special events, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278, or visit MAC’s Web site at www.capemaymac.org. For information about restaurants, accommodations, and shopping, call the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May at 609-884-5508 or visit www.capemaychamber.com. For information about historic accommodations, contact Cape May Historic Accommodations at www.capemaylodging.com.