Beachstock: The Planet's Biggest Beach Party slated for June 29 on Margate's beach

Beachstock: The Planet’s Biggest Beach Party is the place to be Saturday, June 29.

The free event on the beach between Huntington and Granville avenues, features new food vendors, more kid’s activities, an eclectic live music line-up, a wiffle ball home run derby, sand sculpting, surf and kite lessons, and more. Activities planned for the day include the Margate Cornhole League Tournament and AC Volleyball Factory tournament, Pickle Juice pickleball, the beachfront Tiki Bar with numerous new and unique adult beverages to sample and purchase. The 13th annual event, which attracts more than 5,000 visitors each year, will be held 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Rain date is Sunday, June 30.

New this year is Beachstock After Dark, which includes stage performances starting at 8 p.m. Performances feature Q102’s Beach Tour presents Atlantic Records recording artist KNOX on the main stage at 9 p.m. The Nashville-based singer songwriter has a fresh, clean sound inspired by Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco and Ed Sheeran. KNOX’s first hit song, “Sneakers,” has amassed more than 28 million streams and his follow up smash, “Not the 1975,” is well on its way to eclipsing that number.  

Opening act is DJ Nico Oso, the “Prince of Philly,” who captivates audiences whether it’s at Philadelphia Union soccer games as their official game day DJ or on Q102, Philadelphia’s most popular radio station, hosting “Saturday Night Wired.”  South Pacific Island Fire Dancers start heating things up at 8 p.m. along with a beach bonfire. The Tiki Bar will stay open and be ready to serve adults over age 21 during each of the performances. 

    Beachstock volleyball.
  

Back by popular demand, and now a part of Beachstock on Saturday, is the free MBA Wiffle Ball Home Run Derby on the Granville Avenue beach from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  All hitters will be divided into age groups and have 10 swings off a tee to hit the most home runs over the fence for awesome prizes.  USA DJ Entertainment will provide player introductions and music.  For contest rules and to register in advance, go to www.margatehasmore.com. The derby is sponsored by Colmar Home Center, Wawa, USA DJ Entertainment, Hartman Home Team, Sunrise Wine & Tequila Bar and Shore Local.

The annual Margate Cornhole League’s Spring Championship and Beachstock Family Fun Cornhole Tournament will take place on the sand amid all the action of Beachstock.  Official rules will apply, and teams can compete to win cash prizes. Spectators and guests can watch the tournament from the Colmar Home Center Chill Zone featuring comfy furniture and refreshments. Children and adults can participate in this family fun competition.  Register for the cornhole tournament or the Beachstock Volleyball tournament at margatehasmore.com.

Beach goers will have a wide array of food to choose from, whether it’s sizzling hamburgers or ice cream from Margate Dairy Bar and Burger, savory authentic tacos from TacoCat, or tangy barbeque pulled pork and brisket courtesy of South Jersey Smokehouse. The Little Sicilian will provide arancini rice balls and PJ Buckets will have fresh seafood offerings. Culinary maestros from For Goodness Cakes will be selling mouthwatering cookies, cakes, breads and brownies. Smoothie fans can stop by California Frozen Yogurt and Shakes for an endless variety of concoctions using only the freshest fruit. A beer garden with ice-cold selections will be set up along Huntington Avenue, and the Tiki Bar on the beach is a can’t miss for adults.

One of Beachstock’s many highlights is the Sustainable Downbeach tent, which features terrapins, fun environmental educational interactive activities, displays and more.  Those wanting to learn more about what lives in the ocean can meet at the iHeart 100.7 WZXL main stage for an environmental walk hosted by “Scuba” Steve Jasecki, a member of the Sustainable Downbeach team.  

    Beachstock cornhole tourney
  

There are a ton of free activities, such as sand sculpting lessons with Matthew Deibert, Margate Fire Departments Cool Blast, Kids Treasure Hunt, limbo contests, surf lessons with Stacey’s Surf Camp, Air Circus Kite Shop single/double line stunt kite demonstrations and lessons, and WAWA Margate giveaways. 

The Margate City Police Department will be at their tent providing valuable public information and giveaways.  Popular character Troll Princess Poppy will be available for pictures along with Miss New Jersey Elizabeth Mendel at the kid’s stage.  Learn to hula hoop with Flow Bright’s demonstrations and lessons.  Stop at the vendor tents on the way across the sand for a variety of goods and services.  Creative face painter Alissa Dirato and East Coast Fairy Hair return to Beachstock to create the most unique facial looks and hair extensions at the shore. Also, try your hand at Tossin Ten’s family fun game that reimagines skeeball and cornhole. Then, check out the Pickle Juice pickleball Beach Court at Granville Avenue behind the Martin Bloom Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Throughout the day, Pickle Juice of Ventnor will be offering complimentary play, kid’s clinics, and other fun pickleball activities.  In addition, the Pickle Juice team will be giving out T-shirts, hats, paddles and more.

A major feature of this 14-hour event is non-stop entertainment on the iHeart 100.7 WZXL main stage. Local singing sensation Teddi Fusco kicks off the event with the national anthem. The musical lineup will include classic rock and pop cover bands No Clue Trio, Sunrise Cries and NJ British Invasion. The 95.1 WAYV Kids Stage will have a variety of kid friendly entertainers and activities to keep the little ones engaged all afternoon.  The Emerald Isle Academy of Irish Dance performers will again mesmerize Beachstock crowds with their highly choreographed, intense dance routines.

    South Pacific Island Dancers
  

As the shadows lengthen and twilight turns to evening, the beach bonfire is lit and the excitement continues with a Samoan fire knife dance performance by the South Pacific Island Dancers. At dusk, children and their families can spread out their blankets, kick back in their beach chairs and enjoy the movie, “Trolls Band Together,” on a digital LED big screen. On the other side of the dunes, DJ Nico Oso will perform and then KNOX will rock the beach with a set of his biggest hits – the perfect way to cap off another spectacular Beachstock.

Festival goers can enjoy complimentary jitney shuttle service running 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. along Atlantic Avenue between Coolidge and Fredericksburg avenues and the Eugene A. Tighe School parking lot.

Beachstock is a production of the MBA in partnership with Margate City.  For more information, see margatehasmore.com. 

    Beachstock, June 29 in Margate.