Eating, Drinking and Cooking in South Jersey This Weekend: Beer Festivals!

Beer…it’s what’s for festivals this weekend!

The annual Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Beer Festival on the Battleship New Jersey in Camden this Saturday focuses on Jersey brews from microbreweries and pubs. The festival run from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m., and it is $45 to attend. for an extra $10, you get special VIP access a half an hour early as well as a special meet the brewers session. It’s a nice way to show your support for local brews and local historical locations.

For beer in and out of the state, check out the Brewfest at the Ballpark taking place at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood. And don’t worry: the BlueClaws are in Hagerstown for a weekend series, so you won’t be called upon to make a play in the outfield or to get out a left-handed batter in the 7th inning to protect a lead. I also don’t think you’ll have to worry about getting run over by a pork roll, egg or cheese (if you’ve been to a game at FirstEnergy, you’ll get that one). There will be two sessions for tasting: noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 10 p.m. The cost at the gate will be $35 per person.

There are plenty more things going on this weekend for you to enjoy, such as…

…a Wine Tasting on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Brigantine Lions Club. The cost is $40 per person, with the proceeds going to the Blind & Visually Impaired. Friday is also the first day of the Original Italian-American Festival on Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood. Admission is free, and the festival will run through Sunday.

On Saturday, a laundry list of food-related events is available to you. It’s blueberry time, and the Blueberry Festival at Whitesbog Village in Browns Mills will be happening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come for the blueberry goodness, but stay for the tours and the lectures.

If Whitesbog is all about the blueberry, then Viking Village on LBI is all about the seafood. It’s the 4th annual Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. under the shadow of Old Barney. The cost is $30 per person.

Like scotch? Like to learn more about scotch? Passion Vines in Somers Point is having a Scotch 101 tasting event at 4 p.m. on Saturday for $20 a person. Good, knowledgeable folks at Passion Vines; we know, we’ve checked.

Further down the Parkway in Sea Isle City, it’s the annual Restoration Fund and Restaurant Gala Dinner at the Townsends Inlet Civic Center on 85th Street. The dinner is from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 609.263.3002 for more details.

And to wrap up Saturday, how about a Walk Around Wine Tasting at Artisan’s Brewery & Italian Grill in Toms River starting at 7 p.m. Cost is $25 per person.

On the schedule for Saturday and Sunday are the Baymen’s Seafood & Music Festival at Tuckerton Seaport in Tuckerton as well as the Rhythm at the Shore Music Festival in Point Pleasant Beach. It’s all about the food and the wine along the shore.

Edible Jersey’s Eat Drink Local Week kicks off this Saturday as well. Locations throughout the state, including The Ebbitt Room in Cape May, Steve & Cookie’s in Margate, and Robin’s Nest in Mount Holly (just to name a few) will be participating.

AND…Crabbing 101 trips from the Cape May Inlet Marina begin this weekend as well and will run to September.

If you care to venture out of South Jersey…

It’s the first annual Taste of Highlands event on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 a person.

And here’s your cooking class schedule for this weekend:

Friday: Date Night: In Rio de Janeiro and Cocktails & Cravings: Italian 101 hosted by Celebrity Chef Chris Nirschel at Viking Cooking School at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City, and Gourmet Pizza on the Grill at Sur La Table in Marlton.

Saturday: New Rules of the Grill at Sur La Table, Summer Cocktail Party and a Steak, Roast and Chop Workshop at Viking Cooking School, and Tomatoes! at Kitchen Kapers in Moorestown.

Sunday: Fourth of July Celebration and Italian Alfresco Dinner Party at Viking Cooking School, Sweet Summer Cupcakes at Sur La Table, and Kids in the Kitchen: Let’s Do Lunch at Kitchen Kapers.

For more upcoming food events, check out our website!