July 7th 2023

Prepare for a sensational three-day extravaganza of delectable cuisine and captivating live blues music in the beautiful seaside setting of North Wildwood.

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Taking place at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Olde New Jersey Avenue, adjacent to the popular North Wildwood Entertainment District, this event will showcase a thrilling competition among the finest barbecue and grill masters. Brace yourself as these culinary experts vie for the ultimate titles in chicken, pork, ribs, and brisket. The teams will go head-to-head, aiming to secure places from 1st to 5th. The top scorer overall will be crowned the Grand Champion, granting them eligibility to participate in the esteemed annual American Royale World Championship. This exclusive invitation-only contest occurs annually in Kansas City, Missouri and is organized by the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), the world's largest association of BBQ enthusiasts.

Complementing the barbecue showdown is the enthralling Anglesea Blues Festival. Prepare to be enthralled by renowned national and regional blues musicians gracing the outdoor main stage. In addition to the main stage performances, neighboring clubs and restaurants in the North Wildwood Entertainment District will also contribute to the festival's vibrant atmosphere. Here's a summary of the musicians scheduled to captivate the audience:

• Friday, July 14th: The blues band Bluestime will open the festival from 4 pm to 7 pm on the main stage, followed by Billy the Kid and the Regulators from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

• Saturday, July 15th: Don and The Sarkastics will kick off the day's performances from 11 am to 1 pm, followed by James Day and the Fish Fry taking the stage from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Next up, the Billy Walton Band will showcase their talent from 4 pm to 7 pm. Finally, the Chris O'Leary Band will bring the festival to a crescendo with their performance from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

• Sunday, July 16th: The festival draws to a close with BC Blue and Friends entertaining the crowd from 11 am to 4:30 pm.

To enhance your festival experience, an open-air market will be set up, featuring an array of food and merchandise vendors. You can indulge in the market's offerings from 10 am onwards on both Saturday and Sunday. The market will remain open until 11 pm on Saturday and Sunday, with Sunday also coinciding with the judging for the highly anticipated 2023 Barbecue Grand Championship.

Admission is free for all three days of the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival. Additionally, The Wildwoods Island Shuttle will operate on a loop, starting from 3rd Avenue and traveling south along New Jersey Avenue to 26th Avenue. The shuttle will then return north on Surf Avenue and back to 3rd Avenue. Jitney services will be available from 4 pm to midnight on Friday and from 1 pm to midnight on Saturday. For easy access to the festival, I recommend parking on side streets near the Jitney route.