Editing Asbury Park, New Jersey (section)

==Arts and culture==
[[File:Stone Pony Asbury Park NJ1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[The Stone Pony]] in Asbury Park]]
[[File:AsburyConventionHallWestView.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Asbury Park Convention Hall]] and [[Paramount Theatre (Asbury Park, New Jersey)]] complex]]
[[File:Asbury Park.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Asbury Park beach]]

===Music===
The Asbury Park music scene gained prominence in the 1960s with bands such as the Jaywalkers and many others, who combined [[rock and roll]], [[rhythm and blues]], [[soul music|soul]] and [[doo-wop]] to create what became known as the Sound of Asbury Park (S.O.A.P.). On December 9, 2006, founding members of S.O.A.P. reunited for the "Creators of S.O.A.P.: Live, Raw, and Unplugged" concert at [[The Stone Pony]] and to witness the dedication of a S.O.A.P. plaque on the boardwalk outside of Convention Hall. The original plaque included the names Johnny Shaw, Billy Ryan, [[Bruce Springsteen]], [[Garry Tallent]], [[Steve Van Zandt]], Mickey Holiday, "Stormin'" Norman Seldin, [[Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez]], Fast Eddie "Doc Holiday" Wohanka, Billy "Cherry Bomb" Lucia, [[Clarence Clemons]], Nicky Addeo, Donnie Lowell, Jim "Jack Valentine" Cattanach, Ken "Popeye" Pentifallo, Jay Pilling, John "Cos" Consoli, Gary "A" Arntz, Larry "The Great" Gadsby, Steve "Mole" Wells, Ray Dahrouge, Johnny "A" Arntz, [[David Sancious]], Margaret Potter, Tom Potter, Sonny Kenn, Tom Wuorio, Rick DeSarno, [[Southside Johnny Lyon]], Leon Trent, Buzzy Lubinsky, [[Danny Federici]], Bill Chinnock, Patsy Siciliano, and Sam Siciliano. An additional plaque was added on August 29, 2008, honoring John Luraschi, Carl "Tinker" West, George Theiss, Vinnie Roslin, Mike Totaro, Lenny Welch, Steve Lusardi, and Johnny Petillo.<ref>Wien, Gary. [https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/getarticle.php?ID=902 "Asbury Park Music Scene Loses One Of Its Pioneers"], New Jersey Stage, September 13, 2010. Accessed October 22, 2021. "The Asbury Park music scene, which lost two of its biggest fans earlier in the year, recently lost one of its founders. Larry 'The Great' Gadsby, a member of The Jaywalkers -- one of the scene's most popular bands in the 1960s -- and one of the names honored on the Sound of Asbury Park memorial plaque, passed away."</ref>

Musicians and bands with strong ties to Asbury Park, many of whom frequently played clubs there on their way to fame, include [[Fury of Five]], [[The Gaslight Anthem]], [[Clarence Clemons]], the [[E Street Band]], [[Jon Bon Jovi]] and [[Bon Jovi]], [[Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes]], [[Patti Smith]], [[Arthur Pryor]], [[Count Basie]], [[The Clash]], [[U.S. Chaos]], [[Johnny Thunders]], [[The Ramones]], [[The Exploited]], [[Charged GBH]], and [[Gary U.S. Bonds]].

In 1973 [[Bruce Springsteen]] released his debut album ''[[Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.]]'' On his follow-up album, ''[[The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle]]'', one of the songs is entitled "[[4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)]]". Several books chronicle the early years of Springsteen's career in Asbury Park. Daniel Wolff's ''4 July Asbury Park'' examines the social, political and cultural history of the city with a special emphasis on the part that music played in the city's development, culminating in Springsteen's music. ''Beyond the Palace'' by Gary Wien is a comprehensive look at the local music scene that Springsteen emerged from, and includes many photographs of musicians and clubs. Against the backdrop of the fading resort, Alex Austin's novel ''The Red Album of Asbury Park'' tracks a young rock musician pursuing his dream in the late 60s/early 70s, with Springsteen as a potent but as-yet-unknown rival.<ref>Cotter, Kelly-Jane. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1703780711.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+22%2C+2009&author=KELLY-JANE+COTTER&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=NOVEL+IS+A+SHORE+THING&pqatl=google "Novel Is A Shore Thing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724100640/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1703780711.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Mar+22%2C+2009&author=KELLY-JANE+COTTER&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=NOVEL+IS+A+SHORE+THING&pqatl=google |date=July 24, 2012 }}, ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', March 22, 2009. Accessed January 29, 2012.</ref>

A [[black-and-white]] [[Multiple-camera setup|multi-camera]] recording of [[Blondie (band)|Blondie]] in 1979, just prior to the release of their fourth album, ''[[Eat to the Beat]]'', was [[Video tape recorder|taped]] at the Asbury Park Convention Hall on July 7, a home-state crowd for Jersey girl [[Debbie Harry]], who was raised in [[Hawthorne, New Jersey|Hawthorne]].<ref>In the Flesh: Posted by Richard Metzger [http://dangerousminds.net/comments/in_the_flesh_blondie_live_in_ashbury_park_nj_1979 In the Flesh: Blondie live in Asbury Park, NJ, 1979], Dangerous Minds. Accessed November 11, 2015.</ref>

The music video for Springsteen's "[[Tunnel of Love (Bruce Springsteen song)|Tunnel of Love]]," directed by Irish director [[Meiert Avis]], was filmed at the city's [[Palace Amusements]] and on the Asbury Park boardwalk at sunset in November 1987.<ref>Benitez-Eves, Tina. [https://americansongwriter.com/dire-straits-tunnel-of-love-and-its-links-to-bruce-springsteen/ "How an Amusement Park Ride and Rodgers and Hammerstein Inspired Dire Straits' 'Tunnel of Love' and its Links to Bruce Springsteen"], ''[[American Songwriter]]'', January 27, 2025. Accessed March 27, 2025. "The song also had an unexpected link to Bruce Springsteen‘s song of the same name, the title track of his 1987 solo album. Springsteen’s 'Tunnel of Love' was a love story inspired by the amusement park and rides he remembered at Asbury Park, New Jersey. Springsteen’s 'Tunnel of Love' was specifically linked to Palace Amusements at Asbury Park, which closed in 1988 after 100 years in business. It’s also where Springsteen shot the music video for the single."</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4K7XZGeHTE|title=Bruce Springsteen - Tunnel of Love (Official Video)|date=April 11, 2011|via=YouTube}}</ref>

===New Jersey Music Hall of Fame===
The [[New Jersey Music Hall of Fame]] was founded in Asbury Park in 2005. There have been plans to build a music museum somewhere in the city as part of the redevelopment.<ref>Wise, Brian. [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/05/nyregion/from-croon-to-doom-metal.html "From Croon to Doom Metal"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 5, 2005. Accessed January 29, 2012. "Even so, plans for a New Jersey Music Hall of Fame center on Asbury Park, where Mr. Springsteen got his start by playing in the scrubby clubs there."</ref>

===Black music and Springwood Avenue===
{{multiple image
| align             = center
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| image1            = Baker Harcourt 1940 2.jpg
| width1            = 152
| caption1          = [[Josephine Baker]] was one of many African American musicians that either played or was inspired by the Springwood Avenue music club circuit.
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| image2            = Fats Waller edit.jpg
| width2            = 171
| caption2          = [[Fats Waller]] wrote [[Honeysuckle Rose (song)|"Honeysuckle Rose"]] with [[Andy Razaf]] on 119 Atkins Avenue.
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| image3            = WEB DuBois 1918.jpg
| width3            = 163
| caption3          = [[W. E. B. Du Bois]] spoke at Roseland Hall.
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| image4            = Portrait of Billie Holiday and Mister, Downbeat, New York, N.Y., ca. Feb. 1947 (LOC, 5020400274, cropped).jpg
| width4            = 190
| caption4          = [[Billie Holiday]] played at Cuba's on the West Side of town.
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}}

The West Side of Asbury Park has traditionally been home to Black music, including [[jazz]], [[Soul music|soul]], [[Gospel music|gospel]], [[doo wop]], and [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]. African American artists such as the Jersey Shore's own [[Count Basie]] as well as [[Duke Ellington]], [[Lenny Welch]], the Broadways, [[Josephine Baker]], [[Claude Hopkins]], [[Bobby Thomas (musician)|Bobby Thomas]], [[Rex Stewart]], [[Manzie Johnson]], [[Sidney Bechet]], and [[Clarence Clemons]] "either played or were inspired by the [Black]-centered Springwood Avenue club circuit on the West Side of Asbury Park" in the early to mid-century period at places like the Smile-A-While and Gypsy George's.<ref>Jordan, Chris.[https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/07/26/hip-hop-asbury-park-scene-starts-emerge-after-decades-segregation/773323002/ "Hip-hop in Asbury Park: Scene emerges after decades of musical segregation"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', July 26, 2018. Accessed October 24, 2021.</ref><ref>Stewart, Rex. ''Boy Meets Horn'' (1995) pg 66.</ref>

During a visit to the West Side in 1928, [[Fats Waller]] wrote [[Honeysuckle Rose (song)|"Honeysuckle Rose"]] with [[Andy Razaf]] at 119 Atkins Avenue in a property that still stands.<ref>[https://www.aphistoricalsociety.org/history/honeysuckle-rose-house/ Honeysuckle Rose House], Asbury Park Historical Society. Accessed October 22, 2021. "The two-story house at 119 Atkins Avenue, Asbury Park played an important role in the careers of two iconic American songwriters. It was there, in December 1928, that Fats Waller and Andy Razaf wrote the song 'Honeysuckle Rose.'"</ref>

[[Billie Holiday]], [[Tina Turner]], [[Little Richard]] and the [[Four Tops]] all played at Cuba's on the West Side in the mid-century period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles/2020/01/10/butch-pielka-george-theiss-al-muzer-and-cubas-nightclub-owners-named-asbury-angels|title=Butch Pielka, George Theiss, Al Muzer, and Cuba's Nightclub Owners - Asbury Angels|date=January 10, 2020|website=NewJerseyStage.com}}</ref> The former home of [[the Turf Club]], once a well-known mid-century jazz and R&B joint across from what is now Springwood Park, was recently decorated with jazz-themed mural art by a team of local artists to mark its heritage.<ref name=APP2021>Jordan, Chris. [https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/08/18/tuesdays-at-turf-helping-reclaim-asbury-park-new-jersey-music-legacy/8151199002/ "Tuesday at the Turf music series helping to reclaim Asbury Park's music legacy"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', August 18, 2021. Accessed March 27, 2025.</ref><ref>Rosenberg, Susan. [https://www.aphistoricalsociety.org/newsletters/summer-fall-2020/ "'Signs of the times' illuminate local history for a new era"], Asbury Park Historical Society, Summer-Fall 2020. Accessed March 27, 2025. "The Turf Club was one such hotspot. First established in the 1930s at 1125 Springwood Avenue, it became “Leo’s Turf Club” when new owner Leo Karp hung his familiar bold sign outside in 1948. In 1955, Karp moved the building to its present location, 1200 Springwood Avenue at Atkins Avenue — and for the next fifteen years, (Leo’s) Turf Club showcased nationally-known jazz and R&B acts along with local artists, furthering its robust reputation."</ref><ref>Horner, Charlie. [http://classicurbanharmony.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Asbury-Park-West-Side-Vocal-Groups-Part-1.pdf "Asbury Park's West Side Vocal Groups Part 1 (1948 – 1958)"], reprinted from ''Echoes of the Past'', 2012. Accessed June 13, 2022.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://asburyparkchoice.com/west-side-in-context|title=The West Side in Context – West Side Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}</ref> At the present-day site of Springwood Park in 1918, Black entrepreneur [[Reese DuPree]] turned Lafayette Hall (later the Roseland Hall auditorium) into a popular nightclub.<ref name=APMuseum>[https://ap-museum.org/music-entrepreneur/ Reese DuPree, Music Entrepreneur], Asbury Park Museum. Accessed June 13, 2022.</ref> The location was also used for civil rights activities; [[Marcus Garvey]] and [[W. E. B. Du Bois]] both spoke at Roseland Hall.<ref name=APMuseum/>
The Asbury Park Music Foundation, working with Lakehouse Music Academy and the Boys & Girls Club of Monmouth County, founded the Hip Hop Institute to teach music and life skills education relevant to young hip hop enthusiasts.

The Asbury Park Museum hosts an exhibit on the history of music on the West Side, spanning the decades from 1880 to 1980.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://classicurbanharmony.net/event/asbury-park-museum-features-classic-urban-harmony-exhibit-asbury-park-west-side-music-1880-1980/|title=Asbury Park Museum features Classic Urban Harmony exhibit, Asbury Park West Side Music, 1880 – 1980|website=classicurbanharmony.net|date=January 3, 2019 }}</ref>

The Asbury Park African-American Music Project, or AP-AMP, created a virtual West Side museum dedicated to the history of Black music in the city.<ref>[https://www.asburyamp.org Home Page], Asbury Park African-American Music Project. Accessed October 22, 2021.</ref><ref>Jordan, Chris. [https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/10/18/black-music-history-asbury-park-west-side-rediscovered/7937650002/ "How Black music history of forgotten West Side of Asbury Park is being rediscovered"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', October 18, 2021. Accessed October 22, 2021.</ref><ref>[https://tclf.org/preserving-intangible-cultural-heritage-asbury-park "Preserving the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Asbury Park"], The Cultural Landscape Foundation, April 29, 2019. Accessed October 22, 2021.</ref>

===Live music and arts venues===
[[File:Asbury lanes ap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Asbury Lanes]]]]
With its long history as a resort town for varied social classes, Asbury Park is considered a destination for musicians, particularly a subgenre of [[rock and roll]] known as the [[Jersey Shore sound]], which is infused with [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]. As of the 2020s, it is a frequent touring stop for both burgeoning and well-known acts. It is home to venues including:
* [[The Stone Pony]], founded in 1974, a starting point for many performers.
* Across town, on Fourth Avenue, is [[Asbury Lanes]], a functioning bowling alley and bar with live performances ranging from musical acts (formerly with a heavy focus on [[punk music]]), [[neo-Burlesque]], [[hot rod]], and art shows. The venue's focus has been mostly on [[indie rock]] and pop. 
* [[Asbury Park Convention Hall]] holds larger events.
* The [[Paramount Theatre (Asbury Park, New Jersey)|Paramount Theatre]] is adjacent to Convention Hall.
* [[Wonder Bar]]
* House of Independents 
* The Asbury Park Brewery hosts small shows with a focus on punk music<ref>Pugliese, Nick; Biese, Alex; King, Rebecca; and Paolino, Tammy. [https://www.app.com/story/money/business/2018/09/26/new-jersey-cracks-down-events-hosted-microbreweries/1433078002/ "New Jersey cracks down on events hosted by microbreweries"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 26, 2018. Accessed December 21, 2023. "But the limit on in-house events could sting elsewhere, including in Asbury Park’s music community. The Asbury Park Brewery has been regularly hosting concerts by up-and-coming punk bands since May 2017."</ref>
* [[The Turf Club]] - "Tuesday at the Turf” is a summer music series held by the Asbury Park African-American Music Project (AP-AMP) at the Turf Club site across from Springwood Park, which is the last extant structure that once contained one of Springwood's many mid-century live Black music spots. The AP-AMP hopes to transform the space into a community venue for music and culture.<ref name=APP2021/>
* The [[The Empress Hotel (New Jersey)|Empress Hotel]] is an LGBT resort owned by music producer [[Shep Pettibone]] that features Paradise Nightclub.
* The Baronet, a vintage movie theater which dates back to [[Buster Keaton]]'s era, was near Asbury Lanes, but its roof recently caved in and the building was demolished. The Asbury Hotel pays homage to this once great theater with its 5th floor rooftop movie theater called "The Baronet". The Asbury Hotel also has an 8th floor rooftop bar, paying homage to the former building inhabitants and calling it "Salvation."
*  The Kingsley Theater at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel - The newly formed Asbury Park Theater Company (APTCo) presented [[Green Day]]’s [[American Idiot (musical)|''American Idiot'']], the [[Tony Award]]-winning [[Broadway theatre|Broadway musical]], as the company's debut production at this theater in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles2/2022/07/09/american-idiot-in-asbury-park-is-a-winner/ | title="American Idiot" in Asbury Park is a Winner | date=July 9, 2022 }}</ref>
* [[The Upstage Club]] was a legendary blues, R&B and rock club that was alcohol-and-drug free and is said to have influenced the [[Jersey Shore sound]] in its short run from 1968 to 1971. 
In a town that was once nearly abandoned, there are now a large number of restaurants, bars, coffee houses, two breweries, a coffee roastery, and live music venues situated in Asbury Park's boardwalk and downtown districts.

===Festivals and events===
[[File:Paradise pool.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Paradise (nightclub)|Paradise]] nightclub]]
* The Asbury Park Porch Fest is a free family-friendly music festival featuring a series performances on local porches, lawns, and parks. The fifth annual event was held in 2021.<ref>[https://www.apporchfest.org Home Page], Asbury Park Porchfest. Accessed October 22, 2021.</ref>
* The annual [[North to Shore]] festival features music, comedy, film and other entertainment alongside tech discussions at events in Asbury Park, [[Atlantic City, New Jersey|Atlantic City]] and [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]] throughout the month of June.<ref>Sobko, Katie. [https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/03/13/north-to-shore-jersey-festival-nj-south-by-southwest/70003501007/ "Halsey, Demi Lovato coming to music and tech event North to Shore Jersey Festival"], ''[[The Record (North Jersey)|The Record]]'', March 13, 2023. Accessed March 13, 2023. "The North to Shore Jersey Festival will be a music and technology event taking place over the course of three consecutive weekends at three cities across the state. Events will happen in Atlantic City from June 7 to 11, in Asbury Park from June 14 to 18, and in Newark from June 21 to 25. There will be a variety of entertainment events, including concerts, comedy shows and movies, as well as presentations from tech and business entrepreneurs."</ref>
* [[Jersey Pride]], the state's largest and oldest [[Pride parade]], is held annually on the first Sunday in June with around 20,000 attendees on average. 
* Asbury Park Music Foundation is a non-profit organization that offers live music throughout the year including the free summer concert series Music Mondays in Springwood Park, AP Live and the Asbury Park Concert Band on the boardwalk. Ticketed events including Sundays on St. John's, A Very Asbury Holiday Show! at the [[Paramount Theatre (Asbury Park, New Jersey)|Paramount Theater]], Sunday Sessions are held throughout the year to benefit the music foundation's mission to provide music education programs, scholarships, instruments to the underserved youth in the community as well as supporting established and emerging local musicians with opportunities to perform.<ref>[https://asburyparkmusiclives.org/about-us About Us], Asbury Park Music Foundation. Accessed December 18, 2020. "The mission of Asbury Park Music Foundation is to keep the Asbury Park music legacy alive by providing under-served youth with life-changing music education, helping the local music scene thrive and uniting a diverse community through music."</ref>
* The Asbury Park [[surf music|Surf Music]] Festival, held on the boardwalk in August, celebrates surf music .<ref>Makin, Bob. [https://www.njarts.net/pop-rock/makin-waves-with-asbury-park-surf-music-festival-still-a-thrill/ "Makin Waves with Asbury Park Surf Music Festival: Still a thrill"], [[NJarts.net]], August 1, 2018. Accessed December 18, 2020. "During the past six years, husband-and-wife team Vincent Minervino and Magdalena O'Connell have parlayed a love of surf rock into a festival, a record label, a band, a DJ business, concert promotion, and other special events. From August 16 to 19, the Asbury Park Surf Music Festival returns with almost as much fun as getting tubed."</ref>
* The [[Asbury Music Awards]]. Formerly known as the [[Scott Stamper#The Golden T-Bird Awards|Golden T-Bird Awards]], these were established in 1993 by [[Scott Stamper]] and Pete Mantas to recognize and support significant contributions and achievements of local and regional participants in the music industry. The name of the awards was changed to the [[Asbury Music Awards]] in 1995. The award ceremony is held in November of each year, most recently at the [[Stone Pony]].<ref>Pfeiffer, John [http://www.theaquarian.com/2010/12/01/shoreworld-asbury-music-awards-and-musical-heritage-kickoff/ Asbury Park Music Awards and Musical Heritage Kickoff], ''[[The Aquarian Weekly]]'', December 1, 2010. Accessed December 18, 2010.</ref>
* The [[Sea.Hear.Now Festival]] is a surfing and music festival that first appeared on the beach in Asbury Park in September 2018, as a celebration of live music, art, ocean sustainability, and [[surf culture]]. Digital pop culture magazine ''The Pop Break'' named Sea.Hear.Now the best new music festival of the year in 2018.<ref>[https://thepopbreak.com/2018/10/22/why-sea-hear-now-2018-was-the-best-new-music-festival-of-the-year/ "Why Sea.Hear.Now 2018 Was The Best New Music Festival of the Year"], The Pop Break, October 22, 2018. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref><ref>Oglesby, Amanda. [https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2018/09/30/asbury-parks-sea-hear-now-festival-major-success/1481531002/ "Asbury Park's Sea.Hear.Now festival a major success"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 30, 2018. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref>
* Music Mondays at Springwood Park. These are weekly live music events held at Springwood Park in the summer months. Hosted by the Asbury Park Music Foundation.<ref name=MusicMondays>[https://asburyparkmusiclives.org/upcoming-events-springwood Music Mondays at Springwood Park], Asbury Park Music Foundation. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref>
* The [[Wave Gathering]] Music Festival. Established in 2006, the  festival was held during the summer. Businesses across Asbury Park offered food, drink, art, music, crafts, and their stages for performances. Stages were also set up in parks, on the boardwalk, and in other open spaces. The event took place over several days.<ref>La Gorce, Tammy. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/13/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/13artsnj.html "Still Rocking Hard in Asbury Park as the Bands Play On"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 13, 2007. Accessed July 19, 2012. "'The Wave Gathering has as much to do with music as with this town making its comeback,' said Gordon Brown, one of several organizers, a music promoter and a lifetime resident of Asbury Park who started sneaking into clubs to see up-and-coming acts 20 years ago, when he was 15."</ref>
* First Saturdays. Popular with numerous Asbury Park residents and visitors is the monthly First Saturday event. On the first Saturday of every month, Asbury Park's downtown art galleries, home design studios, restaurants, antique shops, and clothing boutiques remain open throughout the evening, serving [[hors d'oeuvre]]s and offering entertainment, to showcase the city's residential and commercial resurgence.<ref>{{cite news|author=Majeski, John|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1791978331.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+05%2C+2005&author=JOHN+MAJESKI&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=First+Saturday+returns+Event+focuses+on+city+shops+and+restaurants&pqatl=google|title=First Saturday returns Event focuses on city shops and restaurants|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|date=May 5, 2005|access-date=May 20, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713095253/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/1791978331.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+05,+2005&author=JOHN+MAJESKI&pub=Asbury+Park+Press&desc=First+Saturday+returns+Event+focuses+on+city+shops+and+restaurants&pqatl=google|archive-date=13 July 2012|quote=First Saturday Night Asbury Park will return this month to the city's downtown, with businesses staying open late and shoppers finding special sales, giveaways, live music, trolley rides and refreshments.}}</ref>
* The Asbury Park Tattoo Convention, also known as the Visionary Tattoo Festival, is held every July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://visionarytattoofest.com/|title=VisionaryTattooArtsFestival|website=VisionaryTattooArtsFestival}}</ref>
* [[The Bamboozle]] Music Festival. This was first held in Asbury Park in 2003, 2004, and 2005.<ref>[[Tris McCall|McCall, Tris]]. [http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2012/01/bamboozle_festival_adds_60_mor.html "Bamboozle Festival adds 60 more acts to its lineup"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', January 18, 2012. Accessed January 29, 2012. "The Bamboozle began in Asbury Park a decade ago and moved to the Giants Stadium parking lot after growing too large for the shore town to accommodate. This will be the first Bamboozle on the Jersey Shore since 2006, and festival organizers intend to supplement Asbury Park's venues with stages on the boardwalk and the beach."</ref> The festival returned to its original location for the ten-year anniversary in 2012, headlined by [[My Chemical Romance]], [[Foo Fighters]], and [[Bon Jovi]], drawing over 90,000 people to the city over the three-day span in which it was held.<ref>[[Tris McCall|McCall, Tris]]. [http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2012/05/bamboozle_2012_bon_jovi_brings.html "Bamboozle 2012: Bon Jovi brings the hits to the beach"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', May 21, 2012. Accessed July 18, 2012. "The 10th annual Bamboozle festival — and the first to be presented in its original hometown of Asbury Park since 2005 — had come to its grand, restless finale, and the most famous band ever booked by its organizers was about to play the massive main stage on the north end of the boardwalk. And unlike the other artists who drew enormous crowds to the boardwalk and beach this weekend, Bon Jovi does not compete for attention."</ref>
* The Asbury Park Women's Convention is held each winter.

====List of film festivals====
A [[list of film festivals in New Jersey|number of New Jersey's film festivals]] are held in the city, including:
* APin3 Film Challenge (timed filmmaking challenge in Asbury Park)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/APin3Challenge|title=APin3 Film Challenge|date=April 15, 2023|website=FilmFreeway}}</ref>
* Asbury Park Music + Film Festival (established 2015, Asbury Park)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apmff.org/|title=Asbury Park Music + Film Festival|date=March 15, 2021|website=Asbury Park Music + Film Festival}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/12/05/asbury-park-music-and-film-festivals-board-directors-get-high-profile/925268001/|title = Asbury Park Music and Film Festival's board of directors gets high-profile additions}}</ref>
* Bread and Roses Film Festival (established 2023, Asbury Park) (women's film festival)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/BRFF|title=Bread & Roses Film Festival|date=June 24, 2023|website=FilmFreeway}}</ref>
* The [[Garden State Film Festival]]. In 2003, actor [[Robert Pastorelli]] founded the [[Garden State Film Festival]], which draws over 30,000 visitors to Asbury Park each spring for a four-day event including screenings of 150 features, documentaries, shorts and videos, concerts, lectures and workshops for filmmakers.<ref>[http://www.gsff.org/about-us/ahistory/ History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131144550/http://www.gsff.org/about-us/ahistory/ |date=January 31, 2012 }}, [[Garden State Film Festival]]. Accessed January 29, 2012.</ref>
* Jersey Shore Film Festival (established 2006, Deal, Long Branch, Asbury Park, Red Bank)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jerseyshorefilmfestival.com/|title=Jersey Shore Film Festival|accessdate=February 16, 2024}}</ref>
* Jersey Devil Film Festival (Asbury Park) (horror/paranormal/folklore)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/JerseyDevilFilmFest|title=Jersey Devil Film Festival|website=FilmFreeway|date=September 2023 }}</ref>
* Krampus Film Festival (established ~2011, Asbury Park) (horror/paranormal/folklore with [[Yuletide]] mythology focus)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/KrampusFilmFestival|title=Krampus Film Festival|date=May 1, 2023|website=FilmFreeway}}</ref>
* Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival (established ~2012, Asbury Park)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/hangontoyourshorts|title="Hang on to Your Shorts!" Film Festival|date=February 23, 2023|website=FilmFreeway}}</ref>
* QFest New Jersey LGBTQ Film Festival (established ~2019, Asbury Park)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmfreeway.com/QFestLGBTQFilmFestival|title=QFest LGBTQ Film Festival|date=June 15, 2023|website=FilmFreeway}}</ref>

===Murals and public art===
Noted muralists and other local artists have installed various murals along the Asbury Park boardwalk and the cityscape in recent years. The 2016 Wooden Walls Mural Project began in July of that year and reimagined the Sunset Pavilion building with around a dozen new murals.<ref>Olivier, Bobby. [https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2016/10/asbury_park_murals_pork_chop_street_art_sea_change.html "33 incredible murals show Asbury Park as you've never seen it before (Photos)"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 17, 2016, updated January 16, 2019. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref><ref>Klecak, Jacqueline. [https://njmonthly.com/articles/arts-entertainment/asbury-park-art-scene-murals-galleries/ "See by the Sea: The Asbury Park Art Scene; Asbury Park's art community joins the city's renaissance by animating public spaces and staging ambitious exhibitions."], ''[[New Jersey Monthly]]'', June 29, 2018. Accessed March 17, 2020.</ref>

===Other arts and entertainment===
The [[zombie walk|Asbury Park Zombie Walk]] is a zombie parade along the mile-long route from [[Asbury Park Convention Hall|Convention Hall]] to the intersection of Main & Mattison. Held the first Saturday in October since 2008, it draws a large number of spectators and participants.<ref>{{cite web | last=Doherty | first=Matt | title=Undead Take Over Asbury Park in Annual Zombie Walk Extravaganza | website=TAPinto | date=3 October 2023 | url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/asbury-park/sections/whats-happening-in-asbury/articles/undead-take-over-asbury-park-in-annual-zombie-walk-extravaganza | access-date=16 February 2024}}</ref> Zombie-costumed participants remain in character throughout and are urged to move in a zombie-like manner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asburyparkzombiewalk.com/|title=THE Asbury Park Zombie Walk|first=Asbury Park Zombie|last=Walk|website=THE Asbury Park Zombie Walk}}</ref><ref>The APZW instructs "lurching, shambling, dragging limbs and communicating only in a zombie-like manner (such as grunting, groaning, moaning and slurred calls for 'brains')."</ref> The event has grown to become one of the largest [[zombie walk]]s in the world. Many do "zombie versions" of Halloween costumes. In 2013, the APZW achieved the world's largest ever gathering of zombies.<ref>[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-5000/largest-gathering-of-zombies/ Largest gathering of zombies], [[Guinness World Records]]. Accessed June 15, 2014. "The largest gathering of zombies numbered 9,592 participants organized by the New Jersey Zombie Walk (USA) in Asbury Park, NJ, USA, on 5 October 2013."</ref> In 2022, the theme was [[punk rock]].

Participants begin to gather in costume starting at 11am on the boardwalk south of [[Asbury Park Convention Hall|Convention Hall]], where makeup artists provide zombie makeovers for a fee. The APZW also has a costume contest, awarding cash and the Golden Zombie trophy.<ref>Biese, Alex. [https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/events/2022/09/21/asbury-park-zombie-walk-2022-when-where-theme-punk-rock/69508692007/ "Asbury Park Zombie Walk lives again in 2022. Here's what's new and different this year"], ''[[Asbury Park Press]]'', September 21, 2022. Accessed March 27, 2025.</ref> Contestants are required to be on the boardwalk by 3pm where, during the parade lead-up, judges wander the boardwalk and choose finalists for ''Best Young Zombie'', ''Best Adult'', ''Best Couple'' and ''Best Group''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/njzombiewalk|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref>

The zombie procession proceeds from [[Asbury Park Convention Hall|Convention Hall]] down the boardwalk.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-jersey/articles/weirdest-attractions-asbury-park-new-jersey|title=The Weirdest Attractions in Asbury Park New...|date=February 6, 2018|website=Culture Trip}}</ref> Spectators line the blocked-off streets as the zombies turn west off the boardwalk at Asbury Ave and proceed down the parade route to end with live music at the ending street stage, where spectators can take photos with the zombies. The event ends with final judging and the Golden Zombie award ceremony.<ref>O'Brien, Linda. [https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2023/10/zombies-walk-the-boards-in-asbury-park-photos.html "Zombies walk the boards in Asbury Park (PHOTOS)"], NJ Advance Media for [[NJ.com]], October 8, 2023. Accessed March 27, 2025.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/news/local/eatontown-asbury-park/asbury-park/2021/10/02/asbury-park-zombie-walk-returns-covid-break/5946486001/|title=13th annual Asbury Park Zombie Walk returns to the boardwalk following COVID break|first=Olivia|last=Liu|website=Asbury Park Press}}</ref>