The HopSauce Festival Returns To LBI

The HopSauce Festival is back on Long Beach Island! The annual event celebrating everything hot and hoppy will take place on Saturday, June 15th, from 11 am until 5 pm at Veterans Memorial Park, 100 Engleside Avenue, in the Beach Haven section of Long Beach Island. When I wrote about this festival last year, I had no idea how friggin' cool (and hot) it really was!

According to festival organizers the Jetty Foundation, Now in its 9th year, HopSauce Festival is a craft beer and hot sauce festival set to the soundtrack of an eclectic mix of original live artists. It's become a favorite of traditional LBI summertime families and a new generation's appreciation for great food, drink, music and art.

Furthermore, this festival is the largest event of the year for Jetty, the locally based coastal lifestyle apparel brand and Certified B Corp with a legacy of involvement in the Long Beach Island Region. They partner with Beach Haven's Spice It Up and each year HopSauce raises funds for Jetty's nonprofit arm, the Jetty Rock Foundation. The mission of the Jetty Rock Foundation is to protect our oceans and waterways and support those who build their lives around them.

From nationally recognized beers to independent microbreweries in our own backyard, HopSauce is a celebration for lovers of craft beer. Ritchie & Page Distributing Company is a key partner that provides a fresh list of brews each year. Jetty also works with smaller breweries to fill their "Indy Craft Beer" section. Festival goers can sample 50+ brews ranging from IPA's to Stouts to Ciders. Wine and seltzers are available for sampling as well.

Meanwhile, the HopSauce Festival was created after Spice It Up owner Regina Lotito stood outside of her shop with Born to Hula sauce owner Ed Bucholtz.  They looked over the vast field where other events are held and deemed it perfect for a hot sauce festival.  Jetty had been planning to get involved with craft beer and already had a knack for running events, so when Jetty CEO Jeremy DeFilippis and Regina Lotitio put their heads together in 2014, HopSauce Festival became a reality.  Hot sauces are a crucial element that make HopSauce different, special and sometimes really hot!  You can taste a wide range of sauces from sweet to hot for free at the Festival! Plus, since you need something to put all those amazing sauces on, Hopsauce has a delicious selection of food and snacks from local restaurants and shops.

The great lineup of bands includes a wide array of music, including:

CRAZY AND THE BRAINS

DEZ AND THE SWAGMATICS

THE PICKLES

and from Atlanta, DILLON

There are three levels of ticketing for this event.

For just 20 dollars you can get a General Admission ticket to the HopSauce Festival. This gets you inside the gate. This is for anyone who wants to attend HopSauce but DOES NOT intend on sampling the 50+ unique brews.

Next is the Craft Beer ticket for 60 dollars. This grants you full access to HopSauce to sample over 50+ craft brews, and comes with a personal pilsner sampling glass. 21+ w/ ID required.

Finally, there is the VIP ticket. The unique way to experience HopSauce. You will be given private access to the VIP tent where food, beer, and special amenities come to YOU. There are a limited amount of these tickets left.

All tickets to the 9th annual HopSauce Festival can be purchased here.

Ocean County Restaurants Open For Mother’s Day Dining 2024.

Sometimes we think we can handle a house full of people for Mom's big day, but then at the last minute, we decide it's all too much. Now you need to find a place to accommodate your guests to fill their bellies to celebrate MOM!

Unfortunately, my mom passed in late 2022, but that's no reason not to celebrate this hard-working strong woman who raised 3 children on her own.

She raised me to be a respectful, kind, considerate human being. My mother taught me to be tolerant and strong. Most of all, she eventually taught me that it was ok to chase my dreams, but it didn't start out that way.

When I was 14, I decided to pursue a career in radio. Initially, my mother was not very supportive. I was a shy kid who had trouble fitting in and speaking up. I was bullied for a variety of reasons and had a hard time standing up for myself. My mother eventually stepped in and explained life's challenges and how I should handle them.

Because of my shy nature, my mother felt that radio wasn't a good fit for my future. She wasn't saying this to be mean, she was trying to protect me for fear that I would be disappointed if I didn't succeed in this very competitive field.

The more she attempted to persuade and guide me to seek other options, the harder I fought to make this radio dream come true.

My mother left this Earth proud of her daughter's long storied radio career.

Now it's time to celebrate my mother and all the other moms on Earth, along with those who've left for heaven.

I love you Mom!

Here are a bunch of places in Ocean County open for Mother's Day for either Brunch, Lunch, or Dinner. You decide.

Offering a specialty Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet. Seatings available at: 11:30 am, 1:15pm & 3:00 pm. Adults $59 Kids Under 12 $28, Kids 6 & under free. Reservations Required.

Their Sunday Brunch Buffet is legendary!  From 10am - 2pm, enjoy their chef inspired buffet, made to order omelettes, savory chicken, beef, pork and fish selections, pasta station, carving station, pastries, and so much more!

It's $30 per person, and $15 for kids 10 & under.  They also have an ala carte brunch menu, and fabulous specialty cocktails.

This is lovely place to take mom. Chef Geoff Johnson is an incredibly talented chef. I spoke with him this morning and he has created a gorgeous Mother's Day dinner menu for 2024.

Brunch Seating is from 10am - 1pm & Dinner Seating is 2pm - 7pm

Appetizer choices include: Blueberry Scallops, Falafel Pops with Minted Yogurt, Rock Shrimp Scampi Arancini and more.

Entree options include: Rack of Lamb, Duck Breast & Confit of Duck Leg, Filet Mignon & Fried Oysters.

In Bellecrest Plaza. Open from 11 am to 9 pm On Sunday. We specialize in traditional international cuisine in a casual elegant family atmosphere and serve American, Colombian, Italian, Mexican, and Costa Rican. Peruvian, and Creole.

Talk about a hidden gem, Morningstar Cafe is tucked in the corner of Fischer Bay Plaza between Hair Candy and Ken’s Hardware. You'll love this place!

Chef Alex and her crew will be serving an all-day Brunch Menu from 8am to 6pm. Call (732-232-0558 for reservations.

Check out her menus:

A classy dining spot offering upscale seafood & American fare & a full bar, plus a waterside patio. Charlie's has a lovely Sunday Brunch menu from 11am to 2:30 pm that includes, gourmet omelettes, creme brulee French toast, and unique pancakes, to herb crusted tuna salad, gourmet burgers, and seafood selections.

Dinner is served 4:30 to 10:30 pm.

Enjoy a Mother's Day Brunch & Dinner Buffet from 10am - 6pm. Adults $55 - Kids 12 & under $27. The hot buffet includes all your breakfast favorites like an omelette station. scrambled eggs, home fries, bacon, sausage & waffles. Plus, Mussels Marinara, Orecchiette Bechamel with Ham & Peas, Penne Vodka, Mustard Crusted Salmon Red Pepper Cream, Scarpariello Chicken. 

There's a carving station and a dessert station.

Always serving Breakfast & Lunch. Open 7:30am to 3 pm. Call ahead to gauge the wait time.

Serving a Mother's Day Brunch from 11am - 2pm. $36.99 per person. Kids 12 & under $16.99.

Includes Omelette Bar, and all of your favorite breakfast foods like bacon and sausage, as well as a Carving Station, Chicken Francaise, Sliced Ribeye with Bernaise, seafood choices, sides, desserts, and more. The regular menu is also available.