The North to Shore Festival (aka North to Shore Arts and Ideas Festival, North to Shore, North2Shore, or N2S) is an annual three-week-long music, comedy, film and technology festival in New Jersey.[1][2] The event is hosted in June by three New Jersey cities: Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark.[3]
In announcing the festival, inaugurated in 2023, Governor Phil Murphy stated that the event was inspired by SXSW in Texas and intended to showcase the vibrant arts scene and inclusive cultural environment in New Jersey.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Venues
Due to the density of its population, its location between two major metropolitan cities drawing touring acts, its reputation as an artist-friendly cultural environment and its long history as a summer beach resort for the middle and working class, New Jersey historically had has a relatively large number of entertainment venues, and has continued to invest heavily in the performing arts in the present.[14][15]
Asbury Park South, a 1920 painting by Jazz Age artist Florine Stettheimer depicting a summer crowd and sign for Enrico Caruso live. The artist is under a green parasol and her friends also appear. Artist Marcel Duchamp (in pink) is with actress Fania Marinoff. Carl Van Vechten stands upper left (black suit), Avery Hopwood (white suit) talks with a woman in yellow, and the Swiss painter Paul Thévanaz (red) bends over a camera.[16]
In March 2024, in addition to dozens of smaller events in each city conducted by local performers, artists, and thinkers, N2S announced its June 2024 featured line-up in each of the three cities:[17]
The Newark International Film Festival and Montclair Film will provide film programming. TechUnited:NJ will host more than 5,000 attendees at the Propelify Innovation Festival on technology during the festival. Stockton University will manage a series of e-sports competitions and soccer programming in Atlantic City as part of Atlantic City week.
History
2023
The 2023 festival was held in Atlantic City (June 7–11), Asbury Park (June 14–18). and Newark (June 21–25)
It drew an audience of nearly 250,000 to more than 300 shows.
During the festival planning process, organizers asked local creators to submit ideas for events. The festival sought "local producers or presenters of music,
comedy, dance, theater or visual art in Atlantic City, Asbury Park or Newark." Certain creators were to be awarded stipends of up to $5,000 to execute their concepts.[7]
Film screenings were held at Dante Hall in the Ducktown section of Atlantic City during the festival, curated by Montclair Film, a nonprofit organization in the New Jersey film community.[20]
Investor Daymond John of Shark Tank was scheduled to speak at the festival in Newark. The annual Newark International Film Festival was also scheduled to take place during N2S.
^Sobko, Katie. "Halsey, Demi Lovato coming to music and tech event North to Shore Jersey Festival", 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."
