For Long Beach Island rental property owners, maximizing your rental income during both the high and low seasons is equally important. The end of summer doesn’t mean the end of fun things to do on and near Long Beach Island! And, as a beach house owner, it certainly doesn’t mean your income has to fall with the leaves! We welcome autumn on LBI with open arms. The heat and humidity of summer fades away and is replaced with the gentle weather of the autumn months. Summer crowds clear, sweltering temps drop, lodging prices dip and diverse events begin to take place.
This coming weekend is an excellent opportunity for your beach rental properties to fill your vacancies. Every year on the last weekend of 
September, Long Beach Island celebrates “chowder”. That’s right. Chowder! We have an entire weekend dedicated to New England clam chowder, Manhattan clam chowder, and speciality seafood chowders!
For over 30 years, thousands of chowderheads have been making a weekend out of this beach community milestone. Exceptional chefs and their restaurants have served up their signature chowders with the hope of taking home the coveted Chowderfest Long Beach Island title. This weekend, on September 29th and 30th, Long Beach Island’s very own Chowderfest will be turning 30!
If you haven’t experienced LBI’s Chowderfest yet, then we welcome you to join us and see what all the buzz is about. If you own a Long Beach Island rental property, and would like to increase your rental potential during the off season, send out an email to past or potential renters or share a post on social media boosting one of LBI’s many fall events not to be missed. We are including detailed information below, provided by the Southern Ocean Chamber of Commerce for you to share.
The anniversary weekend kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 29 with a free Merchant Marketplace. Dozens of chamber members will be offering end-of-season bargains, local specialties and gourmet food. Live music from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring a popular line up of local bands. Children’s entertainment will include hands on crafts and a command performance of Crunchy the T-Rex. For the adults, a select variety beers on tap and hard ciders are also joined with a new wine by the glass selection. Last year’s expansion of the Chowderfest grounds proved popular providing with more seating, extra room under the tents and by the stage.
The Chowder Cook-Off Classic heats up on Sunday, September 30 at 11 a.m. as favorite restaurants face off for the tastiest chowder. All ticket holders can sample and place votes for the best red, white and creative chowders, with VIPs getting early access to the chowder tents to taste and view competitors’ decorative booths at 10 a.m. VIPs also receive access to Bud Lite Big Screen Bar with dedicated food and beverage service. Children’s activities will also be available throughout out the day with crowd pleasing live music. Winners will be announced at closing ceremonies, which are scheduled for 4 p.m. Though Saturday is a free event, Sunday’s Cook off Classic is a ticketed event. Tickets can be purchased at chowderfest.com or by contacting the Southern Ocean County Chamber at 609-494-7211, visiting their Visitor Center at 265 West Ninth Street in Ship Bottom, or emailing info@sochamber.com. Toddlers under the age of three get free admission. Tickets for the Cook-Off cost: Children to age 4 to 12 – $10, General Admission – $30, VIP – $65 VIPs get early access to the Chowder Cook-Off Classic and an official 2018 Taster T Shirt.
Proceeds earned from Chowderfest Weekend have gone to providing decades of financial support to hundreds of local charities and events, as well as scholarships to Pinelands Regional, Southern Regional and Barnegat high schools. In honor of the 30th, last year’s restaurants voted for a qualifying non profit to be the Chowder for A Cause Charity to benefit from net proceeds of 2018 event. David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation was selected and will be partnering throughout the anniversary year.
With the festivals, farmer’s markets, parades, marathons and culinary choices galore, autumn is the perfect time to show guests why there is “no place like LBI“!
For more information on the Chowderfest or LBI properties, or any questions, please contact us at team@noplacelikelbi.com.