The Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program (BBNEP) is funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and hosted locally by Ocean County College. We work in partnership with organizations which include governmental, non-governmental, municipal, non-profit, and citizen groups.

What is a sampling of the events at the Festival?

Native Plant Sale by Save Barnegat Bay and the Mantoloking Environmental Commission

Bluegrass music by GlimmerGrass Band

Free pontoon boat rides (first come, first served) of the Toms River led by an Ocean County Parks naturalist

Free canoe ecotour of Dillon’s Creek Marina (pre-registration required by calling our office)

Environmental exhibitors from wind energy to pinelands wildlife.

Crafters – handmade goods and fun, recycled products

Festival food

Ocean Ride bus will shuttle you from the firehouse parking lot, making it easy to come and go

  Seining and crabbing at Summit Beach, one block from the festival grounds

Atlantic City Aquarium Touch Tank

Free drawings for a compost bin, rain barrel, hanging baskets from Barlow Flower Farm, sailing lesson from Nelson’s Marina

Why do we have a festival?

This is our signature outreach event, and will be the 11th annual festival.  It’s a free, family event geared towards educating the public through fun, interactive environmental activities with the goal being to encourage better individual stewardship of the Barnegat Bay estuary and watershed.