Atlantic City Festivals 2012

It's almost Summer, and that means festival season is heating up. From music, to food and wine, here's a rundown of some of the area's upcoming events:

Tuckerton Seaport hosts a number of music festivals throughout spring and summer, including the Bluegrass & Barbecue Fest (May 20), the Bayman's Seafood & Music Festival (June 24), and the Red Wine & Blues Festival (June 30). See the Seaport's website for a complete schedule.

Appel Farm Arts & Music Festival (link) will be held June 2, and features entertainment, a children's village, a craft fair, food, and a beer and wine tent.

Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival, which runs July 26th to July 29th, includes celebrity chef appearances, wine seminars, cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and culinary exhibits. For more information, please visit the festival's website.

Pine Barrens Festival (link) runs July 23-28, and features entertainment, food, games, and rides.

The Atlantic City Air Show is scheduled for August 17th.

For more festivals and events, please visit our Atlantic City Events Calendar.

Atlantic City Air Show 2012

"Thunder Over the Ocean" is less than four months away. The 2012 Atlantic City Air Show is scheduled for Friday, August 17th. The event gets underway at 10:30AM and is free (just find a spot anywhere on the Boardwalk or the beach).

Highlights of this year's show will include the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, a US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demo, and many other aerial delights.

This is one of the most popular annual events and hotel rooms can be scarce, so book early. Take a look at these offers available for a rooms August 16-18:

Courtyard by Marriott $159/nt
Days Inn $109 - $169/ntEcono Lodge Beach Block $89.99 - $169.99
Eldorado Motor Inn $69 - $79/nt
Flagship Suites $99 - $129
Marriott Courtyard $179/nt
Rodeway Inn at the Beach $64.99 - $124.99
Rodeway Inn Oceanview $79.99 - $129.99
Red Carpet Inn $75 - $125

Click here to see all hotel offers and special rates.

The Air Show is sponsored by Borgata. Click here for directions, the schedule, and other details.

Atlantic City Aquarium

The Atlantic City Aquarium (aka Ocean Life Center) is a family-friendly attraction that is open year-round. Here you can enjoy and learn from exhibits containing fish that inhabit the marine and freshwater environments close to Atlantic City, as well as some more exotic locales such as tropical rainforests, the Amazon River, and the Pacific Ocean. There is also a live diver feeding show from the "Fish of the Mid-Atlantic" tank, which contains nurse sharks, dogfish, and other species.




The Aquarium is located at Historic Gardner's Basin, which has several other attractions, including an arts and crafts colony, cruises and fishing boats, shops, and cafes.

For more information on the Aquarium and Gardner's Basin, please visit the official website.

St Patricks Day in Atlantic City

Celebrate in A.C. with these events:

24th Annual St Patrick's Day Parade - March 14th at 1PM on the Boardwalk (starting at Garden Pier, New Jersey Avenue). The parade features pipe bands, marching bands, and floats.

31st Annual St Pat's 10 Miler and 5K - March 14th at 9:15. The races start at Gardner's Basin (New Hampshire Avenue). The event is sponsored by the Boardwalk Runners, and benefits The Donny Fund and The South Jersey Field of Dreams. Online registration and further information are available here.

The Irish Pub - Located on St James Place, just off the Boardwalk. The Pub, which is a favorite for both locals and tourists, has no cover charge and serves food until 6am . Party all day March 17th. Then the festivities continue with the annual Bag Day (March 18th), when customers wear decorated bags on their heads and bag costumes.

Ri Ra Irish Pub - Live Irish music all day. The Pub is located in The Quarter (Tropicana) and its menu features authentic Irish dishes.

$15,000 Pot O' Gold Sweepstakes - Trump Plaza. One slot or tables game player will be selected every hour from 3-8pm. Prizes $500-5000.

Please leave a comment if you know of more events. Thanks.

Hotel Rooms for $20 in Atlantic City

I've never seen it like this.

Atlantic City hotel rooms for $20.

No, I'm not talking about a roach motels either:

Bally's AC $20.09 March 8-10.

Harrah's Atlantic City $20.09 March 8-10.

Showboat Atlantic City $20.09 March 8-10.

Click here to check more dates.

Atlantic City Restaurant Week 2009

Explore Atlantic City's classic gourmet restaurants as well as new dining spots during Restaurant Week 2009. Sponsored by the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority, the event runs March 1-7.

Diners can enjoy a multi-course meal for a fixed price of $15.09 for lunch or $33.09 for dinner (not including beverages and gratuity). There are dozens of participating restaurants representing a wide variety of cuisines (Continental, Italian gourmet, traditional steak and seafood houses, Latin, Japanese, Mexican, etc.).

For complete details including a full list of participating restaurants with their menus, and a chance to purchase restaurant Week Gift Certificates, please visit the event's official site here.

Book Through Expedia, Get $50

Here's an outstanding deal: Book a 4 (or more) night hotel stay through Expedia and receive a $50 Prepaid Mastercard Debit Card (to spend anywhere, however you want).

In Atlantic City, most of the hotels are eligible, and with room rates already rock bottom, the extra $50 makes for a very sweet deal. For example, we found rooms at the Showboat going for $41 a night February 22-24 (that includes 30% off for a 3 or more night stay). Plus you get the $50 card. Not bad at all!

Other eligible properties include: Trump Plaza, Trump Marina, Taj Mahal, Caesars, Resorts, Bally's, Sheraton, The Chelsea, and many others. Travel must be booked by March 1st and completed by Marh 31st, 2009.

If you're willing to stay away from the casinos, there are some really interesting deals to be found. For example, rooms at the Knights Inn A.C. (a 2 star motel) cost $20. Subtract 30% for a 3+ night stay and it comes down to $14/night! Add taxes, and your total for a 4 night stay is about $86. Still too much? Don't forget the free $50 debit card. Plus you get free breakfast and high speed internet.

To browse for your own deal on Expedia, please click here.