Asbury Park Convention Hall — Attraction in Asbury Park

Beautiful views, refreshing breezes, and welcoming crowds*. This boardwalk is something to write to home about because it is simply a wonderful place to be! Sure parking is a hassle, but if you get there early enough, you can set your spot! But parking or no parking, walking up and down the boardwalk is its own experience itself! Look to your left you'll see the calming beach with its softly crashing blue waves as a street performer is playing on his saxophone and draws a crowd left in awe. Look to your right and you find the best food shacks you'll ever find serving juicy hot dogs, warm crepes, and ice-cool lemonade as well as coffees cheaper and better than Starbucks! Look a little beyond and you'll find food trucks, stores with nifty gifties, and the glorious facades of the convention center. The only thing I have to complain about is the arcade and the size. I was excited to see that it was all retro themed, but you have to pay to just be in the building, for a certain amount of time. That is something I haven't seen in other boardwalks. On the size of things, it's not that huge comparing to other boardwalks and I just wished there were more stores that were somewhat bigger than what is there now. Therefore, if you disregard overall size, a limiting arcade, and a lack of parking, it is a place that everyone should visit if they were on any part of the Jersey Shore and is a perfect place to wind down and relax while it also can serve as a place to have some fun and do some fun stuff!

Sidenote* - When I said welcoming crowds, I do want to add something I saw. There was this lone street performer who was doing magic. I say lone because it didn't seem he was grabbing any attention and was standing at the edge of the boardwalk shuffling some cards. In some time, security went to him to shut him down for some reason. As unfortunate as it was, society has made it explicitly clear to not practice magic outside of Hogwarts, especially in front of muggles! (sorry i really wanted...

★★★★★ An iconic piece of history with a vibrant future! 🇺🇸🌊🎶 As a veteran who served with the 110th Military Police Company in Operation Paul Bunyan and the author of Uncle Matty Comes Home, I have a deep appreciation for places with a rich history and a strong sense of community. The Asbury Park Convention Hall is a living testament to that spirit, a truly majestic landmark that stands proudly on the boardwalk. 🏰🇺🇸 Walking through the Grand Arcade with its ocean breezes and beautiful architecture feels like stepping back in time. The ongoing renovations are clearly visible, and it's wonderful to see the care being put into preserving this historic jewel. The mix of vintage charm and modern life—with unique shops, bars, and restaurants lining the arcade—creates a truly vibrant and special atmosphere. ✨ I recently had the pleasure of attending an event there, and the experience was top-notch. The staff was friendly, the venue was clean, and the acoustics were fantastic. There's something truly special about being in a space where so many legendary artists have performed over the years. 🎤🎸 Whether you're there for a concert, a festival, or just to take in the architecture, the Convention Hall is a must-see destination. It’s more than just a venue; it's a vital part of Asbury Park's revitalization and a cherished landmark for all to enjoy. #AsburyConventionHall #HistoricVenue #AsburyParkNJ #BoardwalkLife #IconicArchitecture #VeteranOwned #MilitaryPolice #OperationPaulBunyan #AsburyParkHistory...

Aged halls hosting fun and active events.

Adventured down for the Asbury Park Beerfest (February 21st & 22nd, 2015...Late January in 2013 & 2014) hosted inside the Conventional Hall and indoor Boardwalk area. Certainly one of the better setups I've been to for a beer festival with a great flow of traffic, setting up tables in a beer/vendor/beer/vendor method allowed for you to get a beer and ENJOY your time drinking it as you moved along to the next table.

Parking nearby wasn't too bad. You can either go for the valet lots ($8 and up) or do the metered street parking ($1 per hour or $10 day) which was easy enough as they accept card and cash. It's a bit of a walk if you try to go general street parking, but that's also an option if you get down there early.

Take note of the weather as the convention hall doesn't offer much heat options (or cooling option come summer) and the boardwalk area only has limited space heaters floating around. There is a smoking area, so you don't have to go far to light up if need be. Also, in wet weather, they have a tendency to flood a bit. There often very good with clearing it out, but just something you might want to keep in mind.

They host events year round, some big and some small. The beerfest is one of their best events. You also have a bar & restaurant inside the boardwalk area to grab a brew on weekends they aren't offering a beerfest. The restaurant has great bar far (sometimes a bit pricey) but certainly more options including a highly recommended...