Prolific Asbury Park singer and songwriter Alexander Simone (grandson of the legendary Nina), Atlantic City's R&B songstress Mary Cross, and the pioneering female rapper, Newark's MC Rah Digga, are just a few of the beloved local talents who will present events as part of this year's Prudential North to Shore Festival. Performances and programs will be held June 14-29, 2025 in Asbury Park and Newark, while performances in Atlantic City will extend throughout the coming year.
These festival programs spotlighting the artists who live, work and perform in the festival’s three host cities year-round are made possible by Prudential North to Shore’s Community Arts Awards initiative, through which the festival awards local artists, arts organizations, nonprofits and small businesses up to $10,000 each to produce free or low-cost performing and visual arts events.
Through this initiative, this year Prudential North to Shore will support New Jersey’s creative economy with close to $400,000 in funding across Asbury Park, Newark, and Atlantic City. A full list of Community Arts Awards recipients can be found HERE.
Prudential North to Shore was conceived by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy in 2023. The festival returns this year with Prudential Financial as the title sponsor, in celebration of its 150th anniversary, and a special focus on comedy and music — Laughs and Jams — featuring performances by Bleachers; George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic; Gregory Porter; Jack’s Manequinn; Jon Stewart, John Mulaney, and Pete Davidson; Josh Johnson; Lawrence; Natalia Lafourcade; Slightly Stoopid; Stone Temple Pilots; Streetlight Manifesto; The String Cheese Incident; Third Eye Blind; Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and many others.
“Prudential North to Shore isn’t just about bringing global headliners to New Jersey—it’s also about giving local artists a platform to shine,” said John Schreiber, President and CEO of NJPAC. “Today and every day, we celebrate New Jersey’s homegrown talent and the vibrant artistic community that helps define life in the Garden State. Their creativity and passion are an essential part of who we are as New Jerseyans.”
In addition to an exciting lineup of events featuring local creatives, Prudential North to Shore will also present special events in each of the festival cities, produced in partnership with community arts organizations.
The festival will again partner with Asbury Underground to present its much-loved annual “art and music crawl,” which offers scores of performances and exhibits simultaneously along Asbury Park’s downtown Cookman Avenue corridor from 12:00pm to 8:00pm on Saturday, June 21. Festival attendees exploring the free art and music crawl will be treated to a range of entertainment events featuring more than 200 participating area artists.
The festival will also once again partner with Newark Symphony Hall to produce The Black Creative Economy Summit, a program that focuses on the contributions and economic empowerment of Black Americans and their creative spirits. From June 18 – 20, participants can visit Newark Symphony Hall to learn about fostering economic growth, creative collaboration and career development for Black artists and entrepreneurs.
Additionally, the festival will partner with the Lincoln Park Coast Cultural District to produce Yogi Fest by Ty Daye powered by Lincoln Park Music Festival on Saturday, June 28, in Newark’s Lincoln Park. The fest will provide attendees with a day of yoga, healthy eating education, fitness activities, and music. Founded by Newark native Ty Daye, the free Yogi Fest is open to all ages and experience levels.
Prudential North to Shore will also partner with educator and artist Wincey Terry of Winceyco to present Books on the Move, an engaging celebration of artists of color designed for young readers. These interactive workshops bring picture books to life through performative readings, combining literacy with movement, art, and spoken word poetry to honor iconic performing artists. Already reaching children in Essex, Hudson, Passaic, and Union counties, Books on the Move will now expand its impact to include audiences in Atlantic City.
Prudential North to Shore will provide 20 Books on the Move workshops for second graders in Atlantic City elementary schools (not open to the public), and a public student performance on June 14, 2025 at St. James AME Church, 101 N. New York Avenue, at 3:30pm, based on the children’s book Alvin Ailey by Andrea Davis Pinkney.
Additionally, the festival will bring five poetry workshops to Atlantic City throughout the year; more details on this initiative will be announced soon.
Events to be produced as part of the 2025 Prudential North to Shore Community Arts Awards program this June include:
ASBURY PARK:
6/19/2025 at 3:00pm | Awardee: Blue Dot: Social & Community Wellness Sense of Belonging: An Immersive Sensory Experience For All at Asbury Park Carousel (104-108 Asbury Ave)
6/19/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Asbury Park African-American Music Project Inc. AP-AMP Presents: Springwood Avenue Sounds - Past, Present and Future - A Legacy at Blackbird Commons (131 Atkins Ave.)
6/19/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: Geenetica aka Dr. Geena Buono with She's NorMale - A Transgender Odyssey 2025 at House of Independents (527 Cookman Ave.)
6/20/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Second Life Bikes - Paint on Pine at Pine Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues
6/20/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: Luminous Abstract with Memory Palace at The Asbury Carousel Building (104-108 Asbury Ave)
6/20/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: Alexander Simone with Soul In The Park 3 at GotPicz Photography Studio (917 3rd Ave)
6/21/2025 at 12:00pm | Awardee: Inspire Life with Juneteenth Family Arts & Cultural Festival at Springwood Avenue Park (Springwood Avenue)
6/21/2025 at 1:00pm | Awardee: Over The Moon Art Studios with Print-a-Palooza at Over the Moon Art Studios (808 Springwood Ave, between Main Street and Springwood Park)
6/21/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Ron Lyons and Cazzeek Brothers with Cazzeek Brothers Present Soul in the City Talent Expo at Springwood Park (Springwood Avenue)
6/21/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Konscious Youth Development & Service (KYDS) with SOULCASE Community Night at Konscious Community Center (631 Lake Ave)
6/21/2025 at 7:30pm | Awardee: Asbury Park Dance Festival and Luminous Abstract, with Wooden Walls Project with Dance is Life - An Illuminated Hustle Dance Party at Asbury Park Boardwalk Carousel Building (104-108 Asbury Ave)
6/22/2025 at 1:00pm | Awardee: Georgies Bar with Georgies Community Cookout at Georgies Bar (812 5th Ave.)
6/22/2025 at 2:00pm | Awardee: Rbar with Funk Fest ft. Soul Project & The Ocean Avenue Stompers at Rbar (1114 Main Street)
6/22/2025 at 2:00pm | Awardee: Project Write Now & City of Asbury Park's Mayor's Wellness Committee with Sound Bytes: Stories & Food for the Soul at Salvation Army Asbury Park (605 Asbury Ave.)
6/22/2025 at 3:00pm | Awardee: Carmen Davis Hall, Head Of My Life Productions with Heaven vs Hell at Good Hope Annex (1306 Washington Avenue)
6/22/2025 at 3:00pm | Awardee: BiBi Bennett, The Asbury Park Reporter and Luminous Multi Media with Lens on Asbury Park: A Photo Workshop with BiBi Bennett and Rodney Cross at GotPicz Photography Studio (917 Avenue)
Mainstage festival events that will feature Asbury Park performing artist awardees as opening acts include:
6/20/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: James Dalton, Opening for Emerson Woolf and the Wishbones at Asbury Lanes (209 4th Ave)
6/20/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: Ryan Gregg, Opening for Emerson Woolf and the Wishbones at Asbury Lanes (209 4th Ave)
6/22/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: the dts, Opening for Penelope Road at Wonder Bar (1213 Ocean Ave)
NEWARK:
6/25/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Newark Pride, Inc. with Love Out Loud: Open Mic Experience at Dutch’s Lounge @ Tryp Hotel (24 E Park St.)
6/25/2025 at 6:00pm | Awardee: DEW Ministries, Shaquana Jordan and Najiyyah Bailey with The Woman at the Well: Dance Experience at First Presbyterian Church of Newark (820 Broad Street)
6/26/2025 at 4:00pm | Awardee: Project for Empty Space, Newark City Parks Foundation, and Newark Grounds with Newark Grounds Night Fest at Mulberry Commons Park (Mulberry St., between Edison Pl. and Lafayette St.)
6/25/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Newark Pride, Inc. with Love Out Loud: Open Mic Experience at Dutch’s Lounge @ Tryp Hotel (24 E Park St.)
6/26/2025 at 6:00pm | Awardee: Ta-Tanisha Harrell with Respect The Mic at Newark Stage (The Black Box), Newark Symphony Hall (1020 Kenneth Gibson Blvd.)
6/26/2025 at 6:00pm | Awardee: Daryl Stewart Productions with Broadway in the Bricks at Newark Public Library (5 Washington Street)
6/26/2025 at 7:30pm & 9:30pm | Awardee: EqualSpace with Drunk Black History at ES550 (550 Broad St, Floor 4)
6/27/2025 at 6:00pm | Awardee: Lyrics Matter Foundation with Lyrics Matter: The Salon Series hosted by Rah Digga at The Vault (221 Washington Street)
6/28/2025 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm | Awardee: Yendor Theatre Company with Soul-O: A one-person play series (Matinee Show) at NJPAC Arts Education, Horizon Theater (24 Rector Street)
6/28/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Carrie Jackson & Her Jazzin' All Stars Band at Clement's Place (15 Washington Street)
6/28/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: Roger Costa (Brazilish Productions) with Tropical Noise Fest - A Brazilian Celebration at Lua Lounge (90 Ferry Street)
6/28/2025 at 7:00pm | Awardee: Gregory Burrus Productions with Jazz and Joy - Mind Over Music featuring The Lynette Sheard Experience with Nat Adderley Jr and Friends at Clement's Place (15 Washington Street)
6/28/2025 at 9:00pm | Jazz and Jamming - Improvising Life Featuring Charisa The Violin Diva with Koka Strings at Clement's Place (15 Washington Street)
6/29/2025 at 11:00am | Awardee: Rest Fest, Marcy DePina and Lauren LeBeaux Craig with Rest Fest at The Newark Museum of Art (49 Washington Street)
6/29/2025 at 2:00pm | Awardee: Plusable, LLC with Taste of the City, Sounds of the Ironbound, presented by Plusable in collaboration with Councilman Michael J. Silva, at Ferry Street (Five Corners) Corner of Ferry Street and Wilson Ave
6/29/2025 at 6:00pm | Awardee: Femme Curator Arts with Down In The Ro’ Open Mic, Earth Tones on the Roof at Adega Bar & Grill Rooftop (130-132 Ferry Street)
6/28/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Maurice Chestnut with Horizon Sounds of the City: Maurice Chestnut: Beats, Rhymes, and Tap Shoes Opening for Big Daddy Kane at NJPAC, Chambers Plaza (1 Center Street)
6/28/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: P.Genz with Horizon Sounds of the City: P.Genz Opening for Big Daddy Kane at NJPAC, Chambers Plaza (1 Center Street)
6/29/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Gail Campbell with Horizon Sounds of the City: Gail Campbell Opening for Lettuce at NJPAC, Chambers Plaza (1 Center Street)
6/29/2025 at 5:00pm | Awardee: Segdrick Marsh with Horizon Sounds of the City: Segdrick Marsh Opening for Lettuce at NJPAC, Chambers Plaza (1 Center Street)
ATLANTIC CITY:
Community Arts Awards recipients in Atlantic City will produce events scheduled throughout the coming year, from June 2025 - May 2026. They include:
6/14/2025 at 1:00pm | Awardee: SkateAC with Bash at Back Sov 2025 at Sovereign Avenue Skatepark Back Sov (End of Sovereign Avenue)
6/14/2025 at 12:00pm | Awardee: Weekday Underground and Dylan Caccamesi with Orange Loop Block Party at Cardinal (201 S. New York Ave)
6/15/2025 at 1:00pm | Awardee: Chelsea EDC with Global Grooves at O'Donnell Memorial Park (3501 Atlantic Ave)
6/21/2025 at 1:00pm | Awardee: The National R&B Music Society Inc. presents “The 2025 FREE Summer Concerts at Gardner's Basin” feat. Atlantic City Artists The Ty Turner Band, The Cason Express Show Band with SiSi Dash, and Judah Dorrington & Paradise at The Historic Gardner’s Basin (800 N. New Hampshire Ave.)
6/26/2025 at 1:00pm | Awardee: The National R&B Music Society Inc. presents “The 2025 FREE Summer Concerts at Gardner's Basin” feat Atlantic City Artists Chris-N-Teeb, Village Bridge, Special Occasion, and Shawn Rock at The Historic Gardner’s Basin (800 N. New Hampshire Ave.)
8/23/2025 at 8:30pm | Awardee: John Brancy with John Brancy and Peter Dugan Live at the 609 Club at The Celebrity Theater at The Claridge Hotel (123 S Indiana Ave)
9/6/2025 at 12:00pm | Awardee: Hispanic Association of Atlantic County with Atlantic City Latino Festival at Showboat at the Boardwalk (Boardwalk & New Jersey Ave)
10/4/2025 at 3:00pm & 7:00pm | Awardee: Mary Cross with Mary Cross' Phyllis Hyman Musical Tribute (special mini tribute to Angie Stone) at RESORTS Casino Hotel – The Screening Room (1133 Boardwalk)
11/1/2025 at 4:00pm | Awardee: Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University with Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration at Noyes Arts Garage (2200 Fairmount Ave)
11/7/2025 at 6:00pm | Awardee: Atlantic City Arts Foundation with ARTeriors 2025 at Commercial Vacant Building To Be Announced
1/17, 2/14, 3/14, 4/11, and 5/15/2026 at 6:00pm | Awardee: Derek K. Cason and The Cason Express Show Band with AC Jamming at Gin Rickey's Live Music Bar (2831 Boardwalk)
All events are subject to change. Check northtoshore.com for updates.
The Prudential North to Shore Festival, launched in 2023, features all the talent, diversity and creativity that New Jersey has to offer, packed into two extraordinary weeks of performances, parties and conversations. Programs and events are held in three of the state’s most iconic cities: Each June in Asbury Park and Newark, with extended year-long programming in Atlantic City.
Inspired by Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy’s vision of a celebration worthy of the Garden State’s legacy of innovation and excellence in the arts, Prudential North to Shore is “the festival only Jersey can handle.”
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