Surf, Sound, and Sustainability

A Culture of Care: the Festival that Loves the Sea

With the sun sinking into the Atlantic and painting the sky in streaks of pink, blue, and orange, Sea. Hear. Now came alive in Asbury Park. Lenny Kravitz tore into a soaring guitar solo, with the sound rolling over the crowd and spilling out toward the waves.

The weekend was about more than music. It was about the ocean, the local community that calls this shore home, and the vision of a festival that celebrates Asbury Park’s music and surf culture while caring for the planet and its waters.

From Blink-182 shaking the sand to local favorites like Surfing for Daisy winning new fans, the stages pulsed with energy. Yet as you walked the grounds, another feeling stood out. The festival felt unusually clean. Not the typical aftermath of crushed bottles and plastic straws, but open pathways, volunteers in blue shirts smiling to direct festival goers, and bins for recycling and compost that people were actually using.

Surf Rider on the Ground

That presence came largely from the Surf Rider Foundation Jersey Shore Chapter. Vice Chair Jill Nilson has been with the festival since the very beginning. “Surf Rider was called upon to participate in this awesome festival, and we’ve been here every year since 2018,” she explained. “Our volunteers love meeting people and spreading the word about sustainability. It’s demanding work, but it’s fun.”

Her team organizes the Rock and Recycle program, a tradition that has become part of the festival’s heartbeat. Festivalgoers grab a bag, collect empty cans, and bring them back to trade for a special Sea. Hear. Now shirt. Jill lit up as she described families with kids proudly hauling in their bags. “This is probably one of the cleanest festivals you’ll ever find. People realize we don’t need straws or forks to enjoy a sandwich, and everyone is still having a great time.”

Composting with Un-Waste:

“Right now we’re only in the food areas, but someday we hope to expand that in the coming years,” Lauren said.

While Surf Rider focused on recycling, another effort was quietly tackling food waste. Lauren, the founder of Un-Waste, grew up nearby and first attended Sea. Hear. Now simply as a fan. “The partnership came about naturally. I had just attended the festival because it was local. I’m from the area, and most of my customers were in Asbury Park,” she explained. “I saw how much food waste would be generated here that could be composted, so I started talking with Surf Rider and the organizers. Now we’re in our third year running the program.”

Last year Un-Waste collected about 1,000 pounds, half a ton, of food waste. This year the team set a goal of 2,000 pounds.

Food as a Celebration

Between sets, the food scene carried that same spirit of care. Mogo Tacos served chili-spiced tofu tacos layered with kimchi, and mushroom banh mi sandwiches and plant-based smash burgers gave festivalgoers options that felt indulgent, not like a compromise.

Betty’s Icebox stood out with a fully plant-based menu spread across multiple locations. Festivalgoers lined up for favorites like the Jersey Girl pop (mango and strawberry), alongside hand-crafted gelatos, shaved ice, and other frozen treats that proved that people love having sustainable choices that taste amazing.

Eating well, supporting local vendors, and caring for the shore all blended together.

“When people come to this festival, they share in that common love for the beach and the music,” Jill said. “The fact that they’re here, enjoying it all, and then realizing, oh, this is how we can help keep it beautiful and accessible, that’s huge.”

Her message to festivalgoers as they moved beyond the weekend was just as fitting: “Every little bit counts. Don’t feel defeated or diminish what you can do. Even small things snowball. Tell one person, they tell two, and it spreads.”

Leaving the Shore Better

By the time the crowd spilled back onto the boardwalk under the moonlight, the message was clear. Sea. Hear. Now was not just another weekend of music by the shore. It was a reminder that celebration and sustainability can move together, leaving the beach and local communities not only cleaner, but more hopeful for the future. And like the tides, the spirit of care that started here has the power to spread in waves far beyond Asbury Park.