Toms River, NJ… If winter’s frigid temperatures have you longing for spring, why not get a head start on warmer days by pre-purchasing tasting kit tickets for Downtown Toms River’s fabulous spring and summer festivals!

The 21st Annual New Jersey State Chili and Salsa Cook-off takes place on Saturday, May 15th and the 8th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival happens on Saturday, July 17th. Both festivals are held on Washington Street in Downtown Toms River.

Tasting kit tickets for both events are on sale now at the following locations:
 
Downtown Toms River office, 218 Main Street, 732-341-8738; Beachwood Bicycles, 101 Highway 166, Beachwood, 732-349-2333; Simply Skin, 313 West Water Street, Toms River, 732-505-9448. Tasting kits tickets can also be purchased by mail. Just visit www.downtowntomsriver.com, click on Events and print out the order form for each festival.

Michael Redpath, Executive Director for Downtown Toms River says “people who pre-purchase their tasting kit tickets are actually saving $1 per tasting kit, versus purchasing the tasting kit the day of the event.” Tasting kit tickets are $7 in advance for the chili festival (day of event $8) and $6 for the ice cream festival (day of event $7).
 
The 21st Annual New Jersey State Chili and Salsa Cook-off features nearly 60 chili and salsa contestants from around New Jersey and across the East Coast. Festival attendees who purchase tasting kits visit the booth of each People’s Choice contestant, sample their entry, then vote for their favorites.
 
The 8th Annual New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival is a favorite for ice cream lovers. The event is held in celebration of National Ice Cream month, and tasting kits provide attendees with the opportunity to sample and vote on entrants in the People’s Choice competition. Each year quality ice cream parlors from around the state and some nationally known companies participate with flavors ranging from old time favorites to the new and unusual. 2009 People’s Choice local winner Hoffman’s Ice Cream was honored for their luscious version of mint chocolate chip; festival attendees have also had the pleasure of sampling ice cream entries like blueberry pie, Oreo, cinnamon buns and one called “Lobster Tracks” which actually had no real lobster, just gummy lobsters covered in red tinted white chocolate in a rich vanilla ice cream.

The New Jersey State Chili and Salsa Cook-off and the New Jersey State Ice Cream Festival are sponsored by Comcast, Extra Space Storage, New Jersey Natural Gas, United Water of Toms River, Capone’s Restaurant, radio stations WJRZ and The WRAT and Allen Consulting. For further information on Downtown Toms River’s full calendar of events, visit www.downtowntomsriver.com or call 732-341-8738 or 732-946-2711.