Even without the clamor of a cook-off at the actual event this year, a free two-day Bayfront Festival brought a spirited crowd of thousands Oct. 2 and 3 to the peak of ChowderMonth.

“The two-day festival was the largest gathering on LBI since the pandemic, with over 10,000 in attendance,” said Lori Pepenella, CEO of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce, which presented the event.