Plan Your Visit
How to Get Here
This festival is held outdoors at two locations across the street from one another, Tip Seaman County Park and Tuckerton Seaport Museum.
Set the GPS for Exit 58.
Parking with free shuttle bus service is available at Tuckerton Seaport, Freedom Fields County Park, and Pinelands Regional High School.
Once you park your vehicle at any of our parking locations, there will be no need to drive to other locations. Shuttle Buses will be making trips on a regular basis at all four shuttle pickups on both days.
Shuttle Buses Run:
From 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM
Last Shuttle is 5:00 PM
Pro Tip: Wear sneakers, sunblock, and bring a shopping bag. Be prepared to spend time exploring Pinelands and Barnegat Bay culture and Heritage.
How to Get a Festival Program
Festival Programs are free! You can stop by Tuckerton Seaport in advance of the show and pick-up a copy inside the Lighthouse or download a copy from our website. Programs are also distributed to guests as they arrive at the Festival.
How To Get Lunch
The Decoy Show features a large Food Court hosted by local nonprofit groups. Be sure to visit the Tuckerton Library Friends for fresh squeezed lemonade and hot dogs, Tuckerton Methodist American Legion for pulled pork and macaroni salad, First Presbyterian Church for street corn nachos, Masonic Lodge for pork roll, American Legion for meatball sandwiches, VFW for lobster rolls, New Gretna Fire Company for burgers and cheesesteaks, Saint Theresa’s Church for Kielbasa, Pinelands Youth Sports for walking tacos, and more.
How To Make the Most of Your Visit with Your Kiddos
This festival is family-friendly! You will find hands-on FREE folk art activities for kids throughout the grounds.
Be on the look out for the new BYOB, Build Your Own Boat, display as part of Tuckerton Seaport’s Pop-Up Museum. You will have the chance to learn about the ways sneakboxes are powered and then build your own to take home.
Look for the Rubber Duck Scavenger Hunt and earn a prize.
How To Get Souvenir Merchandise
Tuckerton Seaport is the official supplier of Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy & Gunning Show tshirts and sweatshirts. Options this year will include:
- Short Sleeve T-shirts
- Long Sleeve T-Shirts
- Crew Neck Sweatshrits
- Hooded Sweatshirts
These will be available at Tuckerton Seaport’s Pop-Up Gift Shop at the park, located at the entrance to the Food Court as well as in the Gift Shop inside the Lighthouse at the Seaport. Cash and VENMO are accepted at the park, credit cards are accepted inside the Lighthouse.
How To Score Free Boat Tour Tickets
There will be two pontoon boat tours of Tuckerton Creek running throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. These fully narrated tours are approximately 50 minutes and will acquaint you with the local history, folk art, and environment of our region. Follow the link below for your free reservation.
How To Visit the Museum for Free
Tuckerton Seaport will have free museum admission throughout the weekend, free boat tours, free craft stations, and special show-exclusive displays.
Be sure to visit the Hunting Shanty for three new exhibitions:
- Hurley Conklin-Manahawkin’s Master Carver;
- Bird of the Year-Northern Pintail;
- and W. Fred Reitmeyer Behind the Brand- Apprentice, Artist, Teacher with an exclusive viewing of a restored Carl Adams feather edge sneakbox and decoys for a limited time.
Located inside a cultural community, the Seaport is uniquely able to amplify these community voices and introduce the next generation to traditions of the Barnegat Bay region. Meet folk artists who work closely with the Seaport while at the festival then explore their work on display at the museum. The Seaport also hosts over fifty classes each year where you can be engaged in the folk art process with local tradition bearers.
