Atlantic City’s creative community will take center stage Saturday, Sept. 19, when the 48 Blocks Festival returns to the city’s Inlet neighborhood.
Presented by the Atlantic City Arts Foundation, the free, family-friendly festival will run from noon to 8 p.m. at Uptown Park and Fisherman’s Park. The day will feature live music, visual art, theater, dance, poetry, hands-on workshops, food vendors and guided tours of the city’s murals. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20.
The theme of this year’s festival, “Right on Time,” explores trust, faith and the connections that bring people together at just the right moment.
“This festival is a true expression of love and care from the Atlantic City community,” said Tina Notaro, program manager for the Atlantic City Arts Foundation. “Every performance, every installation, all the unique and creative things to explore at the festival are the result of countless hours of artistic practice and collaboration.”
Organizers expect to build on the festival’s centralized format, which attracted about 800 people in 2025. This year’s event will include programming throughout two parks and an open section of Melrose Avenue.
More than a dozen acts will perform continuously across two stages. The Courtside Stage lineup includes Mums the Word, Grupo La Nueva Era, Mules of the Cellar, Tiffani and the AC Soul Line Dancers, Gypsy Funk Squad, Passion Project and DJs from Stockton University radio station WLFR 91.7 FM.
The Garden Stage will feature Joe McGinty, Gina Roche, Soup Can Magazine, Malcolm Tent, Comics in Color with Raymond Tyler and Boardwalk-themed plays with Heidi Mae.
The Melrose Avenue Market will feature 18 art and craft vendors, along with local food pop-ups. Visitors can also participate in artmaking, clay, glassblowing, tie-dye and collage workshops and watch artists create work during live demonstrations.
Free guided jitney tours will depart hourly along multiple routes, showcasing new additions to Atlantic City’s collection of public art.
More than 15 community organizations will participate in the festival. The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University will host a “Cyanokites” workshop, where participants can build flyable kites while learning about cyanotype sun-exposure printing. MudGirls Studios will offer a community clay workshop.
Skate AC and Heart of Surfing will provide adaptive skateboarding lessons and demonstrations for participants of all ages. C.R.O.P.S. will lead garden tours and share information about fresh produce. Nike community ambassadors will operate a movement zone with inclusive activities designed to help children develop skills, build confidence and stay active.
“We invite residents and visitors alike to enjoy Local Summer with us and a distinguished cast of visual and performing artists,” said Michael Atkins, executive director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation.
The festival is presented with support from the Inlet Community Development Corp. and Atlantic Cape Community College. The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority also supports the event.
Additional sponsors include Atlantic City Electric, Copiers Plus, Lang’s Garden, Cozy Cohost, the Schultz-Hill Foundation and Vista Convention Services.
The 48 Blocks Festival will be held near 420 Melrose Ave. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.
For more information, visit https://atlanticcityartsfoundation.org/48blocksfestival2026.
The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that works to expand access to public art and strengthen community pride. Its programs include Atlantic City’s mural arts initiative, which has produced 106 murals, and ARTeriors, which transforms vacant commercial properties into temporary galleries featuring local artists. The foundation also presents arts programming and community projects throughout the year.
