Time is running out for crews to finish all the final preparations for this weekend’s Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park.  

As the excitement builds, so do the steps, stages and sand walkways. It’s a massive undertaking to turn Asbury Park into an outdoor concert venue stretching for blocks. 

“Every year, me and my wife come. We haven’t missed one,” said Mike Kelly, of Shark River Hills.  

“It’s unbelievable. It gets bigger every year super exciting to be here before all the crowds come in and it’s so great it’s here in Asbury,” said Carolyn Stack, of Ocean Township.  

The 5th Avenue beach will play host to sculptures and local vendors for the first time as the city works with organizers on “how to increase exits, entrances, signage so people know where the bathrooms are, how to exit the beach,” explained Amy Quinn, Asbury Park’s Deputy mayor.  

“I grew up on the beach and you’re seeing concerts on the beach moving back and forth from one stage to the other and you look to your right and there’s a beautiful blue ocean,” added Kelly.  

Convention Hall will once again become part of the venue, which is music to the ears of vendors and restaurants, like Mutiny Beach.  

“Amazing. I’ve been coming here since Warped Tour back in the day. It’s going to be super cool to actually be part of it, in it, super cool,” said Ivan Gonzalez, a server at Mutiny Beach BBQ.  

But first, there is a lot of work still to do, from replacing sand mats carried off by the rough ocean to making sure the lights turn on.   

“Lenny Kravitz was my first ever concert, so I’m psyched to go see him again about 20 years later,” added Stark.