Attention those of you looking for the kef of the summer…

Return to Asbury is hitting the beach for our 6TH YEAR in a row!

And this time, we have the one and only Onnik Dinkjian joining us, returning to play in Asbury Park for the first time in over 40 years!

Last year, Return to Asbury raised enough money to donate 35 handmade shvis (a simple Armenian woodwind instrument) to the children of the Hovnanian School in New Milford, New Jersey. This year we plan to make a new gift of Armenian instruments to the Hovnanian School music department. Depending on the amount of funds we are able to raise, additional gifts to other Armenian schools and Armenian music programs may also be possible.

Click on the Eventbrite button below and please help support this great cause of Armenian music, and share it with your friends and family!

EVENTS

Friday, August 25th

KICKOFF COCKTAILS – 7pm-12am

Start the weekend off in style with happy hour cocktails at the exclusive Watermark Lounge on Asbury Park’s famous boardwalk.

The Watermark is located at 800 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

Saturday, August 25th 

BEACH DAY – 11am
Enjoy a day at the 7th Avenue Beach. Make sure you bring some pocket money for beach passes, and look for the Armenian flags in the sand!

KEF PARTY: MAIN EVENT – 8pm-2am
Kef party featuring live Armenian music, mezze, cash bar, and dancing at the The Berkeley Hotel.

Featuring the King of Kef himself…

ONNIK DINKJIAN!

with:

Ara Dinkjian – Keyboard
Steve Vosbikian, Jr. – Clarinet
David Hoplamazian – Violin
Raffi Massoyan – Oud
Christopher Vosbikian – Dumbeg
James Kzirian – Dumbeg

HOTEL

We have arranged for a discount room block for attendees at the Berkeley Hotel, which expires on August 11th.

To reserve your room, please visit:
https://make-reservations.com/web/en/choose-room/BER/2017-08-25/2017-08-27/RETURNTO/BER/Berkeley-Oceanfront-Hotel

Or you can call the hotel directly at (732) 776-6700 and mention discount code ‘RETURNTO’!

BACKGROUND

For Armenians on the East Coast in the 1950s and 60s, Asbury Park, New Jersey was THE place to come together on summer weekends. Days were spent on the beach and in the water, and at night everyone would gather at places called the Hye Hotel, the Van Hotel, the Sunset Lounge, and the Hye-Da-Way Kef Room…crowds lining the sidewalks, late night hook-ups, and the sounds of oud and doumbeg filling the air.

With Return to Asbury, we’re bringing back this summer tradition — in perfect symmetry with the historic beach town of Asbury Park, which is currently in the midst of its own exciting rebirth!

ADDITIONAL INFO

Tickets to all events can ONLY be purchased from this page. Because of restrictions with the venues, please note that tickets CANNOT be sold at the door. There are NO REFUNDS once tickets have been purchased. Please plan ahead!

Have questions, or a story or photo to share from the past? Please reach out to us at info@returntoasbury.org.