39th Annual Festival of the Sea at Point Pleasant Beach shut down

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, New Jersey (WABC) -- The popular annual seafood festival was canceled Saturday afternoon.

The 39th Annual Festival of the Sea at Point Pleasant Beach was shut down, although no businesses were closed.

The cancellation came after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park Saturday shortly before thousands of runners were due to participate in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors, authorities said.

Thousands of people normally attend the seafood festival.

Mayor Stephen Reid says the he cancelled the festival at the advise of homeland security and local police. Mayor Reid will be on the boardwalk at Point Pleasant Beach for the fireworks Saturday night. He says the area surrounding the fireworks was swept, and was deemed safe.

The festival will not be rescheduled for the time being, but the Chamber of Commerce will meet with Mayor Reid this week to see if they can hold the festival at a later date.