This year’s Carolina Beach Music Festival hits a milestone, marking 30 years of the event.

Held June 6, this year’s fest features musical performances by Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot, Band of Oz and headliners Jim Quick and Coastline.

Touted by the Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce as “the longest running beach festival that still takes place on the beach,” the live-music action happens on Carolina Beach’s oceanfront stage. While attendees often gather along the beach in the sand, the stage is perched along the area’s recently revamped boardwalk.

The expanded boardwalk is more visitor-friendly, with updates including shaded seating and ADA-beach access spots. Since the pedestrian-only area was also widened, it will enable crowds – like those for the beach music festival – easier access in and out of the area, said Pleasure Island Chamber of Commerce executive director Greg Reynolds.

This year’s event will offer something new to the lineup – craft beer. Carolina Beach brewery Good Hops Brewing and downtown-based Front Street Brewery will sell their brews on-site.

Coolers are still allowed, but Reynolds said that this is the first year that beer vendors will be at the event. Now fest-goers won’t have to forfeit the music for a store run, if beverage supplies run dry.

Last but not least, the event stage, Reynolds said, is bigger and an improved setup. The addition of a roof to the platform solved one challenge, he said.

“With the newer stage, we don’t have to worry about using tarps, which could be problematic in the winds off the ocean,” Reynolds said. “With these changes and [the 30th Anniversary], we’re looking forward to continuing the tradition with the best beach bands in our area.”

Meanwhile, weekly events along the boardwalk, located between Cape Fear Boulevard and Harper Avenue, continue throughout the summer season. These include Family Night on Tuesdays and the Boardwalk Blast concert series – with a fireworks display – on Thursday nights.