9 Great Upcoming Jersey Shore Festivals
- 1
Bradley Beach Lobsterfest
June 27 and 28
500 Ocean Avenue, Bradley Beach
Admission: Free
Bradley Beach Lobsterfest is back for its seventh year. Enjoy everything from plain lobster to lobster mac and cheese to lobster rolls. The festival also features musical performances, a water slide, face painting, sand art, and a beer and wine garden, all right along the beach.
- 2
Ocean County Fair
July 8 to 12
Robert J. Miller Air Park, Route 530 Berkeley.
Admission: $7, free for children under 10
Bwana Jim's wildlife show will be back this year, along with a hypnosis show, vaudevillian comedy, pig racing and a horse show.
- 3
St. Mary's Nights of Summer Carnival
July 14 to 19
Parish Center, McKinley Avenue and Bishop Lane, Manahawkin
Admission: Free, $25 wristband for unlimited rides
St. Mary's Parish in Manahawkin is transformed into a carnival playground. All the classic rides will be there, plus bumper cars and the always popular dunk tank. There's the typical carnival fare, or you can get crab cake sandwiches and even raw clams.
- 4
Summer in the Street
July 18
Washington Street, Toms River
Admission: Free
New this year, replacing the New Jersey Ice Cream Festival, Summer in the Street will shut down Washington Street, bringing a carnival atmosphere to downtown Toms River.
- 5
Italian Festival of Ocean Township
August 5 to 9
Joe Palaia Park, 200 Whalepond Road, Oakhurst
Admission: Free
More than 80,000 people annually attend this five-day festival featuring carnival rides, games, music, fireworks and, of course, plenty of delicious Italian food.
- 6
Festival of the Sea
September 19
Arnold and Bay Avenues, Point Pleasant Beach
Admission: Free
The best local local restaurants will be serving up samples, so get your fill of seafood before the summer ends.
- 7
Long Branch Jazz and Blues Festival
August 29
The Great Lawn at Cooper Avenue, Long Branch
Admission: Free
Some of the area's best jazz and blues bands take the stage at a stunning location, overlooking the ocean in Long Branch.
- 8
Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair
June 30 to July 4
Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor, 2 Simon Lake Avenue, Atlantic Highlands
Admission: Free
It's a classic community carnival in a scenic setting, overlooking the New York skyline at the Atlantic Highlands marina. Opening nightly at 6 p.m., the fair features traditional rides, games, giveaways and food, all supporting the Atlantic Highlands Fire Department.
- 9
Monmouth County Fair
July 22 to 26
East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold
Admission: $8
One of the largest annual events in the county, featuring rides, 4-H exhibits, a home and garden tent, fireworks and hundreds of crafters and vendors.