Jersey Shore Spring Events | blog.firstffcu.com

The unofficial start to Summer is almost here at the end of this month! Be sure to check out these upcoming dates for some free or inexpensive events happening in a town near you.

May 7:

Spring Fling Arts & Crafts Show (Ocean Grove) will take place at Auditorium Square Park (Main Ave. to Pilgrim Pathway) from 10am to 4pm, rain or shine. There will be a wide variety of crafters, artisans and makers. Enjoy live music from Jo Wymer and Chuck Lambert. Don’t miss this day of fun, food, and festivities! Admission is free. Learn more at https://www.oceangrovenj.com/ or call 732.774.1391.

Creative Arts Festival (Lincroft) will begin at 10am and end at 4pm at Thompson Park, and will be held rain or shine. See the works of local artists and fine crafters from all mediums including pottery, jewelry, photography and painting. There will also be live music and food vendors. Admission and parking are free. Learn more here, or call 732.842.4000.

May Day Spring Festival (Seaside Park) will take place from 10am-3pm at Island Beach State Park Swimming Area 1. There will be food trucks, music, family fun, craft and pet vendors. This event will be held rain or shine, there is an $8 suggested donation to attend. Dogs on a leash are invited to attend as well. Learn more here.

Toms River Food Fest will begin at noon and go until 8pm at 33 Washington St in Downtown Toms River. There will be lots of gourmet food trucks, live music, and arts & crafts vendors. Learn more by calling 732.341.8415 or click here.

May 13: Downtown Night Out (Toms River) kicks off again every Friday and Saturday night for the summer, after two long years! Don’t miss the great restaurants and businesses of Downtown Toms River open for outdoor dining, shopping, music and fun on Washington St. Call 732.341.8738 or click here for more information.

May 14:

Vintage Car Show (Ocean Grove) from 10am to 3pm. There will be live music, food, and more! Canned goods or a $5 donation is suggested for car admission. Canned goods will be donated to St. Paul’s Food Pantry. Get more information at https://www.oceangrovenj.com/ or by calling 732.774.1391.

4^th Annual Brew by the Bay (Highlands) from 12-5pm. Hosted by the Seafarer (1 Atlantic Ave.), the event and tastings take place on the picturesque waterfront. Tickets are $35 per person, and include seven 4 oz. tastings and a commemorative pilsner cup. There will be live music, fire pits, and delicious local smoke cuisine. Ages 21 and older to participate. Find out more here, and purchase tickets online. You may also call 732.291.4713 for more details.

May 15: BBQ Jamfest (Pt. Pleasant) from 12-4pm at 710 Arnold Ave. There will be an outdoor cookout with live music, BBQ brisket and ribs, prizes, and cornhole. Tickets are $10 each in advance, or $12 at the door. There is a rain date of 5/22. Learn more here and purchase tickets online. You may also call 732.899.2424.

May 19: The Colts Neck Community Band will host a free concert at Colts Neck High School (59 Five Points Rd.) from 7:30-9:30pm. The concert will include various styles of music and will feature local singer Cheryl Parker. The concert will be open to the public, and all ages are welcome. Find out more at https://coltsneckband.org/

May 21:

Sean Strong Dine to Donate Fundraiser (Farmingdale) will be held at Woody’s Roadside Tavern to benefit NJ State Trooper Sean Acker from 12-5pm. Come and enjoy food and drinks, and there will also be a DJ and a gift auction – all for a great cause. Email seanstrong6889@gmail.com for more information or for sponsorship opportunities.

World Diversity Day Children’s Festival (Freehold) will take place from 1-4pm. This is a free event and will be held at Lake Topenemus Park, 251 Pond Rd. There will be live performances and hands on activities including story telling, sing-a-longs, folk dancing, crafts, book giveaways and more. 5 to 10-year-olds and their families are invited to broaden their horizons, learn acceptance and have a great time! Learn more here.

May 29:

The 21^st Annual Seaport Craft Show (Highlands) will take place from 10am to 5pm at Huddy Park on Bay Ave. Admission is free. Come experience a delightful collection of various handmade crafts from more than 60 crafters and artisans. There will also be live entertainment, and lots of shopping for unique gifts, art, and jewelry. Find out more here or call 732.291.4713.

Viking Village Arts & Crafts Show (Barnegat Light) will take place from 10am to 4:30pm at the Historic Viking Village at 19^th and Bayview Ave. There will be over 70 vendors, fine arts, photography, ceramics, wood crafts, clothing, jewelry and accessories. Admission is free and there is plenty of parking. The event will be held rain or shine. Learn more here or call 609.361.8039.

May 30: The Freehold Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10am in Freehold Borough at 1 East Main St. This parade is the oldest and largest Memorial Day parade in Western Monmouth County, with an average of more than 70 units participating each year. The parade features many military units, veterans groups, bands, fire departments, EMS squads, youth groups, custom designed floats and civilian units. Learn more at https://downtownfreehold.com/ or call 732.462.4580.

We hope you have a great May, and Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms!

Happy Spring! We’re excited to resume our local things to do on a budget monthly blog posts, now that more in-person events are taking place again. Pencil in these dates for some free or inexpensive activities happening in a town near you this month.

April 2:

Run-A-Palooza (Belmar) will take place on the Belmar Boardwalk beginning at 9am and will go through 7pm. Find out more information by calling 732.681.3700 or by visiting Belmar.com

Opening Night at New Egypt Speedway starts at 4pm. The 2022 racing season kicks off this month with Cabin Fever 40 and the battling it out for 40 laps. Adult admission is $23, teens ages 12-15 are $20 and kids under 11 are free. Call 609.758.1900 or visit their website for more information.

April 8:

Spring Fish Fry (Bradley Beach) will be held from 5-8pm at the Bradley Beach Fire Department. Come out to support the fire department at 815 Main Street. Learn more at bradleybeachnj.gov or call 732.776.2999

April 9:

Spring Craft Show (Tinton Falls) will take place at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center (2566 Guam Lane) from 9am to 2pm. There will be plenty of unique items available for purchase including blankets, hair accessories, photography, seasonal décor, and more! Admission and parking are free. Learn more here or call 848.456.4278.

Easter Eggstravaganza (Middletown) begins at 10am and is free to attend. This event takes place at the Middletown Arts Center (36 Church St) and the first 500 kids to attend will receive a goodie bag. There will also be crafts and Easter Bunny photos. Learn more here.

Easter Egg Hunt at Battleview Orchards (Freehold) begins at 1pm. Kids up to age 10 will get to hunt for more than 4,000 eggs! The event is free to attend with a monetary or non-perishable food donation for local charity. Door prizes and refreshments will be available too. Call 732.462.0756 for more details or click here.

April 10:

Peter Cottontail’s Egg Hunt (Lincroft) will be held at Thompson Park from 9am-11am or from 12-2pm. This is a unique egg hunt that includes GPS and even archery! This event is designed for ages 9 to 12. Experience is not needed and equipment will be provided. Pre-registration is required. Learn more and sign up at monmouthcountyparks.com

Palm Sunday Easter Egg Hunt (Seaside Heights) will take place from 1pm-3pm on the beach. More than 10,000 eggs will be buried in the sand at five different age-separated locations (Hancock, Sumner, Hamilton, Franklin and Lincoln Aves). This event is free to attend. For more details, call 732.830.3700 or visit exit82.com

Jenkinson’s Egg Hunt (Pt. Pleasant) at 300 Ocean Ave, begins at 1pm for kids up to age 10. Each participating child will get to dig for 3 Easter eggs in the sand. Sand tools will be provided. Learn more here or call 732.892.0600

Spring Street Fair (Red Bank) will take place on Broad Street, rain or shine. Come out and enjoy Red Bank with crafters, food vendors, rides, and shopping! Call 732.741.9211 or visit redbank.org to learn more.

April 16:

Allaire Village Easter Egg Hunt (Wall) from 11am to 4pm. The cost to attend is $8 per person, and more than 15,000 eggs will be hidden! Tickets must be purchased in advance and can be done here, or call 732.919.3500 for more information.

Pt. Pleasant Beach Recreation Committee Egg Hunt will begin at 1pm. The egg hunt will take place at Pleasure Park on St. Louis Ave, and pre-registration is required. Pizza, snacks, and a craft will also be available for participants to enjoy. For more information, call 732.800.1109 or click here.

April 23:

Monmouth Moms Spring Festival at Bell Works (Holmdel) at 101 Crawfords Corner Road, from 11am-3pm. There will be mother’s day gifts available to purchase, arts & crafts, character visits, face painting, kids activities, local food, story time, over 75 vendors, and more! Learn more here.

April 30:

Spring Craft Show (Wall) will take place at Allaire State Park from 10am-4pm. Admission is $5 per person ages 6 and up. The rain date will be May 1^st. Learn more at https://allairevillage.org/ or call 732.919.3500

Rescue Pawlooza (Neptune) will take place from 3-7pm at the Headliner Oasis Bar. There will be live music, raffle baskets, and drink specials – all to benefit animals in need through Shore Saves. Tickets are $20 each, and can be purchased in advance by calling 848.863.9059, emailing shoresaves@gmail.com or at https://www.shoresaves.com/events

We hope you have a happy Easter, Passover, and Spring season and enjoy the beautiful weather!