For Immediate Release:
June 21, 2012
July in Monmouth County is fun for everyone
Fireworks, festivals, fairs and concerts head the bill
FREEHOLD, NJ – There is no better place to be than Monmouth County in summer. The weather is hot and so is the entertainment. Outdoor concerts, festivals, fairs, fireworks shows and more are all presented along a beautiful coastline.
Combine this with a varied July calendar that does not leave even one day with nothing to do. Frankly, it is hard to see why anyone would want to be anywhere else.
Fireworks paint the skies red white and blue as we kick off July with the celebration of America’s independence. July 4 falls on a Wednesday this year, so take a long weekend on either end and enjoy the many festivities and firework shows going on throughout the area.
One of the most popular Fourth of July celebrations is Long Branch’s annual OceanFest. Stop by the Oceanfront Promenade for food, vendors, bands and exhibits during the day, and enjoy one of the state’s largest firework displays at night.
The Independence Day celebration begins even before July 4, however, at Historic Allaire Village on July 1. Go back in time to 1836 and relive the day James Allaire declared Independence Day a holiday for his workers, complete with militia drills and games of the period.
The excitement does not end there. Fireworks and festivities are in Manasquan, Keansburg, Freehold, Ocean Township and Hazlet on July 3; in Asbury Park and Long Branch on July 4; in Atlantic Highlands on July 6, and in Bradley Beach on July 7. There are Independence Day concerts on July 3 and 4 in Ocean Grove’s Grand Auditorium as well as a parade on July 4, also in Ocean Grove.
And the fun continues. The Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair will be held at Simon Lake Drive from July 3 through July 7. Spring Lake’s Garden tour is July 5, and its Summer Art Walk is July 7. The Middletown Jazz and Blues Festival is July 7, and the wildly popular West End Classic Car Cruise Night, with custom cars and entertainment, is July 14 in Long Branch.
Bradley Beach’s annual Lobster Festival is July 14 and 15. Be sure not to miss this event, loaded with great food, spirits, crafts and specialty vendors and even a giant waterslide. And let’s not forget about the 38th Annual Monmouth County Fair being held at East Freehold Park from July 25 through July 29. The event boasts animal shows and exhibits, rides and amusements, stage entertainment, a home and garden competition and opening night fireworks.
The 2012 Haskell Invitational comes to Monmouth Park on July 29. Mark your calendars for the biggest race of the summer. The Red Bank Food and Wine Walk will be held every second and fourth Sunday throughout the summer. Also in Red Bank is the 58th Annual Sidewalk Sale July 27 through July 29. On July 14, walk off all that delicious festival food at the Belmar 5, an annual 5-mile run.
Outdoor activities continue to be the theme of the summer. You can find a farm market, flea market, or craft show almost every weekend throughout the county. Activities on the beach and in the sand include the Bradley Beach Lifeguard Invitational on Clint Avenue in Bradley Beach and the Annual NJ Sandcastle Contest on 18th Avenue in Belmar on July 18.
Finally, never disappointing our music and theater enthusiasts, the list of live concerts and shows in July is impressive. Highlights include Frank Sinatra Jr., G. Love, Wynonna Judd and America. There also are weekly free concert series in Long Branch, Red Bank, Belmar, Sandy Hook, Middletown and Freehold and a weekly drum circle on Sea Bright beach, as well as weekly free movie series in various locations throughout the area.
You can find more detailed information at www.visitmonmouth.com. Click on the Tourism tab to find the Calendar of Events, Monmouth County Tourism’s comprehensive source for concerts, plays, exhibits, history, shopping and more. You can also call 800-523-2587 to have a packet of information mailed to you, or stop by the office at 1 E. Main St., Freehold, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays to browse the extensive literature. The calendar is updated every day, so it’s the best source for current information.
The next time you are logged in to Facebook, be sure to “like” the Monmouth County Tourism page. And if you use Twitter follow us there, too. That’s two more ways to keep up with all the great things to do and see in Monmouth County this July.
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