FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 27, 2009

August is bustling with activities for every taste

FREEHOLD – August is peak tourism season in Monmouth County and there are plenty of activities to satisfy everyone’s taste.

Some of the county’s largest events are on tap: The Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, Oceanport, is Aug. 2, and the Italian Festival in Ocean Township is Aug. 12 through Aug.16. If auto racing is your thing, the Jet Car Nationals and Monster Truck Meltdown is at Old Bridge Raceway Park on Aug. 5, and there’s racing every Saturday at Wall Stadium.

The Haskell is the nationally famous race for the country’s top thoroughbred horses. Typically,  50,000 people or more attend and millions more watch it on television. The Italian Festival, sponsored by the Italian-American Association of the Township of Ocean, attracts 100,000 visitors during its weeklong run at Joe Palaia Park. Thousands of people enjoy the speed and thunder at the Jet Car Nationals each summer as well as racing at Wall Stadium.

The month begins Aug. 1 with The Sons of Italy Festa Italiana on the Bradley Beach boardwalk and the Gigantic Yard Sale at Historic Allaire Village in Allaire State Park in Wall Township. The same day, former Mets and Yankees slugger Darryl Strawberry will appear at First Energy Park in Lakewood to benefit autism research. Also Aug. 1, ArtsCAP presents signer-songwriter Rachel Garlin in Asbury Park and Steven Curtis Chapman appears at Ocean Grove’s famed Great Auditorium.

There’s a temperance rally at Allaire Village on Aug. 2, the National Night Out in Long Branch is Aug. 4, and the 15th annual Highlands Clam Festival will be held Aug. 6 through Aug. 9. The opera “I Puritani” will be performed at the Pollack Theatre at Monmouth University on Aug. 7; the 15th annual Woods Hollow Mountain Bike Race is in Tatum Park, Middletown, is on Aug.8, as is Ocean Grove History Day and the Asbury Park 5K to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Monmouth County.

“Over the Boardwalk: A New Musical” will be presented by the Belmar Summer Theatre at the Belmar Elementary School Aug. 13 through Aug. 16. The NJ Professional Sand Sculpting Festival is Aug. 15 and16 at Monmouth Park, and Tommy James and the Shondells and The Rascals will appear at the Ocean Grove Great Auditorium Aug. 15. “Born to Tri” a triathlon is Aug. 16 in Asbury Park. The 19th annual Colts Neck Country Fair is Aug. 20 through Aug. 23. The Shore Chef Crab Cake Cookoff, featuring some of the state’s best chefs, is Aug. 22 and23 at Monmouth Park, and the Clearwater Festival is Aug. 22 in Asbury Park.

There are antique car shows, blues concerts, dancing, fishing, bird watching, farm markets, art exhibits and much more. A complete listing can be found at www.visitmonmouth.com tourism Calendar of Events, or by calling 1 800 523-2587 to have a package of literature mailed to you within 24 hours of the request.

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