At The Shore: Fireworks, family events for Fourth of July week
NanetteG
Downbeach
Provided/Fireworks on the beach in Margate.
DOWNBEACH - Let the pyrotechnics begin. It’s time to celebrate America’s independence from tyranny at the Jersey shore.
Fireworks displays will be held in all three Downbeach towns this summer, starting with two mid-week celebrations next week in Ventnor and Margate. The tiny hamlet of Longport reserves its fireworks display until the end of summer when crowds enjoy a holiday weekend celebrating their labors.
“First in fireworks” is Ventnor’s Independence Day Celebration being held Wednesday, July 3. The party begins at 6 p.m. with live music at the beachfront park on Newport Avenue. Ventnor’s own Ricky Stevens, known locally as “The Voice of Ventnor,” will perform at 5:45 p.m. with the Exceptions as the headliner starting at 6:45 p.m. Also offered will be crafters and food vendors.
Fireworks will be bursting in air starting at dusk.
Also on tap is the 52nd annual Ventnor Mile sponsored by Ventnor Recreation that steps off at 7 p.m. at New Haven Avenue and the boardwalk. It’s too late to pre-register, but you can sign-up at the event beginning 5:30 p.m. on race day. Registration is $25 for adults, $20 for children. T-shirts provided while supplies last. Age group awards will be presented at 7:55 p.m. See runsignup.com for more information.
Then, in Margate, enjoy the fireworks display sponsored by the Margate Mothers Association starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. The fireworks will be shot off from the beach at Huntingdon Avenue. The beach will be closed that day to allow pyrotechnic professionals to set up. There are great vantage points anywhere along the beaches from Ventnor to Longport. A good vantage point is on the Ventnor Fishing Pier, which will be open to the public during the fireworks.
Longport celebrates Independence Day with The American Mile, which has become a family tradition, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4. The event is sponsored by and benefits the Longport Volunteer Fire Department.
The fun starts at 11th and Atlantic avenues beginning 6:30 p.m. and travels to the finish line at Pelham Avenue.
Online registration, which closes at midnight July 2, is $25 for adults, $20 for children 10 and under. Pick up race packets at the Longport Firehouse, 2305 Atlantic Ave., between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 4-6 p.m. on race day.
A post-race awards ceremony, which includes hot dogs and drinks at the Firehouse, will be held at 7:15 p.m. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers, along with age group winners.
For information, see https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Longport/TheAmericanMile
Longport ends the 100 days of summer in style with its fireworks display at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.
Fireworks will go off from the beach at 33rd Avenue. The wind or rain date is Aug. 25.
But wait, there's more celebrations and activities at the Jersey shore
By SARAH KNEIFF
For families, there are a ton of things to do over the Fourth of July week that are sure to delight everyone from the littlest member to tweens and teens.
Check out these top attractions that are super family-friendly and tailored to entertain the kiddos.
All attractions and events are located in Ocean City, Sea Isle City, the Wildwoods and other favorite spots up and down the coastline.
ATTRACTIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT:ADVENTURE AQUARIUM
Adventure Aquarium in Camden is home to a vast collection of aquatic animals and offers opportunities to explore life underwater through up-close animal encounters, interactive touch exhibits, and the chance to see and learn about some of the ocean’s rarest and most fascinating species. adventureaquarium.comCAPE MAY COUNTY PARK & ZOO
The Cape May County Park & Zoo is located in Cape May Court House and provides free year-round admission to a collection of more than 550 animals representing 250 species in 85 acres of exhibits. capemaycountynj.gov/1679/Park-ZooThe Cape May County Park & Zoo is located in Cape May Court House.iPLAY AMERICA
Imagine the boardwalk on the Jersey Shore brought inland and blended with a city street complete with a candy store and eateries with indoor rides and attractions all in nearly four acres of pure fun. You’ll find all of that at iPlay America. iplayamerica.comLAKOTA WOLF PRESERVE
Lakota Wolf Preserve, located in the mountains of the Delaware Water Gap in Warren County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of, and education about, wolves, bobcats, foxes, and lynx. Since its inception in 1998, owners James Stein and Becky Mace have grown the preserve to a well-known attraction for visitors of all ages to see these endangered animals up close, while also learning about the importance of preservation of wildlife. lakotawolf.comLAND OF MAKE BELIEVE
For 70 years, Land of Make Believe has provided affordable family fun for all ages with its amusement park and waterpark. New this year is the Spinning Coaster, sure to make you laugh. lomb.comLIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER
LSC is a 300,000-square-foot learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. The Science Center houses 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, hurricane- and tornado-force wind simulators, K-12 classrooms and labs, teacher-development programs, and the Western Hemisphere’s biggest planetarium – the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theater. lsc.orgSEASIDE HEIGHTS BOARDWALK
Stroll the Seaside Heights Boardwalk for family-friendly games, rides, restaurants and entertainment. The Casino Pier also has an amusement park. Also, don’t forget to check out Klee’s Bar & Grill for delicious bites. visitnj.org/city/seaside-heightsTOTALLY TUBULAR AQUA PARK, OCEAN CITY
The Totally Tubular Aqua Park is one of Ocean City’s most fun activities for kids and adults ages 6 and up. Featuring over 8,500 square feet of play area and 20-plus unique features, there are endless paths to explore at the park. Sessions are 45 minutes long and start on the hour. Note that the park is tide dependent, so time slots vary by day. Life jackets are provided and the park is monitored by supervisors at all times. aquaparkocnj.comFireworks will light up the sky for the Fourth of July. (Photo courtesy City of Ocean City)EVENTS:CAPE MAYIndependence Day Fireworks: Congress Street Beach in Cape May at 9 p.m. Rain date is July 5. For more information, call (609) 884-9565 or visit www.capemaycity.comOCEAN CITYWacky Wednesday Pie Eating Contest: Celebrate America’s birthday with a good old-fashioned apple and cherry pie eating contest on July 3. No hands allowed! The contest is free. Open to all ages, but is limited to 150 participants. Takes place at the Ocean City Music Pier and contestants must be present at 10:30 a.m., the start time to participate.
Bike Parade: Sponsored by the Gardens Civic Association. Registration is at 9 a.m. on July 4 at the Ocean City-Longport Bridge parking lot. The parade begins at 10 a.m.
Bike Parade: Sponsored by the South OC Improvement Association, city of Ocean City and the Chamber of Commerce. Registration is at 9 a.m. on July 4 at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
Bike Parade: Sponsored by the Riviera Neighborhood. Registration is at 11 a.m. on July 4 at the Rosemar Lane Park. Parade begins at noon.
Ocean City Pops will perform a free outdoor concert at 8 p.m. on July 4 at Carey Stadium, 6th Street and the Boardwalk. The legendary local orchestra will perform patriotic classics and audience favorites in honor of the nation’s birthday. Bring a beach chair or blanket to sit on the field. There will also be seating available in the bleachers.
Fourth of July Celebration: Kite flying competition at 7 p.m., followed by a Boardwalk fireworks display at 9 p.m. on July 4.
For more information on Ocean City events, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ or (609) 399-6111 or visit www.oceancityvacation.com.Visitors will pack the beaches over the busy holiday.SEA ISLE CITYJunior Olympics: Sea Isle City’s annual Independence Day Junior Olympics competition for boys and girls, age 3 to 12, will take place at Dealy Field on Thursday morning, July 4. During this time-honored event (which is sponsored by the city’s Recreation Office and hosted by volunteers from the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City) kids will compete by age and gender for Olympic-style medals in running, jumping and throwing. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event, and the races take place from 10 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m. Families are reminded to bring hats, sunscreen and bottled water for their young Olympians.
Fireworks: Sea Isle City’s annual Independence Day fireworks display will take place on Thursday, July 4, at 9:15 p.m. The fireworks will be launched from an ocean barge near the 50th Street beach, making Sea Isle’s Promenade and beaches ideal viewing locations.
Bicycle Decorating Contest & Family Dance Party: Children and their families are invited to decorate their pedal-powered tricycles, bicycles, strollers, scooters and wagons in the Sea Isle Recreation Office’s Bicycle Decorating Contest & Family Dance Party on Friday, July 5, at Excursion Park, from 10 a.m. to noon.
For more information, call the Sea Isle City Recreation Office at (609) 263-0050 or go to visitsicnj.com.
Isabelle “Izzy” Lubic, 5, launches herself in the long jump while competing in the Junior Olympics in Sea Isle City on July 4, 2023.STONE HARBORJuly 4 Fireworks: Stone Harbor Recreation Field at 82nd Street, approximately 9:15 p.m. Visit www.shnj.org.
BRANT BEACHFestival of the Sea: The Festival of the Sea is held in the St. Francis Parish & Center parking lot, situated at 4700 Long Beach Boulevard, Brant Beach. There will be food, rides and games. The festival takes place July 2-6 from 6 to 10 p.m. stfrancisparishlbi.orgJERSEY CITYJersey City Festival and Fireworks: The event will be held at the Exchange Place on July 4. It will feature live entertainment, food trucks, music and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. freedomandfireworks.comLONG BRANCHOceanfest is the biggest seasonal event on the Jersey Shore – in fact, it’s the biggest Independence Day celebration anywhere in New Jersey. It happens every July 4 from 1 to 10 p.m. in Long Branch. Each year since 1990, crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands have descended upon the city’s oceanfront promenade for an all-day, family-friendly festival that brings together music, food, a craft sale, street fair, and, of course, fireworks. oceanfestnj.comCape May’s Promenade will be patriotically decorated for the holiday. (Photo courtesy of Cape May County Department of Tourism)THE WILDWOODSIndependence Day Family Parade: Free. 9th and Atlantic avenues, North Wildwood, 9 a.m. (609) 522-2955. www.NorthWildwood.comJuly 4 Patriotic Pooch Parade: Free. Bill Henfey Park, 8th and Atlantic avenues, North Wildwood, 9 a.m. (609) 522-2955 or www.NorthWildwood.comJuly 4 Downtown Wildwood Music in the Plaza Party: Free. Byrne Plaza, 3400 Pacific Ave. Wildwood, 7-10 p.m. Featuring the Juliano Brothers. Fireworks at 10 p.m. visible from the Plaza. (609) 523-1602 or www.DOOWW.comJuly 4 Fireworks Spectacular on the Boardwalk: Free. Fireworks will be launched at 10 p.m. from the Pine Avenue beach in Wildwood and will be visible on the Boardwalk and beyond. Rain date is July 5 at 10 p.m. 609-523-1602 www.DOOWW.com
For more information at events in the Wildwoods, call 800-992-9732 or visit www.WildwoodsNJ.comNEW JERSEY MEADOWLANDSState Fair Meadowlands: The largest fair in New Jersey, State Fair Meadowlands, will have fireworks, over 100 rides and attractions, free entertainment, food and more on July 3 and 4. njfair.com
Provided/Fireworks on the beach in Margate.
DOWNBEACH - Let the pyrotechnics begin. It’s time to celebrate America’s independence from tyranny at the Jersey shore.
Fireworks displays will be held in all three Downbeach towns this summer, starting with two mid-week celebrations next week in Ventnor and Margate. The tiny hamlet of Longport reserves its fireworks display until the end of summer when crowds enjoy a holiday weekend celebrating their labors.
“First in fireworks” is Ventnor’s Independence Day Celebration being held Wednesday, July 3. The party begins at 6 p.m. with live music at the beachfront park on Newport Avenue. Ventnor’s own Ricky Stevens, known locally as “The Voice of Ventnor,” will perform at 5:45 p.m. with the Exceptions as the headliner starting at 6:45 p.m. Also offered will be crafters and food vendors.
Fireworks will be bursting in air starting at dusk.
Also on tap is the 52nd annual Ventnor Mile sponsored by Ventnor Recreation that steps off at 7 p.m. at New Haven Avenue and the boardwalk. It’s too late to pre-register, but you can sign-up at the event beginning 5:30 p.m. on race day. Registration is $25 for adults, $20 for children. T-shirts provided while supplies last. Age group awards will be presented at 7:55 p.m. See runsignup.com for more information.
Then, in Margate, enjoy the fireworks display sponsored by the Margate Mothers Association starting at 9 p.m. Thursday, July 4. The fireworks will be shot off from the beach at Huntingdon Avenue. The beach will be closed that day to allow pyrotechnic professionals to set up. There are great vantage points anywhere along the beaches from Ventnor to Longport. A good vantage point is on the Ventnor Fishing Pier, which will be open to the public during the fireworks.
Longport celebrates Independence Day with The American Mile, which has become a family tradition, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 4. The event is sponsored by and benefits the Longport Volunteer Fire Department.
The fun starts at 11th and Atlantic avenues beginning 6:30 p.m. and travels to the finish line at Pelham Avenue.
Online registration, which closes at midnight July 2, is $25 for adults, $20 for children 10 and under. Pick up race packets at the Longport Firehouse, 2305 Atlantic Ave., between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 4-6 p.m. on race day.
A post-race awards ceremony, which includes hot dogs and drinks at the Firehouse, will be held at 7:15 p.m. Awards will be presented to the top three male and female finishers, along with age group winners.
For information, see https://runsignup.com/Race/NJ/Longport/TheAmericanMile
Longport ends the 100 days of summer in style with its fireworks display at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24.
Fireworks will go off from the beach at 33rd Avenue. The wind or rain date is Aug. 25.
