Good morning Monmouth County! 4th of July weekend is coming in hot…and humid. There’s of course a ton going on across the county this weekend but please be safe, stay cool, and look out for your neighbors!

🇺🇸 Monmouth County 250

💜 Lavender Extravaganza

🥬 Whole Food Eatontown Opening

🍔 Little Andy’s Burgers at Wheelhouse Distilling

🧨 4th of July Fun

🍎 Farmers Markets

🎭 Axelrod PAC Prepares for Summer Season

🎻 Two River Theater Announces “Tiny Room Concerts”

🌳 Monmouth250 Launch at ParkStage Postponed

🎸 Winslow - The Eagles Tribute

⚾ BlueClaws vs Rome

🏀 Summer Slam Basketball

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

Monmouth County is leading the charge for America’s milestone 250th anniversary, turning the entire region into a vibrant hub of historic pride and star-spangled celebrations. Because of Monmouth's deep roots in the Revolutionary War, the county-wide MonmouthNJ 250 committee has spent months planning an early kickoff that peak this week. The festivities launched in late June with a massive county parade in Middletown and a spectacular patriotic gala at Holmdel's iconic Bell Works. This week, the momentum carries straight into July 4th weekend as the majestic tall ships of Sail 4th 250 return to Sandy Hook Bay on July 3rd, offering a rare, breathtaking glimpse of international vessels gathering for one of the largest maritime events in U.S. history.

Local towns are amplifying the historic birthday energy with massive community festivals that promise to make this holiday weekend unforgettable. Coastal and inland communities alike are pairing their traditional summer openings with special historic tributes, live local music, and food truck lineups. From Long Branch’s legendary Oceanfest sweeping the boardwalk to Union Beach’s America’s Birthday Bash, Keansburg's Family Fun Fest, and the 30th Annual Atlantic Highlands Fireman's Fair, the county is buzzing with unity and excitement. Backed by the community-wide "Fly Your Flag" campaign, neighborhoods across the county are fully decked out in red, white, and blue, creating a powerful sense of local pride as residents celebrate 250 years of independence right where history was made.

Ocean Grove Independence Day Parade | 7/3 10:30am-1pm | Main Ave. (Ocean Grove) | info

Belmar Fireworks & Light Show | 7/3 4pm Beer & Food, 8:45pm Show | Taylor Pavilion (Belmar) | info

3rd of July Fireworks | 7/3 5pm | Front Street (Union Beach) | info

Manasquan 4th of July Fireworks | 7/3 5pm-9:30pm | Beachfront (Manasquan) | info

Union Beach 250th America Birthday Bash | 7/3 5pm-10pm | Front Street (Union Beach) | info

Hazlet Fireworks | 7/3 6pm-9pm | 1776 Union Ave (Hazlet) | info

Colts Neck Fireworks & Festivities | 7/3 Doors 6pm, Fireworks 9:15pm | Bucks Mill Park (Colts Neck) | info

Sea Bright's Annual Independence Day Fireworks Celebration | 7/3 6:30pm | Beach Pavilion (Sea Bright) | info

Independents Day Fireworks | 7/3 9pm | Launching between 1st & 4th Avenue Beaches (Asbury Park) | info

Asbury Park Fireworks | 7/3 9pm | First Ave Boardwalk (Asbury Park) | info

Independence Day Celebration | 7/4 12pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info

Independence Day at Pier Village | 7/4 1pm-10pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Luminocity Dino Safari | 7/3-7/5 F/S 5pm-9:30pm, Su 5pm-9pm | Freehold Raceway Mall (Freehold) | info

Atl. Highlands Fireman's Fair | 7/3-7/4 6pm-11pm | Municipal Harbor Bayfront (Atl. Highlands) | info

America's 250th Birthday Celebration | 7/3-7/5 F/S 11am-11pm, Su 11am-9pm | iPlay America (Freehold) | info

Oceanfest 2026 | 7/4 1pm-10pm | Long Branch Great Lawn & Promenade (Long Branch) | info

Storytime & Crafts | 7/3 11am | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Free Weekend Workshop | 7/4, 7/5 11am | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Character Meet & Greets | 7/4 11am-12pm, 1pm-2pm | Carm's Farm (Colts Neck) | info

Pony Rides | 7/4 10am-12pm | Carm's Farm (Colts Neck) | info

Sea Bright's Tall Cruise Ship | 7/3 7:15pm | Navesink Queen (Atl. Highlands) | info

Firemans Fair | 7/3, 7/4 6pm-11pm | 2 Simon Lake Dr (Atlantic Highlands) | info

9th Annual Family Fun Fest | 7/4 12pm-9pm | Baywalk East, 2 Beachway Ave (Keansburg) | info

Manasquan Ladies Auxiliary Market | 7/5 9am-3pm | Squan Plaza (Manalapan) | info

Founding Father's Pool Party | 7/3 4pm-9pm | The Asbury Hotel (Asbury Park) | info

Private Group Tours of the Paranormal Museum | 7/3 12pm, 1:15pm, 2:30pm, 3:45pm | Paranormal Museum (Asbury Park) | info

Lavender Sunset Extravaganza | 7/3 4pm-8:30pm | Happy Day Farm (Manalapan) | info

90's Night Dance Party | 7/3 9pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Thompson Park Canoe Rentals | 7/3, 7/4 10am-3pm | Thompson Park (Lincroft) | info

Sail 4th 250 | 7/3, 7/4 Various times | Sandy Hook Bay (Middletown) | info

Light Up The Bay- National Light to Unite | 7/4 6pm-8pm | Waterfront Park (Keansburg) | info

Original Asbury Park Ghost Tour Ghosts & Legends Downtown Tour | 7/4 8pm | Paranormal Museum (Asbury Park) | info

Henry Fong- 4th of July | 7/4 9pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Asbury Park Ghosts of the Boardwalk Tour (Dog Friendly) | 7/5 6pm | Bradley Park (Asbury Park) | info

The highly anticipated Whole Foods Market in Eatontown has officially announced its grand opening date for Wednesday, July 29, 2026, marking a major milestone for the borough. Serving as the premier retail anchor for Kushner Companies’ massive $500 million Monmouth Square redevelopment—the open-air town center transforming the former indoor Monmouth Mall site—the new 40,000-square-foot store will offer a sunny, modern design packed with Jersey Shore-inspired pastel tones and raw wood accents. Local foodies have plenty to celebrate, as the shelves will showcase more than 1,000 regional products from Northeast suppliers, including Monmouth County favorites like fresh roasts from Paper Plane Coffee Co. and artisan pastries from Palazzone 1960. Doors open at 8:00 a.m. on opening day, kicking off the festivities with limited-edition tote bags and "Secret Saver" coupons worth up to $100 for the first 300 customers in line, alongside food trucks and community donation events to welcome the neighborhood.

First Ever Bottle Release | 7/3 12pm-10pm | Tall Oaks Farm & Brewery (Farmingdale) | info

Allenhurst Farmers Market | 7/3 10am-2pm | 201 Main Street (Allenhurst) | info

Farmers Market | 7/3 11am-4pm | Hall of Records (Freehold) | info

What the Fork Food Truck | 7/3 2pm-8pm | Tall Oaks Farm & Brewery (Farmingdale) | info

Little Andy's Burgers at Wheelhouse Distilling | 7/3 5pm-8pm | Wheelhouse Distilling (Neptune) | info

Cork & Explore Wine Tasting | 7/3 6pm-8pm | Avenue - Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Highlands Farmers Market | 7/4 8:30am-2pm | Huddy Park (Highlands) | info

Hazlet Farmers Market | 7/4 9:30am-1:30pm | 1776 Union Ave (Hazlet) | info

Red, White, and Bakes | 7/4 10am-10pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info

Four on the Fourth | 7/4 12pm-5pm | 4 JG's Orchard & Vineyard (Colts Neck) | info

Chick Fil-A Food Truck | 7/4 12pm-3pm | Tall Oaks Farm & Brewery (Farmingdale) | info

Asbury Fresh Farmers & Makers Market | 7/5 9am-2pm | Press Plaza (Asbury Park) | info

Marlboro Farmers Market | 7/5 9am-1pm | 444 Route 520 (Marlboro) | info

Belmar Farmers Market | 7/5 9am-1pm | Pyanoe Plaza (Belmar) | info

Howell Farmers Market | 7/5 10am-2pm | Echo Lake Park (Howell) | info

La Tradizione Food Truck | 7/5 12pm-6pm | Tall Oaks Farm & Brewery (Farmingdale) | info

Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck | 7/5 1pm-8pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info

DIY Gin | 7/5 5pm | 3BR Distillery (Keyport) | info

Looking Ahead: July Cocktail Class | 7/9 6pm | Asbury Park Distilling Co. (Asbury Park) | info

Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay | 7/3 11am-12pm | Bayshore Waterfront Park (Port Monmouth) | info

Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir | 7/3 6pm, 7pm | Manasquan Reservoir (Howell) | info

Antique American Flag Display | 7/3 & 7/5 11am-4pm | Chapel - Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info

Monmouth Battlefield Commemoration | 7/4 1pm | Monmouth Battlefield - Outside Visitor Center (Manalapan) | info

Mill Demonstration | 7/4, 7/5 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm | Historic Walnford (Upper Freehold) | info

Walking Tour of the Battlefield | 7/5 1:30pm | Monmouth Battlefield - Visitor Center (Manalapan) | info

The Libby Prison Minstrels | 7/5 1pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info

Then and Now: Sandy Hook's Golden Age Resort | Now through 7/15 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

"The Locals" Art Exhibit | Now through 7/27 Hours Vary | Art629 (Asbury Park) | info

Atlantic Shore Woodturners: Exhibit Case | 7/3-7/31 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Crash Course Art Exhibit | Now through 7/6 F/S 12pm-8pm, Su 12pm-6pm | Parlor Gallery (Asbury Park) | info

Red Bank’s Two River Theater dropped an incredible announcement for theater and music lovers this week. Tony Award-nominated composer and lyricist Joe Iconis (the creative mastermind behind the Broadway hit Be More Chill, which originally launched at Two River) is returning to his roots for a rare series of Tiny Room Concerts from July 23–25. The shows will take place in the theater’s newly activated, ultra-exclusive Victoria J. Mastrobuono Library, which seats a mere 34 people. Iconis, backed by three musicians, will deliver an acoustic evening of beloved theater tracks, deep cuts, and spontaneous storytelling. Because of the tiny 34-seat configuration, tickets went on sale this week and are expected to vanish instantly.

Production and rehearsal news is picking up over at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal. The theater is actively gearing up for its summer blockbuster run of Mean Girls, running from July 17–19. Additionally, excitement is building for late July at their secondary space, the Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel, which just opened ticket sales for an exclusive "Midsummer Celebration" featuring The Midtown Men (the original stars from Broadway's Jersey Boys) on July 29.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) | 7/3 10pm | Count Basie- Cinema House (Red Bank) | info

Young Washington | 7/3-7/5 F 4pm & 7pm, S/Su 1pm, 4pm, 7pm | Smodcastle Cinemas (Atl. Highlands) | info

The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler Coming to Asbury Park | 7/3 7pm-9pm | Over The Moon Art Studios (Asbury Park) | info

Dierdre Foreman - Vagina Monologues | 7/3 5pm-10pm | Over The Moon Art Studios (Asbury Park) | info

ComedySportz | 7/4 7pm-9pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info

Open Mic Night at The Southard Grange Playhouse | 7/5 6pm-9pm | The Southard Grange Playhouse (Howell) | info

The Count Basie Center for the Arts and Monmouth County officials made a major safety call this week regarding their massive, highly anticipated MonmouthNJ 250: The Concert featuring Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. Originally scheduled to kick off the July 4th weekend this Friday at the brand-new, open-air ParkStage venue (East Freehold Park Showgrounds), the show has been officially rescheduled to Friday, July 17, 2026. Organizers jointly agreed that moving the concert out of this week's extreme, dangerously high weekend temperatures was the best way to keep local music fans safe.

Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul & Friends | 7/3 4pm | ParkStage- East Freehold Park Showgrounds (Freehold) | info POSTPONED

Friday Night Concert Series- Wait and See | 7/3 6pm & 8pm | Pyanoe Plaza (Belmar) | info

Open Mic Night | 7/3 6pm-10pm | Twin Lights Brewing (Tinton Falls) | info

Winslow- The Eagles Tribute | 7/3 7pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

Funky Fridays Gazebo Concert | 7/3 7pm-9pm | 10 East Main Street (Freehold) | info

Promised Land | 7/3 8pm | The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) | info

Splintered Sunlight | 7/4 6:30pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

Saturday Serenade Gazebo Concert | 7/4 7pm-9pm | 10 East Main Street (Freehold) | info

Tramps Like Us- The Springsteen Tribute | 7/4 8pm | The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) | info

Black Country, New Road- Horsegirl | 7/5 7pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

FBAC Jazz, Blues & More Summer Concert Series | 7/5 7pm-9pm | 10 East Main Street (Freehold) | info

Kaleb Kohen | 7/5 7pm | The Wonder Bar (Asbury Park) | info

The Guess Who | 7/5 7:30pm | PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel) | info

Wall Firecracker 5 | 7/4 8:35am | 2700 Allaire Rd. (Wall) | info

Game On! Summer of Soccer at Bell Works | Now through 7/19 Various times | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

Goals by the Sea World Cup Watch Party | 6/22 1pm-4pm | Broadway Band Shell (Long Branch) | info

World Cup Watch Party | 7/3, 7/4 F 2pm-8pm, S 1pm-8pm | Asbury Lanes (Asbury Park) | info

Blueclaws vs Rome | 7/3-7/5 F/S 7:05pm, Su 1:05pm | Shoretown Ballpark (Lakewood) | info

Summer Slam Basketball | 7/4 9am-1pm | Indian Hill, Curtis Park, Mallard Park (Manasquan) | info

Fri 7/3: Low 4:12am | High 10:22am | Low 4:10pm | High 10:22pm | Sunrise 5:32am | Sunset 8:30pm

Sat 7/4: Low 4:46am | High 11:02am | Low 4:48pm | High 11:02pm | Sunrise 5:32am | Sunset 8:30pm

Sun 7/5: Low 5:20am | High 11:44am | Low 5:30pm | High 11:47pm | Sunrise 5:33am | Sunset 8:29pm