Jersey Shore Events & Festivals
From beach music festivals to Victorian celebrations, there's always something happening from Sandy Hook to Cape May.
Nov 13–15
This Weekend at the Shore
- Sugarland at the BorgataNov 13Atlantic City
- LBI Surf Fishing ClassicAug 29 – Nov 29Long Beach Island
- Jersey Shore Restaurant Week (Fall)Nov 6–15Belmar
Choose your stay
Check Atlantic City staysCompare the full price and cancellation terms
Some links may earn us a commission. Learn more
Can’t-Miss Events Coming Up
Destination events first, then everything else with a confirmed date
The Wildwoods Holiday Spectacular
December 5
Wildwood
Holiday concert at the Convention Center with The Duprees, benefiting the Bobby Rydell Foundation.
First Night Ocean City
December 31
Ocean City
Family New Year's Eve across Ocean City, December 31, 4 PM to midnight.
Wildwood Polar Bear Plunge
January 16
Wildwood
Special Olympics NJ fundraising plunge at the Wildwoods Convention Center beach in January.
Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights
February 27
Seaside Heights
Seaside Heights polar bear plunge raising money for Special Olympics NJ.
LBI Surf Fishing Classic
August 29 - November 29
Long Beach Island
Surf fishing tournament with $25,000+ in prizes.
Cape May Holiday Preview Weekend & Physick Estate Tree Lighting
November 21
Cape May
Dickens village transformation kicks off Cape May holiday season.
By season
Fall at the Shore
Festivals, Halloween, the striper run
Halloween at the Shore
Parades, trick-or-treats and haunts, town by town
October Calendar
Every dated October event
Local Summer
After Labor Day through October
Holidays at the Shore
Thanksgiving weekend to First Night
The Fall Run
Striped bass, blues and albies, Sept–Dec
Events by Category
Book a Room for Your Event Weekend
Compare places to stay for your Jersey Shore trip on Booking.com.
Some links may earn us a commission. Learn more
Featured Event Guides
Atlantic City Casino Shows
Concerts, comedy, and residencies at Hard Rock, Borgata, Ocean Casino, and more.
Beach Volleyball Tournaments
Belmar Pro/Am, Seaside NJBVA series, Ocean City Classic — the full tournament calendar.
Boardwalk Food Festivals
NJ Seafood Festival, LBI Chowderfest, Festival of the Sea, and 5+ more.
Popular Events by Town
Advertisement
Events by Month
Weekly Summer Fireworks
| Town | Day | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Seaside Heights | Wed | 9:30 PM |
| Wildwood | Fri | 10:00 PM |
| Point Pleasant Beach | Thu | 9:30 PM |
| Ocean City | Sat | 9:00 PM |
| Brick | Thu | Dusk |
| Atlantic City | Sat | 10:00 PM |
Weekly fireworks run Memorial Day through Labor Day. Weather permitting.
Events by County
Seasonal Highlights
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Peak season brings July 4th fireworks at every town, weekly fireworks shows, Barefoot Country Music Fest, Jersey Pride, and outdoor concerts at Stone Pony Summer Stage.
View July Events →Fall (Sep-Nov)
The best events season: Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury, Victorian Weekend and Exit Zero Jazz in Cape May, Irish Fall Festival in Wildwood, Chowderfest on LBI, and the NJ League of Municipalities Conference in Atlantic City.
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Cape May transforms into a holiday village with Christmas tours and events. Polar Bear Plunges kick off the new year. First Night celebrations in Ocean City.
View December Events →Spring (Mar-May)
St. Patrick's Day parades in Belmar and Seaside Heights, Cape May birding festivals, Somers Point Bayfest, and NJ Seafood Festival in Belmar.
View March Events →Advertisement
First Time? Read This.
Check Official Sites
Dates and details change yearly. Verify with official event websites before making travel plans.
Arrive Early
Popular events cause traffic and parking challenges. Arrive early or consider staying overnight.
Weather Backup
Outdoor events may be weather-dependent. Check forecasts and have indoor backup plans.
Event Packing Guide
Major shore events require preparation. Here's what experienced festival-goers bring.
Beach Music Festivals
Sea.Hear.Now, Barefoot Country Music Fest
- ✓ Waterproof phone case
- ✓ Sunscreen SPF 50+
- ✓ Portable charger
- ✓ Cash (food/merch)
- ✓ Light rain jacket
Check the festival's bag and bottle policy before you pack.
Multi-Day Celebrations
Victorian Weekend, Irish Fall Festival
- ✓ Comfortable walking shoes
- ✓ Layers for changing temps
- ✓ Small backpack
- ✓ Snacks
- ✓ Camera
Victorian Weekend spans multiple venues. Wear broken-in shoes.
Fireworks & Parades
July 4th, Night in Venice, St. Patrick's parades
- ✓ Blanket or chairs
- ✓ Bug spray
- ✓ Cooler with drinks
- ✓ Flashlight for after
- ✓ Patience for traffic
Arrive early for a spot and bring something for the wait.
Winter Events
Polar Bear Plunge, Christmas in Cape May
- ✓ Warm layers
- ✓ Hand/toe warmers
- ✓ Thermos with hot drinks
- ✓ Waterproof outer layer
- ✓ Hat and gloves
For Polar Bear Plunge, bring dry clothes, towels, and a change of shoes in a sealed bag.
Advertisement
Event Transportation Guide
Getting to and from shore events can be the hardest part. Here's how to plan.
Arrive Early, Leave Late
Beat crowds both ways. Explore the town before/after. Traffic is worst right after events end.
Best for: All events
Book Nearby Lodging
Walk to event, walk back. No parking stress.
Best for: Multi-day events (Victorian Weekend, Sea.Hear.Now)
Use Public Transit
NJ Transit trains serve Asbury Park and Atlantic City. No parking fees, no designated driver needed.
Best for: Events in Asbury Park, Atlantic City
Rideshare with Patience
Rideshare prices rise right after an event ends. Walking a few blocks from the venue first can help.
Best for: Smaller events, evening shows
Parking by Event
| Event | Parking Situation | Pro Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Sea.Hear.Now | Limited | Walk from an Asbury Park hotel or take the train |
| Victorian Weekend | Limited in the historic district | Stay within walking distance if you can |
| Irish Fall Festival | Metered streets and municipal lots | The festival is in North Wildwood; see its parking guide |
| July 4th anywhere | Heavy in every town | Stay overnight or arrive without a car |
Crowd-Beating Strategies
Smart timing lets you enjoy events without fighting crowds.
Attend opening day/hours
The first day and the opening hour of a festival tend to be the quietest.
Example: Check the Friday schedule of a weekend festival such as Victorian Weekend.
Go during "off-hours"
Mid-afternoon tends to have shorter lines.
Example: Sea.Hear.Now: catch opening acts while others nap off lunch.
Target secondary locations
Main stages/areas are packed. Side events often have equal quality with fewer people.
Example: Look past the headline listings on the event schedule.
Leave 30 min before end
You miss the finale but leave ahead of the exit traffic.
Example: Leave a fireworks show a few minutes before the finale.
Advertisement
First-Timer's Guide
Never been to a Jersey Shore event? Here's what to expect.
Prices
Reality: Food and drink inside a festival costs more than in town.
How to adapt: Eat before arriving and bring snacks where they are allowed.
Weather
Reality: Shore weather changes fast, especially in spring and fall.
How to adapt: Layers are key. Bring rain gear even if forecast is clear. Check morning of.
Cell Service
Reality: Service can be unreliable in large crowds.
How to adapt: Establish meeting points. Download offline maps. Save important info as screenshots.
Food & Beverage Strategy
All-day events require a food strategy. Here's how to stay fueled without going broke.
Food Tips
Eat a big breakfast
Start with a full meal. You'll last until mid-afternoon.
Bring snacks if allowed
Energy bars, fruit, nuts. Check the festival's outside-food policy.
Hydrate before you arrive
Drink water before you go in.
Split festival food
Portions are huge. Share with friends, try more variety.
Scout food vendors first
Walk the whole area before buying. Best options aren't near entrance.
Eat at off-peak times
Lines are longest at midday. Eat earlier or later.
Alcohol Tips
- • Buy 2 drinks at once to avoid double lines
- • Drink water between alcoholic drinks
- • Know your limit—shore sun intensifies effects
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the biggest events at the Jersey Shore?
Destination events include Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park (September), Barefoot Country Music Fest in Wildwood (June), Irish Fall Festival in North Wildwood (September), Victorian Weekend in Cape May (October), and the Polar Bear Plunge in Seaside Heights (February).
What Jersey Shore events are free?
Free events on our records include the Night in Venice boat parade, the Irish Fall Festival, July 4th fireworks, weekly summer fireworks at Seaside Heights and Wildwood, the NJ Seafood Festival, Somers Point Bayfest, and the St. Patrick's Day parades.
What events happen at the Jersey Shore in the off-season?
Cape May has Victorian Weekend (October), the Christmas Candlelight House Tour (December), the Exit Zero Jazz Festival (May and October), and spring and fall birding festivals. The Polar Bear Plunge is in January in Wildwood and February in Seaside Heights. St. Patrick's Day parades run in March.
Where can I watch fireworks at the Jersey Shore?
Weekly summer fireworks happen at Seaside Heights (Wednesdays), Wildwood (Fridays), Point Pleasant Beach (Thursdays), and Ocean City (Saturdays). July 4th brings displays up and down the shore.
Seasonal Guides
Destination Event Guides
These signature events are worth planning an entire trip around. Our in-depth guides have everything you need.
Sea.Hear.Now
Asbury Park's music & surf festival
Victorian Weekend
Cape May's signature celebration
St. Patrick's Day
10 parades across the Irish Riviera
Irish Fall Festival
North Wildwood, late September
Polar Bear Plunge
Winter charity ocean dip
Barefoot Country
4-day beach country fest
Night in Venice
Ocean City's decorated-boat parade
AC Air Show
Atlantic City airshow — June 4–6, 2027
Thunder Over the Waves
Wildwood airshow — 133K+ attended debut
OC Music Pier
Temptations, Bruce Hornsby & more
Pride Month
Jersey Pride June 7 & shore-wide
Father's Day
June 21 charters & brunch guide
Fourth of July
Fireworks & Oceanfest guide
Wildwood Summer
Free fireworks, Barefoot Fest & more
Exit Zero Jazz
Cape May jazz festival
Shows & Entertainment
Beyond festivals and celebrations, the shore has a thriving entertainment scene. Casino headliners, summer concert series, comedy clubs, and performing arts venues offer year-round options.
Explore Shore Entertainment →Sports & Outdoor Events
The shore hosts major fishing tournaments, marathons, triathlons, and classic car shows throughout the year. From marlin tournaments to triathlons.
Plan Your Event Trip
Review each provider's cancellation, payment and deposit terms
Festivals & fairs
Every seafood festival, county fair, craft show and music fest on the Jersey Shore calendar, listed month by month.
Browse all NJ festivals & fairs →Event calendars by town
Every festival, parade, fireworks night and concert for the shore towns with the fullest calendars.
- Asbury Park37 events
- Atlantic City110 events
- Avalon13 events
- Barnegat Light16 events
- Beach Haven18 events
- Bradley Beach9 events
- Cape May50 events
- Long Branch20 events
- Manasquan13 events
- North Wildwood29 events
- Ocean City62 events
- Ocean Grove10 events
- Point Pleasant Beach14 events
- Sea Isle City19 events
- Seaside Heights10 events
- Ship Bottom10 events
- Historic Smithville9 events
- Toms River14 events
- Ventnor8 events
- West Cape May8 events
- Wildwood55 events
- Wildwood Crest23 events
Never Miss a Shore Event
Get festival dates, fireworks schedules, and event updates delivered to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Conferences & Business Events
Atlantic City's Convention Center hosts major conferences throughout the year, drawing thousands of professionals to the shore. Plan your business trip with our guides.
Ready to Go?
Find the perfect town and book your stay for the big event.
Advertisement
Quick Links
Popular Guides
This weekend at the Shore, every Thursday
Every Thursday, the weekend’s festivals and parades, a reminder before the big ones, and a planning guide on the 1st.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.