Cultural & Heritage at the Jersey Shore
Victorian festivals, Irish celebrations, Italian feasts, and heritage events
87
Events
5
Major Festivals
34
Free Events
10
Months Active
Destination Cultural & Heritage
Major cultural & heritage worth planning your trip around.
March 28, 2026
12:30pm
NJ's largest St. Patrick's Day parade with 100,000+ spectators.
Highlights
June 7, 2026
11am-7pm
NJ's largest LGBTQ+ celebration with parade, entertainment, and community celebration.
Highlights
June 13-28, 2026
Varies by event
Music, comedy, and arts across Asbury Park, Newark, and Atlantic City — extended to July 19, 2026.
Highlights
September 25-27, 2026
Varies; parade Sunday down Surf Avenue
Largest Irish festival on the East Coast with music, dancing, boxing, and grand parade.
Highlights
October 9-12, 2026
Various events throughout
Cape May's signature Victorian celebration with house tours, dinners, and themed events.
Highlights
Major Cultural & Heritage
Comics, collectibles, and pop culture convention with celebrity guests.
One of largest St. Patrick's Day parades on the East Coast.
38th annual parade down AC Boardwalk with casino celebrations.
Parade past Stone Pony and Wonder Bar celebrating Irish heritage.
24th annual independent film celebration in Asbury Park with screenings and panels.
200,000 tulips in bloom with garden tours, wine tastings, and trolley tours.
3-day youth entertainment festival with music, wrestling, and fashion at Showboat.
18th annual film festival named among world's 25 coolest by MovieMaker magazine.
New Jersey Irish Festival
Oceanport
Irish music, dance, food, and culture celebration at Monmouth Park.
Italian Festival & Wine Tasting
Oceanport
Italian food, wine tasting, and live racing at Monmouth Park.
Matt Rife brings the Stay Golden World Tour to Ocean Casino Resort's Ovation Hall for four shows across July 24-25, 2026.
Nikki Glaser brings The Stunning Tour to Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM.
Lower Township's America 250 celebration at the ferry terminal with The Amish Outlaws, food trucks, children's rides and an 8:30 PM drone show.
Chance the Rapper headlines the outdoor Stone Pony Summer Stage in Asbury Park on a Sunday evening.
End-of-summer street festival with live music and fireworks over Wildwood Beach.
Bayfront Irish festival at Seaside Park Marina. Free admission.
Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy & Gunning Show
Tuckerton
Decoy carving, retriever trials and baymen heritage at Tuckerton Seaport.
Month-long spooky celebration with ghost walks and Scarecrow Alley.
Three-day Italian street festival on Grant Avenue, Seaside Heights.
Dickens village transformation kicks off Cape May holiday season.
Local Cultural & Heritage
Tuckerton Porchfest
Tuckerton • May 30, 2026
Ocean County Pride Weekend
Toms River • June 12-14, 2026
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Screening with Randy Quaid Live Q&A
Ocean City • July 25, 2026
Gilbert and Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore
Toms River • July 30 - August 2, 2026
Theatre Rock - A Celebration of the Best Broadway Rock Musicals
Seaside Heights • August 6, 2026
Civil War Encampment at Havens Homestead Museum
Brick • August 8-9, 2026
Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival
Red Bank • September 20, 2026
Saint Barbara Greek Festival
Toms River • September 25-27, 2026
Historic Smithville Italian Festival
Smithville • September 19, 2026
Historic Smithville Irish Festival
Smithville • October 10-11, 2026
Cultural & Heritage by Month
Cultural & Heritage by County
Monmouth County
23
events
Ocean County
18
events
Atlantic County
21
events
Cape May County
25
events
Frequently Asked Questions
What cultural & heritage are there at the Jersey Shore?
The Jersey Shore hosts 87 cultural & heritage throughout the year. Victorian festivals, Irish celebrations, Italian feasts, and heritage events
When is the best time for cultural & heritage at the shore?
Cultural & Heritage events happen throughout the year, with events in January, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.
Are there free cultural & heritage at the Jersey Shore?
Yes, 34 of the 87 cultural & heritage at the Jersey Shore are free to attend.