If you’re a festival addict like us, you’re going to feel like you’ve died and gone to festival heaven this Jersey Shore weekend. Start off the weekend right at Red Bank’s 25th year of Riverfest for a day and evening spent eating, drinking, listening to music, and having an all around great time.
The fifth annual Rock for the Nurses benefit returns, featuring the reunion of legendary New Jersey country band Kinderhook.
When you feel the call of the ocean, head to Seaside Heights for the first weekend of the “Roar at the Jersey Shore.” You’ll get to see speedboats race their way along the coast while enjoying the sun.
There’s also plenty of family fun Jersey Shore weekend activities whether your kids love speedboats, history, art, or music, there’s something to do that won’t put a massive hole in your wallet.
So kick back and let the weekend begin. We’re ready for weekends filled to the brim with food, music, and friends.
Riverfest Food and Music Festival
Location: Marine Park, Foot of Wharf Ave., Red Bank
Date: Friday, May 29th 5-10pm, Saturday, May 30th 11am – 10pm, Sunday, May 31st 11am – 6pm
Cost: Free
Description: One of our favorite summer festivals comes back to Red Bank this weekend for it’s 25th year. Riverfest Food and Music Festival set in Marine Park overlooking the Navesink River will host over 20 local restaurants and vendors. This three-day smorgasbord event will feature savory tastes, savvy sounds, sensational activities and spectacular sunsets. Listen to live music on the Rock the River Waterfront Stage or enjoy cruises on the Navesink, an Artisan’s Alley, kiddie rides and more. Red Bank will definitely be rocking!
Location: Idle Hour Restaurant, Route 88, Point Pleasant
Date: Saturday, May 30th, 1pm – 7pm
Cost: $20 per pereson
Description: The Barbara Forfar Nursing Scholarship welcomes the return of legendary NJ country-rockers Kinderhook to Point Pleasant for the first time in over thirty years at Rock for the Nurses on Saturday May 30th starting at 1pm at the Idle Hour Restaurant & Bar.
The fifth annual “Rock for the Nurses” fundraiser will also feature performances from Jersey Shore icons The Mangos, Timepiece, Ned Ryerson and his new band The Groundhogs plus other special guests and will include an all you can eat BBQ buffet, pig roast, outside tent party, cash bar, coffee, soft drinks, dessert, games, prizes, give-a-ways and much more for the entire family.
Rock for the Nurses will take place on Saturday, May 30th from 1pm until 7pm at the Idle Hour Restaurant & Bar located at 2600 Route 88 in Point Pleasant Borough.
Seaside Heights Barnegat Bay Veterans Grand Prix
Location: Seaside Heights Borough
Date: Friday, May 29th – Sunday May 31st
Cost: Free
Description: Get ready to watch the first race of the “GEICO Roar at the Jersey Shore” featuring offshore powerboat racing. Check out the boats as they start arriving on Friday as they set up for a grand display on the Seaside Heights boardwalk. All weekend long, your favorite Seaside Heights boardwalk bars and restaurants will host race parties for teams and fans including Hemingway’s Cafe. On Sunday, see who will take home the crown as the race begins at 12 noon until 4:00pm in Bayville. Sit back in your beach chair as the boats race along the waterfront. The northernmost turn will be off the Water’s Edge Restaurant (not a bad spot to watch the race on their patio) and the southernmost turn off of Berkeley Island State Park. It’s sure to be an action packed weekend!
Location: 37 East End, Avon-By-The-Sea
Date: Friday, May 29th 6-9pm, Saturday May 30th 9am – 6pm, Sunday May 31st 9am – 4pm
Cost: Free
Description: Spend an hour or two learning more about what makes a photograph so extraordinary. Learn from the best as photographer Michael S. Miller shares his passion, insight and ideas on how he has been able to create exceptional photographs. It’s a creative twist on your weekend, just in time for taking all of those perfect summer photos.
Location: Laurita Winery, 35 Archertown Road, New Egypt
Date: Friday, May 29th 7:00pm – 10:00pm
Cost: $40 a person includes glass of wine
Description: Let your inner Picasso shine through with the help of a glass of delicious wine from Laurita Winery. This Jersey Shore weekend, bring your friends for an evening filled with art, wine, and lots of laughs during Laurita Winery’s Canvas Mixer. Maybe your glass of wine will even inspire you to bring out your artistic side more this summer!
Location: Ocean Pathway, Ocean Grove
Date: Saturday, May 30th 9:00am – 4:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: Set the alarm early and get ready to search for unique items as over 300 vendors converge into this tiny Jersey Shore beach town. Ocean Grove is home to one of the best flea markets at the Jersey Shore, making it an absolute must for bargain hunters and antique lovers. Afterward, reward yourself for surviving and visit Taka Restaurant for a refreshing cocktail and bite to eat. Hang out on the rooftop deck where you’ll see all the people you missed heading into Ocean Grove.
Location: Dorbrook Recreation Area, 209 County Road 537 E, Colts Neck
Date: Saturday, May 30th 9:00am
Description: Surprise your kids or bring out your own inner kid and be a super hero for the day. Dress up in your favorite super hero costume and race through Dorbrook Recreation Area. Whether you finish first or last, you’ll feel like you could save the world one race at a time.
Location: Historic Allaire Village within Allaire State Park, Wall
Date: Saturday, May 30th 10am – 4pm and Sunday, May 31st 10am – 3pm, Concert Saturday, May 30th 7-9:30pm
Cost: Free
Description: The historic Allaire Village in Allaire State Park is full of activities this weekend for the history buff and the music lover. Bring the family this weekend for reenactments of the Civil War encampment at Allaire Village. Your kids will become a part of history as they hang out with soldiers, witness artillery demonstrations and even hear popular music from the 1860s. On Saturday, stay a little later for a lantern tour followed by a David Kincaid concert. It’s a history lesson your kids will thank you for!
Location: Cookman Avenue, Asbury Park
Date: Saturday, May 30th (Rain Date Sunday, May 31st) 11am – 6pm
Cost: Admission is $5 for anyone over the age of 10
Description: We all know that the Jersey Shore is home to iconic rock stars over the years. Most of them have played in the beachside town of Asbury Park so it’s only fitting to have a reunion of sorts with the Jersey Born Music Festival. This Jersey Shore weekend, hang out with our favorite bands including The Nerds, B-Street Band, Billy Hector Band, Quincy Mumford and more as they come together for the first time to celebrate to play great music from the Garden State. While you’re jamming with the best bands that the shore has to offer, dine on great food served up by Asbury Park restaurants including Confections of a Rock$tar, The Speakeatery, and Dino’s on Main. Combine that with unique vendors and after parties throughout the night, it’s a jam fest that shouldn’t be missed.
Location: Steel Pier, Atlantic City
Date: Saturday, May 30th and Sunday, May 31st; 12:00pm – 7:00pm
Cost: Adult $5, Child $2
Description: Celebrate the luck of the Irish during the Irish Family Festival at Steel Pier in Atlantic City this Jersey Shore weekend. Presented by St. Nicholas Tolentine Parish, this two-day Irish Family Festival will combine classic Irish food and drinks, step dancers, bagpipe bands, and Irish vocalist, and of course the amusements of Steel Pier. It’s a weekend where no matter what you’re heritage you’ll feel the luck of just being invited!
Location: Barnegat Public Dock, 427 E. Bay Ave, Barnegat Township
Date: Saturday, May 30th 12:00 – 6:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: Yet another summer festival filled with food and fun and we’re not complaining. Check out the Kick Off the Summer Festival this Jersey Shore weekend at the Barnegat Public Dock. Bring an appetite and your dancing shoes as food trucks, live entertainment, and vendors come together to celebrate the season we’ve been waiting for since the first snowfall.
Location: Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River Township
Date: Saturday, May 30th 2:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: Who doesn’t love all of the classic Doo Wop hits from the 1950s? At this free event, the Hi-Fives who made a name for themselves with hits like Dorothy, Lonely, Just a Shoulder to Cry On along with an appearance on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand are back to relive the fun, the music, and all the memories with you. Bring your dancing shoes and go back in time for an afternoon filled with your favorite songs sung by one of your favorite bands.
Location: Veterans Park, Tilton Ave, Berkeley Township
Date: Saturday, May 30th 9:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: Let the kids stay up late this Saturday with an 30-minute outdoor nighttime spectacular featuring live musical performances and unforgettable scenes from your favorite Disney and Disney Pixar movies. Your kids will be amazed as LED lights, bubbles, strobe lighting, fog and laser effects bring a whole new look to their favorite Disney characters. It’s the perfect bedtime story even though they might not be able to stop talking about it!
Location: Manahawkin Flea Market, 657 East Bay Ave., Manahawkin (Stafford Township)
Date: Saturday, May 30th 11:00am – 5:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: The first event of what will be a monthly event begins this Saturday at the Manahawkin Flea Market where a dozen gourmet food trucks will storm the market, tempting locals with their best food items. This monthly event Food Truck Festival will amp up the volume at the flea market with live entertainment and dozens of extra vendors. It’s like Man vs. Food and Antique Roadshow collided right here in Manahawkin.
Location: 1563 Old Freehold Road, Toms River Twp.
Date: Sunday, May 31st 10:00am – 3:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: If you haven’t already noticed, food trucks are a major thing this summer. Toms River is upping the ante with the Inspired Festival featuring dozens of food trucks, live music on the outdoor stage, and a number of workshops in all of your favorite arts and crafts. Learn more about painting, song writing, mixed media art, movie making, science and more. It’s a day filled with arts and crafts, food trucks and music. Sounds like a fun time to us!
Location: First Avenue, Atlantic Highlands
Date: Sunday, May 31st 1:00 – 4:00pm
Cost: Free
Description: Spend the afternoon finding out just how artsy and tasty Atlantic Highlands is during their Eats & Arts Festival presented by the Atlantic Highlands Arts Council. Talk with local artists and chefs as they each showcase their own pieces of art – some edible, some not. After you’ve been inspired, stay around for an inspirational sunset and eat at On the Deck for a perfect ending to an artful day (and weekend).
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