For an exciting way to cap off the long holiday weekend, plan a visit to Long Branch for their annual Oceanfest Independence Day celebration on Monday, July 4th . The free festival runs from 10 am to 10 pm, rain or shine, along the half mile stretch of oceanfront Promenade between Seven Presidents Park and the Ocean Place Resort & Spa. The Oceanfest finale is a spectacular fireworks display over the ocean at 9:00 pm.
Updated June 19th, 2011
For an exciting way to cap off the long holiday weekend, plan a visit to Long Branch for their annual Oceanfest Independence Day celebration on Monday, July 4th . The free festival runs from 10 am to 10 pm, rain or shine, along the half mile stretch of oceanfront Promenade between Seven Presidents Park and the Ocean Place Resort & Spa. The Oceanfest finale is a spectacular fireworks display over the ocean at 9:00 pm.
Long Branch’s 21 st annual Oceanfest celebration is on track to deliver a full day of fun and entertainment. Strolling entertainers – clowns, stilt walkers and costumed characters, will be on hand to entertain the whole family. There will be children’s performances at the Garfield Memorial from 11 AM to 4 PM. For a small fee, children can also expend some energy in the soft play activity center on the Great Lawn. There will be live entertainment throughout the day at the Stage on the Great Lawn (Just south of Rooney’s Oceanfront restaurant). Children will delight in the pirate and safari themed shows while the adults will enjoy the great sounds of Swing Sabrossa (3 to 5 PM) and the Bob Burger Band ( 7 to 9 PM). Both bands back by popular demand!!!
Long Branch offers a wide swath of pristine beachfront, and Oceanfest is bounded by Seven President’s Park to the north and the luxurious Ocean Place Resort & Spa and the adjacent Pier Village to the south. Visitors staying at the Ocean Place Resort can use the hotel’s beach facilities, which include lounge chairs and sun shades. Plus, don’t forget the fabulous Ocean Place Tiki Bar. The public beach admission is $7 for adults 18 – 61 years, $3 for 13 to 17 years old and free for children 12 and under. Coolers are welcome on the beach, although glass containers are not permitted. However, bring your appetite since Oceanfest has a fabulous array of tempting options from crab cakes to zeppolis, seafood paella to lobster rolls and lots in between.
July 4th Fireworks: Photo by B0r0da
Oceanfest also offers an array of crafters and vendors along the Promenade featuring everything from original handcrafted jewelry, clothing and decorative garden ornaments to gourmet dog treats and straw hats. And for visitors really looking to shop, Pier Village is right next door, offering a fabulous array of shops and restaurants. But don’t miss the sand sculpture area, where you can watch master sand sculptors at work on their one of a kind masterpieces.
Basketball enthusiasts looking for a little competitive action can register for the Long Branch Department of Recreation annual 3 vs. 3 basketball tournament. The tournament is held in the southern most parking lot at the Ocean Place Resort. It’s limited to 16 teams and starts at 10:00 a.m. If there are any open slots in the tournament, registration will be open that morning at 9:00 a.m. The winning team will receive a trophy, basketballs and a gift certificate to a local establishment. Those interested in participating can contact the Recreation Department at 732-571-6545 to register.
Once the sun sets, it’s time for the spectacular finale! One of the largest fireworks displays at the Jersey Shore, you’ll want to plan your seat early; make reservations for the Ocean Place Resort’s famous outdoor BBQ, visit one of the restaurants along the oceanfront, or just grab a spot of sand on the beach to enjoy the show. The fireworks display starts at 9:00 p.m. and listen to 95.9 The WRAT for their musical simulcast.
For more information contact the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce at 732-222-0400 or visit the new Oceanfest website.
Long Branch is located in Monmouth County in Central Jersey. The photograph that accompanies this small feature was taken by Boroda in Jamesburg New Jersey on July 4, 2007. It is a photograph from Flickr that was published with a Creative Commons License. Please see more of B0r0da’s work here.
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