It’s hot and humid and clearly July – but if you are looking for some wintertime fun, Wildwood is holding several Christmas in July events this weekend, including a golf cart parade and a boat parade! Science and nature lovers will enjoy Moth Night in East Brunswick, which actually led to an international Moth Week that began here in New Jersey more than a decade ago. For members of your family who want to travel abroad without leaving the States, experience A Night in Venice down in Ocean City, complete with a boat parade and home decorating contest. There’s still plenty of summer left to be had, so gather up the family and find some weekend activities that suit your tastes!
ALL WEEKEND
Farm to Table Dinner Series
Von Thun Farms, Washington
Friday – Saturday
Sure to impress all the adult foodies in your group, the evening includes a hayride around the farm and a tour by one of the farmers, admission to the New Jersey Sunflower Trail, and of course, an eight-course tasting menu served tableside.
Plays-in-the-Park: The SpongeBob Musical
Roosevelt Park, Edison
Friday – Saturday
Middlesex County’s Plays-in-the-Park returns to the stage with performances of “The SpongeBob Musical” as part of Plays-in-the-Park’s 60th season. “The SpongeBob Musical” will be performed through July 23.
Restaurant Week
Metuchen
Friday – Sunday
Finish off Restaurant Week by visiting one of your favorite places in the borough. Special menus are available from Cafe Paris, Civile Cucina Italiana, Fire & Flavor BBQ, Fusha Asian Bistro n’ Sushi, Greek on Main, Hailey’s Harp & Pub, La Rosa Pizza, Menya Ramen House, Sushi, Suzuki, Torino 2, Tribos Peri Peri, Be My Guest, DiCosmo’s Italian Ice, Pastry Lu and What’s the Scoop.
Sticks in the Sand Beach Hockey Tournament
Wildwoods Beach
Saturday – Sunday
This tournament gives field hockey players of all ages a chance to enjoy the game in a new and exciting way. Teams from all over the East Coast and beyond compete on the beaches of Wildwood. Divisions include middle school, high school JV, high school varsity, women’s 18+ and co-ed open.
FRIDAY
Sophisticated Dance Productions National Dance Competition
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Dancers will compete for cash and prizes during this event set to feature solos, duets, trios, small groups, large groups, lines and productions, performed by dancers of various skill levels ranging from amateur to experienced.
Twilight Sunflowers and Blueberries
Alstede Farms, Chester
The farm will remain open into the evening hours for guests to enjoy the farm while picking blueberries and strolling through the Blooming Giants Sunflower Trail. Farm fun activities such as pony rides, bounce house and wagon train will remain open until 7 pm on these dates. Food options as well as Tomasello Winery will remain open until 8 pm.
SATURDAY
Christmas in July Golf Cart Parade
Boardwalk and Pacific Avenue, Wildwood
Take part in the Inaugural City of Wildwood Christmas in July Golf Cart Parade. The parade route will include the Boardwalk and Pacific Avenue.
Christmas in July with Santa Claus
North Wildwood Beach
Merry Christmas in July. The lifeguards of the North Wildwood Beach Patrol will host a visit from Santa Claus, who will make stops along the way for family photos, and who will have live holiday music and candy canes for all. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their beach space and wear festive holiday attire to welcome Santa.
Wildwood Crest Christmas in July Festival & Boat Parade
Sunset Lake
Wildwood Crest
Celebrate the Christmas season in the summertime with this family-oriented festival along Sunset lake: live music with Jamison Celtic Rock (holiday-themed songs along with pop, rock and Irish), food, children and family activities. And photos with Santa! The festival will end with a boat parade in Sunset Lake. The event will also include a house-decorating contest for bayfront homes in the Sunset Lake area, with prizes going to the winners.
Evening Animal Chores
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
Help farmers feed and water the animals, bring in the sheep from the pasture, collect eggs in the henhouse, grind corn in the barn, scrub and fill water tubs and clean the horses’ stalls for tomorrow’s breakfast.
Moth Night
Community Park, East Brunswick
New and experienced “moth-ers” are invited to bring their cameras to document the moths that land on lighted sheets that will be set up along trails. Before dusk, children can help “paint” tree trunks with a sweet mixture to attract moths.
Wetlands Institute Summer Celebration
ICONA Avalon, Avalon
Join in-person for an evening of music, delicious food and drink and live and silent auctions, or log in to the silent auction from the comfort of your own home and bid on awesome experiences, original art, fine dining and more. Either way, you’ll be supporting The Wetlands Institute’s mission and helping ensure that they can continue critical research, conservation and education efforts for the next 50 years and beyond.
Craft Beer, Music & Crab Festival
Cape May
This summer hit features hard shell crabs, craft beers, food trucks and vendors, crafters, family entertainment and back-to-back music on the outdoor stage. Bring a blanket or chair and relax in the shade near the outdoor stage. Well-behaved pets are welcomed.
Night in Venice
Ocean City
The boat parade and decorated bayfront home contest provide a chance to be part of the highlight of the summer season in Ocean City. Recently retired Villanova University men’s basketball Coach Jay Wright and his wife Patty will be grand marshals of the 2022 boat parade. One special guest will be “America’s Got Talent” runner-up Jackie Evancho. Once again, a fireworks display will light up the bay and cap off the festivities on July 23.
Sourland Mountain Fest
Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes
Attendees can enjoy live music, local food, craft beer, wine and spirits, as well as a variety of local artisans, businesses and educational organizations, all while taking in the bucolic views of the Sourland Mountain region.
SUNDAY
Coquina Jam
Brant Beach, Long Beach Island
This all-women’s team format surf contest pairs women of all ages in a day of fierce competition. This year is the biggest yet, with 96 surfers ranging in age from 8 to 68 who will be broken up into eight teams.
Knights of Columbus BBQ
North Arlington
Bring the family out to the Queen of Peace Knights of Columbus BBQ, which will benefit the Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital. Dine in or take out. The deadline for ordering is July 20. To order, call 201-988-0183.
ONGOING
Fun Fridays
Byrne Plaza, Downtown Wildwood
Fridays (through July 29)
Treat yourself to an end-of-workweek celebration with live bands, food and drink vendors, lawn games and more! Bring your chair and enjoy the free entertainment outdoors. To keep the party going visit one of the great Downtown Wildwood restaurants and bars afterwards.
Grand Carnivale
Dorney Park, Allentown, Pennsylvania
July 23 – Aug. 7
Enjoy high-energy live music, delicious food, lively games and unique crafts during this international festival. You can decorate your own lei, crown or noise maker, help Mardi with an international scavenger hunt or play grand carnival games. Take a culinary trip around the world with samples of 24 delicious creations from six different countries. Stay for the nighttime Spectacle of Color Parade, a glittering sensory spectacular of lavish floats, interactive street performers and pulsing rhythms.
Outdoor Walking Tours
Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton
Saturdays and Sundays (July and August)
Princeton University is home to one of the country’s most significant collections of 20th- and 21st-century public sculpture. Join a free, hour-long walking tour led by a museum tour guide and discover the campus’s outdoor artworks, including Henry Moore’s bronze Oval with Points, monumental geometric screens by Louise Nevelson, and more.
Flemington Car Shows
Main Street, Flemington
Select Saturdays (now through August 20)
Historic Flemington’s Main Street will be bustling with hot cars, live music, kids’ activities, delicious food and summer fun on select Saturday nights when Flemington Car Shows come to town all summer long.
Sunrise Wellness Sails
Wilbert’s Marina, Lacey Twp.
Saturdays (through August)
Anyone who is interested in yoga, meditation and mindfulness is welcome to take part in a 3-hour Sunrise Sail along the Barnegat Bay. Sail into rejuvenation with Jaime Zazzara and Captain Dave from Jersey Coastal Adventures for the wellness retreat. There are options to enjoy a swim or float in a tube when the boat anchors out at sea.
Beyond Van Gogh
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
Through August 28
This is an immersive experience in which both still and moving art provide a show your family will never forget. More than 300 of Van Gogh’s masterpieces come alive, appearing and disappearing and flowing across multiple surfaces. This one-hour walk through will have your whole family captivated by the sights, sounds and colors.
Beach Baby Goat Yoga
Beach Haven
Fridays (through September 2)
Join fellow yogis and animal lovers on the beach for a beginner-friendly goat centric yoga experience and snuggles with baby and miniature breed goats. Reap the benefits of animal and laughter therapies as the baby goats jump on your back, snuggle in your lap or take a nap on your mat as you move through the instructor’s guidance.
Cruise Nights
Downtown Somerville
Fridays (now through September 4)
Friday Night Cruise Nights return to Downtown Somerville. Through Labor Day weekend, the coolest classic cars around line up along Main Street every Friday.
Summer Carillon Concerts
Graduate School, Princeton University, Princeton
Sundays (now through Sept. 4)
The carillon is a musical instrument of 23 or more bells that produce music when sounded. All concerts start at 1 pm every Sunday, July 3 through Sept. 4 (Labor Day), and are held rain or shine. Bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on.
Sunset Sips & Sounds
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Fridays (now through September 9)
Meet in this historic apple orchard for Terhune wine, music, light bites and friend-filled evenings every Friday night at Terhune Orchards Vineyard and Winery. It’s a great way to unwind after the week, meet friends, bring your family and enjoy the sunset on the farm.
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
New York, New York
Fridays (through September)
Enjoy the history and magic of the Intrepid for free on select Fridays through September.
Stargazing Boat Cruises
Belmar
Fridays and Saturdays (through September)
Take a sail out to the ocean while gazing up at the moon, stars and constellations.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Leonia
Summer Hours: 10 am – 6 pm, Tuesdays – Sundays, through Labor Day
At Field Station: Dinosaurs, more than 30 life-sized animatronic dinosaurs are sure to impress all the paleontologists in your group. Enjoy dozens of shows, Jurassic Jump, and then Dinosaurs: After Dark come October.
Tours of Wyckoff-Garretson House & Museum
215 South Middlebush Road, Somerset
Second Sunday of every month (through October)
Docents will lead tours of the house, which dates back to 1730.
Sunday Farmers Market
Garden State Plaza, Westfield; in the parking lot between Macy’s and Route 17
Sundays (now through Nov. 20)
Garden State Plaza is the site of weekly Sunday farmers markets. Expect food vendors, food trucks, music, activities for kids and a car show from 9 am-2pm.
If you’re looking for a road trip with the family, head down to Atlantic City or out to Dorney Park for more fun family adventures!
If you are hoping for something more relaxing, head to one of our favorite camping spots, or stay local and visit a dog park.