As summer continues to heat up, let’s look at some free and inexpensive activities to cool it down this August. Grab the entire family and explore these fun happenings around you! 

August 2: Pier Village (Long Branch) Flashback Friday DJ is free to attend and will take place at the Carousel Bar at Wave Resort from 3pm-10pm every Friday in August! Rewind with the best music of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and those ages 21+ can also partake in summer Friday-only drink specials. Find out more information.

August 2 & 3: Manasquan Fireman’s Fair at Mallard Park (Cedar Avenue & South Potter Avenue) from 6pm-10pm. Don’t miss rides, food vendors, live music, games and family fun! Find out more at www.squanfiremansfair.com

August 3: Founders’ Victorian Day in Ocean Grove will take place at 4pm in Auditorium Square. There will be period games, activities, crafts, reenactments, refreshments, and a dynamic worship experience. Victorian dress is encouraged. At 8:30pm there will be a silent Victorian era movie for $10 per person. Learn more here.

August 7:

Asbury Park Bonfires on the Beach will take place from 8pm-10pm every Wednesday night during August, weather permitting. The 8/7 bonfire will be at First Avenue Beach. Check the schedule online for other dates and locations through the end of September.

Freehold Free Family Movie Night begins at 8:30pm at the Hall of Records at 1 East Main Street. There will be a showing of E.T., The Extraterrestrial. Don’t forget to bring your snacks and lawn chairs and enjoy a fun outdoor night with your family! Get more details here.

Ocean Township’s Annual Italian Festival begins at Joe Palaia Park (240 Whalepond Road) at 5pm-11pm and will run each night through Sunday, 8/11. There will be lots of rides, games, food, entertainment and fireworks. Get more information.

Pier Village Movie Night begins at 7:30pm with a showing of Jurassic Park. The movie will be shown outdoors on Chelsea Avenue Beach. Bring your favorite chair and blanket and relax under the stars at the Jersey Shore! Find out more details.

August 8: Howell Township’s Movies Under the Stars begins at 6:30pm with activities for kids, and the movie will begin at dusk on the Howell Library Hill (318 Old Tavern Road). This week’s showing will be Paw Patrol – Unleash the Powers. Bring your blanket or lawn chair and enjoy a fun night with the family! Learn more.

August 9: A Night in Paradise Hawaiian Show (Manchester) begins at 7pm at Harry Wright Lake. You won’t want to miss a free evening of summer family fun – including hula dancers, a live luau band, Tahitian drummers, and fire knife warriors. Get the details here.

August 10: Seaside Spooktacular at Park Bakery in Seaside Park (408 SE Central Avenue) opens at 7am and will be available for participants through 2pm. Get your cameras ready for some summer fantastic Halloween-themed photo ops and a host of spooky activities. Come say “trick or treat” and receive a FREE gift (costumes optional), and enjoy a free craft table for kids of all ages. Learn more on Facebook, or call 732-793-4090.

August 11: Atlantic Highlands Music and Food Truck Festival will take place from noon to 8:30pm at the Atlantic Highlands Marina (10 Simon Way). There will be 19 gourmet food trucks with something for everyone, plus vendors, music, face painting for kids, and a beer/sangria/margarita garden for adults over 21. Admission is free, so bring your chairs and blankets and enjoy a fun day by the water! Get additional information.

August 13: Dorbrook Park and Recreation Area (Colts Neck) will be featuring a free event called Under the Summer Stars from 10pm-11pm at the soccer field parking lot. Look for key objects and constellations in the night sky! Bring a chair to rest on as you star search and a flashlight to light your way in the dark. Open to all ages. Find out more.

August 14:

Belmar Free Movie on the Beach begins at 7:30pm with a showing of The Little Mermaid. The movie will be shown at 7^th Avenue Beach. Bring your own blankets and chairs and enjoy a free movie under the stars and fun for the whole family! Learn more here or call 732-681-3700.

Bradley Beach Summer Movie Series begins at 8pm in Riley Park (615 Main Street) with a showing of The Goonies. Don’t forget your lawn chair or a blanket! Get more details here, or view the event on Facebook.

August 15: Howell Township’s Movies Under the Stars begins at 6:30pm with activities for kids, and the movie begins at dusk on the Howell Library Hill. This week’s showing will be Wonka. Learn more or call 732-938-4500, extension 2106.

August 17:

Spring Lake Police Community BBQ will run from 3pm-8pm at Marucci Park (301 South Boulevard). Stop by for an afternoon of family fun including food, games, inflatables, touch-a-truck, ice cream, a DJ and a beer tent for the adults. Meet police officers and other first responders too. See more details on Facebook.

South Toms River Family Fun Day will take place from 10am-4pm at South Toms River Recreation (1 Drake Lane). This is bound to be a day of fun, games, crafts, vendors, touch-a-truck, and activities for kids of all ages! Learn more.

August 18: Butterfly Tent Event (Toms River) takes place from noon to 4pm at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 1623 Whitesville Road. Walk through the butterfly display tent, learn about the butterfly lifecycle, native plants, and more. There will be activities for kids and exhibitors for adults. Call 732-349-1246 for more details, or click here.

August 21: Freehold Free Family Movie Night starts at 8:30pm at the Hall of Records at 1 East Main Street. There will be a showing of The LEGO Movie. Get more details here.

August 22: Howell Township’s Movies Under the Stars begins at 6:30pm with children’s activities, and the movie begins at dusk on the Howell Library Hill. This week’s showing will be Kung Fu Panda 4. Learn more.

August 23: Date Night Free Movie (Seaside Heights) begins at 8pm with a showing of Sleepless in Seattle at 410 Boardwalk. Participants will be seated on the beach in the vicinity of Beach Patrol North Headquarters. This event is for adults only, as the Seaside Heights Business District will be selling beer and wine on the beach for the event. Call 732-830-3700 to find out more, or click here.

August 24: Manasquan Summer Festival and Craft Show will take place from 10am-4pm at Squan Plaza. There will be lots of vendors, food and music! See additional information.

August 28: Belmar Free Movie on the Beach begins at 7:30pm with a showing of The Wizard of Oz. The movie will be shown at 7^th Avenue Beach. Learn more here.

August 31: Fabricated for You Craft Fair (Toms River) will take place from 10am-5pm at 1081 Route 37. With more than 50 outdoor booths and 30 indoor vendors, dive into lots of locally crafted treasures. As you shop, keep an eye out for your chance to win a gift basket through the event raffle. There will be baked goods, unique gifts, handcrafted specialties and more – available for purchase from local NJ artisans. Call 732-608-2040 or click here to learn more.

We hope you have a great August and end of summer!