New Jersey Leisure Guide Monthly Newsletter
July, 2020

At this time, and until further notice,  COVID-19 executive orders  in effect apply to large public gatherings such as concerts, festivals, and fireworks.
Some outdoor recreational areas and businesses have been able to restart their operations. These include;
Restaurants are open for outdoor dining, with indoor dining to begin on July 2 with restaurants operating at 25% capacity.  Beaches, State and Municipal Parks, and recreational campgrounds are open for passive recreation, including fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking,  jogging, biking, birding, horseback riding, and more.

Atlantic City's casinos will be able to reopen July 2 at 25% capacity.
Playgrounds and outdoor amusement parks and water parks in the Garden State can also reopen on July 2. Parks and boardwalk rides will be limited to 50% of typical guest capacity and must enforce social-distancing rules on rides and in lines. Face coverings for guests and staff are required

Currently most public gatherings are limited to 250 people , with the limit expected to be raised to 500 people on July 3.  

With near term cancellations occurring at a rapid rate, and despite trying to remove them as soon as we learn of the cancellations or restrictions, we  recommend viewers contact the event sponsors before heading out to a listed event to confirm their status.

This Edition's Contents...

• Popular June Things To Do
• Seasonal Frequently Asked Question
• This Month's Featured Restaurant

Note: This information is provided by event sponsors as a free service to our viewers. Sometimes conditions require cancellations or changes of dates, times and location which are not reflected in the original schedule. Before planning a trip to visit one of the listed events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event

July 2020 Things To Do

As of the date of the publication, the listed activities have not been cancelled, though many are operating with some restructions.

Bradley Beach Fireworks
Friday, July 3, 2020; Fireworks at Dusk; (Rain date July 5th)
On the Beach
Bradley Beach
Website
(732) 869-1020
Fireworks at dusk.

Cedar Grove Fireworks!
Friday, July 3rd, 2020 (rain date 7/10) ; Parking lot will open at 7pm, Fireworks at dusk
Panther Park lot
Cedar Grove, NJ
Website
There will be a maximum of 500 people allowed on the multi-purpose field & surrounding grass area.
6-foot social distancing is still required. Personal Protective Equipment is not required, but recommended. Bathroom facilities will be closed.

Wildwood, NJ - 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular
Saturday, July 4, 2020; (Rain date is July 5)
On the Beach at Pine Avenue,
Wildwood., NJ
Website
609.523.1602
The fireworks display takes place @ 10 PM. While the fireworks are visible from almost anywhere in the Wildwoods, the best viewing area is on the beach at Pine Avenue.

Toms River July 4th Fireworks
July 4, 2020; @9pm
Shelter Cove Beach
Bay Ave. & Cove Point Rd.
Toms River, NJ
Facebook page

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes - Live Drive-in Concert
Saturday, July 11, 2020
Monmouth Park
iOceanport, NJ
Tickets, $150 per vehicle and $225/$250 for gold circle
Website/Tickets
800-745-3000
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes will perform live and in person in the grandstand general parking lot.
The concert, presented by the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, will benefit Basie arts programs and the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. Up to 1,000 vehicles, four occupants per vehicle, can be accommodated.

Jim Gaffigan: Drive-Thru Comic Show
Sunday, July 12, 2020: @ 7:00 PM
Monmouth Park
Oceanport, NJ
Tickets,
Website/Tickets
Vehicles will be spaced approx. 9' apart. Windows may remain open. Cars will park in a staggered fashion to achieve spacing and best visibility. Patrons must remain inside their vehicle cabins. Patrons may only leave vehicles only to use restrooms, and will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. Portable restrooms will be cleaned between patrons. Passenger vehicles only.

Drive 'N Drag
July 17, 18, 19, 2020;
Westfield Garden State Plaza
Paramus, NJ
Tickets
Price: Tickets are $50 per car for two people, $10 per person for additional passengers. VIP spots are $100.
"Drive 'N Drag" is a way of adapting the drag stars' Werq the World Tour as an outdoor event as indoor venues remain closed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This three-day concert series will features performers from the long-running VH1 reality competition "RuPaul's Drag Race."
"Drag Race" performers will include be Monet X'Change, Kim Chi, Vanessa Vanjie, Acid Betty, Violet Chachki, Gigi Goode, Asia O'Hara, Kameron Michaels, Naomi Smalls, Plastique, Yvie Oddly and Aquaria.
Audience members will be able to hear the concert from inside (or while sitting on top of) their cars, with the live show available on FM transmitters. There will be multiple shows running each day from noon to 11 p.m. as well as food trucks.

State Fair Meadowlands
Fair runs from Thursday, July 23 Sunday, August 9, 2020
102 NJ State Highway 120
East Rutherford NJ
Next to MetLife Stadium
Website (Check Schedule)
This very popular family event features quality rides, plenty of free entertainment, open air thrill shows, games and prizes, and a variety foods. There are a variety of activities to interest all ages.
All Tickets Include Free Live shows and concerts. Free Live concerts. Fireworks shows take place on the evening of Friday, July 24th.

Take in a day at one of New Jersey Beaches:
New Jersey beaches along the 127 miles of the Jersey shore are a natural landscape of beauty, clean ocean water, refreshing breezes and beautiful, white sandy beaches, making the Jersey Shore one of the most desired vacation destinations on the east coast.
Guide to NJ Beaches

Take a camping trip in one of New Jersey's scenic state parks
The New Jersey State Park System also offers many excellent camping facilities that bring you up close to the wilderness and many other amenities. Two of the popular state parks for camping are Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - Worthington State Forest Campground in Warren County; and Wharton State Forest straddling Atlantic, Burlington and Camden Counties.
Guide to NJ State Parks

Get out an enjoy the outdoors and some exercise with some outstanding biking and hiking.
Guide to Best NJ Hiking Trails - NJ has a large variety of forested trails, waterfalls, ridges, and scenic views.

Take the Family To A Pick Your Own Farm For Blueberry Picking
The Top Blueberry Picking Farms in New Jersey Blueberry picking is a fun family activity and a great way to get fully ripened, tasty, and healthy blueberries. The blueberry is also the official state fruit of New Jersey, with the Garden State being the second-biggest producer of blueberries after Michigan. Most of the best blueberry picking farms are located in southern NJ in the Pine Barrens region.
Guide to the Best Blueberry Picking Farms

Seasonal Frequently Asked Question:

Question: Crabbing in NJ. We are planning to go crabbing. What do we need to know and what are the best spots?

Answer: Crabs can be caught from a rental row boat using a drop line or a scoop net along the bay dock pilings, or with a net and bait along the side of a creek, Less popular but very effective is trotlining. It's a long line, resting on the bottom and anchored at both ends with a string of bait attached at intervals of two to six feet. Click here for information on the best crabbing spots in NJ

This Months Featured Restaurant

The Clean Plate Kitchen Restaurant
49 Main Street
Clinton, NJ
908-200-7610
Website
A great spot for outdoor dining. They are located in the historic village of Clinton alongside the Raritan River with the best view in town of the picturesque Old Red Mill. They serve healthy food and are committed to using whole or minimally processed foods with fresh, locally sourced, organic ingredients. With outdoor dining now open in NJ, seated on the patio with picturesque views of the river and the mill.
Review

Top Ten Things To Do in July - The popular NJ seasonal outdoor and indoor activities, events, attractions, and points of interest for people of all ages.

July 4th fireworks - The Best july 4th fireworks celebrations

Monthly Events - This page has links to events that appear in future months, usually 3-4 months in advance. The Monthly newsletter that you are receiving includes many of the events found on the pages.