🌻Things To Do in Jersey 5/23-5/25
Sharks and Remembering the Fallen this memorial Day Weekend
I am not sure how we are at Memorial Day Weekend already, but here we are! Memorial Day is a day to remember those that sacrificed everything for us. While you may want to wish people a “Happy Memorial Day'“ - it is not a day of celebration, it is a solemn one, to remember our fallen heroes.
Wounded Warrior Project offers the following tips:
Rather than “Happy Memorial Day,” say something like “Have a meaningful Memorial Day.”
It’s also not appropriate to thank a service member for their service on this day, as it is a day for remembering and honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Take a moment to recognize and remember. You can even say, “Today and always, I’m remembering [name].”
While, you are out there enjoying the weekend - please give a silent thank you to those that have allowed us to have these freedoms.
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Weekend Weather Forecast
Weather data is from weather.gov.
Friday: 20% chance of showers, partly sunny with wind gusts - high near 65 🌦️
Saturday: mostly sunny with a high near 66 🌤️
Sunday: mostly sunny with a high near 70 🌤️
BG William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Wrightstown - Photo: Jill Caren
Friday - May 23, 2025
Flemington - Summer Book Fest from 10am-6pm
Book and record sale, author lectures, readings, gifts for book lovers and more.
Wildwood - International Kite Festival starts at 9am (5/23-5/26)
The ultimate kite experience with all shapes and sizes, kite building workshop, vendors and more.
Saturday - May 24, 2025
Atlantic City - Alice Cooper at Ocean Casino Resort starts at 8pm (tickets start at $46)
Rock icon Alice Cooper takes the state singing some of his biggest hits.
Bradley Beach - Memorial Day Festival from 9am-7pm (5/24 & 5/25)
Vendors, parade, music and more for the whole family all along Ocean Avenue.
Collingswood - May Fair from 10am-5pm
200+ artists and crafters in a juried show, car show, music, carnival games, rides and more.
Columbus - Renaissance Faire from 10am-6pm (5/24 & 5/25, tickets start at $10 for kids, $25 for adults)
From a four-horse joust, human chess match, whiskey tasting to pony rides, magic shows, fairy tea parties – there is something for everyone.
Jobstown - Berry Bash Festival at Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm from 10am-5pm (tickets $4.75+)
Family friendly event featuring live music, wines, hayrides and strawberry picking.
Oceanport -Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival from 11am-5pm (5/24-5/26, $6 under 12 free)
Enjoy over 30 food trucks, live music, and horse racing.
Oldwick - Hard Cider Festival from 1pm-6pm ($17 at the door, children are free)
Stroll through the orchards with live music, hay rides and more.
Pennington - Freedom Fest at Needle Creek Farm Brewery from 12pm-8pm
Live music, artisans, demos, DIY projects, board games and more at this new brewery
Richland - Vintage & Toy Fest from 8am-3pm
Toys, comics, art, records, food trucks, video games and so much more
SHARK!!!!!! A Bit of Fun NJ History 🦈
“Man eating shark in Matawan Creek causes death of man and boy.”
That was the headline of the local newspaper after 12-year old Lester Stillwell and 24-year old Stanley Fisher - who tried to save Lester - were fatally attacked by a shark in Matawan Creek, a narrow tidal inlet of Raritan Bay
At barely a few feet deep and stretching only a few yards across, Matawan Creek was a freshwater channel—hardly any place one would expect a shark to appear .
Just hours earlier, local sea captain Thomas Cottrell had spotted an eight-foot shark prowling the creek and warned townspeople—but his alarm was dismissed as rumor .
His warning came on the heels of two deadly shark attacks along the Jersey Shore in Beach Haven and Spring Lake.
On July 12th, the Matawan Historical Society is presenting their 1916 Matawan Shark Attack Tours. They need volunteers for the event to take tickets, be guides, help with traffic control and more.
Get more details about the event and volunteering on their Facebook page.
Photo credit: Marc Kaliroff
Sunday - May 25, 2025
Highlands - Seaport Craft Show from 10am-5pm
More than 60 juried crafters and artisans, live music
Jersey City - Santacruzan Festival from 10am-8pm
Fun activities for the whole family, mass, procession, street fair, entertainment
Long Branch - Art in the Park from 10am-5pm
Local artists showcasing jewelry, mixed media, ceramics, paintings and more
New Brunswick - Jerk Fest from 1pm-7pm (tickets $15-$60)
Celebration of Caribbean culture with live music, food, dance, kid zone and island vibes
Some cool upcoming events you might want to grab tickets for!
🦐 Augusta - Crawfish Festival from 5/30-6/1
🎸 Sussex County Fairgrounds - Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival from 6/27-6/29
✈️ West Milford - NJ Airshow from 6/13-6/15
🥋 Whippany - Cobra Kai Convention from 5/31-6/1
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So Who Made It To Power in the Pines?
If you did not get a chance to attend Power in the Pines at Joint Base McGuire in Lakehurst, you missed an amazing weekend. I have attended this event a few times over the last 30 years (yes, I am old!) - and it never disappoints. The roar of the military planes doing flybys just never stops being exciting!
Families will get to enjoy military planes, amazing air shows, great food - and good old fashioned family bonding time.
Be sure to try and make some time to attend in 2026 - you will be glad you did. It is a free event and a great way to learn more about our branches of military!
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