Our 2026 Summer Fun Guide is here! Check out local splash pads, mini golf spots, farmers markets, concerts, beaches, and so much more!

Here’s to a summer we’ll never forget!

Visit a Local Farmers + Makers Markets!

Get ready for some truly delightful family fun this summer by adding Monmouth County’s incredible farmers markets to your bucket list!

With an endless array of fresh produce, delicious treats, and unique local finds, there’s a market for everyone to explore and enjoy.

Check out our 2026 list here!

Head to the Beaches, Pools, and Splash Pads!

Monmouth County is full of beautiful beaches perfect for some family fun! Check out out our Guide to Local Beaches & Pools with the link below!

Head to a Local Fair or Festival

What’s more fun than a local fair?! We’re so excited to ride the rides, eat fried oreos, and play all the games! Here’s a bunch happening in our area this summer, click below!

Visit Jenkinson’s Boardwalk!

For Monmouth County moms looking to create meaningful family memories at the Shore, Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach offers the perfect setting for traditions that last a lifetime. For over 95 years, families have gathered here for beach days, first amusement rides, aquarium visits, boardwalk games, and mini golf, all just steps from the ocean. All summer long, there are incredible weekday promotions like Family Day on Mondays, Unlimited Ride Nights, Movies on the Beach on Tuesdays, and Fireworks on Thursdays, along with special events and live entertainment that give families even more reasons to come back week after week. The excitement continues beyond summer, too, with can’t-miss events throughout the fall and winter seasons, making Jenkinson’s a place where you can visit all year round!

See a Local Play

Check out Monmouth County theatres:

At School of Rock Red Bank, we offer more than just music lessons. We build a community that fosters personal growth. Our performance-based music education combines one-on-one instruction with group rehearsals, helping students develop both musical proficiency and essential life skills. Our approach is proven to build confidence, teamwork, and resilience. An independent study found that after joining our programs, 96.2% of parents saw a boost in their child’s self-confidence and 95.9% reported improved teamwork skills*. But wait, there’s more! We have an awesome lineup of music camps this summer, and we want you to join the band!

Do you want to learn how to play in a band, learn to write songs, or just jam out with your friends? School of Rock Red Bank offers a wide variety of music camps and workshops that cover that and more! Our local music camps are perfect for musicians of various skill levels who want to play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or vocals. From our littlest rockers to our seasoned high school seniors, everyone is welcome to sign up! Our lineup this summer includes some rockin’ camps like our Beatles Camp, Pop Legends Camp, 21st Century Modern Rock Camp, Songwriting Camp, and more; there’s something for everyone!

If your rocker is between 5 and 7 years old, our Rookies Half-Day Camp is the perfect place for them to explore every instrument and find their favorite! Students will learn about all the different rock instruments and begin their introduction to music theory and music appreciation. For rockers 8-12 with little to no experience, our Rock 101 Camp is a great opportunity for them to play in a band with other students and learn to rock out together! For those 8-17 with a little experience on their instrument, any of our themed camps, like Best of the 90s or Classic Rock, would give them the chance to learn some songs they might not know and get exposed to different styles of music, all while rocking out with their friends! At the end of every camp week (except Rookies), students will put on a performance for their parents of what they learned and worked on during the camp! We can’t wait to jam with you this summer at School of Rock Red Bank!

*Disclosure: Independent survey administered from 4/26-5/7/2025. Data is self-reported experience of 1,443 parents of School of Rock students under age 18. Informational purposes only.

15+ Free Summer Activities in Monmouth County!

Visit a Monmouth County Park

We love our Monmouth County Park system, and with good reason! You could spend the entire summer visiting the parks, going fishing, hiking trails, and renting boats and canoes! Here’s a list of must-tries if you’re new to the area, or haven’t been yet!

Go for a Bike Ride

The Henry Hudson Trail or Sandy Hook are perfect for a long bike ride!

We got our bikes from the Trek store in Middletown. If that’s too far for you, check out Brielle Cyclery, Asbury Park Cyclery, Manasquan Bicycle Shop.

Visit the Twin Lights Museum and Lighthouse

Twin Lights Museum and Lighthouse, located in Highlands, NJ, offers a view from the highest landmass on the Atlantic coast between Maine and South America. With not one, but two lighthouse towers to climb, connected by the museum and museum store, a weekend visit is sure to bring some family fun!

Summer Concerts Happening in Monmouth County This Year

Looking for live music this summer? From major touring artists at PNC Bank Arts Center to outdoor concerts at Monmouth County’s newest venue, ParkStage, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy live music around the Jersey Shore.

PNC Bank Arts Center | Holmdel

One of New Jersey’s most popular outdoor concert venues, PNC Bank Arts Center is hosting an impressive lineup of artists this summer, including:

Jack Johnson (June 21)
Sammy Hagar (June 22)
Santana & The Doobie Brothers (June 27)
Tim McGraw (July 10)
Train with Barenaked Ladies (July 24)
John Mellencamp (July 25)
Lynyrd Skynyrd & Foreigner (July 26)
TLC, Salt-N-Pepa & En Vogue (September 12)
Pitbull & Lil Jon (September 3)

View the full concert calendar:
https://www.pncbankartscenter.com/shows

ParkStage | Freehold

Monmouth County’s new outdoor entertainment venue, ParkStage at East Freehold Showgrounds, is bringing major acts to the area this summer.

Upcoming performances include:

Sublime
Dark Star Orchestra
Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Pigeons Playing Ping Pong & Lotus
The Head and The Heart
Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul
The B-52s
Lake Street Dive

Learn more and purchase tickets:
https://parkstage.org/shows/

Free Summer Concert Series

Red Bank Summer Series

Enjoy free outdoor concerts throughout the summer at Riverfront Park and Johnny Jazz Park.

https://www.redbanknj.org/325/Summer-Series-in-the-Park

Monmouth County Parks Summer Concerts

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy free concerts at parks throughout Monmouth County.

https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com

Belmar Friday Night Concert Series | Belmar

One of the Jersey Shore’s favorite free summer traditions, Belmar’s Friday Night Concert Series takes place at Pyanoe Plaza (9th Avenue & Main Street) throughout the summer. Bring a chair, grab takeout from a local restaurant, and enjoy live music every Friday evening.

Learn more:
https://www.vacationinbelmar.com/post/belmar-nj-friday-night-concerts

Additional Belmar music events:
https://www.belmar.com/visitor/events

Downtown Freehold Summer Concert Series | Freehold

Downtown Freehold hosts several free concert series throughout the summer, including the popular Thursday’s ROCK! Summer Concert Series featuring local favorites, tribute bands, and regional acts.

Learn more:
https://www.downtownfreehold.com/thursdays-rock-summer-concert-series

Upcoming Downtown Freehold events:
https://www.downtownfreehold.com/events

15 Screen-Free Summer Activities presented by The Balance Project!

Check out some awesome Screen-Free Family Activities to do this Summer in Monmouth County, NJ here!

Discover Local Activities

Looking for a new activity the whole family can enjoy? Jersey Pickleball Club is now open inside Bell Works in Holmdel, bringing one of the fastest-growing sports in the country to Monmouth County in a brand new, state-of-the-art indoor facility. Conveniently located inside Bell Works, Jersey Pickleball Club features five professional-grade courts, social spaces, leagues, clinics, tournaments, lessons, and programming for all ages and skill levels.

Designed for both beginners and experienced players, Jersey Pickleball Club offers a fun, social, and welcoming environment for families, friends, and corporate groups alike. The 13,800-square-foot facility includes advanced court technology, premium lighting, match-review cameras, and dedicated spaces to gather and connect before and after play. Whether you’re looking to try pickleball for the first time, sign your kids up for camps and clinics, or meet up with friends for a fun night out, this exciting new addition to Bell Works has something for everyone.

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Jersey Pickleball Club offers flexible membership options, lessons, social events, themed nights, tournaments, and more. Visit Jersey Pickleball Club at Bell Works and see why pickleball continues to grow in popularity across the country. Visit jerseypickleballclub.com and click “join today” to create a free account, or call 732-858-5939 with any questions.

Location + Contact Information

jerseypickleballclub.com

Learn More at Monmouth County Library!

Our library system is home to dozens of classes for all ages, with branches located all throughout Monmouth County. Head to the library to cool off, grab some summer reading books, and learn something new! Check out their website for the latest events and programs available.