Oceanfest event July 4th: food, fun and fireworks

LONG BRANCH — An Independence Day tradition in Long Branch, the 23rd annual Oceanfest celebration will take place on July 4.

The free, family-friendly festival runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., rain or shine, along the halfmile stretch of oceanfront Promenade between Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park and the Ocean Place Resort & Spa. Oceanfest will end the evening with a spectacular fireworks display over the ocean, with music simulcast by 95.9 WRAT-FM starting at 9 p.m. The event is co-hosted by the City of Long Branch and the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce.

This year, Oceanfest will host the New Jersey Hall of Fame traveling exhibit. Inside, visitors will find a dramatic multimedia exhibition created around the theme “Make a Difference.” Through images, artifacts, film and interactive elements, visitors can explore the ways that New Jersey Hall of Fame inductees have changed the state and the world — as innovators, as leaders and as voices for the voiceless — often against overwhelming odds. And they will be invited to consider how they, too, can make a difference.

Visitors to Oceanfest will also enjoy live bands, strolling entertainers, master sand sculpting demonstrations, and music and demonstrations by local groups.

Bands will play on the Great Lawn stage beginning at 1 p.m. with Swing Sabrosa, followed by bands Mad Satta, Rave On, and Goldenseal.

Other entertainment will take place at the Garfield Memorial and Promenade Gazebo.

The festival offers a large variety of foods, and dozens of crafters and vendors will sell items — handcrafted jewelry, clothing, decorative garden ornaments, gourmet dog treats and straw hats.

After sunset, visitors will view one of the largest fireworks displays at the Jersey Shore on the beach. The fireworks display starts at 9 p.m., and visitors are encouraged to tune in to 95.9 WRAT-FM for the patriotic simulcast.

This year’s three-on-three basketball tournament, organized by the Long Branch Department of Recreation, is limited to high school students ages 14 to 18 years old, and will have a girls division. Sixteen teams will be accepted. Teams are advised to register in advance by contacting the Recreation Department at 732-571-6545. If there are any open slots in the tournament, registration will be open the morning of the tournament at 9 a.m. The winning team will receive a trophy, basketballs and a gift certificate to a local establishment

The chamber raises all the funds for Oceanfest with the support of sponsors, and organizers are collecting donations from the public to help offset these costs. Donations can be sent to the chamber office at 228 Broadway, P.O. Box 628, Long Branch, NJ 07740.

Oceanfest sponsors include the Atlanticville, 95.9 WRAT-FM, Monmouth Medical Center, Monmouth University, Ocean Place Resort & Spa, Comcast and others.

For more information, contact the Greater Long Branch Chamber of Commerce at 732- 222-0400 or Allen Consulting at 732-946-2711.