Best Christmas Lights Near Ocean Township, NJ

Preparing for the holidays is almost as much fun as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays themselves. If you live in or near Ocean Township, New Jersey, there are many fun events and activities for the entire family leading up to the holidays. Take a look at some fun Christmas events you should check out in Ocean Township. more Christmas Light Show at Allaire Community Farm Don't miss the holiday light spectacular at the Allaire Community Farm in Wall Township, New Jersey. This family-friendly event features a tractor-drawn hayride through a beautiful Christmas light display. You'll listen to Christmas music as the tractor pulls the wagon through the light display. Tickets for this event are available online, and you must have them before you go to the farm. This is a popular event, and tickets will sell out, so make sure to get yours early. Before or after your hayride, visit the farm market, where you'll find Christmas plants, hot chocolate, baked goods, hot cider, and much more for sale. This event is one of the farm’s largest fundraisers and helps keep it operating through the winter. The light show will start on Thursday, Nov. 17, and run on the weekends through Friday, Dec. 23. The Monmouth Moms’ 2nd Annual Holiday Festival On Dec. 4, the Monmouth Moms will host the 2nd Annual Holiday Festival at Bell Works in Holmdel, New Jersey. This daylong event features lots of vendors selling food and holiday gift items. It’ll be an excellent time for the kids to visit Santa and take holiday pictures with him. The Holiday Festival will also feature lots of entertainment and a character picture station. Admission is free, and if you are one of the first 250 guests to arrive, you'll get a fun gift basket. This event requires that all guest register. Some of the activities the kids and adults are sure to enjoy include: Storytime. Face painting. Arts and crafts. Balloon animals. Holiday-themed activities with Snapology of Monmouth County. Grand Christmas Bazaar The Grand Christmas Bazaar is back for 2022, and it will be better than ever. This holiday event in Holmdel, New Jersey, features over 50 crafters and artisans, lots of food with savory and sweet goodies for sale, holiday music, and visits with Christmas characters, including Santa himself. There will be a Christmas tree decorating contest, activities for the kids, face painting, and free giveaways. If you want to get your family holiday photo done, you can make an appointment for a free photo session with Irene Keselman and purchase a digital photo package. It’ll take place on Saturday, Dec. 10. The doors open at 9 a.m. at Bell Works in Holmdel. This event is more than just shopping and food; it is also a way to give back. There will be a coat drive by the Salvation Army, so make sure to grab any coats and jackets you don't use anymore, and you can donate them to a worthy cause. This day is also a kitten and dog adoption event. Asbury Park Santa Run The Asbury Park Santa Run is a 5K road race. Every contestant gets a Santa suit to run in, filling the streets of Asbury Park with running Santas. This event supports Lunch Break, a local charity, by donating a portion of the proceeds to the organization. The race takes place on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m. Make sure to head to one or more of the after-parties once you finish the race. One will take place at The Stone Pony and feature Brian Kirk & the Jerks. The after-party is for runners 21 and older. The second after-party is the Wonder Bar which features the Ocean Ave Stompers. This is also a 21 and over event. The third after-party is at St. Laurent and is open to all ages. Santa suit and bib pickup take place on Friday, Dec. 2, at Road Runner Sports in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. If you wait until race day, you can pick them up at Stone Pony starting at 8:30 a.m. Santa Cruise Get into the holiday spirit on the paddle-wheel boat, the Navesink Queen's Santa Cruise. You’ll find plenty of holiday cheer on this family-friendly holiday cruise. Santa will be onboard for pictures and visits, and the boat’s festive holiday decorations are sure to delight. You'll listen to holiday music as you slowly cruise through the open water. If the weather is right, all the festivities will take place on the open-air second deck. If it's too cold or rainy, they will move the event down into the main cabin, where it's warmer. The Santa Cruise will leave the dock at 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 3 and return at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $23 for adults and $12 for kids aged 12 and under. Ocean Township Christmas Tree Lighting The annual Christmas tree Lighting event will take place on Dec. 4 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the Township of Ocean Historical Museum grounds. Santa will arrive at this event at 5 p.m., and admission is free. Holiday Festival Arts & Crafts Show The Holiday Festival Arts & Crafts Show in Ocean Grove, New Jersey, starts at 10 a.m. on Dec. 10. This is the perfect event to find unique and one-of-a-kind gifts for everyone on your shopping list. It's hosted by the Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce and takes place on Main Avenue in Ocean Grove. It will feature local artisans, crafters, food centers, and live music. Stop by to listen to Terry and the Hats, a barbershop quartet performing in the morning, and Band of Strays performing in the afternoon. When the Sea View Auto Corp staff wants to get into the holiday spirit, these are some of the local Ocean Township area events and activities we head to. If you have others that you enjoy, stop by the dealership and tell us about them. While you are here, we can show you a new Jeep or maybe something from our certified pre-owned inventory to help you get to all these fun activities. Christmas Lights by Lima Pix is licensed with CC BY 2.0

When you crave seafood, you won't have to travel far beyond Ocean Township, New Jersey. The Jersey Shore has you covered with the freshest catches from the sea, from crabs to clams. While you'll find many dynamic places for dining in and around Ocean Township, the following seafood restaurants take top honors on our list, and we bet they'll become your favorites too. more Mar Belo Infusing Long Branch with a distinctive blend of Portuguese and Spanish cuisine, Mar Belo offers creative dishes starring local, sustainable ingredients. Mar Belo's interior decor exudes luxury, with elegant table settings and exquisite menu items that captivate your eyes and taste buds. Following the tradition of Portuguese cuisine, Mar Belo prepares its plates of the day around fish, meat dishes, and soups. Dishes change depending on the season and whatever the kitchen can get fresh that morning. The current Mar Belo lunch menu offers guests a medley of Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The Pork and Clams Alentejana combine pork, clams, and cilantro in an Espanhola sauce over cubed potatoes. One taste of the Bacalhau Minhota will redefine how you think about codfish. Mar Belo's preparation pairs salted codfish with sauteed onions, red peppers, and Spanish potatoes. Dinner entrees will treat all your senses to an experience of the culinary innovation from the Mar Belo kitchen. Paelha Valenciana is Mar Belo's interpretation of classic Spanish paella, featuring lobster, shrimp, scallops, mussels, calamari, clams, pork, chicken, and sausage cooked in rice infused with saffron. Bronzino features a whole grilled fish served with hearty yellow potatoes and broccoli. In addition to its main dining space, Mar Belo offers a private party room you can reserve for birthdays, business meetings, and wedding receptions. Location: 611 Broadway, Long Branch. Telephone: 732-870-2222. Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant Explore carefully crafted coastal cuisine at Rooney's Oceanfront Restaurant. Tucked away in Long Branch, this dynamic seaside dining destination features a bi-level outdoor deck offering picturesque Atlantic Ocean views. Whether you're visiting for brunch, lunch, or dinner, Rooney's delivers a memorable dining experience for any occasion. Choose from several selections on the raw bar menu, including oysters on the half shell, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and bloody mary shooters. Rooney's crabcake entree features decadent crabcakes coated with a cornflake crust and served with grilled asparagus, fingerling potatoes, and red pepper aioli. Dinner specialties include monstrous 9-ounce Brazilian lobster tails served with drawn butter and your choice of two sides. Grilled swordfish pairs with a coconut curry risotto and kabocha squash puree for a sumptuous entree that hits all the right notes. Don't pass up the shrimp or lobster frittatas when you're visiting for brunch. The Carolina Benedict upgrades the classic eggs Benedict with crabmeat, toasted cornbread, poached eggs, and Old Bay hollandaise. Location: 100 Ocean Ave. N., Long Branch. Telephone: 732-870-1200. SeaGrass Restaurant With access to the best farms in the country and a desirable Atlantic Ocean location, SeaGrass Restaurant serves memorable seafood dishes for guests to enjoy. Whether you dine in for lunch or dinner, you'll find that the most delicious, sustainably harvested seafood will await your taste buds at SeaGrass Restaurant. Clam chowder fans can enjoy every spoonful of the delicious New England Clam Chowdah infused with rich cream and the meatiest clams imaginable. The Lobster BLT is a sumptuous creation of fresh Maine lobster meat served on brioche toast with chips. For the ultimate seafood experience on your plate, order The Fried Seafood Plate. This entree features shrimp, scallops, and codfish served with house-made chips and onion rings. The dinner menu will delight seafood lovers. Whether you select the sesame-encrusted ahi tuna or seared scallops drizzled with basil oil and served with asparagus risotto, your palate will enjoy experiencing the freshest ingredients from land and sea on your plate. Location: 68 Main Ave., Ocean Grove. Telephone: 732-869-0770. The Bonney Read Take a short drive from Ocean Township to Asbury Park for a comforting, casual dining experience at The Bonney Read. At its heart, this chowder house delivers sustainably procured, locally sourced seafood in creative culinary preparations. A full raw bar features a rotating selection of shucked-to-order clams and oysters served raw, hot, or in the rough. Start with the small plates menu if you're unsure where to begin your dining discovery. New England clam chowder, steamed clams, and coconut shrimp make excellent choices to whet your seafood appetite. Large plates are always a delight for diners. From Baja fish tacos served with chipotle tartar sauce and pickled cabbage to a whole Maine lobster roll, hearty appetites can savor every bite of these tasty seafood dishes. Location: 525 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park. Telephone: 732-455-3352. The Iron Whale Located on the Asbury Park Boardwalk, The Iron Whale surrounds guests with the seafaring spirit with its seaside-inspired decor accented by gas lanterns, ropes, and reclaimed wood. Under the leadership of Executive Chef Charles Collins, The Iron Whale's menu features an inventive take on classic seafood dishes with offbeat combinations of ingredients and preparations. Open seven days a week throughout the year for brunch, lunch, and dinner, The Iron Whale makes a perfect spot for weekday or weekend dining. The Iron Whale divides its menu into several components: small plates, raw bar specialties, handhelds, salads, main dishes, and the fish taco bar selections. Savor the taste of Jamaican-inspired jerk shrimp with a coconut cucumber salad and cilantro-garlic aioli. The cedar plank-cooked salmon on the main dish portion of the menu shines with a peach bourbon glaze, peach pico de gallo, sauteed Swiss chard, and pine nuts. Raw bar specialties include the following: Local Jersey Shore clams. Long Island blue point oysters. Chilled jumbo shrimp. Maryland Chesapeake oysters. Location: 1200 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park. Telephone: 732-361-5185. No matter what type of seafood suits your fancy, you can be confident that the above seafood restaurants will satisfy your taste buds. What did you think about the restaurant selections we've presented here? Did we overlook one of your favorite seafood establishments in the region? Write to us and let us know. Our team will be happy to update this article with your best seafood restaurant recommendations. Lobster by Jessica Weiller is licensed with Unsplash License

As the weather cools, there's anticipation in the air as the people of Ocean Township get ready for Thanksgiving. It’s the first festive event on the holiday calendar that encourages families to gather around the table, but there are plenty of great local events happening close to home, too. Celebrate Thanksgiving with your community at these holiday events in and around Ocean Township. more Dish! The Monday Night Cookbook Club Get some inspiration for your Thanksgiving feast at the November meeting of Dish! The Monday Night Cookbook Club. A book club for adults 18+, members choose, prepare, and share a dish from a chosen cookbook each month. In November, it's Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers, featuring classic American fare and regional holiday dishes from across the country. New members are always welcome. If you want to join in, register online and collect the cookbook ahead of time from Nutley Public Library's circulation desk. Once you've found a recipe you want to make, email your selection to Michelle at albert@nutley.bccls.org. Location: Nutley Public Library, 93 Booth Drive, Nutley. Hours: 7 p.m. on Nov. 7. Cost: Free. Colonial Thanksgiving Dinner Demonstration & Table Customs Learn more about the Thanksgiving traditions of your ancestors at Miller-Cory House Museum's event in Westfield, 20 minutes southwest of Ocean Township. The museum's cooks will demonstrate how the pilgrims prepared colonial recipes over open-heart fires. The museum's guides will also tell attendees about early American manners, including traditional place settings and other fascinating traditions. A tour of the fully furnished Colonial-era farmhouse caps off the event. Note that this is a demonstration-only event, without any food included. Location: Miller-Cory House Museum, 614 Mountain Ave., Westfield. Hours: 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 20. Cost: $5 admission 13+, $3 children 3 to 12 years, and younger children are free. Thanksgiving with the Keans Get a jump-start on your Thanksgiving feasting with a traditional holiday feast at Kean University's Liberty Hall Museum. Held the weekend before Thanksgiving in Union, 11 minutes south of Ocean Township, this event features traditional dishes prepared from Kean family recipe books and other historic tomes from Liberty Hall Museum. It's a strictly 21+ event, so book your babysitter. You can reserve your table online or by calling 908-527-0400. Location: Liberty Hall Museum, Kean University, 1003 Morris Ave., Union. Hours: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 17. Cost: $52.75, includes booking fee. Read Feed Run Turkey Trot Start your Thanksgiving with some pep in your step at the annual Read Feed Run Turkey Trot in Morristown, 21 minutes west of Ocean Township. Now in its 16th year, this turkey trot has events for all ages and fitness levels. Push yourself to the limit in the 5K run or enjoy the more leisurely pace of the 1-mile fun walk and run. There's also a kids' trot for children 12 and under. An awards ceremony after the races celebrates the event's best performers. All money raised benefits Literacy Volunteers of Morris County, committed to helping residents read, and helping the Interfaith Food Pantry Network distribute food to locals in need. Location: Ginty Field, 50 Woodland Ave., Morristown. Hours: Pick up packets and on-site registration from 7 a.m. and for events from 8:45 a.m. Nov. 24. Cost: $35 for 5K, $30 for 1-mile Fun Run, and $10 for Kids Trot, including event T-shirts, while supplies last. The Racefaster Thanksgiving Day Run The Racefaster Thanksgiving Day Run is another great turkey trot in the local area. Held annually at Glen Rock, 25 minutes north of Ocean Township, the event winds through the streets of this charming Bergen County borough. Bring the kids along to join the Kids Fun Run. Register for the event before 6 p.m. on November 23 to join in the fun. Location: 460 Doremus Ave., Glen Rock. Hours: 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for the 5K, and 9:45 a.m. to 10 a.m. Kids Fun Run Nov. 24. Cost: $38.33 for 5K, and $22.46 for kids' fun run, includes sign-up fees. Thanksgiving Buffet at The Bernards Inn Take the day off the cooking and let the team at The Bernards Inn pamper you and your family instead. This buffet is an annual tradition in Bernardsville, 29 minutes from Ocean Township. The two-hour seatings provide plenty of time to stuff yourself with the inn's lavish spread of festive gourmet fare. There'll be turkey, of course, along with short ribs braised in red wine, seared sole, roasted Faroe Island salmon, and so much more. The event will likely sell out, so diners should book ahead by calling 908-766-0002. Location: 27 Minebrook Road, Bernardsville. Hours: Two-hour sittings throughout the day, Nov. 24. Cost: $90 for adults, $50 for children 2 to 12 years, and younger children eat free. Thanksgiving at Blue Morel Blue Morel in Morristown is another local restaurant hosting a generous Thanksgiving buffet. This restaurant and wine bar promises to serve up classic holiday dishes alongside some contemporary options. With roasted turkey with all the trimmings, suckling pig, salads, a raw bar, and a dessert bar, expect to adjust your belt a few notches by the time you're done. Call the restaurant at 973-451-2619 to reserve your table. Location: 2 Whippany Road, Morristown. Hours: Midday to 8 p.m. Nov. 24. Cost: $89 for adults, $29 for children under 12, plus tax and gratuity. Thanksgiving Day Cruise For a Thanksgiving meal that you won't quickly forget, consider joining Cornucopia Cruise Line's Thanksgiving Day cruise. Departing from Perth Amboy, 28 minutes south of Ocean Township, the event promises three hours of family fun, including a traditional Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy the food, drinks, and water views, knowing that the washing up is someone else's problem. Location: Depart 401 Riverview Drive, Perth Amboy. Hours: Boarding 11:30 a.m. for midday to 3 p.m. cruise. Cost: $79.95 for 13+, $59.96 for children 3 to 12 years, younger children are free. You now know some of the Thanksgiving events the team at Sea View Auto Corp wouldn’t want you to miss. Have we left out any great local events celebrating Turkey Day? We'd love to hear from you. Swing by our Ocean Township dealership or drop us a line to tell us all about them. Give Thanks by Priscilla Du Preez is licensed with Unsplash License