Juneteenth celebrations and more things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore
Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. The troops’ arrival came 2? years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Considered the longest-running African American holiday, it became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021.
There are a number of events taking place in Monmouth County over the next few days. The Count Basie Center for the Arts will host a community Juneteenth celebration at 6 p.m. Wednesday (June 12) at The Vogel, 99 Monmouth St., in Red Bank.
The celebration will be hosted by community leader Gilda Rogers, executive director of Red Bank’s T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center, the nonprofit that works to preserve and further the civil rights and social justice legacy of journalist T. Thomas Fortune through community outreach, education, the arts and public programming.
Also appearing will be the Count Basie Center Gospel Choir, which will perform music composed and arranged by African Americans; Neptune High School a cappella troupe The Scarlet Sound; dancer and author Audrey Davis-Dunning; and the Marel Hildalgo Trio. Suggested donation is $10.
“My message will be centered on Juneteenth, otherwise known as Freedom Day,” said event host Rogers in a news release. “Juneteenth is an American holiday that invites all people and cultures to participate in honoring the legacy of those who were enslaved — not just in Texas, but overall — and amplifies the progressive contributions Black people historically have made to this country since its inception.”The Basie will also participate in Red Bank’s Juneteenth celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Johnny Jazz Park, featuring live jazz performances, guest speakers, food trucks, giveaways and more.
Other Juneteenth celebrations
Neptune Township and Asbury Park celebrate on Saturday. It starts at 9 a.m. with a Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony at the Neptune Township Municipal Building, 25 Neptune Blvd. (Route 33). A classic car parade begins at 10 a.m. from the municipal building down West Lake Avenue to Midtown Commons Park, near the corner of Route 35 and West Lake Avenue and across the street from the Jane H. Booker Family Health Center.
At 11 a.m. there will be gospel music, speakers, poetry, as well as food, games, arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall, face painting, a resource fair and more. The parade to Asbury Park begins about 12:45 p.m. and marches down Springwood Avenue to Springwood Park, 126 Atkins Ave.
Starting at 1 p.m. in Asbury, there will be food, crafts, an interactive art display, and performances from local stars like Alexander Simone and Ryver Bey. Local fathers will be honored, too. Admission to the celebration in Neptune Township and Asbury Park is free.
There is also a Juneteenth celebration at noon Sunday at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Featuring live performances, DJs, vendors, games and special guests, tickets range from $30 to $77. More information is at instagram.com/juneteenthnj/p/C3-dlp0ODWD.
Here are more things to do this weekend at the Shore and beyond, including a family festival honoring dads on Sunday in Asbury Park.
Toms River Pride
The sixth annual Toms River Pride takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on Washington Street in downtown Toms River. In addition to food trucks and vendors, there will be performances by local LGBTQ+ artists and allies including Jon Kindred Band, Madhavi, DJ C-Bunny, Jared Milian, Red Bird — and drag artists Jolina Jasmine and Tastie.
Enter the B98.5 Pride Lip Sync Battle to win tickets to the Charli XCX and Troye Sivan concert at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Sept. 23. The contest begins at noon on the festival's main stage. You also can stop by the B98.5 Pride Gazebo for a chance to win tickets to see Billie Eilish on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at Prudential Center in Newark.
The Exit 82 Theatre After Party, for those 21 and older, concludes the evening from 5 to 9 p.m. with a bar, DJ, and performances. Tickets are $5.
Go: Toms River Pride, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, downtown Toms River; exit82theatre.com/tr-pride, facebook.com/TomsRiverPride.
Hop Sauce Festival in Beach Haven
The hot sauce and craft beer festival is in its ninth year, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in Beach Haven.
Hosted by the Jetty Rock Foundation of Long Beach Island and Beach Haven's Spice It Up, the festival that boasts tons of hot sauce, more than 50 brews and live music supports Jetty's mission to "protect our oceans and waterways, and support those who build their lives around them," according to the website.
General admission, without beer tasting, is $20. Beer tasting tickets are $60. The Kona Big Wave VIP package ($125) offers access to a VIP tent where food, beer and special amenities are brought to you.
Go: Hop Sauce Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Veterans Memorial Park, 198 Engleside Ave., $20 or $60; fundraise.givesmart.com, jettyrockfoundation.org/pages/hop-sauce-festival.
Asbury Underground
The Asbury Underground music and art crawl returns Saturday to downtown Asbury Park as part of the North to Shore festival after a nearly five-year hiatus. The Underground is bigger than ever with 80 artists performing in 32 venues, from bars to galleries to shops.
“It’s a free day of music, spoken word, comedy and art, and we would encourage people to Uber in or take the train or get here early so they can park because parking is an issue in Asbury Park,” said Asbury Underground founder Pat Schiavino, a music industry vet, painter, and owner of the Art 629 gallery on Cookman Avenue.
Highlights include Neptune hitmaker Nicole Atkins; city country duo Williams Honor; and actor Val Emmich at the Art 629 Gallery at 629 Cookman. Also, music man Pete Scherer is at Blackbird Presents; Rihanna songwriter Chad Sabo plays at Motion City Media; battle rap champ Lex Banko lays it down at Lola’s European Café’; and Bobby Mahoney, who's opened for Bon Jovi, at rocks Destination Asbury.
Go: Asbury Underground, noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, downtown Asbury Park, free; asburyunderground.com.
Family Festival in Asbury Park
Manna-A United Food Connection, St. Stephen AMEZ Church and United Fellowship Baptist Church present A Family Festival: Honoring Our Fathers at noon Sunday in Asbury Park. Part of the North to Shore festival, the event takes place at Springwood Park, 126 Atkins Ave.
The festival, according to a release, aims "to bring our community together for a day of celebration, food, fun and unity." There will be a mobile skating rink, bounce houses, water fun, arts and crafts, face painting, free food and ice cream, a DJ, plus music featuring Zal Walton Jr., and Alexander Simone and the Whodat? Live Crew.
Vendors and community groups will be on hand distributing information and giveaways.
Manna Food Connection is a food pantry that has been serving the community since the beginning of the pandemic. The nonprofit food ministry officially opened in October 2022, in the United Fellowship Baptist Church, 603 Third Ave., Asbury Park. Manna serves underprivileged families in Asbury Park, Neptune and the surrounding communities.
Visit St. Stephen's on Facebook to nominate a father or role model who has made a significant difference in your life and the lives of those around you.
Go: A Family Festival: Honoring Our Fathers, noon to 4 p.m., Springwood Park, 126 Atkins Ave., Asbury Park, free; https://northtoshore.com/event/honoring-our-fathers.
Brick location: Icarus Brewing to open new Brick location with tasting room, outdoor beer garden and more
Last Call at Icarus in Lakewood
To celebrate the opening of their new location in Brick, and their departure from their original Lakewood location, Icarus Brewing will be hosting a weekend long farewell extravaganza.
Last Call Lakewood takes place from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Live music will kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday with The Foes of Fern, followed by Junk Food at 9 p.m. On Saturday, John Zayle plays at 12:45 p.m., followed by Thomas Duffy Guitar at 2:45 p.m. and Separatr at 4:45 p.m.
There will be $5 slow pour lagers available in the beer garden all day Sunday.
Icarus posted earlier this week that they plan to open in Brick on Saturday, July 20.
Go: Last Call Lakewood, Icarus Brewing, Friday to Sunday, 1790 Swarthmore Ave., Suite 3, Lot 2; 732-276-6273, icarusbrewing.com.
Pop-Up Book & Bling Sale in Toms River
Need some nifty beach reads? Looking for movies or music on your “must” list? How about something to glam up the wardrobe? Find gently used items during the Pop-Up Book & Bling Sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Toms River branch of the Ocean County Library.
Bargain hunters will find hardcover and softcover books, audiobooks, DVDs and audio compact discs, along with rings, pins, necklaces, brooches, purses and pocketbooks.
All donated bling is cleaned before going on display. Each cash-only transaction supports the Friends of the Ocean County Library – Toms River.
Go: Pop-Up Book & Bling Sale, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Ocean County Library, 101 Washington St., Toms River; 732-349-6200, theoceancountylibrary.org.
NJ Airshow at Greenwood Lake Airport
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the NJ Airshow at Greenwood Lake Airport in West Milford runs Friday to Sunday. This year, a release said, there will be an expansion of the Night Show across all three days.
"Some of the world's best airshow performers will be showcasing their daredevil skills at our night airshow — the only one of its kind in the Northeast," said Tim Wagner, the event's organizer. "Each evening will feature a stunning combination of aerial pyrotechnics from aircraft and a synchronized pyromusical, which includes a dazzling laser show."
Headlining acts Include the Titan Aerobatic Team, which a release states is "the most sought-after civilian aerial act in the industry." The four pilots perform "awe-inspiring" maneuvers in their World War II T-6 Texans. There's also Nathan Hammond "Ghost Writer," who lights up the sky with 200 pounds of pyrotechnics and 4,000 brilliant LED lights in a "graceful ballet among the stars."
There will be plenty of food and vendors. Guests are asked to bring a folding chair or a blanket to enjoy the show. Gates open at 4 p.m. Friday, with performances beginning at 7 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, gates open at 2 p.m., with performances starting at 5:30 p.m. Night shows begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. all three days.
Advance tickets are $35, $25 for seniors/veterans, $15 for children 4 to 12. At the gate, tickets are $40, $30 for seniors/veterans, $20 for kids. Upgrade options are available at njairshow.com.
Go: NJ Airshow, Friday to Sunday, Greenwood Lake Airport, 126 Airport Road, West Milford, $40, $35 advance; njairshow.com.
Chris Jordan and Gabriela L. Laracca contributed to this story.
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Juneteenth celebrations take place in Red Bank, Asbury Park
