Event details are subject to change without notice. Please confirm directly before heading out!
THIS WEEKEND:
June 28: Historic Whitesbog Village is where Elizabeth C. White and Dr. Frederick Coville grew the first domesticated highbush blueberry, making the Pinelands a blueberry haven. And now the 31st Annual Whitesbog Blueberry Festival happens from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 28. Plenty of blueberry food items will be on hand, as well as bluegrass music and activities for the kids, including a pie-eating contest. Entry is $10 per car, or $5 per person for guests arriving on foot or by bike or charter bus. Whitesbog Village, 120 N. Whitesbog Road, Browns Mills.
June 28: Viking Village in Barnegat Light holds its annual Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival. A number of local restaurants will be on hand preparing lovely nibbles as guests enjoy some jazzy tunes. The festival runs from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 at the Chamber of Commerce in Ship Bottom or $30 at the event. Viking Village, 1081 Bayview Avenue, Barnegat Light.
June 28: The Brigantine Beach Green Team and the city of Brigantine host a weekly farmers market that starts on June 28 and runs Saturdays until August 16, from 8:30 a.m.to noon. More than 30 local vendors will appear at the market. Haneman Park, 15th St & Revere Boulevard, Brigantine.
June 28: Do you enjoy Jersey beer? Do you like battleships? Enjoy both at the annual Garden State Brewers Festival, on board the Battleship New Jersey in Camden. More than 20 breweries will be there for you to sample from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets for the event are $45 per person ($55 for VIP tickets). 100 Clinton Street, Camden.
June 28: FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, the home of the BlueClaws, brings back BrewFest at the Ballpark. Two sessions will be held: 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate, per session. For $55, guests can also enjoy a buffet. Order by phone at 732-901-7000, or in person at the BlueClaws Box Office. FirstEnergy Park, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood.
June 28: Island Heights is the place to be for Summer Brew 2014, hosted by the Island Heights Volunteer Fire Company #1 and with live entertainment by The Pickles. For a donation of $30 in advance or $35 at the door, guests can sample beers as well as partake in some BBQ, clams, and more. The event begins at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from any Island Heights firefighter. Ages 21+ only. 732-929-4683, Island Heights Fire Company, Lake and Maple Avenues, Island Heights.
June 29: Hammonton celebrates its status as blueberry capital of the world during the Red White and Blueberry Festival, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hammonton High School. From pies, to pizzas, to iced tea, to salsa, if it can be made with blueberries, you’ll find it there. And yes, there will be pie-eating contests. Admission and parking are both free. Hammonton High School, 566 Old Forks Road, Hammonton.
June 30: Come out to any participating restaurant in the Long Beach Island/Manahawkin area on June 30 to support David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation’s Dine to Donate. Created by David Caldarella, a cancer survivor himself, the foundation has received support from nearly 30 restaurants in Ocean County. Proceeds from the restaurants on that day will go directly to the foundation. Contact David at 609-548-3382 or david@davidsdreamandbelieve.org for restaurant details.
AND BEYOND:
July 11, 18, 25: On three Fridays in July at 6:30 p.m., Haddonfield’s In The Kitchen Cooking School welcomes chef Natalie Stone for hands-on cooking classes. July 11 features the menu from Stone’s appearance on Rocco’s Dinner Party on the Bravo Network. The July 18 class offers Italian holiday favorites and more cooking classics are featured on July 25. The cost is $75 per class. Call 609-206-4511 to register. In The Kitchen Cooking School, 10 Mechanic Street, Haddonfield.
July 20 to 25: Collingswood’s Farm Fresh Restaurant Week starts July 20 and will feature several of area restaurants including: Tortilla Press, Nunzio’s Ristorante, and more. Restaurants will include discounted specials on their most popular dishes. Check online for more information.
August 16: The EARTH Center’s Garden Field Day takes place at Davidson’s Mill Pond Park in South Brunswick. A variety of events are scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. including garden tours, live music, samples of local produce from Middlesex County farmers, and a Backyard Garden Contest where guests are welcome to bring their biggest tomato, pumpkin or pepper. Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, 42 Riva Avenue, South Brunswick, 732-398-5262.
August 24: Sweet tooth, anyone? Kean University is the place to be for the NJ Confection & Dessert Tasting Expo. From 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., enjoy workshops for all ages along with sweet samplings and goodies that will be for sale. A Sweet Demonstration Stage will feature baking demonstrations from award-winning bakers and sweet entrepreneurs. General admission tickets are $35 and VIP tickets are available for $65. Contact info@NJDessertTastingExpo.com for more details. Kean University, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union.