Down the Shore

It won’t be long until a Jersey Shore summer will be upon us in full swing. In case you missed it, Travel + Leisure recently named our area the #1 spot for beach summer vacations in the U.S., beating out the Hamptons, San Diego, and the Outer Banks. But we already knew that 😉 

As we wait for the spring showers to pass (and hopefully the last of these 50-degree days), we’re building our DTS Summer 2026 bucket list. What’s on yours? Reply to this email and let us know what you can’t wait to do.

DTS Summer Bucket List

From midweek free dock concerts to sunset dinners and slices of local history, here are five of our must-dos for Summer 2026 at the Shore.

1. Jersey Shore BlueClaws Game - It’s officially baseball season with opening night this Tuesday, April 7 and games running through August. Grab tickets and check out the theme nights - Sundays are especially fun when kids eat for free and pups are allowed in the park. 

2. Concert on the Dock in Fair Haven - This free concert series runs all summer at the Fair Haven Dock (end of Fair Haven Road) every Wednesday from 7-9pm. It’s the perfect midweek mixup to enjoy live music as the sun sets on the Navesink. 

3. Dinner al fresco at Mule Barn Tavern - At the very end of Sandy Hook, Mule Barn feels like finding hidden treasure. Admission to the park is free if you say at the entrance that you’re dining there. They’re famous for - you guessed it - their refreshing variety of Moscow Mules. 

4. Battle of Monmouth Reenactment - As part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, one highlight is the Battle of Monmouth reenactment on June 20-21 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. Travel back in time to 1778 when the Continental Army proved itself against the British in the longest single day of combat during the Revolutionary War. (Suggested donation: $15 per car).

5. Staycation at the St. Laurent - This boutique hotel and social club in Asbury Park feels like a quick escape to St. Tropez. Spend the day at their pool club for peak summer vibes, then transition to dinner at Judy’s, their James Beard award-nominated restaurant.

Shore Points

Here are a few headlines that caught our eye this week:

Jon Bon Jovi Receives James Beard Impact Award for JBJ Soul Foundation - In case you didn’t know, Jon Bon Jovi’s Foundation operates a string of nonprofit restaurants in Red Bank, Toms River, and Newark.

An Inside Look at the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music - The center’s director gives a peek at what the public can expect at the unveiling, happening this June at Monmouth University.

Weekly Forecast

Here’s to holding out hope we can put away our winter coats after this week, but don’t turn over your closet just yet:

Monday 4/6 - 52°/38° Sunny

Tuesday 4/7- 48°/32° Sunny

Wednesday 4/8 - 41°/32° Sunny

Thursday 4/9 - 47°/38° Mostly Cloudy

Friday 4/10 - 55°/43° Mostly Cloudy

Saturday 4/11 - 61°/46° Sunny

Sunday 4/12 - 53°/46° Mostly Sunny

And for the surfers out there, here are the weekly surf conditions in Belmar courtesy of Surf Captain:

Farmer’s Market Roundup

We’re excited for this list to expand as it gets warmer, but shoutout to the Bell Works FRESH Farmers and Makers markets for getting us through the cold weather months!

• Holmdel: 4/8 Bell Works FRESH Wednesday Farmers and Makers Market

And if we are missing any other markets, let us know!

Happenings Down the Shore

Below is a curated list of events you can check out this week. Some highlights include the Jersey Shore BlueClaws opening week and a cocktail class in Asbury Park!

Also, Jersey Shore Restaurant Week starts on Friday, April 10th! You can check out participating restaurants here.

Lastly, if there’s an upcoming event you’d like us to cover, feel free to pass it along!

Monday 4/6

Holmdel - Intro to Pickleball Clinic at Bell Works (9:30 am - register here)

Oceanport - Weekly Trivia at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6:30 pm)

Red Bank - Jazz Arts Jam Sessions at Triumph Brewing (6 pm)

Tuesday 4/7

Lakewood - Jersey Shore BlueClaws Opening Night (6:35 pm - get tix)

Wednesday 4/8

Asbury Park - Cocktail Class at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club (5 pm - get tix)

Long Branch - Spring Bingo Night at Beach Bee Meadery (6:30 pm - learn more)

Thursday 4/9

Long Branch - Trivia Night at Beach Bee Meadery (6:30 pm - learn more)

Red Bank - Gab Cinque Band at Jamian’s (8 pm)

Red Bank - Erez Lirov at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm)

Red Bank - A Real Human Jazz Band at Triumph Brewing (8 pm)

Friday 4/10

Belmar - Successful Failures at Beach Haus (7 pm)

Belmar - We’ll Be Fine at Marina Grille (8 pm)

Fair Haven - Bookworms and Brushstrokes at River Road Books (3:30 pm - get tix)

Holmdel - DJ Jaden 60s Dance Party at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm)

Oceanport - Sean Collichio at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm)

Red Bank - The Cliffs at Jamian’s (9 pm)

Red Bank - Cranston Dean at Triumph Brewery (8 pm)

Saturday 4/11

Asbury Park - Kevin Hill and Chris Fay at Low Dive (1 pm)

Belmar - Stampede at Marina Grille (8 pm)

Holmdel - Cranston Dean at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm)

Holmdel - Sundown Sessions feat. DJ Bilo at Bar Bella in BellWorks (4 pm)

Lakewood - Jersey Shore BlueClaws vs. Brooklyn Cyclones (4:05 pm - get tix)

Lincroft - Free Weekend Workshop Series at the Monmouth Museum (11 am)

Oceanport - Charlie Krause at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6:00 pm)

Red Bank - Frank Rainey at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm)

Red Bank - Random Test Reggae Band at Jamians (9 pm)

Red Bank - Damian & DCQ at Triumph Brewery (9 pm)

Sunday 4/12

Belmar - BC MacGowan (Los Gringos) at Beach Haus (2 pm)

Holmdel - Tommy LaBella Duo at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm)

Lakewood - Jersey Shore BlueClaws — On Sundays, kids eat free and you can bring your pup to the park (1:05 pm - get tix)

Red Bank - Jon Menges Trio at Triumph Brewing (1 pm)

On Deck:

Coasst Residency Opening Day (Monday, 4/13) at the Anderson Market in Red Bank (learn more)

3rd Annual NOFA-NJ Mushroom Fest (Thursday 5/2) in Downtown Asbury Park (learn more)

Murder Mystery Dinner (Saturday, 5/16) at The James Bradley Hotel in Bradley Beach (learn more)

Did we miss an event? Let us know.

Thanks for reading and if someone forwarded this to you, please subscribe via the link below. See you next week!