Down the Shore

We spent the weekend away in Connecticut visiting family, particularly on strolls with the toddler crowd. We are therefore wondering: did anyone attend the Keyport Baby Parade on Saturday?

The baby parade tradition began in Asbury Park on July 22, 1890. According to The Jersey Shore by Dominick Mazzagetti, city founder James Bradley led 165 babies and their parents down the boardwalk, with the winner taking home a new pram. This particular quote from The New York Times made us chuckle, recalling that “the babies were in fine fettle, and spectators in good humor.”

Sadly, the baby parade is no longer held in Asbury Park, but other Shore towns still carry on the tradition, Keyport included!

Now that you have your historical fun fact of the week, on to this week’s programming…

Where to Book Your Local Summer Staycation

The fact that Labor Day weekend is only three weeks away might be depressing to some, but us year-round Shore dwellers need not fear: a treat is just beginning…Local Summer!

We’re lucky to have a number of incredible hotels that are about to come out of peak season and are worth checking out once the crowds dwindle. Here are our picks:

If you’re looking for a prime ocean view: The Asbury Ocean Club Hotel (Asbury Park)

We recently covered our stay here, but it remains a top choice if you want to maximize your beach and pool time. The ocean-facing poolside loungers give you the best of both worlds, while the boardwalk and downtown Asbury Park are both within walking distance.

If you’re looking to barely leave your hotel: The St. Laurent Social Club (Asbury Park)

This was last year’s staycation choice, and it did not disappoint. You have everything you need for a good time at your fingertips, thanks to the top-notch pool, poolside bar cart and Steady Hand coffee, and Judy & Harry’s bar and restaurant. Take home a hat or sweatshirt for a chic souvenir.

If you’re looking for the ultimate relaxation weekend: The James Bradley Hotel (Bradley Beach)

This wellness-inspired hotel (named after the aforementioned Baby Parade Grand Marshal) hosts regular yoga classes in the garden and other events, like soaking salts workshops where you can make their signature “Calm” blend for your tub at home. Plus, they have a gorgeous breakfast dining room to ease you into the morning.

P.S. Their Murder Mystery Dinner is back for an encore on October 24 if you want to add a little intrigue to your otherwise zen stay.

If you’re looking to leave the Shore for a bit: The Graduate Hotel (Princeton)

First of all, why? Second of all, OK, but if you’re going to go, make it a stay at the Graduate Hotel in Princeton. We’ve stayed here and at its sister property in New Haven, and both are full of fun design details paying homage to their neighboring college campuses. Princeton’s has tiger-motif carpeting, “Do Not Disturb, Studying” signs, and is a hop, skip, and a jump from the gorgeous campus. It is back-to-school season, after all…

These are all tried and tested by your DTS editors, but next we’re also looking to book a stay at Hotel Albatross in Ocean Grove. We hear they have a superb coffee bar!

Weekly Forecast

Why are we even bothering with the forecast when the weather app be like this?

Monday 8/17 - 82°/73° Mostly Cloudy

Tuesday 8/18 - 83°/67° Partly Sunny

Wednesday 8/19 - 85°/68° Sunny

Thursday 8/20 - 80°/72° Rain

Friday 8/21 - 79°/72° Cloudy

Saturday 8/22 - 76°/69° Heavy Rain

Sunday 8/23 - 80°/63° Light Rain

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

Farmers Market Roundup

• Holmdel, 8/19: Bell Works FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Long Branch, 8/20: West End Farmers Market

• Wall, 8/20: Wall Twp. Farmers Market

• Allenhurst, 8/21: Allenhurst Farmers Market

• Brick, 8/22: Brick Farmers Market

• Highlands, 8/22: Highlands Farmers Market

• Matawan, 8/22: Matawan Farmers & Makers Market

• Asbury Park, 8/23: Asbury FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Howell, 8/23: Howell NJ Farmers Market

• Point Pleasant Beach, 8/23: Point Pleasant Beach FRESH Farmers & Makers Market

• Red Bank, 8/23: The Galleria Red Bank Farmers Market

And if there are any markets we should definitely feature this season, let us know!

Happenings Down the Shore

This week we wanted to give a shoutout to the Indie Street Film Festival in Red Bank, which runs from August 17 through August 23. This is a regional film and arts festival featuring films that have been recognized at Sundance, SXSW, and the Oscars! Check out the 2026 schedule here, and we’ve also included info on the opening night reception below.

This is also a great week for live music (including some serious early-aughts throwbacks) throughout the Jersey Shore — you can check out Kesha, The Fray, Dashboard Confessional, and Chance the Rapper at different venues this week!

And speaking of baby parades, there’s an upcoming Expecting Mom Social September 20, at The Bunny Hive in Fort Monmouth. They’ve got some exciting perks for mamas-to-be, like mini maternity photoshoots and prenatal massages. Get your tickets today! 

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

Monday 8/17

Asbury Park - Stringbean & the Boardwalk Social Club at Low Dive (7 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Complimentary Intro to Pickleball Clinic with Jersey Pickleball Club at Bell Works (9:30 am)

Loch Arbor - Bravo Trivia Night at Deal Lake Bar + Co (7:30 pm)

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

Point Pleasant Beach - Beach Walk with Jenkinson’s Aquarium staff (6 pm)

Red Bank - Children’s Story Time on BroadWalk (10:30 am)

Red Bank - Opening Night Reception for the Indie Street Film Festival, The Vogel at the Count Basie Center for the Arts (5:30 pm - learn more)

Tuesday 8/18

Asbury Park - Kevin Hill & Chris Fray at Mutiny Beach (4 pm - live music)

Point Pleasant Beach - Beach Bingo on the beach in front of Jenkinson’s Aquarium (6 pm)

Red Bank - Steve Delopoulos at Birravino (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - Trivia with Jenn at Jamians (7:30 pm)

Wednesday 8/19

Asbury Park - John Zayle at Mutiny Beach (4 pm - live music)

Asbury Park - The Fray & Dashboard Confessional at The Stone Pony (5:30 pm - live music)

Belmar - Movies on the Beach: Up (Dusk)

Bradley Beach - Summer Jazz & Blues: The Gumbo Gumbas (7 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Kesha at PNC Bank Arts Center (7 pm - get tix)

Red Bank - Kids Karate on BroadWalk (11 am)

Red Bank - Karaoke at Jamians (8 pm)

Sea Bright - Movies on the Beach: Up (Dusk)

Tinton Falls - Bingo & Brews at Twin Lights Brewing (6 pm)

Thursday 8/20

Bradley Beach - Summer Yoga in the Garden at The James Bradley (6:30 pm - get tix)

Bradley Beach - Singers & Songwriters on the Beach (7 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Trivia at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6:30 pm)

Oceanport - Music Bingo at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm)

Red Bank - Jeff Levine at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Sandy Hook - Watercolor Workshop with Tracey Witter at Sandy Hook (6:30 pm - register here)

Sandy Hook - SHF Run Club at Sandy Hook (6:30 pm)

Spring Lake - The Hostess Book Event with Author Courtney Psak at Thunder Road Books (6 pm - learn more)

Tinton Falls - Trivia on Tap at Twin Lights Brewing (7 pm)

Friday 8/21

Belmar - Friday Night Concert Series: The Clark Theory at Pyanoe Plaza (6 pm - live music)

Belmar - Drew Hoski from Twopenny Porters at Beach Haus Brewing (7 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Spare Parts at Fox Hollow Vineyard (6 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Jill McCoy Duo at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Jay & Amy at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Hang Loose Band at Skinny Flowers Brewing (6 pm - live music)

Red Bank - James Larsen at The Molly Pitcher Inn (6 pm - live music)

Sandy Hook - Recreate250 Capstone Event at Sandy Hook (4 pm - learn more)

Saturday 8/22

Bradley Beach - Summer Yoga in the Garden at The James Bradley (7 am - get tix)

Holmdel - Rooftop Yoga at Bar Bella in Bell Works (7:30 am)

Holmdel - Marin Contini at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Doug Gatta + Alex Krenkel at Deal Lake Bar + Co (8 pm - live music)

Manasquan - Emily Grove at Harpoon Willy’s (8:30 pm - live music)

Oceanport - Dog Adoption Event at Skinny Flowers Brewing (12 pm)

Red Bank - Rock Hard Band at Jamians (9 pm - live music)

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

Sandy Hook - Free Yoga on the Beach (8 am - learn more)

Sandy Hook - Clean Craft Series: Bottle Cap Fish Art at Sandy Hook (12 pm)

Sunday 8/23

Asbury Park - Chance the Rapper at The Stone Pony (6 pm - live music)

Belmar - Two Acoustic Dudes at Beach Haus Brewing (3 pm - live music)

Holmdel - Brendon Brophy at Fox Hollow Vineyard (2 pm - live music)

Loch Arbor - Zimmer + Galeen at Deal Lake Bar + Co (5 pm - live music)

Long Branch - Yappy Hour! at Beach Bee Meadery (3 pm)

Spring Lake - The One Where They Fall in Love Book Meet + Greet with author Cristina Wolf at Thunder Road Books (11 am - learn more)

On Deck

August 29: Long Branch - Newport Style Clam Bake on the Beach (2 pm - get tix)

September 20: Oceanport - The Expecting Mom Social at The Bunny Hive Fort Monmouth (10 am and 2 pm - get tix)

Did we miss an event? Let us know.

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