By SARAH KNEIFF
For families, there are a ton of things to do over the Fourth of July week that are sure to delight everyone from the littlest member to tweens and teens.
Check out these top attractions that are super family-friendly and tailored to entertain the kiddos.
All attractions and events are located in Ocean City, Sea Isle City, the Wildwoods and other favorite spots up and down the coastline.
ATTRACTIONS AND ENTERTAINMENT:
ADVENTURE AQUARIUM
Adventure Aquarium in Camden is home to a vast collection of aquatic animals and offers opportunities to explore life underwater through up-close animal encounters, interactive touch exhibits, and the chance to see and learn about some of the ocean’s rarest and most fascinating species. adventureaquarium.com
CAPE MAY COUNTY PARK & ZOO
The Cape May County Park & Zoo is located in Cape May Court House and provides free year-round admission to a collection of more than 550 animals representing 250 species in 85 acres of exhibits. capemaycountynj.gov/1679/Park-Zoo
iPLAY AMERICA
Imagine the boardwalk on the Jersey Shore brought inland and blended with a city street complete with a candy store and eateries with indoor rides and attractions all in nearly four acres of pure fun. You’ll find all of that at iPlay America. iplayamerica.com
LAKOTA WOLF PRESERVE
Lakota Wolf Preserve, located in the mountains of the Delaware Water Gap in Warren County is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the care of, and education about, wolves, bobcats, foxes, and lynx. Since its inception in 1998, owners James Stein and Becky Mace have grown the preserve to a well-known attraction for visitors of all ages to see these endangered animals up close, while also learning about the importance of preservation of wildlife. lakotawolf.com
LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE
For 70 years, Land of Make Believe has provided affordable family fun for all ages with its amusement park and waterpark. New this year is the Spinning Coaster, sure to make you laugh. lomb.com
LIBERTY SCIENCE CENTER
LSC is a 300,000-square-foot learning center located in Liberty State Park on the Jersey City bank of the Hudson near the Statue of Liberty. The Science Center houses 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater, live simulcast surgeries, hurricane- and tornado-force wind simulators, K-12 classrooms and labs, teacher-development programs, and the Western Hemisphere’s biggest planetarium – the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium and LSC Giant Dome Theater. lsc.org
SEASIDE HEIGHTS BOARDWALK
Stroll the Seaside Heights Boardwalk for family-friendly games, rides, restaurants and entertainment. The Casino Pier also has an amusement park. Also, don’t forget to check out Klee’s Bar & Grill for delicious bites. visitnj.org/city/seaside-heights
TOTALLY TUBULAR AQUA PARK, OCEAN CITY
The Totally Tubular Aqua Park is one of Ocean City’s most fun activities for kids and adults ages 6 and up. Featuring over 8,500 square feet of play area and 20-plus unique features, there are endless paths to explore at the park. Sessions are 45 minutes long and start on the hour. Note that the park is tide dependent, so time slots vary by day. Life jackets are provided and the park is monitored by supervisors at all times. aquaparkocnj.com
EVENTS:
CAPE MAY
Independence Day Fireworks: Congress Street Beach in Cape May at 9 p.m. Rain date is July 5. For more information, call (609) 884-9565 or visit www.capemaycity.com
OCEAN CITY
Wacky Wednesday Pie Eating Contest: Celebrate America’s birthday with a good old-fashioned apple and cherry pie eating contest on July 3. No hands allowed! The contest is free. Open to all ages, but is limited to 150 participants. Takes place at the Ocean City Music Pier and contestants must be present at 10:30 a.m., the start time to participate.
Bike Parade: Sponsored by the Gardens Civic Association. Registration is at 9 a.m. on July 4 at the Ocean City-Longport Bridge parking lot. The parade begins at 10 a.m.
Bike Parade: Sponsored by the South OC Improvement Association, city of Ocean City and the Chamber of Commerce. Registration is at 9 a.m. on July 4 at 40th Street and Asbury Avenue. Parade begins at 10 a.m.
Bike Parade: Sponsored by the Riviera Neighborhood. Registration is at 11 a.m. on July 4 at the Rosemar Lane Park. Parade begins at noon.
Ocean City Pops will perform a free outdoor concert at 8 p.m. on July 4 at Carey Stadium, 6th Street and the Boardwalk. The legendary local orchestra will perform patriotic classics and audience favorites in honor of the nation’s birthday. Bring a beach chair or blanket to sit on the field. There will also be seating available in the bleachers.
Fourth of July Celebration: Kite flying competition at 7 p.m., followed by a Boardwalk fireworks display at 9 p.m. on July 4.
For more information on Ocean City events, call 1-800-BEACH-NJ or (609) 399-6111 or visit www.oceancityvacation.com.
SEA ISLE CITY
Junior Olympics: Sea Isle City’s annual Independence Day Junior Olympics competition for boys and girls, age 3 to 12, will take place at Dealy Field on Thursday morning, July 4. During this time-honored event (which is sponsored by the city’s Recreation Office and hosted by volunteers from the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City) kids will compete by age and gender for Olympic-style medals in running, jumping and throwing. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. on the day of the event, and the races take place from 10 a.m. to approximately 11:30 a.m. Families are reminded to bring hats, sunscreen and bottled water for their young Olympians.
Fireworks: Sea Isle City’s annual Independence Day fireworks display will take place on Thursday, July 4, at 9:15 p.m. The fireworks will be launched from an ocean barge near the 50th Street beach, making Sea Isle’s Promenade and beaches ideal viewing locations.
Bicycle Decorating Contest & Family Dance Party: Children and their families are invited to decorate their pedal-powered tricycles, bicycles, strollers, scooters and wagons in the Sea Isle Recreation Office’s Bicycle Decorating Contest & Family Dance Party on Friday, July 5, at Excursion Park, from 10 a.m. to noon.
For more information, call the Sea Isle City Recreation Office at (609) 263-0050 or go to visitsicnj.com.
STONE HARBOR
July 4 Fireworks: Stone Harbor Recreation Field at 82nd Street, approximately 9:15 p.m. Visit www.shnj.org.
BRANT BEACH
Festival of the Sea: The Festival of the Sea is held in the St. Francis Parish & Center parking lot, situated at 4700 Long Beach Boulevard, Brant Beach. There will be food, rides and games. The festival takes place July 2-6 from 6 to 10 p.m. stfrancisparishlbi.org
JERSEY CITY
Jersey City Festival and Fireworks: The event will be held at the Exchange Place on July 4. It will feature live entertainment, food trucks, music and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. freedomandfireworks.com
LONG BRANCH
Oceanfest is the biggest seasonal event on the Jersey Shore – in fact, it’s the biggest Independence Day celebration anywhere in New Jersey. It happens every July 4 from 1 to 10 p.m. in Long Branch. Each year since 1990, crowds numbering in the hundreds of thousands have descended upon the city’s oceanfront promenade for an all-day, family-friendly festival that brings together music, food, a craft sale, street fair, and, of course, fireworks. oceanfestnj.com
THE WILDWOODS
Independence Day Family Parade: Free. 9th and Atlantic avenues, North Wildwood, 9 a.m. (609) 522-2955. www.NorthWildwood.com
July 4 Patriotic Pooch Parade: Free. Bill Henfey Park, 8th and Atlantic avenues, North Wildwood, 9 a.m. (609) 522-2955 or www.NorthWildwood.com
July 4 Downtown Wildwood Music in the Plaza Party: Free. Byrne Plaza, 3400 Pacific Ave. Wildwood, 7-10 p.m. Featuring the Juliano Brothers. Fireworks at 10 p.m. visible from the Plaza. (609) 523-1602 or www.DOOWW.com
July 4 Fireworks Spectacular on the Boardwalk: Free. Fireworks will be launched at 10 p.m. from the Pine Avenue beach in Wildwood and will be visible on the Boardwalk and beyond. Rain date is July 5 at 10 p.m. 609-523-1602 www.DOOWW.com
For more information at events in the Wildwoods, call 800-992-9732 or visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com
NEW JERSEY MEADOWLANDS
State Fair Meadowlands: The largest fair in New Jersey, State Fair Meadowlands, will have fireworks, over 100 rides and attractions, free entertainment, food and more on July 3 and 4. njfair.com
