Available Now

MetroKids / June 2012 / Free Fun is a Shore Thing!

 Email  Print  Feed

Free Fun is a Shore Thing!

Your guide to free summer fun at area shores in South Jersey and Delaware, including free concerts, festivals, beach activities and special events.

Atlantic City

Just beachy Save your cash for refreshments and “scopes” (those picture key chains they keep trying to sell you!). There are no beach fees!
Learn a little The Atlantic County Utilities Authority offers free tours of the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm every Mon. and Fri., July-Aug., 12pm, 1801 Absecon Blvd. Or, visit the Korean War Memorial (Park Place & the Boardwalk) and the nearby Civil Rights Garden (MLK, Jr. Blvd. & Pacific Ave.).
Rainy days The Atlantic City Free Public Library has a full calendar of free children’s activities. Kids ages 8 and older can take a Comic Drawing Class with a Marvel Comic illustrator every Thurs. at 3:30pm. Kids ages 3-5 can attend Pre-School Story Time at 10:30am, 1 N. Tennessee Ave.
Something special Attend the Salute America’s Armed Forces Parade on Wed., Aug. 15, at 6:30pm. Watch pilots practice on Aug. 16. Stick around for Atlantic City Airshow’s “Thunder Over the Boardwalk,” Aug. 17, 10:30am-3:30pm. View it from the beach & Boardwalk.
Tune in Chicken Bone Beach Jazz on the Beach Summer Concerts at Kennedy Plaza, Thurs. nights, July-Aug, Mississippi Ave. & the Boardwalk.
FInd more information about Atlantic City >>

Margate

Groovy A free beach day kicks off this year’s Beackstock. It will include a treasure hunt, surf lessons, sand sculpting, games, live bands and magicians. Sat., July 7, 10am-10pm. Rain date July 8. Granville Ave. & the beach.
Just beachy Forget the beach tags on Thrilling Thursdays, when beaches are free! Watch a movie on the beach at 8:30pm. July 5-Aug. 30, Decatur Ave. & the beach.
Something special Bring BBQ to the beach and watch fireworks at any Margate beach on July 4.
Find more information about Margate >>

Ocean City

Boardwalkin’ Head to the Boardwalk for Family Night fun every Thurs., July-Aug., 7:30pm-9:30pm, 6th-14th Sts. Meet Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants’ Mascots for Character Nights at the Music Pier, followed by a parade, every Sun., July 1-Aug. 19, 7pm. A little ways off the Boardwalk, enjoy Funtastic Tuesdays or Market Day Thursdays, featuring entertainment, face painting and balloon sculpting from 10am-1pm, Tues. and Thurs., July-Aug, Asbury Ave.
Learn a little Cruise over to the Antique Auto Show to see more than 300 vintage automobiles, followed by a parade on the Boardwalk. Sat., June 23, 9am-2pm, 6th St. & Asbury Ave.
Oh, baby! Test out your little one’s speed at the annual baby crawling race, the Pamper Scamper, for babies up to 15 mos. Tues., Aug. 7, 9am, 6th St. & the beach. Watch one of the oldest baby parades in the country at the 103rd Annual Baby Parade, Thurs., Aug. 9, 10:15am on the Boardwalk, 6th-12th Sts.
Tune in Find free-admission performances at Ocean City Tabernacle throughout the summer, such as Ventriloquist: David Pendleton, Aug. 19, 7pm. 550 Wesley Ave.
Find more information about Ocean City >>

Sea Isle City

Good sports Roll over to the free Skateboard Park. Kids younger than 12 must come with an adult and skateboarders must wear helmets, elbow and knee pads. Dealy Field, 59th-63rd St. at Central Ave.
Just beachy Beach access is free every Wed. except July 4. Activity Zone Beach offers free activities for kids, including limbo contests and water balloon tosses. Daily, June 15-Aug. 31, 3pm, 36th St. & the beach.
Rainy days Take a free guided walking tour (by appointment) at Sea Isle City Historical Museum, Mon., Tues., Thurs.-Sat., 10am-2pm, 4800 Central Ave.
Something special See live animal exhibits including a giant python & baby American crocodile, plus kids’ activities and contests at the Sara the Turtle Festival, June 21, 6pm-8pm, Excursion Park, JFK Blvd. & Pleasure Ave.
Tune in Free Saturday Concerts Under the Stars, Sat. nights, June 9-Sept. 22., 8-10pm. Free Monday Concerts Under the Stars, Mon. nights, June 25-Aug. 27, 7:30-9pm, Excursion Park.
Find more information about Sea Isle City >>

Avalon

Family time Bring a blanket and snuggle up for a Big Beach Movie every Tues., June 26-Aug. 21, 8:45pm or dark, 30th St. & the beach. Inside Avalon Community Hall, 3001 Avalon Ave. during high winds or rain.
Good sport Kids 12 and younger can join a one-hour kids exercise class every Wed., June 27-Aug. 22, 10am, Avalon Community Hall.
Just beachy Kids 12 and younger can attend Monday Beach Days for activities, June 25-Aug. 13, 10am, 30th St. Beach Pavillion & the beach. Inside Avalon Community Hall during high winds or rain.
Tune in Head to Veteran’s Plaza for free Friday night concerts, June 22-Aug. 31, 7pm, 21st St. & Dune Dr.
Find more information about Avalon >>

Stone Harbor

Family time Find entertainment including magicians, storytellers, music and clowns on Family Nights, every Mon., June 25-Aug. 27, 7pm. Firehouse at 96th St. & Second Ave.
Rainy days Discover the history of Stone Harbor, such as historic storms that affected it, with free admission to the Stone Harbor Museum, 235 93rd St.
Tune in See local bands perform Thursdays on the Lawn every Thurs., July 5-Aug. 9, 7:30pm. Bring a blanket or chairs. St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 95th St. & Third Ave. Inside Parish Hall during rain.
Find more information about Stone Harbor >>

Wildwoods

Just beachy Beaches are free!
Boardwalkin’ Watch parades, clowns, puppets and stilt-walkers on Family Fun Night every Thurs., July-Aug., 7:30-9:30pm, on the Boardwalk.
Tune in Sing and dance along at free concerts Wed. and Sat., June 27-Sept. 1, 7:30pm, Centennial Park Amphitheatre, Wildwood Crest; Thurs. and Sat., July 7-Sept. 1, 8pm, Lou Booth Amphitheatre, North Wildwood; Saturday Concerts On The Beach, July 7-Sept. 1, 1pm, Andrews Ave. next to Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood.
Good sports Find free crabbing areas along the wetlands entering the island, at street ends and along “the back bay,” a fishing pier at Sweetbriar Rd. in Wildwood Crest. Recreation centers located at North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest all offer free access to playground equipment, ball fields, tennis & basketball courts.
Find more information about Wildwoods >>

Cape May

Get festive Enjoy fresh seafood, live music, arts & crafts vendors and nature programs at the 5th Annual Harbor Fest, Sat., June 16, 10am-5pm, Delaware Ave. between Wilmington Ave. & Brooklyn Ave., and at the Nature Center.
Learn a little A current lighthouse keeper will tell you all about the Cape May Lighthouse during Keeper’s on Duty at 11am every Sun. Stick around for Lighthouse Story Time, where kids can listen to ocean adventure stories at 12noon, June 3-Sept. 2, Education Center by the Cape May Lighthouse.
Something special Visit the Cape May Lighthouse on National Lighthouse Day to make pirate hats, listen to nautical stories, watch performances and meet Pete the Pirate. Tues., Aug. 7, 9am-2pm.
Find more information about Cape May >>

Rehoboth / Dewey

Just beachy Watch kid-friendly films on Monday Movies at Dewey Beach, June 18-Aug. 27, 8:30pm. Enjoy bonfires, every Wed., June 20-Aug. 29 (except July 4), 7:30pm-11pm, Dagsworthy St. & the beach.
Rainy days The Rehoboth Art League offers free access to all art galleries, historic buildings and educational classrooms. 12 Dodds Ln., Henlopen Acres.
Tune in The Rehoboth Beach Bandstand features free outdoor concerts, performances and movies Thurs.-Sun., June 15-Sept. 1, 8pm.
Something special Celebrate the start of Wednesday Bonfires at the Dewey Beach Kids’ Party. Games, music and grub! Wed., June 20, 6pm-8pm, Dagsworthy St. & the beach.
Find more information about Rehoboth & Dewey Beaches >>

Bethany Beach

Tune in Bethany Beach Bandstand offers evening shows and performances throughout the summer, 7:30pm, Garfield Pkwy. & the Boardwalk.
Something special Two special children’s productions: Cinderella, July 17 and The Jungle Book, Aug. 7., 6pm & 7pm. The free tickets go fast! They’re available day-of-show, 8:30am, Town Hall, Garfield Pkwy. & Coastal Hwy.
Find more information about Bethany Beach >>

Fenwick Island

Family time Visit the Freeman Stage at Bayside for free storytelling, juggling, concerts and dance performances. 31570 Lake View Dr., Selbyville.
Learn a little Discover Fenwick Island’s collection of artifacts (about 10,000 of them!) at the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum, 708 Coastal Hwy.
Find more information about Fenwick Island >>