Fourth of July pet safety: Wellness tips for fireworks, heat and more
From summer heat to barbecue food to startling fireworks, pets face several risks during Fourth of July celebrations. Here’s how to keep them safe.
- The weather forecast for this holiday weekend is mostly sunny and warm.
- Fireworks will light up the sky Thursday in Asbury Park, Friday in Long Branch, Saturday in Belmar, and Sunday in Seaside Heights.
- Surfers, it might be a good time to break out the long boards because it looks like the waves will be on the small side.
Happy Independence Day! Are you heading to the beach? If you’re tired of the usual crowds and looking for a serene sandy escape, you’re in luck.
A recent survey conducted by Frugal Flyer, a Canadian travel blog, polled 3,002 individuals to identify the United States’ top under-the-radar beaches. Two Garden State beaches earned a spot on a national list of 95 top hidden gems.
Sedge Island is No. 27 on the list, located in an environentally significant area in Barnegat Bay off Island Beach State Park, in New Jersey’s only Marine Conservation Zone.
Coming in at No. 30 is Pearl Beach in Cape May Point. Surrounded by natural beauty, this beach is for those seeking genuine tranquility. It’s located near the iconic Sunset Beach, the historic Cape May Lighthouse and the birdwatcher’s paradise of Cape May Point State Park. See the top 10 sites here.
Going to Asbury Park?
Asbury Park has emerged as the nation’s hottest potential travel destination for the upcoming Fourth of July weekend, according to an analysis by the vacation rental site HomeToGo, outpacing other getaways such as Ocean View, Delaware, and Lake Michigan Beach, Michigan.
The city saw search traffic for rentals jump 372% this year, the company said, as visitors looked for what it described as a destination that blends seaside charm with eclectic energy.
“With the holiday falling on a Friday this year, travelers are taking their Fourth of July vacation plans to the next level,” Eleanor Moody, a spokesperson for HomeToGo, said, noting that visitors expect to stay in their selected spots for an average of nine days.
The report is a sign that Asbury Park has been top of mind as a summer destination and provides hope that the Shore’s tourism industry, which generated $8.9 billion in Monmouth and Ocean counties last year, can recover from what has been a rainy start.
Best pizza in NJ
We know New Jerseyans love their pizza, and apparently the world agrees.
Six-time James Beard Award nominee Dan Richer of Razza Pizza Artigianale in Jersey City was named among the top pizza chefs in the world at the 2025 edition of The Best Pizza Awards.
“Widely regarded as one of America’s most obsessive and visionary pizzaioli, Dan Richer is the chef and owner of Razza in Jersey City — the only pizzeria in the United States to earn an illustrious three-star review from the New York Times,” the awards website says.
Richer is the author of “The Joy of Pizza – Everything You Need to Know.” He was named No. 22 in the world at this year’s awards, and has placed among the Top 100 all three years of the awards’ history. A ceremony was held for the winners of The Best Pizza Awards in Milan on June 25.
Jersey Shore beach report
Seven swim areas along the Jersey Shore received water quality warnings from New Jersey environmental officials on July 2. Six of those alerts were issued in Monmouth and Ocean counties:
- Keyport Beach, east of Broad Street, which had 1,400 colony forming units of Enterococci bacteria per 100 milliliters of water.
- Bayshore Waterfront Park, by Wilson and Monmouth avenues in Middletown, which had 330 colony forming units.
- Conner’s Beach in Highlands, which had 200 colony forming units.
- Memorial Park in Neptune City, which had 300 colony forming units.
- Windward Beach in Brick, which had 150 units of Enterococci.
- Cedar Point in South Toms River, which had 120 colony forming units.
Despite the advisories, the beaches remain open to swimming. Health officials could close the areas to swimmers if subsequent tests show that bacteria levels remain above the safe swimming standards.
Jersey Shore weekend weather forecast
Friday: Sunny and warm, high of 85 degrees. UV Index is 9
Saturday: Mostly sunny, high of 86. UV Index is 9
Sunday: Mostly sunny, high near 88. UV Index is 8
Ocean water temperature: 73.7 degrees
Jersey Shore sunrise and sunset
Friday: Sunrise at 5:31 a.m., sunset at 8:31 p.m.
Saturday: Sunrise at 5:31 a.m., sunset at 8:30 p.m.
Sunday: Sunrise at 5:32 a.m., sunset at 8:30 p.m.
Barnegat tides
Friday
High tide: 3:13 a.m. and 3:58 p.m.
Low tide: 9:37 a.m. and 10:24 p.m.
Saturday
High tide: 4:10 a.m. and 4:45 p.m.
Low tide: 10:22 a.m. and 11:15 p.m.
Sunday
High tide: 5:03 a.m. and 5:29 p.m.
Low tide: 11:06 a.m.
Jersey Shore surfing
July 4 is here, and if you’re surfing that means the water might be extra crowded this weekend.
The ocean temperature was 72 degrees in Belmar on July 2, according to Surfline, so surfers can get away with no suit or spring suit.
It might be a good time to break out the long boards because it looks like the waves will be on the small side. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the waves will be 2 to 3 feet, with light breezes oscillating between the northwest, southwest and northeast.
The low tides will be in the morning and the high tides in the afternoon.
Jersey Shore fishing
Blue claw crabs are ripe for the picking if you’re planning a backyard get together this holiday weekend, or just enjoy crab picking with some Old Bay seasoning.
The crabs are collecting around the bulkheads, docks and bridges, where they can scooped with a net or enticed with a bunker bait and a handline.
Soaking a crab cage for an hour with a whole bunker could get you several crabs at once. Just remember the crabs must measure 4½ inches from point to point on top of shell or carapace.
Recreational crabbers are allowed to harvest one bushel per day.
Fireworks and more things to do
Asbury Park
Asbury Park’s annual fireworks show takes place Thursday, July 3, along the waterfront, with prime viewing from the boardwalk. The beach will be cleared at 6 p.m. in preparation for the big show at 9 p.m. at 2nd and 4th beaches. Rain date is 5 p.m. Saturday. Go: 732-775-2100; cityofasburypark.com.
Belmar
Fireworks and a computerized light show take place after 9 p.m. Saturday, July 5, in front of the Taylor Pavilion, 500 Ocean Ave. Go: 732-681-3700, belmarbeachnj.com.
Long Branch
Fireworks at 9 p.m. Friday, July 4, part of the annual Oceanfest celebration that begins at 1 p.m. with musicians, musical acts, food vendors and more. Go: 732-222-0400, oceanfestnj.com.
Seaside Heights
The Coca-Cola Fireworks Extravaganza starts at 9:30 p.m. Sunday, July 6, on the boardwalk. Go: 732-793-9100; seaside-heightsnj.org.
Where else can you find fireworks in Monmouth and Ocean counties? Click here. And here’s the list by date.
Hot dog-eating contest at Jersey Freeze
How many hot dogs do you think you could eat in 10 minutes? Nine contestants will try to devour as many as possible during Jersey Freeze’s second annual hot dog-eating competiton, taking place Thursday, July 3, during the Freehold Township restaurant’s annual fireworks-viewing party. The contest will begin around 7 p.m.
Last year’s winner finished 13 hot dogs and won a cash prize, trophy and gift cards, which will again be offered to both the first-place winner and runner-up. The evening’s festivities, which include a DJ, face painter and firetruck for children to enjoy, take place in the parking lot, which has a view of the fireworks at nearby Freehold Raceway.
Go: Hot dog-eating contest, during a fireworks-watching party, 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, July 3, Jersey Freeze, 120 Manalapan Ave., Freehold Township; 732-462-3008, jerseyfreeze1952.com.
Michael L. Diamond, Sarah Griesemer, Ilana Keller, Joe Mason, Amanda Oglesby, Dan Radel and Tamara Walker contributed to this story.
Bill Canacci can be reached at [email protected].