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Arts & Entertainment

Carousel of Music Offers Great Bands All Summer

The Carousel of Music, a free concert series, will feature 34 bands through July and August.

With the summer about to be in full swing , the Ocean County Board of Freeholders has released its summer concert schedule, the Carousel of Music.

The Carousel of Music, which is run with help from the Ocean County Library, Ocean County Park and Recreation, Toms River Township, Township of Berkeley, Beachwood Borough and the Borough of Ship Bottom, will feature 34 concerts through July and August.           

The series begins with a patriotic start as the first concert will be performed July 1, by the 63rd Army Band. Then on July 2, Garden State Philharmonic performs and the Toms River Municipal Band performs on July 4. All three concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and will be at the Ocean County Library.                                                                                                                                              

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“It’s very moving, especially 4th of July, when our patriotic bands start off our series,” said Mary Jane Mehorter, superintendent of Ocean County Parks and Recreation. “They recognize members of each branch of the service in the audience, and it’s just a way to honor all who have served.”                                                                                                                        

The Carousel of Music began in the late 1970s and was started by Franklin Fischer. It began as a means of free entertainment for the citizens of Ocean County. The summer series was taken over by Mehorter after the passing of Fischer in 2003.                                                                                                                             

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The series offers a wide variety of music. The bands, mostly all from Ocean County, include patriotic bands, jazz ensembles, tribute bands (Jimmy Buffet, The Eagles, Rod Stewart), and much more. Mehorter feels there’s no secret why the series is so successful.           

“Music enriches our lives,” Mehorter said”:  There’s nothing better than coming out on a wonderful summer night with family and friends and enjoying live entertainment free of charge. People bring chairs and food and just make friends because the music connects them for a great night.”                            

The following is the complete schedule of the Carousel of Music Summer Concert Series:

  • July 1, 7:30 p.m., 63rd Army Band, , Toms River 
  • July 2, 7:30 p.m., Garden State Philharmonic, Ocean County Library,  
  • July 4, 7:30 p.m., Toms River Municipal Band, Ocean County Library, Toms River 
  • July 6, 6 p.m., The Infernos, Veterans Park, Berkeley
  • July 9, 7:30 p.m., Wilbur Wittmann Revue, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 10, 7:30 p.m., The Tone Rangers, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 14, 7 p.m., The Wild and the Innocent & Collateral Damage, 10th Street,Waterfront Park, Ship Bottom
  • July 15, 7:30 p.m., Toms River Municipal Band, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 16, 7:30 p.m., Big Band Brass Tacks, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 17, 7:30 p.m., Deuces Wild, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 20, 6 p.m., Rick Larrimore Tribute to Rod Stewart, Veterans Park, Berkeley
  • July 21, 7 p.m., “Sir Rod”- Tribute to Rod Stewart 10th Street, Waterfront Park, Ship Bottom
  • July 22, 7:30 p.m., The Briartones, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 23, 7:30 p.m., Pat Mash Big Band Express, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 28, 7 p.m., The Roustabouts, 10th Street Waterfront Park, Ship Bottom
  • July 29, 7:30 p.m., Toms River Municipal Band, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 30, 7:30 p.m., The Rag Timer,s Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • July 31, 7:30 p.m., Power House Big Band, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • Aug 3, 6 p.m., The Duprees, Veterans Park, Berkeley
  • Aug 4, 7 p.m., Shorty Long and the Jersey Horns, 10th Street Waterfront Park, Ship Bottom
  • Aug 5, 7 p.m., Toms River Municipal Band, Ocean County Library, Toms River 
  • Aug 6, 7 p.m., Sentimental Journey “Music that won the war,” Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • Aug 7, 7 p.m., Bob Herman’s Swing Sextet, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • Aug 11, 7 p.m., Lighthouse, 10th Street Waterfront Park, Ship Bottom
  • Aug 12, 7 p.m., Toms River Jazz Ensemble, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • Aug 13, 7 p.m., Jersey Gold Band, Beachwood Beach, Beachwood
  • Aug 14, 7 p.m., The Kootz Band, Ocean County Library, Toms River
  • Aug 17, 6 p.m., The Mahoney Brothers, Veterans Park, Berkeley
  • Aug 18, 7 p.m., “Jimmy & the Parrots” Tribute to Jimmy Buffet,t 10th Street, Waterfront Park, Ship Bottom
  • Aug 19, 7 p.m., Toms River Municipal Band, Ocean Co. Library, Toms River
  • Aug 20, 7 p.m., Frank Albert Dance Band, Ocean Co. Library, Toms River
  • Aug 21, 7 p.m., The Roustabouts, Ocean Co. Library, Toms River
  • Aug 26, 7 p.m., Toms River Municipal Band, Ocean Co Library, Toms River
  • Aug 27, 7 p.m., Lakewood Jazz Ensemble, Ocean Co. Library, Toms River
  • Aug 31, 6 p.m., Hotel California Tribute to the Eagles, Veterans Park, Berkeley
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