Outdoor concerts highlight Crest Fourth

From the music of Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett to the arts and crafts specialties of dozens of vendors and much, much more, the Borough of Wildwood Crest is going all out to celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence with its annual Fourth of July Freedom Festival.
Held Friday, July 3 through Sunday, July 5, the Freedom Festival will feature entertainment and activities for the entire family, including two special free outdoor concerts featuring the music of two of the most popular entertainers of the last 30 years, Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Buffett.
From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, the Gazebo-by-the-Sea at Rambler Road and Ocean Avenue will play host to dozens of arts and crafts vendors, children’s and family activities and live musical entertainment.
Arts and crafts vendors will feature specialized products ranging from jewelry to pottery to photography to linens to floral products. Children’s and family activities on Saturday and Sunday will include an all-day moon bounce, face painting, a magic show and a colorful stilt walker.
The various food vendors will serve hot sandwiches, homemade lemonade, shaved ice, kettle korn and more. Live musical performances from the likes of Ann Oswald, the Peter Cava Band, Michael James and Mark Rust will entertain the masses on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the Gazebo-by-the-Sea area at Myrtle Road and Ocean Avenue.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Freedom Festival shifts three blocks north to the Fern Road Fitness Park at Fern Road and Ocean Avenue for two special free outdoor concerts for the entire family.
On Friday, July 3, from 7 to 9:30 p.m. enjoy “A Night of Bruce Springsteen,” with The B Street Band, the No. 1 tribute to the Boss.
Originally known as Backstreets, The B Street Band was formed in Asbury Park in May of 1980. Since that time, the band has performed from Maine to the Bahamas for well over three million people. The band performs powerful Springsteen favorites as well as other classic rock, pop and dance tunes. The B Street Band is considered the longest-running tribute band in the world.
The performance by The B Street Band will serve as a homecoming of sorts for one of the band’s founders, keyboardist/vocalist Willie Forte, who was a member of a rock band called “Star” that performed at the now defunct Playpen nightclub in Diamond Beach in the late 1970s.
On Saturday, July 4, the Fern Road Fitness Park hosts a live performance by summertime party band The Mango Men at 8 p.m.
Now in their 14th year, The Mango Men feature the music of Jimmy Buffett, today’s country and classic rock, as well as original summer-themed party music from their first all-original CD, entitled Everyday’s A Saturday.
Last summer, The Mango Men performed at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia as the opening act for country music star Kenny Chesney after winning Chesney’s “Next Big Star” competition the night before at Philly’s Hard Rock Café.
Opening for Mango Men at 6 p.m. will be Hideaway, a South Jersey-based band featuring covers of pop, rock and classic rock favorites.
Bring a chair or a blanket and enjoy the concerts. Following the performance by The Mango Men, enjoy the Wildwoods’ Fourth of July fireworks spectacular scheduled for 10 p.m.
Free parking for the concerts will be available two blocks south of Fern Road Fitness Park at Myrtle Road and Ocean Avenue.
In the event of inclement weather, concerts will be held indoors at the Crest Pier Recreation Center at 5800 Ocean Avenue.
Call 609-523-0202 or log on to www.visitwildwoodcrest.com for further information.