Freehold Announces 2021 Summer Event Series, Memorial Day Parade

FREEHOLD, NJ - After more than a year of holiday and festival cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic, one of Monmouth County’s largest and widely celebrated festivals has been given the green light to recommence in 2021.

The 147th Freehold Memorial Day Parade is slated to take place on Monday, May 31, according to an announcement from Downtown Freehold. In what serves as the oldest and largest such parade in Western Monmouth County according to its website, the parade touts an average of more than 70 units participating each year and features military units, veterans groups, bands, fire departments, EMS squads, youth groups, custom designed floats and civilian units.

Alongside the anticipated summer kick-off event comes the return of the Thursday rock concert series from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., as well as the Freehold Farmers Market every Friday from July through October from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Both events take place outside the Hall of Records.

Here is the tentative schedule for the Thursday Rock Concert Series:

June 3: Moroccan Sheepherders
June 10: Mission Dance
June 17: Turnstyle
June 24: Cover This

July 1: The Eddie Testa Band
July 8: Rockit Fish
July 15: Joe Baracata Band
July 22: CSNsongs
July 29: Peanut Butter Bridges

August 5: The Breaking Plans & City Vision
August 12: Full Throttle Band
August 19: Stephen Martines
August 26: Predator Dub Assassins

For those who need to satiate their local music fix even more, Monmouth County locals can also enjoy jazz, blues and more from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Downtown Freehold Gazebo every Sunday from June 6 to August 29.

Outdoor movie nights are also slated to return in 2021 at the Hall of Records on Wednesdays from 8:30 to 10 p.m. The event series will run from June 23 to August 25.

A string of other events are on the calendar for 2022, including a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, ‘Flavor of Freehold’ food festival and pub crawl, as well as a United For Improvement Food Truck Festival and Manalapan/Freehold Borough High School Jazz Band performances.

For sponsorship or participation information, email freeholdmemorialdayparade@gmail.com or visit www.freeholdmemorialdayparade.com.