Toms River 38 www.sparkexploreocean.com Bordered by the beautiful river that gives the town its name, Toms River is a cultural center featuring one of the most diverse and dynamic downtowns in Ocean County. Visitors can experience riverboat dining, concerts in a riverfront park, entertaining street festivals, outstanding dining, a variety of shopping experiences, local museums and galleries and much more. The award-winning Ocean County Library is home to a diverse catalog of media and activities. The not-for-profit economic revitalization organization Downtown Toms River is committed to creating a community centered around the arts, with plans for upcoming art exhibits, sculpture displays and community mural projects downtown. Accessible parking makes it easy to spend an entire day downtown, and visitors who come by water can dock their boats just a block away. Popular Toms River events include the Chili & Salsa Cook-off in May, Summer in the Street Festival in July, and the Harvest Arts Festival in October, along with weekly Farmers’ Markets from May through November. Toms River is also the headquarters for the Ocean County Vocational Technical School, offering over 40 career majors including Marine Academy of Technology & Environmental Sciences (MATES) in Manahawkin and a Performing Arts Academy. The school’s Center for Culinary Arts proudly operates Cuisine on the Green at the Atlantis Golf Course in Little Egg Harbor, serving locally sourced food and responsibly caught seafood using environmentally conscious practices. Toms River has a rich dining culture with something for everyone. What’s the best way to find the best dining in town? Ask the locals! And the folks of Toms River have plenty to say about the best places to grab a bite or celebrate a night out in their hometown. From picture-perfect waterside dining, mouth-watering Italian specialties, spectacular fresh-fromthe boat seafood, vegan and eclectic nouveau cuisines, raw bar, sushi and Asian fusion, you’ll find dining to suit every taste, as well as lively nightspots with chill cocktails and great local and live entertainment featuring the music the Jersey Shore made famous. Toms River is much more than just a gateway to Seaside Heights and other shore points. Located right off of exits 81 and 82 of the Garden State Parkway, Toms River is the seat of Ocean County. Although Toms River’s 40+ square miles are mostly land, the town is also home to Ortley Beach, Normandy Beach, Monterey Beach, Ocean Beach, Chadwick Beach and Silver Beach. H5 Photo by M. Motsay
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