5 Ways to Welcome Summer
Coastal Living LBI went looking for things to do this Memorial Day weekend. We found five that are free, fun, family-friendly and worth putting on your sand bucket list this summer.
Le Garage
Long Beach Island NJ offers some of the best surfing conditions at the Jersey Shore with plenty of waves and a welcoming surf community.
One of the best ways to learn about surfing is finding out how surf boards are made.
Le Garage wants to show you how it’s done!
Located in Beach Haven, NJ, Le Garage is small surf factory that manufactures custom boards and wooden art by artist Greg Malega. They invite you to come and watch a surfboard being made every Thursday from 2PM to 2:45 PM starting May 28th
Consider staying after the demonstration for Surf Talks, a lecture or Q&A session where you can learn about the water or surfing from a local expert in their field.
A few of the speakers scheduled so far include Prof. Dave Werner on June 11th, Greg Malega on June 18th, and Tucker McGrath on July 2nd. More speakers will be announced soon.
Surf Talks take place every Thursday from 3 PM to 4PM starting May 28th.
Both events are free, open to the public and no reservations are needed to watch Live Shaping or to listen to Surf Talks.
Image Courtesy of Mike Spark
Contact Information
Le Garage
330 Coral Street Beach Haven, NJ, 08008
For more information visit legaragelbi.com
Phone: 609-214-9268
Email: le****************@***il.com
Instagram: @legaragelbi
Barnegat Light Top-Secret T-Shirts
It’s no secret that for many years the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Company #1 and the hard-working members of its Auxiliary have been spending their Sunday mornings in the summer selling t-shirts in front of the Fire House located at 907 Central Avenue, Barnegat Light, NJ.
What is secret is the hot fashion color this year’s t shirts will come in. Our bet this year is on red. Come to the t-shirt sale and prove us wrong. It costs nothing to witness the big reveal.
Terry Egler, president of the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Company Auxiliary said keeping the color of the shirts under wraps is a long-standing tradition. “Every year the new color of the t shirt remains a closely guarded secret,” she said. “The big reveal won’t happen until the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend at the Fire House where you can first purchase this year’s t-shirt.”
The t-shirts are a hot commodity so you might want to consider investing in one. Barnegat Lighters and other discerning collectors are passionate when it comes to their Fire Company t shirts. “People brag about having every color t-shirt since the Fire Company began selling them many years ago,” Egler said. “And they often buy them in bulk. One guy last year bought 16 t-shirts for everyone in his family.”
So, if you’re looking for a way to say hello to summer while also supporting Barnegat Light’s dedicated volunteer fire fighters who drop everything at the first sound of the fire alarm, head over to the Barnegat Light Fire House on Sunday, May 24th from 8 AM to 12 noon.
T shirts come in short and long sleeves and sell for $20. They are available in adult sizes up to 3XL and kid sizes. Hoodies, hats, v neck shirts for women as well as other merchandise are also available for purchase.
Shirts and other merch are available throughout the summer until Labor Day every Sunday in front of the Fire House from 8 am to 12 noon.
Ordering is also available online at barnegatlightfiresales,square,site
Contact Information
Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Co. #1
Auxiliary of the Barnegat Light Volunteer Fire Company
Email: bl*****@***il.com
LBT Marine Field Station
If you’re looking to learn all about the environment on Long Beach Island NJ, there’s no better place to visit than the LBT Marine Field Station in Holgate NJ.
Over the summer, the Field Station hosts several public programs for families, kids, and adults. All programs are free and open to the public.
Kid’s Corner is a program that offers a range of different educational programs for children ranging ages 4-8. They will get to learn about different environmental topics and get involved in crafty hands-on activities. The program runs Mondays from July 7 to Aug 18, 9:30-10:30am.
On Terrapin Tuesdays LBT Field Station invites you to take a tour of their terrapin lab facilities and sneak a peek at their hatcheries where the eggs are kept. You may even get to see some baby turtles! The program runs Tuesdays from June 30 to Aug 18,10:00am-12:00pm.
On Make Waves Wednesday bring your kayak and come explore Clam Cove Reserve with Angela Andersen. Osprey, Oystercatchers, Horseshoe crabs, Ribbed mussels, Oysters, various grasses, Herons, and Egrets are just some of the species that call the Bay their home that can be seen on a kayak exploration. The program runs every other Wednesday from July 9 to Aug 20, 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Registration which can be done online is required for all of the above programs since space is limited.
Please visit lbtfieldstation.com for more information about the field station, upcoming programs, registration and so much more
Contact Information
LBT Field Station
127 W Osborn Avenue
Holgate, NJ 08008
609-361-6641
Email: fi**********@***************ip.com
Instagram @lbtfieldstation
Say Hello to Duke and Dixie
If the weather this Memorial Day weekend has you stuck inside, go online and pay a visit to an osprey cam located along the bay in Barnegat Light, NJ. You’ll have a front row seat to an osprey nest platform which is home to Duke and Dixie.
Duke and Dixie are two ospreys or fish hawks. They are known for their M-shaped wings in flight and specialized talons designed for fishing. Each spring ospreys return to NJ to breed and raise their brood.
This season sightings of the happy couple have been random. This has Ben Wurst, the Conserve Wildlife Foundation’s osprey expert concerned.
”This is a difficult time for ospreys,” Wurst said. “They’re not around because there aren’t any eggs. We’re seeing more indications of food stress. There’s not enough prey for them to feed on. When they can’t eat, they can’t sustain themselves reproductively.”
Still, it never hurts to try and catch a glimpse of the domestic duo enjoying marital bliss. Tune into conservewildlifenj.org/wildlife-cams/ospreycam/ and keep your fingers crossed.
Photos courtesy of Conserve Wildlife Foundation
Life Sure Looks Different From the Top
On Monday May 25th Friends of the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park in conjunction with the Ocean County Parks and Recreation welcome in summer 2026 with their Inaugural Memorial Day Night Climb.
The event is open to the public and free of charge, which is a pretty good deal considering the panoramic view of Long Beach Island from the top deck of the lighthouse is priceless!
The climb takes place at the Lighthouse located at 208 Broadway in Barnegat Light, NJ and runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The final climb of the evening will take place at 8:30 p.m.to ensure all climbers make it to the top of the lighthouse before the event ends.
Deborah Hornstra, Trustee for Friends of the Lighthouse State Park said these are not really night climbs. “They are more like evening climbs,” she said. “The last climber starts up at 8:30, which is just about sunset for most of the summer.”
The Toms River Multigenerational Orchestra (TRMO) will be on hand to provide musical entertainment throughout the evening.
Contact Information
Friends of the Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
friendsofbarnegatlighthouse.org
Instagram @friendsofbarnegatlighthhouse
Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
dep.nj.gov/parksandforests/state-park/barnegat-lighthouse-state-park/
Barnegat Lighthouse
609-494-2016