DOWNTOWN TOMS RIVER
Downtown Toms River is the heart of the community, where residents and visitors
alike enjoy scenic walkways, unique shops, highly rated restaurants, cultural
ambiance and river-based recreation. From historic homes, museums and art
galleries to theater and riverfront dining, Downtown Toms River is Ocean County’s
shining star.
Downtown Toms River is home to many events all year long. Looking to sample
the area’s best chili? The Annual Chili & Salsa Cook-Off in May is the place to be
for chili and food lovers. Want to head to an amazing street festival full of food, live
entertainment, and merchandise vendors? Summer in the Street in July is for you.
Huddy Park is home to a Shakespeare Festival every summer, and the Harvest
Arts Festival in October features great local art, music and handcrafters. Monthly
car shows on the second Wednesday from June to September bring hundreds of
classic cars into town. Downtown Toms River also runs a farmers’ market every
Wednesday from May to November.
Downtown Toms River has a wide variety of restaurants, from casual waterfront
dining, where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat and listen to some great live
music, to elegant fine dining. Need to jump start your morning? Downtown Toms
River has plenty of breakfast spots and coffee shops to start your day, and lots of
tasty options at lunchtime. With so many choices, you’ll definitely need to make
another visit.
If shopping is more your thing, Downtown Toms River has that too. The Downtown
Shops @ 53 Main is a unique collection of small shops all under one roof, based
on a retail incubator model that the Downtown Toms River Business Improvement
District initiated to create a more diverse shopping environment. Downtown is also
home to antique shops, museums, the Toms River branch of the award-winning
Ocean County Library and Exit 82 Theater Company.
Whether you’re coming to spend a few hours or a few days, Downtown Toms River
is a must-stop on your list.
46 www.sparkexploreocean.com
OCVTS
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.
Photo by B. Cuthbert
/www.sparkexploreocean.com
