Carousel Of Music Announces 2024 Performance Lineup

OCEAN, NJ — The Ocean County Carousel of Music free concert series is returning this summer and will run through Aug. 30.

The series presents over 40 concerts throughout the summer and has been a long-standing tradition since it began in the late 1970s. The 2024 performance lineup includes artists such as Lenny Davis Band, Garden State Philharmonic, Simmerr and more.

“The Parks and Recreation Department, along with the towns and organizations that host the concerts, have worked very hard to provide a variety of music that appeals to all Ocean County residents and visitors,” said Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, the chairwoman of the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation.

According to the Ocean County news release, when the series first began, a majority of the concerts took place at local libraries. The County acquired a band shell where performances were held soon after, and eventually, a mobile stage was added to bring live music all over the County.

Franklin V. Fischer, who started the Carousel of Music, served as the Ocean County surrogate and aimed for the series to provide live music to Ocean County residents for free.

“His vision was to bring live music to the residents of Ocean County and he successfully did that for years,” Haines said.

Alongside providing live music for residents, another major goal of the series was to highlight different genres of music. According to the news release, as music tastes change over the years, the series updates its list of performers to strike a balance between beloved acts and newer performances.

“In the years since its inception, the series has continued to bring joy to the thousands of audience members who have attended the concerts," said Barbara Jo Crea, the director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners. "The Board of Commissioners sponsors this program every year because we know how much people enjoy the shows and how great they are for our communities."

This year, audiences can enjoy a variety of performances ranging from rock to new country, jazz and more.

“We encourage anyone in Ocean County to try to go to at least one of these concerts,” said Haines. “Go get some fresh air while taking advantage of this free entertainment and making connections within your communities.”

Attendees of the shows are recommended to bring a blanket or a chair. A complete schedule with the lineup, start times and locations for the series are listed here.