Things to Do in Seaside Heights, NJ: A Local’s Guide for 2027

There are plenty of amazing things to do in Seaside Heights, whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, or with family and friends. You will see that Seaside is one of the most walkable beach towns at the Jersey Shore.

Most of our beach weeks follow the same loop: sand in the morning, boardwalk at night, a long lunch somewhere in between. But Seaside Heights has more going on than that loop suggests. These are the things to do in Seaside Heights that we have actually done, from Wednesday fireworks to rooftop mini golf.

Ten Things to Do in Seaside Heights

1. Walk the boardwalk after dinner, when the lights come on.
2. Ride Hydrus and the Giant Ferris Wheel at Casino Pier.
3. Cool off at Breakwater Beach.
4. Catch the Wednesday fireworks in July and August.
5. Rent a kayak or paddleboard on the bay.
6. Play rooftop mini golf with an ocean view.
7. Ride the restored carousel in the Carousel Pavilion.
8. Take a tiki boat tour on Barnegat Bay.
9. Walk one of the short trails at Island Beach State Park.
10. Have a quiet pint at Heavy Reel Brewing.

Free Things To Do in Seaside Heights, NJ

Some of the best things to do in Seaside Heights cost nothing. Events change every year, so check our Seaside Heights events guide for a fully updated day to day schedule.

• Fireworks: every Wednesday in July and August in 2026, starting around 9:30 p.m., weather permitting. They’ve been cancelled for high winds before, so keep a backup plan.
• Movies on the beach: Sunday nights at dusk last summer. Bring chairs and a blanket, because the sand gets cold after dark.
• Monday night concerts at the Franklin Avenue stage on the boardwalk.
• Thursday beach concerts: the 2026 run was July 9 through August 13 at the Blaine Avenue beach stage, mostly tribute bands.

We’ve also just sat on a bench with ice cream and watched the boardwalk go by. That counts!

What Things Cost: Beach Badges, Rides and Parking

Let’s talk money, since that’s what everyone asks. Here’s what the things to do in Seaside Heights actually cost. Beach badges for 2026 were $13 for a day, $50 for a week (Saturday through Friday) and $75 for the season. Seniors paid $15 for a season badge, and kids under 12 were free. The borough also runs discount days, including Mom and Me Days, Dad and Me Days and Bring a Friend Days. C

Rides are harder to pin down because the pier changes its deals every year. The ride wristband didn’t cover go-karts, the Sky Ride, the Skyscraper or the SkyCoaster, so those cost extra. In past summers Casino Pier has run half-price ride credits on Mondays and discounted wristbands on certain days. Look at the Casino Pier specials page before you buy at the booth, and read our Casino Pier guide for how credits and wristbands compare.

Parking is its own budget line. Municipal parking is free from October 31 through April 1. Summer means meters and private lots, and we wrote up where to park in Seaside Heights after circling one too many blocks. If you’re counting dollars all week, our budget family vacation tips help too.

The Boardwalk and Casino Pier

Casino Pier has anchored the Seaside Heights boardwalk since 1932, and it’s the center of most things to do in Seaside Heights after dark. When Superstorm Sandy dropped the old Jet Star roller coaster into the ocean in 2012, the pier rebuilt. Hydrus replaced it in 2017. It’s a Gerstlauer Euro-Fighter with three inversions. Next to it, the Giant Ferris Wheel stands 131 feet tall, and sunset is the time to ride it.

The Sky Ride chairlift and a kiddie section round out the pier. Go-kart racing can get pricey, so watch for discount days.

There are two mini golf courses. Smuggler’s Quay Adventure Golf at Casino Pier is the big one: multi-level, with 18 or 36 holes. Wacky Rooftop Golf sits above the pier arcade with views of the boardwalk and the ocean.

The arcades could fill a morning. Lucky Leo’s is the oldest on the boards. Casino Pier Arcade, Coin Castle (attached to Spicy’s), Shake Shoppe Arcade at the north end and Sonny’s & Rickey’s fill in the rest. Our arcade guide has the details.

Then there’s the carousel. The Carousel Pavilion at 1400 Boardwalk holds the Dr. Floyd L. Moreland Dentzel/Looff Carousel, built in 1910 and moved to Seaside Heights in 1932. It came apart in 2019, was restored over five years and reopened in July 2024. Hours change by season, so call ahead. The Seaside Heights Historical Society museum is in the same building. Our carousel guide covers the history.

On the Water: Waterpark, Surf and the Bay

Waterparks

Plenty of things to do in Seaside Heights happen on the water. Breakwater Beach sits right next to the pier. It has a wave pool, tube rides, a 50-foot free-fall slide called the Aqua Drop and a big interactive play area for younger kids. Waterpark admission is separate from the pier wristband, though Casino Pier sells combo tickets. It’s a summer park, so check opening dates. Our waterpark guide has more.

Sea Spray Park is a newer addition to the boardwalk is a great option for the younger kids. They can play among the cool creatures, climb aboard the fun bus, dip under the cascading water flowers or get soaked by the big bucket. Sail past the palm trees on the coolest water slides ever!

The Beach

Seaside Heights is known for its gorgeous beaches, so make sure you spend some time soaking up the sun and enjoying the waves. You can swim, sunbathe, and even try your hand at surfing. There are a couple of local places like Hammer Surf School that offer private lessons. Boogie boarding would be an easier way to hit the waves. This is one of our favorite things to do in Seaside Heights!

On The Bay

The bay side is calmer. Pedals and Paddles at 1200 Route 35 rents kayaks, 12-foot paddleboards, pedal boats and aqua trikes by the hour, and has since 1998. In past seasons it opened weekends from Memorial Day and daily after late June, so call (732) 830-5757 for 2027 hours. The Dock Outfitters rents wave runners and pontoon boats.

Tiki boat tours are the newer thing. Ohana Tiki Cruises runs two-hour trips around Seaside Heights and Barnegat Bay, and Seaside Tiki Tours and RJ’s Twisted Tiki run similar private cruises. Some let you bring your own food and drinks. Prices vary by boat and day, so ask before you book.

Seaside Heights is also a popular spot for fishing enthusiasts. There is a pier perfect for fishing and crabbing is located at Dock Outfitters. Dock Outfitters also has bait available for you to buy including fresh and frozen bunker and worms. Surf fishing is allowed from the beach when the beach is not open for swimming. You probably won’t have much luck crabbing on the beach, but check out our guide on crabbing in Seaside Heights.

Things to Do in Seaside Heights with Kids

Toddlers do best with the carousel, Casino Pier’s kiddie rides and the play area at Breakwater Beach. Go in the late afternoon, before the evening crowds. Kids under 12 don’t need a beach badge, which helps the budget.

Seaside Scooters offers bike rentals during the summer season. They offer beach cruisers, kids bikes, tandem bikes and more! You can rent for the hours, day or the week.

Tweens want speed. Go-karts, Hydrus (check the height requirement at the ride), Smuggler’s Quay and the arcades will keep them busy. For teens, add a kayak on the bay, a tiki boat tour and rooftop golf, which feels grown-up enough.

When everyone’s tired of screens and rides, Island Beach State Park has eight self-guided trails, each under a mile. Kids who are done with the arcade tend to like a walk through the dunes.

Rainy Day Things to Do in Seaside Heights

Rain doesn’t cancel the things to do in Seaside Heights. It moves them indoors. The arcades are the first answer, and the borough’s tourism site calls rainy days perfect for them. Some have food attached, so you can stay put through lunch. Casino Pier Arcade, Lucky Leo’s and Coin Castle are the big three.

After that, there’s the Carousel Pavilion and its Historical Society museum, the boardwalk shops and, for the adults, Heavy Reel’s taproom. If you don’t mind a short drive, Toms River has bowling, planetarium shows and a movie theater. We cover those in our guide to things to do near Seaside Heights.

Things to Do in Seaside Heights in the Off-Season

Fewer things to do in Seaside Heights stay open after Labor Day, but the boardwalk is quiet and some of us like it better. Municipal parking is free from October 31 through April 1. Kites are allowed on the beach when swimmers aren’t there. Lucky Leo’s and Casino Pier’s arcades are open Fridays through Sundays in the cooler months.

Sunrise on the ocean side and sunset on the bay side are free. You can also kayak or canoe from the bayfront beaches. In February the town hosts a Polar Bear Plunge that supports the Special Olympics in New Jersey. There’s a St. Patrick’s Day parade too. Many restaurants cut their hours or close for winter, so check the days before you go.

Things to Do in Seaside Heights for Adults

Heavy Reel Brewing Co. at 1520 Boulevard has poured beer here since 2018. It’s dog-friendly, you can bring your own food, and you can take cans to go. Our brewery guide lists more taprooms around the area.

For music, Spicy’s and Jimbo’s usually have solo acts in the afternoon, and the Sand Bar has had weekend afternoon jams. Most other bars bring in bands after 8 p.m. Build your own bar crawl from one end of the boardwalk to the other. Our Seaside Heights bars guide will help. For dinner, start with our restaurants page, and for breakfast, try our breakfast guide.

Island Beach State Park and Other Easy Add-Ons

The easiest add-on to the things to do in Seaside Heights is Island Beach State Park, about ten minutes south. It feels like a different coast: ten miles of undeveloped beach, dunes and eight short trails. There’s a per-vehicle entrance fee. Last we checked, summer rates for New Jersey vehicles were $6 on weekdays and $10 on weekends and holidays, with higher rates out of state. Get there early on summer weekends, because the gates close when the lots fill. See our Island Beach State Park guide and the state park page for current rates.

Want more? Our guide to day trips sorts them by drive time, from a lighthouse climb to a winery tour.

How We’d Spend Three Days

If I had to plan three days of things to do in Seaside Heights, day one would be the classic. Beach in the morning while the sand’s quiet, Breakwater Beach when it gets hot, and the pier after dark when the rides light up. Day two is Island Beach in the morning, then whatever the weather says: arcades if it rains, the bay if it doesn’t. On a Wednesday, finish with fireworks. Day three is kayaks or a tiki boat at sunset, then a late dinner on the Boulevard.

If you can pick the week, pick the last full week of August. The water’s warmer and the crowds thin out.

FAQ: Things to Do in Seaside Heights

What are the best things to do in Seaside Heights besides the beach?

The boardwalk has Casino Pier’s rides, Breakwater Beach, arcades and mini golf. On the bay you can rent kayaks or take a tiki boat tour, and the historic carousel is back in its pavilion. Summer nights bring fireworks, concerts and movies.

What are free things to do in Seaside Heights?

Walk the boardwalk, watch the Wednesday summer fireworks, catch a movie on the beach and go to the free summer concerts. The beach itself needs a badge in season, but kids under 12 are free.

How much is a beach badge in Seaside Heights?

In 2026 it was $13 a day, $50 a week and $75 for the season, with $15 senior season badges. Kids under 12 were free. Rates for 2027 weren’t posted yet, so check the borough’s tourism site.

Is Seaside Heights good for young kids?

Yes. Toddlers do well with the carousel, kiddie rides and the play area at Breakwater Beach, and kids under 12 don’t need a beach badge. Go in the late afternoon, before the evening crowds.

Are there things to do in Seaside Heights when it rains?

Yes. Start with the arcades, then try the Carousel Pavilion and its museum. Toms River, about 15 to 20 minutes away, has bowling, planetarium shows and a movie theater.

Is Seaside Heights worth visiting in the off-season?

If you like it quiet, yes. Municipal parking is free from October 31 through April 1, and dogs are allowed on the boardwalk and beach from October 1 until Palm Sunday. Many businesses cut their hours or close, so check before you go.

When are the fireworks in Seaside Heights?

In 2026 they ran every Wednesday in July and August, starting around 9:30 p.m., weather permitting. Confirm the 2027 schedule on the Exit 82 events page.

Can I bring my dog to Seaside Heights?

Dogs are allowed on the boardwalk and beach from October 1 until Palm Sunday, according to the borough’s tourism site. That means not in summer.

Plan Your Week

Planning a week? Our rental at Shoreside Village is a short walk from the boardwalk, and 2027 weeks are filling. See 2027 availability or take a look at our Seaside Heights rental. And for the full summer calendar, our events guide keeps it current.