Many of Ocean County's biggest holiday craft fairs this season are run by community groups. The organizers include a high school marching band's boosters, a school PTA, several churches, a first aid squad and a nonprofit that sends its proceeds to Ocean's Harbor House and Contact of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Between Saturday, November 14 and Saturday, December 12, these groups hold events on five Saturdays in a row, in school buildings, church halls, a country club and a squad building. One market on Long Beach Island runs every day for the whole stretch.
So the gift season here runs on a calendar, and picking a Saturday means picking a cause. Here's how the weeks line up.
November 14 opens the run with three Toms River and Point Pleasant Beach options
The first big Saturday is spread across the mainland. The Saint Peter School PTA 48th Annual Craft Fair fills Saint Peter School at 415 Atlantic Avenue in Point Pleasant Beach from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It has more than 80 crafters, and both parking and admission are free. After 48 years, this fair is one of the longest-running on the season's calendar.
In Toms River, East Dover Baptist Church at 974 Bay Avenue holds its Thankful and Merry Market the same day, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The county tourism calendar also lists a November 14 craft fair at Fabricated For You, a craft store in Toms River. The listing describes more than 60 outdoor booths and 30 indoor spotlight vendors, with gift basket raffles. It's the one stop that day hosted by a store instead of a school or church, so check with the shop before you go.
November 14 is also the first day of the LBIF Holiday Market Festival at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences, 120 Long Beach Boulevard in Long Beach Township. It's listed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day through December 13. Every other event in this post happens on a single day or weekend, so the LBIF market is the one you can fit around the Saturday fairs.
November 21 spreads four fairs from Brick to Long Beach Island
The Saturday before Thanksgiving has fairs from Long Beach Island up to Brick, so it helps to go in with a plan.
- Brick Farmers Market Thanksgiving Market, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Windward Beach Park, 265 Princeton Avenue, Brick. Local farmers, seasonal produce and baked goods, timed for holiday cooking.
- Toms River East Marching Raiders Craft & Vendor Fair, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Toms River High School East, 1225 Raider Way. It's hosted by the school's marching band program.
- Holiday Craft Fair at Forked River Presbyterian Church, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 131 North Main Street, Forked River. Admission is free, with crafts, baked goods, children's tables and food.
- The Merry Market Holiday Craft Show, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Francis Community Center, 4700 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach Township. Admission is $3, with more than 70 local vendors, handmade and homemade goods, treats and raffles. It's also open Sunday, November 22.
Brick's market is the earliest to close, at 1:30, and it's the only one built around food for the Thanksgiving table. That makes it a natural first stop. Since the Merry Market is open both days, an LBI trip can wait until Sunday, which leaves Saturday for the mainland fairs in Toms River and Forked River.
Sunday, November 22 names exactly where the money goes
Extended Arms holds its annual Holiday Shopping Event at Toms River Country Club, 419 Washington Street, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 22. Admission is $5. There are crafts, culinary gift baskets, a bake sale and a 50/50, and lunch is sold by credit or debit card only. Proceeds go to Ocean's Harbor House and Contact of Ocean and Monmouth Counties, so this event states exactly where its money goes.
The St. Francis Merry Market is also open that Sunday on LBI, so Sunday has two options on opposite sides of the bay.
Thanksgiving weekend moves from school gyms to a coffeehouse and downtown
After the holiday, the calendar shifts. Over Thanksgiving weekend the fairs leave school and church buildings and move into a coffeehouse, a Legion post and the downtown shopping district.
Spire Coffeehouse at 1922 Hooper Avenue in Toms River hosts Sip, Shop & Share the Love from Friday, November 27 through Sunday, November 29. The weekend combines a holiday market and a giveback, with drinks and flights, local vendors, live music and family activities. It benefits Ocean of Love, which supports children with cancer. Friday runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Check Spire directly for Saturday and Sunday hours.
Saturday, November 28 is Small Business Saturday in Downtown Toms River, which is on the downtown group's 2026 calendar. That same day, the county tourism calendar lists American Legion Unit 129's Holiday Craft & Vendor Fair at 2025 Church Road in Toms River, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The first 200 shoppers who make a purchase get a free tote. The Ocean County Historical Society also holds its annual Holiday Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with Santa and Mrs. Claus on hand for pictures with children and grandchildren.
Who runs each fair, at a glance
Every event in the table below is a fundraiser or community event, but the listings give different amounts of detail about the cause. The last column shows only what each organizer has listed.
| Date | Event | Host or setting | Admission | Proceeds, as listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 14 | 48th Annual Craft Fair | Saint Peter School PTA, Point Pleasant Beach | Free | Not listed |
| Nov. 14 | Thankful and Merry Market | East Dover Baptist Church, Toms River | Not listed | Not listed |
| Nov. 14 to Dec. 13 | LBIF Holiday Market Festival | LBI Foundation of the Arts and Sciences | Not listed | Not listed |
| Nov. 21 | Craft & Vendor Fair | Toms River East Marching Raiders | Not listed | Not listed |
| Nov. 21 | Holiday Craft Fair | Forked River Presbyterian Church | Free | Not listed |
| Nov. 21 and 22 | The Merry Market | St. Francis Community Center, LBI | $3 | Not listed |
| Nov. 22 | Holiday Shopping Event | Extended Arms, Toms River Country Club | $5 | Ocean's Harbor House; Contact of Ocean and Monmouth Counties |
| Nov. 27 to 29 | Sip, Shop & Share the Love | Spire Coffeehouse, Toms River | Not listed | Ocean of Love |
| Dec. 5 | 51st Holiday Craft Fair & Gift Auction | Point Pleasant Boro HS Band Boosters | Not listed | Point Pleasant Boro HS Marching Band |
| Dec. 12 | Holiday Vendor Show | Bayville First Aid Squad | Not listed | Bayville First Aid Squad |
December 5 brings the Boro band fair and two tree lightings
The first weekend of December brings one of the season's largest fairs. The Point Pleasant Boro High School Band Boosters hold their 51st Annual Holiday Craft Fair & Gift Auction on Saturday, December 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Memorial Middle School on Laura Herbert Drive. About 100 craft vendors are expected, along with a large gift basket auction, a Super 50/50, breakfast and lunch, and performances by band members. Prize drawings start at 3 p.m. Proceeds go to the Point Pleasant Boro High School Marching Band. With 51 years behind it, this fair has run three years longer than Saint Peter's, which opens the season.
That same weekend, the downtowns light up. Downtown Toms River holds its tree lighting on Friday, December 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Toms River Town Hall, 33 Washington Street. Winter Wonderland follows on Saturday, December 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. In Lavallette, participating businesses across the Lavallette Business District hold Hometown Christmas Weekend on December 4 and 5. The free borough tree lighting, with Santa, cocoa and cookies, is at Lavallette Borough Hall at 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 5.
That gives December 5 a full-day route. You can spend the morning at the Boro fair, the afternoon at Toms River's Winter Wonderland and the evening at Lavallette's tree lighting.
December 12 closes the run in Bayville
The last Saturday fundraiser on the list is the Holiday Vendor Show at the Bayville First Aid Squad, 660 Atlantic City Boulevard, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on December 12. It benefits the squad itself. The next day, December 13, is the last day of the LBIF Holiday Market Festival.
From Point Pleasant Beach to Bayville, the five Saturdays add up to a list of local organizations your gift money can support. That includes two high school bands, a school PTA, several congregations, a first aid squad and three named charitable organizations.
Beth Harding keeps track of community calendars like this one across the counties she serves. If you're new to Ocean County, or you have family moving here who want to find these fairs in their first season, Beth Harding is happy to share what she knows about the towns behind them. Schedule your free consultation.
