THE FAN-FAVORITE OCEAN COUNTY CAROUSEL OF MUSIC is back again for the 2024 season. The kickoff concert is on June 20 featuring "Bob Kulik: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra" at 6:30 p.m. at the main branch of the Ocean County Library, Washington Street, Toms River. The free concert series runs through Aug. 30 presenting over 40 concerts.

"We are delighted to announce this year's Carousel of Music schedule," said Commissioner Virginia E. Haines, who serves as Chairwoman of the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation.

"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," Haines said.

The Carousel of Music is a long-standing tradition that began in the late 1970s by the late Franklin V. Fischer, who served as the Ocean County Surrogate.

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

When the series began, the majority of the concerts took place at local libraries. Soon after, the County acquired a band shell where performances were held. Eventually, a mobile stage was added to bring live music all over the County.

From the beginning, one of the major goals of the Carousel of Music series was to highlight many different genres of music. As music taste change, the series updates its list of performers to strike a balance between beloved acts that return year after year and newer performances.

Over 10,000 audience members attended concerts during the 2023 season.

"Bands like the Wilbur Witteman Band, the Toms River Municipal Band, the 63rd Army Band, the Sentimental Journey Big Band, and the Garden State Philharmonic have been part of our series for years," said Mary Jane Bavais, Director of Ocean County Parks and Recreation. "This year we have many fun tribute shows including Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, and Elton John."

"The Carousel of Music was created to provide free live music to the residents of Ocean County," said Director of the Ocean County Board of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Barbara Jo Crea.

"In the years since its inception, the series has continued to bring joy to the thousands of audience members who have attended the concerts. 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," Crea said.

"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."

This year audiences will enjoy an array of performances from rock, new country, and jazz, to tributes of popular performers and many more.

Attendees of the shows are recommended to bring a blanket or a chair. To find a complete schedule with the lineup, start times, and locations please visit www.oceancountyparks.org/frmSpecialEvents or call (732) 506-9090.