By Taylor Smith 

The celebrated 2019 Spring Lake Irish Festival will take place on Saturday, June 15 from noon to 5 p.m. Affectionately dubbed the “Jersey Shore’s Irish Riviera” for its history of Irish culture and immigration, Spring Lake is the spot for this annual event featuring live music, dancing, food, children’s activities, and shopping. Traditions like the Irish Soda Bread Contest, beer and wine garden, and Irish step dancers are favorites. This year’s musical acts are The Snakes and Doubting Toms. 

Spring Lake is a small community situated directly on the Atlantic Ocean in Monmouth County. The borough was a popular spot during the Gilded Age, ranking high among coastal resort society for its mansions, social scene, and high fashion. Period architecture is still well-preserved in modern day Spring Lake with multiple homes being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Victorian-era architectural style is similar to that seen in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., and Bar Harbor, Maine. 

Named one of the top 100 road races in the United States by Runner’s World Magazine, the Spring Lake 5 Mile Run sells out every year and routinely draws close to 15,000 runners. The race began in 1977 offering runners a tour of the borough and finishing along the beachfront. This year’s race will take place on Saturday, May 25 (http://www.springlake5.org). 

Spring Lake is known for its safe, clean beaches. Lifeguards are present daily between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. A beach badge is required to enter the beach during that time. Eating and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Spring Lake’s beaches in an effort to cut down on trash and cleanup. North End and South End pavilions have food, outdoor showers, and restrooms open in the summer. 

The borough has more than 60 shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Area favorites are The Breakers, Barelis by the Sea, Doolan’s Shore Club, Marigold Market and Cafe, Spring Lake Tap House, Spring Lake Manor Grille Room, and Spring Lake Pizzeria. In keeping with the community’s Irish influence, St. Stephen’s Green Publick House is an authentic Irish pub in Spring Lake Heights offering daily fresh fish, steaks, burgers, and Irish pub specials. Weekend brunch features a traditional Irish breakfast, and live music is held every Tuesday night. 

For more information on the Irish Festival, visit http://www.springlake.org/irishfestival.