The City of Asbury Park has started mailing its Fall and Winter 2026 newsletter, and the back pages carry the part most residents will keep on the fridge: the city's holiday calendar, plus the parking breaks that come with it. Here is the season in order, with times and places.

Before Thanksgiving

City meal kit giveaway, Saturday, November 21. The city is handing out free meal kits for families from 9 a.m. to noon in the City Hall lobby. Registration is by phone at 732-502-5753.

Holiday Bazaar opens Black Friday, November 27. The Asbury Park Bazaar's holiday market runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from November 27 through December 20 at Convention Hall on the boardwalk, according to its organizer. Black Friday hours are noon to 8 p.m.; after that, Fridays run 3 to 7 p.m. and weekends noon to 5 p.m.

The first weekend of December

Fireman's Park tree lighting, Friday, December 4, 5 p.m. Music, treats and a visit from Santa at Fireman's Park, Main Street and Sunset Avenue.

Asbury Park Santa Run, Saturday, December 5. Now in its 11th year, the 5K puts every runner in a Santa suit, which the race provides, on a course closed to traffic. Part of the proceeds goes to Lunch Break. Registration is on RunSignup.

Krampus Asbury Park, Saturday, December 5. The 600 block of Mattison Avenue hosts a day built around the Alpine figure who travels with Saint Nicholas: a Krampus Markt, a Monsters of Yule tour and the Krampus Lauf procession. The full schedule is posted by the organizers at krampusap.com.

Downtown tree lighting, Saturday, December 5, at dusk. The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce lights the downtown tree at Press Plaza, Cookman Avenue and Emory Street.

Mid-December

Downtown menorah lighting, Thursday, December 10, 5:30 p.m. The chamber hosts the Hanukkah lighting in Kennedy Park at Cookman and Grand avenues.

Kwanzaa celebration, Saturday, December 12, 2 p.m. Music, dance and cultural traditions at the Senior Center, 1201 Springwood Avenue.

Springwood Park tree lighting, Saturday, December 12, 5 p.m. The west side's own lighting, with live entertainment, at Springwood and Atkins avenues.

Where to park

From Saturday, November 28 through Saturday, December 26, metered parking is free citywide on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Bangs Avenue Garage is free every weekend in November and December, from 6 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m., and from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Valet parking runs on Cookman Avenue at two stands, beside Merchant Park and at 525 Cookman Avenue, Fridays from 5:30 to 11 p.m. and Saturdays from 4 to 11 p.m., starting at $20 for the first three hours.

Without a car, the Asbury Park station on NJ Transit's North Jersey Coast Line is a short walk from Cookman Avenue, and the downtown, Kennedy Park and Press Plaza are all within a few blocks of one another.

Staying current

Dates can shift. The city publishes a weekly events email each Thursday afternoon covering the next ten days, with sign up at cityofasburypark.com/whatshappening, and extra printed copies of the newsletter are available at City Hall starting Monday, November 23, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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