Best Places for Kids in NJ: Surflight Childrens Theatre

Long Beach Island, NJ – The Surflight Theatre in Beach Haven, New Jersey is no different than any other theater in New Jersey.   Each summer however, the theater transforms itself into a children’s theater, running fairy tale productions from June through July, every year.

The Surflight Theatre started way back in 1950 in Beach Haven Crest in a 2,200 seat tent with a cast of 60 that included a 12 piece orchestra for a three week long season.  Over the next few years, the theater bounced around Long Beach Island from their tent to the old Beach Haven meat market and even an old garage that barely fit 300 occupants. 

Over the years the theatre grew in size and even added an adjacent ice cream parlor, the Show Place Ice Cream Parlour, which itself has become just as popular as the theatre itself.    The ice cream parlor was added to the mix in 1975 and has been a landmark on Long Beach Island ever since.   Before or after each show at the theatre, you can enjoy ice cream and a meal at the Show Place Ice Cream parlor and watch a 50’s style floor show.

The children’s theatre itself started back in 1956 and has continued through the years, delivering quality family entertainment and putting smile on kids faces for half a century.   Some of the shows held regularly each season include Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Princess and the Pea, Beauty and the Beast and other children’s classics.

As an added touch, the staff will invite the children on stage during intermission to give birthday wishes to any children celebrating a birthday.    

Surflight’s staff delivers a quality performance for every show, whether it’s one of their standard theatre productions or the summer long children’s theater.    The theatre is a great compliment to any Long Beach Island vacation.