All summer long, fireworks decorate the night sky like gems.

Those bursts of jewel-tone colors make us exclaim and applaud not only because they're beautiful, but because they are ephemeral. Here one moment, spreading vibrant patterns across the sky, and then flickering out a few seconds later. How emblematic of summer: Such an intense season, and the one that seems to pass by most quickly.

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Enjoy it while it lasts.

Below is a listing of fireworks displays, alphabetically by town. Or, if you have a specific date in mind and you'd like to see fireworks, check out our chronological calendar list.

Aberdeen: July 6, Veterans' Memorial Park, Ocean Boulveard and Lakeshore Drive in the Cliffwood Beach section. Rain date is July 7. Hours: Festivities begin at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m. Go: For more info, call Brittany Shea at 732-583-4200, ext. 130; @Aberdeentwp on Facebook.

Asbury Park: July 4 on the beach. Rain date July 6. Go: 732-775-2100; cityofasburypark.com

Atlantic City: June 27, on the boardwalk between the Hard Rock Hotel and Ocean Casino Resort. Hour: 9:30 p.m. Go: hardrockhotelatlanticcity.com. Also, July 4, at the Borgata Hotel's surface parking lot. Hours: Viewing area opens at 6 p.m., with fireworks at 9:20 p.m. Go: theborgata.com. Also, Tropicana will have fireworks on Saturdays, beginning May 25. Go: tropicana.net

Atlantic Highlands: July 5, at the Atlantic Highlands Firemans fair which runs from July 2 through 6, in the municipal harbor, Simon Lake Drive. Hour: 9:45 p.m. Go: 732-291-1444; ahnj.com

Augusta: Fireworks at Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, after Sussex County Miners games, including July 4, 7, 21, and 28; Aug. 25, and Sept. 1. Go: sussexcountyminers.com.

Barnegat: July 3 at the Barnegat dock, 427 E. Bay Ave. Rain date is July 5. Hours: Live music at 7 p.m., followed by fireworks. Go: barnegat.net

Beach Haven: July 4 at dusk, Bay Village, 9th and Bay avenues, Beach Haven. Go: 609-492-2800; bayvillagelbi.com.

Beachwood: July 4 at the beach on Bayside Avenue. Food, vendors, music, activities. Go: beachwoodusa.com.

Berkeley Township: June 26, as part of the "Sounds Of Summer" concert series in Veterans' Park in the Bayville section. Hours: Music at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Go: berkeleytownship.org.

Bradley Beach: 9 p.m. July 3 at the beachfront promenade. Rain date is July 5. Hour: 9 p.m. Go: 732-776-2999; bradleybeachnj.gov

Brick Township: July 4, 11, 18, and 25 as part of SummerFest 2019 at Windward Beach Park, 265 Princeton Ave. Food trucks, beer and wine garden, live music, exhibitions. Hours: Live music at 6:30 p.m., followed by fireworks. Go: For updates, including rain dates if needed, go to bricktownship.net or the Township of Brick NJ Municipal Government Facebook page.

Bridgewater: July 4 in North Branch Park. Food vendors, Revolutionary War encampment re-enactment. Hours: Festivities from 5 to 11 p.m. Go: For rain date info, call 908-722-1200, option 5351; somersetcountyparks.org. Also, Somerset Patriots games feature fireworks on June 29; July 12, 13, 26 and 27; Aug. 1, 10, 24, and 29; and Sept. 6 and 21. Go: somersetpatriots.com.

Camden: July 4, Wiggins Park, Riverside Drive. A display over the Delaware River, as part of the annual Freedom Festival. Hour: Festival begins at 5 p.m. with live music, beer garden, food vendors, artists. Go:camdencounty.com

Chatham: July 4, parade and fireworks, Chatham Middle School, 480 Main St. Hours: Events begin at 7:30 p.m. Go: 973-635-0674 or chathamborough.org.

Clark: July 4, Arthur L. Johnson High School, 365 Westfield Ave. Go: 732-388-3600 or ourclark.com.

Collingswood: July 4, at the high school stadium, 424 Collings Ave. Rain date is July 5. Go: collingswood.com

Colts Neck: July 3, Bucks Mill Park, 137 Bucks Mill Road. Go: coltsneckbusiness.org.

Cranford: July 2, Nomahegan Park. Limited parking at Union County College, 1033 Springfield Ave. Hours: Amusement rides, games, and food vendors, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Go: 908-709-7283 or cranfordnj.org

Denville: July 4, Gardner Field, Route 46. Hours: Events begin 8:15 p.m. Go: 973-625-8300, ext. 238.

Dover: July 3, Hamilton Field complex, Route 46. Festivities, food trucks. Hours: Fun begins at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Go: dover.nj.us

East Brunswick: July 4, Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road. Free bounce rides, face-painting and balloon-twisting, DJ Wacky Wayne and live music by Amsterdam. Rain date is July 5. Hours: Festivities begin at 4 p.m.; band at 7:30 p.m. Fireworks begin about 9:30 p.m. Go: 732-390-6797; eastbrunswick.org.

East Rutherford: July 3 and 4 at MetLife Stadium, as part of State Fair Meadowlands. Go: njfair.com. July 6 at Meadowlands Racetrack, 1 Racetrack Drive, for "Fan Appreciation Night." Go: thebigm.com.

Florham Park: July 4, Emmett Field. Hours: All-day events around town begin at 9:30 a.m. with a parade along Ridgedale Avenue and Brooklake Road. Fireworks at 8:15 p.m. Go: 973-410-5390 or www.fpboro.net

Franklin Township: July 3 at the municipal complex, 475 DeMott Lane, Somerset. Live music by Little Jimmy & the Starlites, Community Fellowship Mass Choir of Somerset, and the New Brunswick Jazz Project; children's activities, food trucks. Hours: Festivities begin at 6 p.m., with fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Rain date is July 12. Go: 732-873-1991, option 4; franklintwpnj.org.

Freehold Borough: July 3 at Freehold Raceway. Rain date is July 7. Go:freeholdraceway.com. freeholdboroughnj.gov

Freehold Township: July 13, as part of Freehold Township Day, a celebration of veterans, in Michael J. Tighe Park, 65 Georgia Road. Car show, bands, police helicopter, free children's rides, free teen center with DJ. Hours: Car show at 3 p.m., festival from 4 to 11 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Go: 732-294-2199; freeholdtownshipday.com. Also July 24, opening night fireworks for the Monmouth County Fair, which runs from July 24 to 28 on the fairgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold. Go: 732-842-4000, ext. 4312; monmouthcountyparks.com.

Haddonfield: July 3, as part of the downtown celebration, Yankee Doodle Do, with a parade at 10 a.m., and food trucks, bounce houses and live music beginning at 6 p.m. Go:downtownhaddonfield.com.

Haddon Township: July 3, as part of a “Happy Birthday, America” celebration, beginning at 7 p.m. at the high school football stadium. Rain date is July 5. Go: haddontwp.com.

Hanover: July 1, Veterans Memorial Park, North Jefferson Road. Family events, food trucks, live music. Hours: 6 p.m., with fireworks at dusk. Go: hanovertownship.com

Hazlet: July 3, Veterans Memorial Park. Go: hazlettwp.org/recreation.

Highland Park: July 3, Donaldson Park, South Second Avenue. Food vendors, live music, children's activities, demonstrations, youth theater musical revue. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Rain date is July 7. Go: 732-819-0052 or hpboro.com.

Jackson: July 3 through 6, as part of “July 4th Fest” at Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., off Route 537. Go: 732-928-1821; sixflags.com/greatadventure.

Also in Jackson on July 6, "Food Trucks & Fireworks," John F. Johnson Junior Memorial Park, 260 Kierych Memorial Dr. Admission is free. Bring your bathing suit and towel to enjoy an inflatable pit that fills with foam. Hours: 3 to 8:30 p.m. Go:Jackson Township Recreation Department on Facebook.

Jersey City: July 4, from Exchange Place in Harborside, as part of 50 Star Fire Show. Hour: Festival begins at noon, with carnival rides, food and beverage vendors, and live music, including headliners Pitbull and Akon. Go: freedomandfireworks.com.

Keansburg: July 4, Keansburg Amusement Park, 275 Beachway Ave. Go: 732-495-1400; keansburgamusementpark.com.

Lacey Township: July 3 at Lacey High School, 73 Haines St. in the Lanoka Habor section. Live music by White Rabbit. Rain date is July 5. Hours: 7:30 p.m. for music, 9:15 p.m. for fireworks. Go: 609-693-1100, ext. 2203; laceytownship.org.

Lakehurst: July 3 at Lake Horicon. Rain date is July 6. Go: 732-657-4141 or lakehurst-nj.gov

Lakewood: July 3 over Lake Carasaljo at 9:15 p.m., preceded by a concert at 7:15 p.m. by the Wilbur Wittemann Patriotic Band at the All Wars Memorial Amphitheater on North Lake Drive. Shuttle buses will begin running at 6:30 p.m. from the municipal building, 231 Third St., and from the public works building at 1 America Ave. Rain date is July 7.

Lakewood also will display fireworks on Aug. 13 in Pine Park, for Night Out Against Crime. Go: For either show: 732-364-2500; lakewoodnj.gov.

Fireworks also are scheduled after BlueClaws games at FirstEnergy Park, 2 Stadium Way. Fireworks nights include June 27, 28, and 29; July 3, 11, 12, 13, 25, 26 and 27; and Aug. 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, and 29. Admission included with game ticket. Go: 732-901-7000 or blueclaws.com.

Lavallette: July 7, Centennial Gardens Gazebo. Rain date is July 14. Go: 732-793-7477; lavallette.org.

Little Falls: Fireworks at Yogi Berra Stadium, 1 Hall Drive, after Saturday home games of the New Jersey Jackals, including June 29; July 13 and 20, and Aug.3, 10 and 24. Go:njjackals.pointstreaksites.com.

Livingston: July 4, at the Memorial Oval, Robert Harp Drive. Classic car show, wine and beer, live music by Wanted DOA, a Bon Jovi tribute band; family carnival, with bouncy rides, games and free pony rides. Hours: Family fun begins at 9 a.m.; beer garden and music begin at 3:30 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Go: livingstonnj.org.

Long Branch: July 4, as part of 29th annual Oceanfest. Musicians, dancers, clowns, carnival acts, costumed characters, sand sculpting, crafts, food vendors. Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Go: 732-222-0400; oceanfestnj.com.

Manasquan: Independence Day celebration, with bike-decorating contest, parade and fireworks on July 3 (rain date July 6), and Big Sea Day, Aug. 10 (rain date Aug. 11). Both on the main beach, with concerts. Go: squantourism.com

Manchester: June 29, as part of Manchester Day 2019, at Harry Wright Lake in the Whiting section. Rain date is June 30. Hours: Festival begins at 2 p.m., with fireworks at dusk. Go: manchestertwp.com.

Matawan: June 29, Lake Lefferts. Rain date is June 30. Go: 732-566-3898; matawanborough.com

Milltown: July 4. Daytime festivities include a parade and 5K through town. Fireworks at dusk. Go:Milltown 4th of July on Facebook.

Millville: July 6, as part of the Fireworks & FoodTruck Festival at New Jersey Motorsports Park, 8000 Dividing Creek Road. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m. Go:njmp.com.

Monroe: July 4 in Thompson Park. Free rides, including a train ride; food vendors with entertainment and music presented by DJ "Partners In Sound". Hours: Activities begin at 5 p.m., with fireworks at dusk. Go: monroerec.com.

Montclair: July 4, Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State University. Hours: Gates open at 6:30 p.m., fireworks about 9:30 p.m. Go: montclairnjusa.org.

Montgomery: June 27 on the front lawn of Montgomery High School, 1014 Route 601 in the Skillman section of Montgomery. Children's activities, food vendors, live music. Rain date is June 28. Parking passes can be purchased on-line for $15, providing access to the high school lot. Free parking is available at Skillman Park. Free shuttle service runs from the Upper Middle School beginning at 6 p.m. Hours: Festival begins at 6 p.m., fireworks at 9:15 p.m. Go:montgomeryfireworks.org.

Mountain Lakes: July 4, Mountain Lake. Some seating at Island Beach. Hours: Family events begin at 10 a.m. at Mountain Lakes Club, open to public. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Go: mtnlakes.org

Mount Olive Township: Aug. 24, Turkey Brook Park in the Budd Lake section, as part of the FoodTrucks & Fireworks Festival. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Go: rec.mountolivetownship.com

Netcong: Aug. 10, as part of the Annual Celebration of the Feast of the Assumption, Arbolino Park. Hours: 6 to 11 p.m. Go: assumptionsocietynetcong.com.

New Brunswick: July 3, Elmer B. Boyd Park, Route 18 North. Rain date is July 7. Go: 732-745-5125, cityofnewbrunswick.org.

New Providence: July 3, South Street. Hour: 9:30 p.m. Go: newprov.org.

Ocean City: July 4 on the boardwalk, and July 13 on the boardwalk for "Night In Venice." Go: ocnj.us

Ocean Grove: July 6, on the beach, Ocean Avenue. Hour: 9 p.m. Go: 732-775-0035 or www.oceangrove.org. Also July 27, on Middle Beach, in front of the pavilion, as part of Victorian Day. Hour: 9 p.m. Go: Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association on Facebook.

Ocean Township (Monmouth County): July 3, at Joe Palaia Park, corner of Deal and Whalepond roads. Rain date is Juy 5. Go: oceantwp.org. Also, Aug. 9, as part of the Ocean Township Italian-American Festival, which runs from Aug. 9 through 11 at Joe Palaia Park. Rain date is Aug. 11. Hours: 5 to 11 p.m., with fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Go: For more info, call Nick Romagnoli at 908-902-8512.

Parsippany: July 4, Parsippany High School, 309 Baldwin Road. Hours: Events begin at 7:30 p.m. Go: parsippany.net

Perth Amboy: July 3, in a joint display with South Amboy on Raritan Bay. View from Sadowski Parkway on the waterfront. Hours: Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and fireworks at about 9:30 p.m. Rain date is July 5. Go: celebratestarsandstripes.com.

Piscataway: July 4, Piscataway High School Stadium, 100 Behmer Road. Go: 732-562-2382; or piscatawaynj.org.

Point Pleasant Beach: Every Thursday on Jenkinson’s beach. Go: 732-892-0600 or jenkinsons.com.

Randolph: July 4, County College of Morris, Center Grove Road. Hours: Events begin at 6 p.m. Go: 973-989-7100.

Readington Township: July 26, as part of the QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road, in the Whitehouse Station section. Go:balloonfestival.com.

Sayreville: June 29, Kennedy Park. Free children's rides and games, food court, hot dog-eating contest, live music by the Bon Jovi tribute band Wanted DOA. Rain date is June 30. Hours: 4 to 10 p.m. Go: sayreville.com.

Seaside Heights: July 4, and every subsequent Wednesday through Aug. 28, on the boardwalk. Hour: 9:30 p.m. Go:exit82.com.

South Amboy: July 3, in a joint display with Perth Amboy on Raritan Bay. View from Raritan Bay Waterfront Park. Hours: Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and fireworks at about 9:30 p.m. Rain date is July 5. Go:celebratestarsandstripes.com.

South Brunswick: July 3, Crossroads South Middle School, 195 Major Road. Food vendors, games, and lilve music. Rain date is July 5. Go: 732-329-4000, ext. 7681; southbrunswicknj.gov

South River: Aug. 23 at Denny Stadium, South River High School, Montgomery Street and Johnson Place, as part of "End of Summer Festival." Rain date is Aug. 24. Go: southrivernj.org, or the South River Recreation page on Facebook.

Summit: July 4, on Soldiers' Memorial Field, 5 Myrtle Ave. Food Truck Festival, live music, children's entertainment and a parade of children's decorated bicycles. Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Go: summitcommunityprograms.com.

Trenton: Fireworks at Arm & Hammer Park, 1 Thunder Road, after Trenton Thunder games, including June 26, 27 and 29; July 4, 6, 18, and 20; Aug. 1, 8, 10, and 31; and Sept. 1. Go: milb.com

Tuckerton: July 4, Tuckerton Seaport, 120 W. Main St. Food trucks and brews. Hours: 4 to 8:30 p.m. Go:tuckertonseaport.org.

Union Beach: July 3 at the beachfront. Go: ubnj.net.

West Windsor: Sept. 28, as part of Mercer County Italian American Festival, Mercer County Park, Old Trenton Road. Go: italianamericanfestival.com.

Wharton: Aug. 24, as part of Canal Day Music & Craft Festival, Hugh Force Park, 180 W. Central Ave. Hours: Festival, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by fireworks. Go: canalday.org.

Wildwood: July 4, on the beach at Pine Avenue. Rain date is July 5. Also, Friday night fireworks from June 21 through Aug. 30. Hours: 10 p.m. Go: 609-523-1602 or wildwoodsnj.com.

Woodbridge: July 3, Alvin P. Williams Memorial Park on the waterfront in the Sewaren section. Rain date is July 5. Hour: Gates open at 4 p.m. Go:twp.woodbridge.nj.us

Woodland Park: Aug. 16 and 17 as part of Passaic County Fair, Garret Mountain Reservation, 8 Mountain Ave. Go: passaiccountynj.org.

Hi, there! I'm Kelly-Jane Cotter. I grew up watching the old Red Bank fireworks in Marine Park. Now I try to see three or four shows every summer, all over the place! Read more of my stories below, follow me @KellyJaneCotter, reach me at kcotter@gannettnj.com and how about subscribing so you don't miss a thing?

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