Hello, summer!

With July bearing down on us, summer is officially in full swing. With that comes a slew of different events and activities that Tabernacle and Shamong residents will have the opportunity to enjoy.

From fireworks to yoga, there will be countless ways to have fun in the sun for folks of all ages.

Beginning on June 13, the Valenzano Family Winery will be having its first of a series of yoga events that will be taking place throughout summer.

“We hope by regularly offering these classes that our guests will not only experience and find some new wines, but also a moment or two of ‘center’,” Event Coordinator Danny Roberts said.

“Yoga In The Vineyard: Harmony” will be held among the vines at the winery located at 1090 Route 206 in Shamong from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. To keep the relaxation going, the event will be followed by a tasting session of more than 30 of the East Coast’s finest wines and appetizer platters. The cost will be $25 per participant. For tickets call (609) 268–6731 or visit www.valenzanowine.com.

“Our classes are largely focused on a fulfilling experience that offers a moment of zen in both environment and exercise,” Roberts said.

If you are unable to attend the “Harmony” session, there will be two more Yoga in the Vineyard opportunities. On July 18 the winery will host a “Serenity” session and on Aug 22 it will host a “Unity” session. This will provide with a prime opportunity to put down the travel planner, turn away from the toll booths and beach tags and draw a long, calming breath that will help them shift from busy mode to “center”.

On July 2 the Medford Celebrates Foundation will be putting together its annual Independence Day celebration and fireworks display at Freedom Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This is a great time to join family and friends for live music on the main stage, a food court, kid’s activity zone, and of course Medford’s famous fireworks display. Admission is free, but donations are strongly encouraged. For more information visit medfordcelebrates.org/fireworks.

For those who just cannot get enough fireworks on Independence Day, there will be another show the following day at 1320 Old Indian Mills Road in Shamong.

The Valenzano Family Winery’s third annual fireworks celebration includes local food, craft vendors, wine and music by DJ Gabor Kiss, a current resident DJ at Boogie Nights in Atlantic City. He was voted the best DJ in Atlantic City in 2008.

“As with any good summer party, music is part and parcel to a good time,” Roberts said.

If there is a forecast of rain, the fireworks festival will be re-scheduled for Sept 18, which is the Friday before WineFest 2015. Tickets can be purchased at the gate the day of the event. The event will not be offering advanced ticket sales this year.

“We do our best to provide a great display as well as an all-around party atmosphere that gets everyone into the Independance Day spirit,” Roberts said.

Following the Independence Day festivities will be the 87th annual Captain Emilio Carranza Memorial on Carranza Road in Tabernacle on July 11 at 1 p.m.

Every year, the Mt. Holly American Legion holds a memorial service to honor this fallen hero.

Carranza was a noted Mexican aviator and national hero, nicknamed the “Lindbergh of Mexico.” He was killed while returning from a historic goodwill flight from Mexico City to the United States. This memorial marks the site of the crash. It is suggested to arrive at 12:30 p.m. with a folding chair to find a shady place to view the event and get a close parking spot. There is no rain date the event will be held during inclement or severe weather conditions.

Following the memorial service, the Burlington County Sheriffs department will escort the attendees back to the festivities. Directions and information will be passed out at the ceremony in the pines. Those attending the festivities will be given a wristband to enter the building. Those without a wristband will be charged an admission fee of $15 to enter the after-event festivities. For more information call Jim Giquinto at (609) 702–9738.

As July begins to wind down the annual Pine Barrens Festival will take place at the Church of the Holy Eucharist in Tabernacle starting on July 20 and ending on July 25. Each night the festival will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Those who attend will experience six fun-filled nights of food, live entertainment, games, rides, culture devoted to the New Jersey Pine Barrens, dancing and more. For more information, visit www.pinebarrensfestival.org or call (609) 268–8383.

And finally to kickoff the last full month of summer with a bang, the Valenzano Family Winery will be hosting yet another event. The Valenzano beach party will be held in the grand ballroom from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Participants are encouraged to dress in their most comfortable beach attire, enjoy a glass of Blueberry Barnacle Lemonade and order some appetizers from the special movie night menu. The 1975 classic thriller “Jaws” will be the featured film.

“To really capture the spirit of the night’s movie, ‘Jaws’, we have designed an event that will have staff and attendees dressed in their favorite summer garb,” Roberts said. “We thought this would be a great idea because ‘Shark Week’ is typically aired on cable around this period as well.”

For more information call (609) 268–6731 or visit www.valenzanowine.com.