Hundreds Expected to Camp Out at Sunrise Lake

The 11th annual Campout on the Beach, an event for families to campout on Sunrise Lake and enjoy beach games, music and more, will be held Friday at 4 p.m. at the in Morris Township.

The campout, organized by the Morris County Park Commission, is soldout after 85 families have registered, but residents are still invited to attend the event before the sun sets and when the evening activities start at 7 p.m.

Nearly 300 are expected to attend the campout, but other residents are invited to attend from 4 until 6:45 p.m., before the lake is cleared out for those participating in the overnight activities.

The residents who attend only during the day will pay the standard lake admission for $5 for adults, $4 for children and seniors and free for children four and younger.

The event's activities will begin at 4 p.m. when guests can swim and boat at the lake, enjoy entertainment from DJ Earl and play volleyball.

In addition to playing music, the DJ will be running some games and activities and giving away some prizes.

Once the campout fun begins at 7 p.m., which is closed off to the families who pre-registered, the tents will go up and the camp fire will begin.

Families will be able to cook some s'mokes and listen to a camp fire story. Each family is provided with a s'more kit, lanterns, and glow sticks for the evening activities.

Guests can bring their own tents to campout in, but those who don't have their own can rent one from the park.

For dinner, families are on their own to either bring food in a cooler for a picnic on the lake, or they can order from the park or get it from somewhere else delivered to the campsite.

All of the activities are included in the $35 registration price for a family of four, except for paddle boating and an inflatable obstacle course on the water. Kids can jump on the bouncy course, called the Whibit, throughout the day.

The next morning, guests will be offered a free breakfast at 7 a.m. that will include bagels, muffins, cereals, juices and coffee.

Morris County Park Commission Senior Recreational Programming Specialist Brielle George said waking up on Sunrise Lake is one of the most memorable things about the event.

"It's so nice because you're right on the sand, right next to the water," she said. "You wake up and you see the geese coming in and the sun going up, it's really beautiful. It's very scenic there."

The guests are also invited to stay and swim for the rest of the day after breakfast.

"It's absolutely a perfect family event," George said. "It builds family memories. It's one of those that goes in the family photo book."