👋Hey, Ocean friends!

Fall is officially showing off! This week brings glowing pumpkins, Greek treats, farmers markets, live music, library fun and plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy Ocean County. Grab your calendar—the Scoop is packed.

🍂 Ocean County Events — Festivals, markets, boats and bagpipes
🍎 Local Flavor — Fall treats arrive at Paris Baguette
📚 Beyond the Books — Concerts, crafts, classes and games
🏈 Game-Day Eats — Three recipes ready for kickoff
🚗 Day Trippin’ — Fall festivals worth the drive
📰 Prime Time News — Health, counseling, technology and aging
📅 Mark Your Calendar — Howl-O-Ween helps senior dogs

Up first…

Farm markets, fall festivals, boats, bagpipes and one very suspicious Friendsgiving dinner—Ocean County has plans for you.

🥕 Stock the kitchen before the farmers pack up for the season. The Bay Head Farmers Market offers locally grown and made goods in the municipal parking lot on Bridge Avenue. Noon–4 p.m. in Bay Head.

🎃 Six thousand glowing pumpkins make quite a night-light. Jacks & Lights features a lighted pumpkin trail, flashlight corn maze, pumpkin patch, photo opportunities and access to the “Spook Easy.” 6–9 p.m. at Argos Farm, 1250 Lacey Road, Forked River. Admission required.

🎱 Thursday is the new Friday—and it comes with bingo cards. Eat, drink, play and try your luck during Bingo Night with RKP Productions. 7:30 p.m. at Caffrey’s, 440 Route 9, Forked River.

🥬 Fresh finds are waiting in Forked River. Browse seasonal produce and local goods at the Lacey Farmers Market. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at Lacey United Methodist Church, 203 Lacey Road.

🚤 Go ahead—look at the boats. Nobody said you had to buy one. The Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo brings dealers, new models and marine products to ShoreTown Ballpark. Friday, noon–6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood. Admission is $10; children 12 and younger are free.

🇬🇷 Come hungry. The baklava would take it personally if you didn’t. The 54th Annual Saint Barbara Greek Festival features an outdoor food court, indoor dining, homemade pastries, Greek dancing, live music, games and raffles. Friday and Saturday, noon–11 p.m.; Sunday, noon–7 p.m. at Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 2200 Church Road, Toms River. No onsite parking; free shuttles run from Ocean County College.

🔎 Friendsgiving has taken a murderous turn. Search for clues over dinner during the Friendsgiving Murder Mystery at the Mathis House. Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. at 600 Main St., Toms River. $75.

🎣 The stripers are running—and the prizes aren’t bad either. The American Angler Surf Fishing Classic welcomes adults and children for a public tournament with free four-wheel-drive beach access, prizes and an awards barbecue. Saturday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m., and Sunday, 7 a.m.–1 p.m. Registration opens at 6 a.m. at Bayview Park, 6805 Long Beach Blvd., Brant Beach.

🍎 Bring a tote and an appetite. The Brick Farmers Market offers fresh produce, baked goods and locally made favorites near the water. 8:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at Windward Beach Park, 265 Princeton Ave., Brick.

🛍️ Handmade, unique and close to home. Shop local artisans, crafters and small businesses during the East Dover Craft and Vendor Market. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at East Dover Baptist Church, 974 Bay Ave., Toms River.

🌽 Fall has entered the farm. The Argos Fall Festival offers a corn maze, pumpkin patch, farm animals, live music, photo displays, attractions, food and drinks. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at Argos Farm, 1250 Lacey Road, Forked River. Admission required.

🍂 A little country air pairs nicely with fall treats. Enjoy local vendors, family activities and seasonal goodies during the Ornery Acres Fall Festival. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at Ornery Acres, 862 Route 539, New Egypt.

🎤 Oldies but goodies—and no algorithm required. RB Express performs oldies, R&B and vocal favorites as part of the 25th Anniversary Concert Series. 11 a.m. at the Ocean County Library Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive.

☘️ Bagpipes by the bay? Now that’s an entrance. Shamrocks by the Sea features Irish music, step dancers, food, beer and craft vendors, with performances by Ballyhaunis, Shanty’s and Marty McKernan. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. at Seaside Park Marina, 101 J St., Seaside Park.

🌻 Pick flowers, grab lunch and stay for the music. Street Eats and Brews includes flower picking, food trucks, beer, Laurita wine, live music, vendors, country photo displays, children’s activities and tethered balloon rides, weather permitting. Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon at Dancer Farm, 19 Archertown Road, New Egypt. Admission is $10; guests under 21 are free.

🇺🇸 Lacey is throwing a red, white and blue birthday party. Celebrate America’s 250th with a battle of the bands, family games, local businesses and food trucks. Noon–4 p.m. at Gille Park, 102 Manchester Ave., Lanoka Harbor.

🍺 Brats, brews and no passport required. The Mathis House hosts a German Dinner Night featuring a themed meal in its Victorian dining room. 7 p.m. at 600 Main St., Toms River. $50. Some events may offer a 10% discount for guests 65 and older and military members.

🥁 A little help from his friends—and one unforgettable drummer. Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band bring Beatles favorites, Ringo’s solo hits and classics performed by a lineup that includes Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie and Todd Rundgren. Sunday, Sept. 27, 7 p.m. at PNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel. Info

🎈 Downtown Toms River is putting the “fest” in Monday. The Toms River PBA 137 Fall Fest features inflatables, raffles, face painting, police demonstrations, children’s characters, axe throwing, food trucks, ice cream and more. 5–9 p.m. on Washington Street in downtown Toms River. Rain date: Oct. 5. Festival details.

🫖 Tea tastes better with company. The Mathis House hosts its complimentary Monthly Tea Club Meeting in the Victorian tearoom. 6 p.m. at 600 Main St., Toms River.

🥐 🥐 Toms River’s Paris Baguette is putting autumn behind the pastry case. The bakery café has introduced a limited-time menu filled with caramel apple and pumpkin pastries, cakes and seasonal drinks.

Sweet choices include caramel apple streusel doughnuts, waffles and tarts, plus pumpkin cheese Danish, spice cruffins and lattes. Savory offerings include a turkey, cranberry and goat cheese pastry sandwich, pesto chicken pizzetta and harvest chicken salad.

PB Rewards members can receive a free medium hot or iced coffee with any purchase on Tuesday, Sept. 29, in celebration of National Coffee Day. Learn more at Paris Baguette Rewards. Availability may vary.

Ocean County libraries are serving up music, history, practical advice and even a few four-legged guests this week.

🧰 Hope for the best, but pack the “go bag.” Disaster Preparedness for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities covers weather alerts, emergency supply kits, medications, transportation, medical equipment and planning for pets and service dogs. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch, 112 Jersey City Ave., Lavallette; and Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. at the Manchester Branch, 21 Colonial Drive. Free; registration required.

🎷 Take a sentimental journey—no time machine required. Fred Lehotay and the Ragtimers will fill the library with Jazz Age melodies, patriotic favorites and rollicking ragtime tunes. Singing along and toe-tapping are strongly encouraged. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 3 p.m. at the Long Beach Island Branch, 217 South Central Ave., Surf City. Free; registration required.

🐕‍🦺 These dogs have some very important jobs. Volunteer puppy raisers from Canine Companions will explain how service dogs are trained to help adults, children and veterans with disabilities. The program includes a live demonstration by a service dog. Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road. Free; all ages welcome and registration required. Learn more and register.

🌱 Bring your garden mysteries—preferably in a baggie. Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County will answer questions about plants, insects, soil, native species, composting and pest problems. Bring photos or samples for identification and advice. Sept. 25, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Waretown Branch, 112 Main St. Free; no registration required. Program details.

🪕 Unplug for an evening—and let the musicians plug into the fun. Members of the Acoustic Musicians Guild will perform an assortment of songs, both collectively and individually. The Brick-based nonprofit welcomes every genre and musicians of all experience levels. Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30–8 p.m. at the Plumsted Branch, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. Free; registration required.

📝 What stories, lessons and memories will you leave behind? Legacy Projects: Reflecting on Life’s Meaning and Legacy introduces thoughtful ways to preserve personal values, experiences and relationships for loved ones and future generations. No writing experience is needed. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor Branch, 290 Mathistown Road; and 2–4 p.m. at the Long Beach Island Branch, 217 South Central Ave., Surf City. Free; registration required.

🇺🇸 History is walking into the library—and Captain Huddy has quite a story. Historian Dr. Jeffrey Schenker portrays Revolutionary War hero Joshua Huddy and recounts the Battle of the Toms River Blockhouse, Huddy’s execution and the international incident that followed. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road. Free; registration required. Meet Captain Joshua Huddy.

👻 Give an outgrown costume a second act. The Toms River, Lakewood, Plumsted and Tuckerton branches are collecting gently used costumes for children ages 0–11 through Wednesday, Sept. 30. The costumes will be distributed free during FanNation: The Geekstravaganza on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Toms River Branch—just in time for the cosplay contest and Halloween.

🚶 Walk this way—for your body and your brain. Walk 4 Memory combines indoor walking, familiar music, breathing and singing in an easy-to-follow program designed for people experiencing memory loss or mild cognitive decline. Participants must be able to join independently and sign a liability waiver. Thursday, Sept. 24, 1–2 p.m. at the Toms River Branch.

🧶 Bring your yarn and unravel the week. Hooked on Yarn welcomes knitters and crocheters for conversation and time to work on current projects. Bring your own yarn, needles or hooks. Thursday, Sept. 24, 2–4 p.m. at the Manchester Branch.

🪡 Knit happens. So do crochet, sewing and embroidery. The Stitch It Club invites crafters of every skill level to work on projects, exchange tips and enjoy some leisurely conversation. Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30–8:30 p.m. at the Lacey Branch.

🎤 Survey says: the library is ready to play. Game Show Night transforms the Upper Shores Branch into a live game show complete with popular games and prizes. Thursday, Sept. 24; doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the games begin at 7 p.m. Admission is $20 and must be purchased in advance at the library with exact change or a check. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the Upper Shores Branch.

🪑 Stretch without getting down on the floor—or figuring out how to get back up. Certified instructor Regina Pietersen leads Chair Yoga to improve strength, flexibility and mental well-being. Friday, Sept. 25, 9:30–10:30 a.m. at the Upper Shores Branch. Registration required; participants must sign a waiver.

🧵 Bring a project and enjoy some creative company. Fiber Arts Crafters provides an open session for knitting, crocheting and other fiber crafts. Bring your own materials. Friday, Sept. 25, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Plumsted Branch. No registration required.

🎶 Four voices, decades of favorites. RB Express performs songs from the 1950s through the 1990s as part of the Jackson Branch’s 25th Anniversary Concert Series. Saturday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m.–noon at the Jackson Branch. Free.

🀄 Make Monday a Mah Jongg day. Players can gather for a casual afternoon of tiles, conversation and friendly competition during Mahjongg Mondays. Monday, Sept. 28, noon–3 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch.

🧶 Relax, chat and keep those needles moving. Knitting at the Library welcomes knitters and crocheters to work on current projects, swap patterns and spend time with fellow yarn enthusiasts. Monday, Sept. 28, 12:30–2:30 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor Branch.

🧶 The Waretown Woolies are a close-knit bunch. Bring your latest knitting, crochet or fiber project and share ideas, encouragement and techniques with other crafters. Monday, Sept. 28, 1–3 p.m. at the Waretown Branch.

📺 Ready to cut the cord without losing your favorite shows? AARP New Jersey presenter Thomas Phair explains streaming services, smart televisions, streaming devices and ways to watch live TV without cable. Monday, Sept. 28, 2:30–3:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch.

🔎 That elusive ancestor may just need a better search strategy. Genealogist Debbie Hadley shares techniques for finding relatives with common names, changing surname spellings and hard-to-locate records in newspapers, census files and genealogy databases. Tuesday, Sept. 29, 10 a.m.–noon at the Waretown Branch.

📻 Tonight’s broadcast is coming to you live—from the library. WREP’s veteran actors recreate The Day the Earth Stood Still in the style of a Golden Age radio drama. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6:30–8 p.m. at the Toms River Branch. Free.

🔖 Give your next good book a handmade place to pause. Create a collage bookmark using materials supplied by the library, or bring your own decorative extras. Wednesday, Sept. 30, 7–8 p.m. at the Point Pleasant Borough Branch.

🏟️ No ticket? No problem. The real action is at the snack table. Football season calls for easy, crowd-pleasing food—and Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. has three recipes ready for kickoff:

🍟 BBQ Beef Waffle Fry Nachos — Crispy waffle fries piled with shredded beef, baked beans, barbecue sauce, melted cheese and all the nacho fixings.

🌮 On-the-Go Beef Tacos — Open a small bag of corn chips, add seasoned beef and fresh toppings, and grab a fork. Easy to carry and even easier to clean up.

🍔 Oklahoma Onion Burgers — Smash-style burgers pressed with thinly sliced onions for plenty of caramelized flavor without a long ingredient list.

Still hungry? Browse the full game-day recipe collection for more tailgate-worthy ideas. Just remember: cheering with your mouth full is strictly a rookie move.

Fun fall festivals happening close to home and across the state.

🎃 Six thousand pumpkins—and not one of them needs carving in your kitchen. The Skylands Stadium Jack O-Lantern Experience in Augusta lights up the season with a 45-minute Halloween walk surrounded by hand-carved creations. Stick around for s’mores, warm apple cider, pumpkin painting, live music and craft beer. September through November.

🐷 Come for the pumpkins. Stay for the pig races. The Happy Day Farm Fall Festival in Manalapan offers more than 35 activities, including a themed corn maze, pony rides, slides, Pumpkinville photo ops and pick-your-own sunflowers and pumpkins. Save room for fresh-squeezed lemonade and apple fritters. Sept. 10–Oct. 12.

🌻 Pick a bouquet—and clear some space on your camera roll. The Holland Ridge Farms Fall Flower Festival in Cream Ridge fills the fields with sunflowers, gladiolus, dahlias and other colorful blooms available for picking at $1 per stem. Food trucks, photo props, a farmers and makers market, live music and family activities round out the day. Starting in mid-September.

🌽 Go big or gourd home. Von Thun’s Country Farm Market Fall Festival Weekends feature more than 20 attractions, including hayrides, a six-acre-plus corn maze and pick-your-own apples and pumpkins. It’s an easy way to squeeze an entire season’s worth of fall fun into one day.

🎃 Fall called. It wants the whole family outside. Thompson Park Day packs the park with rides, entertainment, archery, pumpkin painting, wagon rides and children’s races. The friendly competition includes a scarecrow contest, jack-o’-lantern contest and dog costume parade—because even Fido deserves a little fall flair. Sunday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft. Admission and parking are free; some activities require a fee or advance registration.
Find contest details and additional information at Monmouth County Parks.

The latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

👟 Wearable Foot Sensors Match Motion Capture for Knee Arthritis Gait: Foot-strapped sensors are as good as motion capture in tracking a person’s stride. The data could be used to track arthritis progression and potentially explore treatments. HealthDay News, Sept. 17.

💬 Why So Few Older Americans Get Counseling – And How It Could Help: The role of counseling in older adulthood is broader than addressing illness, loss and bereavement. These are important concerns, but counseling can also help people navigate changes in work, health, abilities, relationships, independence and identity, and consider what comes next. The Conversation, Sept. 14.

🏥 Nursing Home Beds Are Becoming More Scarce: As the oldest baby boomers turn 80, researchers worry there won’t be enough room in nursing facilities for a rapidly graying nation. The New York Times, Sept. 19.

💻 The Best Tech Gear to Help Aging in Place: Aging in place has obvious appeal, but it also may pose substantial challenges. Fortunately, staying put through old age can be made easier thanks in part to a wide range of technological advances. The New York Times, Sept. 17.

Saturday, Oct. 17, noon–5 p.m. at Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, 118 Route 526, Allentown.

🐾 Old dogs, new costumes and one tail-wagging fall festival. Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary will host its annual Howl-O-Ween Family Fest, an afternoon of pet-friendly fun benefiting senior dogs in need.

The festivities include a canine costume contest, dog-and-human pie-eating contests, mini swim sessions, food trucks, a beer and wine garden, local vendors, raffles and visits with some of the sanctuary’s four-legged residents. Costume-contest registration closes at 2:15 p.m. Proof of rabies vaccination is required for dogs participating in the swim sessions.

Proceeds help provide medical care, housing and specialized attention for senior dogs who have lost their homes.

That’s plenty of fall fun for one week! Whether you’re catching a concert, browsing a market, learning a dance step or simply tracking down a pumpkin pastry, we hope you find something that makes the week a little brighter!

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See you next time,
The Ocean Senior Scoop team

Disclaimer: Dates, times, prices and availability can change. Please confirm details with the venue before heading out. Also, The Ocean Senior Scoop does not offer medical, legal or financial advice. Check with a professional before making important decisions.😊