👋Hey, Ocean friends!

Ocean County is bringing its A-game this week with waterfront eats, glowing pumpkins, live music, library programs and enough festivals to keep your calendar happily crowded. Let’s get to the good stuff!

📍 Around Ocean County — Local news and community updates worth knowing.
🎉 Ocean County Events — Seafood, comfort food, Renaissance revelry and fall festivals.
🌳 In the Parks — Fresh-air adventures, guided walks and seasonal fun.
📚 Beyond the Books — Free concerts, workshops, social groups and practical help at the library.
📰 Prime Time News — Timely health and lifestyle headlines, minus the information overload.
💡 Did You Know? — Useful programs and services that can make life a little easier.
📺 TV Time — New and returning shows worth claiming the remote for.
👻 Take the Grandkids — Memory-making outings for every generation.
🚗 Day Trippin’ — Easy escapes when you’re ready to roam beyond Ocean County.

Up first…

🀄 Shuffle the tiles—and your social circle. Open Mahjong begins Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at The Little Point Bookshop, 618 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant Beach. Players meet weekly on Wednesdays; bring your own board and perhaps a latte for luck.

🎃 See fall in a whole new light. Jacks & Lights opens Friday, Sept. 18, at Argos Farm, 1250 Lacey Road, Forked River. General admission includes a glowing pumpkin trail, flashlight corn maze, pumpkin patch, Spook Easy and plenty of photo ops. It runs through Nov. 1, from 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6-9 p.m. Sundays in September; October hours expand to Thursdays through Sundays.

🦞 Come hungry—and wear stretchy pants. The Festival of the Sea takes over Arnold and Bay avenues in downtown Point Pleasant Beach beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Expect crab cakes, lobster, shrimp, soups and plenty of non-seafood choices, plus hundreds of craft vendors, live entertainment and end-of-season shopping. Call 732-899-2424 for information.

🏰 Party like it’s 1499. The Lakewood Renaissance Faire returns to Pine Park, 500 Country Club Drive, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20. The rain-or-shine weekend brings medieval entertainment, food, vendors and family fun—no time machine required.

🌻 Make room for pumpkins and photo ops. Argos Farm’s Fall Festival runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 19-20. The Forked River farm offers a corn maze, pumpkin-patch access, live music, friendly animals, attractions, treats and drinks. The festival continues on select dates through Nov. 1.

🧶 Shop local with a side of hayride. Timberland Lake Campground hosts a free Fall Fest Craft Fair from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1335 Reed Road, Cream Ridge. Browse the craft vendors, then stick around for a public hayride at 4 p.m. Call 732-928-0500 for details.

🎻 Spend the day getting back to your roots. The fourth annual Pinelands Heritage & Americana Fest runs from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Albert Music Hall, 131 Wells Mills Road, Waretown. Admission and parking are free for a day of country, folk and Americana music, cloggers, food trucks and more than 30 artisan, author and community booths. Kids can enjoy free face painting, games and a scavenger hunt. Bring a chair; no pets, coolers, alcohol or outside food. Rain date: Sept. 20.

🥧 Comfort food is calling. Downtown Toms River’s Comfort Food Festival fills Washington Street from noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. Local restaurants and food trucks will serve the good stuff alongside craft vendors, free children’s games and live performances by the Kootz, the Jeff Fodor Band, Scott Ivory and Evolution Martial Arts.

🍒 Pick your own “rubies of the Pines.” Take a guided walk around the cranberry bogs at Cloverdale Farm County Park, 34 Cloverdale Road, Barnegat, from 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. After learning how cranberries grow, participants can head into the bog to pick some. Bring a quart-size zip-top bag and wear shoes that can get wet. Registration is $6; call 732-506-9090 or visit Ocean County Parks.

The Ocean County Library is bringing the music, movement, practical advice—and one very good dog. Most programs are free, but registration is required unless noted.

🧠 Find support for life with Parkinson’s. “Adapting to Change” explores the emotional impact of changing abilities, routines, relationships and independence. Individuals with Parkinson’s, caregivers and loved ones will discuss coping strategies, communication and maintaining quality of life. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Barnegat Branch and 6 p.m. at the Berkeley Branch.

📖 Stock up at the Big Book Sale. Browse two days of bargains while supporting programs and projects at the Long Beach Island Branch. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18–19, from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. in Surf City. Donations will be accepted Thursday, Sept. 17, during the same hours. Open to all ages.

🎸 Get groovy with the Strictly 60s Band. Bring a chair or blanket for an outdoor trip through the British Invasion, Motown, surf, soul, doo-wop and rock ’n’ roll—with trivia and a singalong thrown in. Friday, Sept. 18, from 6–7 p.m. at Centennial? Actually Centennial Park behind Bay Head Borough Hall. Rain date: Sept. 24.

🌎 Celebrate Hispanic heritage—then and now. This all-ages event features talks talks on Ocean County’s Hispanic community and Latino genealogy, a screening of Walter Alomar’s Colonization Is Extinction, an Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre performance and light refreshments from El Familiar. Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Toms River Branch.

🎶 Discover the musical world of David Foster. Jimmy Scalia celebrates the prolific composer and producer behind memorable music from Whitney Houston, Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Bublé, Natalie Cole, Seal and many more. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 2:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch.

💃 Feel the fire of Spanish dance. Alborada Spanish Dance Company marks Hispanic Heritage Month with traditional costumes, music and dazzling Flamenco. Saturday, Sept. 19, at 3 p.m. at the Jackson Branch. Designed for adults and seniors.

🧶 Bring your yarn and join the Waretown Woolies. Knitters and crocheters of every skill level can relax, chat and swap ideas while working on their own projects. Mondays, Sept. 21 and 28, from 1–3 p.m. at the Waretown Branch. Bring your own supplies; registration is not required.

🎹 Tap your toes with the Ragtimers. Fred Lehotay and the Ragtimers travel back to the Roaring Twenties with patriotic songs, Jazz Age melodies and rollicking ragtime favorites. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 3 p.m. at the Long Beach Island Branch in Surf City.

🐕 Meet a service dog—and the people behind the training. Volunteer puppy raisers from Canine Companions will explain how service animals are trained and present a live demonstration. The organization provides dogs and follow-up support to clients at no cost. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch. Open to all ages.

🚨 Prepare before an emergency happens. Seniors and people with disabilities can learn how to build an emergency kit, plan for medications and medical equipment, arrange transportation and communication, prepare for pets or service dogs and alert first responders about household needs. Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 6:30 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch in Lavallette, and Monday, Sept. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Manchester Branch.

🥫 Get help putting food on the table. Meet one-on-one with a Fulfill NJ representative, ask questions, learn about available programs and pick up applications. Thursday, Sept. 17, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor Branch.

🎭 Invite five first ladies into one very lively room. Guild Theatreworks presents Ladies First, a comedy imagining Eleanor Roosevelt, Bess Truman, Pat Nixon and Lady Bird Johnson advising a nervous Jackie Kennedy before her historic 1962 White House television tour. Thursday, Sept. 17, from 6:30–8 p.m. at the Toms River Branch.

🏳️‍🌈 Find conversation and community. LGBTQIA+ older adults are invited to connect, share resources and enjoy good company during this welcoming monthly social group. Friday, Sept. 18, from 2–3:30 p.m. at the Lacey Branch.

🀄 Crack the code of Mah Jongg. Learn tile recognition, rules and beginner strategies during a six-session series. Participants must attend every class and bring their own Mah Jongg card. The next session is Friday, Sept. 18, from 2–4:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch. Call 732-477-4513 to register.

🚙 Let the Motor Vehicle Commission come to you. The NJMVC Mobile Unit will handle select services at the library. Appointments are required for most transactions, but not for surrendering license plates or obtaining disabled, veteran or Purple Heart placards. Monday, Sept. 21, from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. at the Berkeley Branch.

💙 Recharge while your loved one socializes. This monthly support group gives caregivers of people experiencing memory loss time to talk with a licensed clinical social worker while their loved ones enjoy activities led by a certified dementia practitioner. Monday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Manchester Branch.

🗣️ Speak with greater strength and confidence. Licensed providers from Speech Pathology Solutions lead exercises designed to improve voice volume, clarity and everyday communication for people with Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders. Monday, Sept. 21, from 2–3 p.m. at the Manchester Branch.

🕊️ Plan ahead without paying ahead. The Funeral Consumers Alliance of New Jersey explains how to select a funeral home, reduce expenses and consider options including organ donation, whole-body donation and green burial. Monday, Sept. 21, from 3–4 p.m. at the Brick Branch.

🎤 Sing like nobody’s grading you. Golden Grooves Karaoke welcomes seniors to take the microphone—or simply clap along—during a lively evening with music, conversation and light refreshments. Monday, Sept. 21, from 6–8 p.m. at the Waretown Branch.

🧵 Bring whatever is currently on your needles. Knitters, crocheters, embroiderers and macramé fans can work on projects while exchanging tips with fellow fiber enthusiasts. All skill levels are welcome. Monday, Sept. 21, from 6:30–8 p.m. at the Island Heights Branch.

🐦 Get to know your feathered neighbors. Cattus Island County Park naturalists explain how to identify Ocean County birds and attract more of them to your backyard. Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 11 a.m.–noon at the Little Egg Harbor Branch.

🍹 Mix a better drink—hold the alcohol. Raven’s Reserve leads a hands-on mocktail workshop using fresh ingredients, professional techniques and creative presentation. No experience is necessary, although potential allergens may be present. Tuesday, Sept. 22, from 6:30–8 p.m. at the Jackson Branch.

Links to the latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

Medicare Scams Are Surging Ahead of Open Enrollment: Medicare open enrollment, when beneficiaries can change their Medicare Advantage or prescription drug coverage, doesn't begin until Oct. 15. But scammers are already on the prowl. Money, Sept. 8.

What Does Medicare Not Cover? Eight Things You Should Know: Medicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too. Kiplinger, Sept. 10.

5 Medicare Changes Coming in 2027 and What They’ll Cost You: Medicare costs are changing again in 2027, and whether you’ll pay more depends largely on your coverage. Investopedia, Sept. 8.

What’s the Best Medigap Plan? These 10 Medigap plans offer different levels of benefits that pay for expenses, such as co-payments, not covered by original Medicare. Kiplinger, Sept. 10.

🏠 Check your property-tax relief status without making a phone call. New Jersey’s improved online tool shows whether your 2025 application was received, where it is in the review process, whether action is required and the status of your payment. It covers PAS-1 applications for eligible seniors and residents with disabilities as well as ANCHOR applications. Check your application

🔎 Skip the state-website scavenger hunt. New Jersey’s searchable directory gathers frequently requested services—including property-tax relief, housing assistance, unemployment benefits and official records—in one place. Search by keyword or browse by category. Search New Jersey services

Clear the couch and guard the remote—this week’s lineup has sequins, spies and more than a few suspicious characters.

💃 Watch the ballroom sparkle again. Dancing with the Stars opens Season 35 with a special two-night premiere beginning Tuesday, Sept. 15, on ABC and Disney+. Expect dazzling costumes, ambitious footwork and at least one celebrity discovering that the cha-cha is harder than it looks.

🐴 Welcome back television’s grumpiest spymaster. Gary Oldman returns as Jackson Lamb when Slow Horses Season 6 premieres Wednesday, Sept. 16, on Apple TV. This time, the Slough House agents are on the run and tangled in a dangerous game of retaliation and revenge.

💥 Let Reacher’s most formidable friend take the lead. Maria Sten stars as Frances Neagley in Neagley, a new spinoff following her investigation into a friend’s suspicious death. Alan Ritchson’s Jack Reacher stops by, and all eight episodes arrive Wednesday, Sept. 16, on Prime Video.

🪓 Keep the lights on for Lizzie Borden. The notorious 1892 axe-murder case gets the Ryan Murphy treatment in Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story, arriving Thursday, Sept. 17, on Netflix. Ella Beatty stars as the woman accused—and later acquitted—of killing her father and stepmother.

🍫 Make Halloween sweeter in Hershey. Through Nov. 1, children 12 and younger can follow the Trick-or-Treat Trail at Hershey’s Chocolate World, meet costumed Hershey characters and ride the free Chocolate Tour with its first Halloween makeover. The trail runs Fridays, 5–8:30 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, noon–8:30 p.m. Seasonal treats include caramel apple parfaits, Kit Kat pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin spice pie. A Sensory Friendly Night with reduced audio is set for Oct. 21, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Next door, Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights offer more than 50 rides, nighttime coaster experiences, entertainment, five haunted houses and five scare zones; online tickets start at $36.99. Hershey’s Chocolate World | Hersheypark Halloween

🐸 Meet the makers behind the Muppets. Weekly Saturday and monthly Sunday tours of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop in Queens take visitors inside the workshop where artists create characters for The Muppet Show, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal. The experience includes iconic puppets, photo opportunities, a demonstration by a Henson puppeteer, a meet-and-greet with a master puppet builder and shop-exclusive merchandise. Seasonal displays spotlight spooky creatures in October, Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow in November and Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas in December. Tickets are $150, plus taxes and fees, and tours frequently sell out. Reserve a tour—because it isn’t easy being green, but visiting Kermit’s birthplace sounds pretty wonderful.

🌾 Set sail without the gluten guesswork. Oceania Cruises is planning the industry’s first entirely gluten-free ocean voyage—a 12-night British Isles cruise aboard Oceania Vista, departing May 31, 2028, roundtrip from Southampton.

Stops include Cork, Dublin, Glasgow, Stornoway and Edinburgh. Every dining venue will be gluten-free, including specialty restaurants, casual grills, afternoon tea, in-suite dining and The Bakery—with special attention paid to preventing cross-contact.

Created with Celiac Cruise, the sailing is designed for travelers with celiac disease and other gluten-related restrictions. Book through a travel advisor, Celiac Cruise, Oceania Cruises or 855-OCEANIA. Finally, a cruise where the bread basket doesn’t require an interrogation.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra is bringing its annual Holiday POPS! concert to Patriots Theater at the War Memorial in Trenton. Broadway vocalist Scarlett Strallen—best known for starring as Mary Poppins—will join the orchestra for an afternoon of holiday favorites conducted by John Devlin.

📅 Sunday, Dec. 20, 2026
⏰ 2 p.m.
📍 Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, Trenton

Opened in 1932, the 1,807-seat, ADA-accessible theater has hosted an impressive lineup of legends, including Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson and Leonard Bernstein.

🎟️ Tickets are available at princetonsymphony.org.

Whether you’re picking cranberries, browsing a festival or settling in for some live music, we hope you find something that makes your week a little more interesting.

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😎See you next week!

The Ocean County Senior Scoop team

Disclaimer: Event details can change, and some programs require advance registration or may sell out. Please confirm dates, times, costs and availability with the organizer before heading out. Also, the Ocean Senior Scoop does not offer medical, financial or legal advice. Always consult a professional when making important decisions.😊