Ocean Senior Scoop: A Festive Week of Events for Ocean County Seniors

Hey Ocean County! 👋
Pour yourself something warm — we’ve got a fun, full lineup this week. From jazz in Surf City to Santa sightings around the Shore, plus a whole lot of library goodness, local news, and holiday outings, your Ocean Senior Scoop is here to make your week easier, brighter, and way more interesting. Let’s dive in and see what’s happening from Barnegat to Beach Haven — and everywhere in between.

🧶 Community Spotlight – Baby hat drive, yarn donations & knit sessions
💤 Health & Wellness – Sleep smarter with LBI’s Sleep Health workshop
🎷 Live at the Library – Jazz duo brings smooth Saturday sounds
📰 Prime Time News – Aging, Medicare scams, hearing aids & more
📅 Events Around Town (Dec. 12–14) – Concerts, walks, planetarium shows, Santa fun & tasty cookie battles
🚗 Day Trippin’ – Cape May Candlelight House Tours
✈️ Wanderlust Weekly – Disney shows, REAL ID changes, Berlin luxury & top cruises
🎅 Take the Grandkids – Light shows, aquariums, zoos, and Miss Santa in Waretown
📺 TV Time – This week’s biggest new releases to stream
📚 Beyond the Books – Crafts, concerts, clubs, workshops & tech help across OCL branches
🎉 Celebrity Birthdays – A star-studded week of milestone celebrations
🎬 That’s A Wrap – How to reach us, share the Scoop & stay connected

Up first…

Island Heights Library is stitching together kindness — literally. The library has partnered with RWJ Barnabas Community Medical Center for volunteers to make baby hats for the maternity ward. The branch is currently accepting donations of yarn and handmade baby hats to be donated.

You can also learn how to make baby hats at the branch’s following programs:

Learn how to use knitting looms to make simple and cute baby hats to be donated while earning volunteer hours. These programs are for attendees age 12 and up, so bring the grandkids interested in knitting along!

Registration is required for these programs. To register, visit tinyurl.com/KnitOCLIH, call 732-270-6266, or visit the branch at 121 Central Avenue. Registration for each session will open two weeks before the program date.

If your nights look like a series of naps held together by frustration, Surf City has your fix. The LBI Branch is hosting a Sleep Health workshop breaking down REM cycles, sleep stages, and why your brain begs you to stop scrolling at midnight.

🗓️ Thu, Dec. 18 @ 10 AM | LBI Branch
👉 Register: tinyurl.com/SleepLBIHD

Better sleep = better everything. Go get the tools.

Ready for a Saturday that actually sounds good? The LBI Branch is hosting guitarist Brian Betz and vibraphonist Behn Gillece — two seriously accomplished jazz musicians who are bringing smooth, classic standards to the Shore.

🗓️ Sat, Dec. 13 @ 2 PM | LBI Branch
👉 Register: tinyurl.com/BetzGilleceLBI

A perfect way to slide into the weekend.

Dec. 12, 13, 19 & 20 • 6–9:30 PM
Corliss Park Lake & Recreation Area, Waretown

Buckle up — Waretown’s turning on the glow! The Volunteer Fire Co. and Township of Ocean are rolling out their beloved Holiday Light Spectacular, a drive-thru tour packed with twinkly displays, festive cheer, and just enough holiday spirit to make even your car feel jolly.

No tickets in advance — just roll up, pay at the gate, and cruise through the lights at your own speed. Perfect for families, grandparents, and anyone who prefers their holiday magic with seat-warmers.

💲 $20 per car/truck
📍 182 Wells Mills Rd., Waretown

Pro tip: Bring cocoa. Everything’s better with cocoa.

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

Medicare Scammers Are Calling Seniors 50 Times a Day, Trying to Trap Them: Complaints about the calls have risen, and some older Americans have discovered that their Medicare accounts were already compromised. The New York Times, Dec. 5.

The Best Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids and Other Hearing Solutions: For people with mild to moderate hearing loss, over-the-counter hearing aids could be a more affordable and accessible alternative to a prescription pair. Wirecutter, Dec. 2.

Obesity Could Speed Alzheimer's Progression: Some blood markers associated with Alzheimer’s increased nearly twice as fast among people with obesity compared to people who didn't have obesity. HealthDay News, Dec. 2.

How to Deal with the Holiday Blues: The holidays can be a stressful time for all, but especially so for older Americans as the challenges of entertaining family, shorter daylight hours and loneliness can all affect mental health. U.S. News & World Report, Dec. 1.

🚶‍♀️ Reevestown Cemetery Walk
Dec. 12, 10am–12pm | Cedar Bridge Tavern, Barnegat
A 2-mile history hike to an 18th-century cemetery along the old “Road to Clamtown.” Ages 9+.
$6, registration required

🎄 Lighting Up Nature
Dec. 12, 6–8pm | Ocean County Parks
Festive lights meet the great outdoors — a free family favorite!
Details

🎶 A Country Christmas
Dec. 12, 6–8pm | Main Street Alliance Church, Manahawkin
Live music, food, and holiday cheer in a community setting. Details

🎤 Carols & Classics by Island Singers
Dec. 12, 7pm | Waretown UMC
“White Christmas,” “Messiah,” and more. Free, donations welcome.
islandsingersnj.com

🎭 Broadway for the Holidays 5
Dec. 12–21 | OCC Grunin Center, Toms River
Toe-tapping musical revue of Broadway holiday hits!
🕒 Upcoming shows:

🌨️ Let It Snow: Planetarium Show
Dec. 12, 8:15pm | Novins Planetarium, OCC
Festive classics synced to dazzling dome visuals.
🎟️ Reserve seats

🍪 11th Annual Cookie Wars
Dec. 13 | Bay Village, Beach Haven
Sample cookies, vote for the champs, feel festive!
bayvillagenj.com

🍭 Christmas Cookie Sale
Dec. 13, 10am–12pm | Havens Homestead, Brick
Homemade boxes by the Brick Historical Society — $10/lb.
Order ahead

🌞 Winter Solstice Celebration
Dec. 13, 10am–2pm | Cattus Island Park
Crafts, nature walks & good vibes for the longest night. Free!
Details

🎅 Seas & Greetings
Dec. 13, 12–5pm | Jenkinson’s Boardwalk
Santa photos, princess visits, skating, magic shows & more!
🎟️ Schedule & tix

🩰 The Nutcracker (for kids!)
Dec. 13, 1pm & 4pm | Grunin Center, Toms River
Shorter, narrated, ballet fun for the little ones.
🎟️ Tickets

🎄 Elf, The Musical
Dec. 13, 2pm | Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven
Modern holiday classic — all ages welcome!
🎟️ Info

🎅 Singing with Santa @ Albert Music Hall
Dec. 13, 5pm | Waretown
Santa joins the band — then stay for 4 more sets.
Details & lineup

📸 Family & Pet Photos with Santa
Dec. 14, 11am–2pm | Cattus Island Park
Fur babies + Santa? Yes, please. Free & festive!
Details

Looking for a festive escape close to home? This week’s pick is worth the drive!

🎄 Cape May’s Christmas Candlelight House Tours
📍 Cape May Historic District
🗓️ Dec. 13 & 20
Cape May’s most charming homes, inns, churches, and B&Bs open their doors for these magical self-guided tours through the town’s beautifully decorated “Painted Ladies.” Carolers, Santa sightings, and sleigh bells add to the storybook vibe. Part of the larger “Christmas in Cape May” celebration, running through Jan. 1. Advance tickets highly recommended.
👉 Get tickets

Near or far, these trip-worthy tidbits are worth a spot on your travel radar.

🎢 Mouse House Magic Continues
Disneyland’s 70th party rolls on through August — with glowing night parades, new shows, and Bluey’s big stage debut starting March 22, 2026.
👉 Get the details

🪪 Flying Without REAL ID? That’ll Be $45.
Starting Feb. 1, 2026, TSA will charge folks without a REAL ID or passport. Time to upgrade or risk a pricey surprise.
👉 Learn more

🧳Berlin, But Make It Fancy
The Four Seasons is opening in Germany’s capital — luxe rooms, world-class service, and the perfect Euro getaway.
👉 Take a peek

🚢 Cruise Winners for 2025
From casual escapes to luxe adventures, Cruise Critic just dropped the Best Cruises of 2025 — voted by travelers like you.
👉 Explore the winners

🎄 Winter Wonderland in AC
Ocean Casino Resort is bringing full holiday sparkle to the Shore — lights, décor, and festive fun for a mini escape close to home.
👉 Check it out

Grandkid-approved and full of holiday cheer — here’s where to make merry memories across New Jersey this week!

🚗 Skylands Stadium Light Show (Augusta)
Drive through 2 million lights, then warm up with cocoa in the Christmas Village. Sparkly, scenic, and zero walking required. Details

🦈 Christmas Underwater (Adventure Aquarium, Camden)
Scuba Santa, a 18-foot underwater tree, and the most sharks in the Northeast? Yes, please. Through Dec. 24. Info here

🦒 Turtle Back Zoo in Winter? Yup! (West Orange)
Think sloths, giraffes, storytime, and behind-the-scenes animal fun — all December long. Plan your visit

🌟 Storybook Land Lights Up (Egg Harbor Twp.)
Rides, wonder, and Santa lighting up 1 million+ twinkling bulbs at dusk. USA Today calls it one of the best holiday park events. More info

Saturday, Dec. 13 | 11:30 AM | OCL Waretown Branch
Get ready for a jolly good time! 🌟 Miss Santa and her merry crew are bringing stories, songs, and seasonal sparkle to the Waretown Library — and every child will go home with a surprise gift. Come early for the tree lighting! 🎄

🎯 For kids 12 and under.
👉 Register each child: tinyurl.com/WaretownHoliday
📍 112 Main St., Waretown | 📞 609-693-5133

Sponsored by the Friends of the Waretown Library!

New week, new binges — here’s what’s fresh and streaming later this week.

🎬 Wake Up Dead Man (Netflix, Dec. 12)
🔍 Murder, mystery, and a megachurch? Benoit Blanc’s latest case is his darkest yet.

🏎️ F1 (Apple TV, Dec. 12)
🏁 Start your engines — Brad Pitt’s racing for redemption (and maybe an Oscar).

🎸 Spinal Tap II: The End Continues (HBO Max, Dec. 12)
🎤 Rock’s most dysfunctional band reunites for one last encore—whether we asked for it or not.

🏠 Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House (HBO Max, Discovery+, HGTV, Dec. 10)
🔨 Chip and Jo take their shiplap to new heights — hello, Colorado makeover!

🎤 Simon Cowell: The Next Act (Netflix, Dec. 11)
🎶 Simon’s searching for the next boy band sensation — and betting big on himself.

👩‍⚕️ Little Disasters (Paramount+, Dec. 12)
🚨 One hospital visit unravels a web of secrets in this twisty British drama.

Crafts, cookies, concerts & clever sleuths — there's plenty happening at the Ocean County Library this December!

🎨 Button Up!
Holiday Ornament Button Craft
📍 Barnegat Branch | 🕚 Fri, Dec. 12 – 11 AM
Make a cute holiday ornament with colorful buttons on canvas.
🎟️ Sponsored by the Friends of the Barnegat Library.

🧶 Cozy Crafts & Cookie Chats
Cookie Swap
📍 Island Heights Branch | 🕠 Mon, Dec. 15 – 6:30 PM
Bring 24 cookies, swap with fellow bakers, and trade recipes. Pre-registration required: 732‑270‑6266.

🧶 Mini Winter Hat Craft
📍 Manchester Branch | 🕕 Wed, Dec. 17 – 6:30 PM
Turn yarn + a cardboard tube into the cutest little winter hats!

🧵 Drop-In Crochet & Knitting Club
📍 Plumsted Branch | 🕐 Wed, Dec. 17 – 1 PM
Bring your yarn and join a cozy crew of fellow fiber lovers.

🧁 Culinary Enthusiasts Club
📍 Barnegat Branch | 🕐 Wed, Dec. 17 – 1 PM
Got food questions? Restaurant raves? Join this monthly foodie meetup!

🎼 Sounds of the Season
Old & Ancient Christmas Tunes
📍 Pt. Pleasant Beach Branch | 🕕 Mon, Dec. 15 – 6:30 PM
George Simonovich brings Victorian charm and classic carols on guitar & cittern.

🎹 Holiday Piano Music
📍 Upper Shores Branch | 🕑 Wed, Dec. 17 – 2 PM
Pianist Barbara Klemp provides a festive soundtrack to your week.

🎷 Live Jazz Duo
📍 LBI Branch | 🕑 Sat, Dec. 13 – 2 PM
Brian Betz & Behn Gillece perform jazz classics on guitar & vibraphone.
🎟️ Register here

🧠 Learn Something New
Senior Tech Help
📍 Upper Shores Branch | 🕐 Thu, Dec. 11 – 1 PM
Got tech questions? Bring your devices for 1-on-1 help with Darren Tietsworth.
🎟️ Registration required.

🌱 Winter Seed-Sowing
📍 Pt. Pleasant Boro Branch | 🕑 Mon, Dec. 15 – 2 PM
Plan your spring garden with the Rutgers Master Gardeners.

💬 Groups & Gatherings
🎲 Bunco Fundraiser
📍 Pt. Pleasant Boro Branch | 🕐 Sat, Dec. 13 – 1 PM
Roll the dice for a good cause — $20 ticket includes light refreshments!

🕵️‍♀️ Marvelous Sleuths Book Club
📍 Little Egg Harbor Branch | 🕖 Tue, Dec. 16 – 7 PM
Love a good whodunit? Join the mystery lovers club. Call 609‑294‑1197 for this month’s title.

🧠 Huntington’s Support Group
📍 Stafford Branch | 🕡 Wed, Dec. 17 – 6:30 PM
Open to anyone affected by Huntington’s disease — caregivers, family, or curious minds.

It’s a big week for big names! Kim Basinger kicks things off on Dec. 8, celebrating her 72nd birthday. On Dec. 9, Dame Judi Dench turns 91, Beau Bridges is 84, John Malkovich hits 72, and Donny Osmond marks 68 years of music and charm. December 10 brings birthdays for Partridge Family star Susan Dey (73), actress Nia Peeples (64), and celebrity chef Bobby Flay (61). Rita Moreno turns a dazzling 94 on Dec. 11, joined by Donna Mills (85), Brenda Lee (81), and Jermaine Jackson (71). On Dec. 12, Dionne Warwick celebrates 85, and gymnast-turned-actor Cathy Rigby turns 73. And finally, a true Hollywood icon, Dick Van Dyke, turns 100 on Dec. 13 — and we’re tipping our chimney-sweep hats in his honor!

⁉️Questions, comments or news to share? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

👀First time reading? Join thousands of Ocean County seniors! Sign up for our free weekly email newsletter here, or forward it to a friend.

Until next week, stay warm, stay festive, and if you hear sirens in the neighborhood… relax, it’s probably Santa doing a drive-by on a firetruck. 🚒🎅

— The Ocean Senior Scoop Team

Disclaimer: We don’t offer medical, legal, or financial advice — just local news, helpful tips, and a dash of fun. Nothing here is sponsored (yet!), and it’s always best to double-check with a pro when making decisions.