👋 Hey, Ocean friends!

August is in full swing, and Ocean County is making the most of it. Let’s make some plans!

🏖️ Beach Bragging Rights: Island Beach State Park takes Ocean County’s top spot
🌊 Weekend Plans: Fireworks, farmers markets, music and yacht rock
📚 Beyond the Books: Crafts, concerts, history, health and Mahjongg
🌳 Day Trippin’: Flea-market finds and classic cars at Allaire
⚾ At the Ballpark: Tomatoes, Star Wars and a fireworks do-over

Up first…

The votes are in, and Ocean City officially has statewide bragging rights. The Cape May County destination was named New Jersey’s Favorite Beach for 2026 during a July 29 ceremony at the Ocean City Music Pier.

Thousands of online votes determined winners in each of the state’s four coastal counties. Island Beach State Park topped Ocean County, Asbury Park won Monmouth County, Margate claimed Atlantic County and Ocean City took Cape May County before sailing away with the overall title. Margate finished as the statewide runner-up.

County runners-up included Point Pleasant Beach in Ocean County, Sandy Hook in Monmouth, Longport in Atlantic and The Wildwoods in Cape May.

The friendly contest began in 2008 as a fun way to spotlight the NJ Sea Grant Consortium and its important work along the Jersey Shore. But honestly, as we all know, the best beach in New Jersey is wherever you choose to plant your umbrella, dig your toes into the sand and let the ocean work its magic. 🌊

Here’s what’s happening around Ocean County this week.

🏠 Peek inside some very stylish LBI homes. Tour six houses across Long Beach Island during the Annual Seashore House Tour on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The self-guided event highlights coastal architecture and interior design, and offers plenty of decorating inspiration.

🎆 End the night with a bang. The Seaside Heights Fireworks Extravaganza lights up the sky above the Boardwalk Promenade on Wednesdays, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12, at 9:30 p.m. Grab an ice cream, look up and enjoy the show.

🍫 Consider this your golden ticket. The 20th Annual Chocolate Fair takes place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the LBI Historical Museum, 129 Engleside Ave. in Beach Haven. Now in its 20th year, this celebration bills itself as the most delicious event of the summer—and frankly, we see no reason to challenge that claim.

🍅 Fill the tote bag in Barnegat. Shop fresh produce and locally made goods at the Barnegat Farmers Market on Thursday, Aug. 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Town Hall on West Bay Ave.

🛍️ Shop small with a waterfront view. The Yard Market at The Boatyard runs from 4 to 9 p.m. with local artists, makers, growers, live music, giveaways and coffee. The Boatyard is located at 2304 East Bay Ave. in Manahawkin.

🌻 Pick a bouquet—and take lots of photos. The Sunflower Festival runs from 3 to 8 p.m. at Argos Farm, 1250 Lacey Road in Lacey, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, through Aug. 23. Expect u-pick sunflowers, live music, summer photo spots, specialty drinks, farm food and more than 30 attractions. Event details

🦐 Come hungry and leave the belt on its loosest setting. Laurita Winery’s Summer Clambake runs all weekend and offers scallops, shrimp, mussels, corn on the cob, roasted potatoes and garlic bread. Tickets are $36 online in advance or $40 at the door. Laurita Winery is located at 85 Archertown Road in New Egypt. Event details

🎸 Rock through the decades in Tuckerton. Go Rock Yourself performs hits from the 1970s through today at 6:30 p.m. at All Wars Memorial Ball Field, 310 Bay Ave. Admission is free; bring a chair or blanket, drinks and snacks.

🔥 Music sounds better with sand between your toes. Chris Fritz performs during Firepit Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the 68th Street beach in Brant Beach. Bring a beach chair or blanket and settle in for an evening of live music accompanied by ocean breezes.

😂 End the night on a funny note. Surflight Theatre hosts Comedy Night at 8:30 p.m. at 201 Engleside Ave. in Beach Haven. The theater is wheelchair accessible. Event details

⚔️ Step back into the 1860s—without giving up indoor plumbing permanently. The Brick Township Historical Society welcomes the 61st New York Volunteer Regiment for a Civil War Encampment from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Havens Homestead Museum, 521 Herbertsville Road in Brick.

Reenactors will march, fire guns and explain daily life in a military encampment. The day also includes museum tours, grilled burgers and hot dogs, a homemade bake sale and specials inside the Lizzie Herbert Gift Shop. Admission is free, and the event takes place rain or shine.

🎨 Browse handmade treasures by the beach. Craft Fair ’26 runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Elisabeth’s Chapel, 5 Third Ave. in Ortley Beach. Shop arts and crafts, try your luck with basket raffles and a 50/50, and pick up Friends of Ortley Beach merchandise. The rain date is Saturday, Aug. 15.

🪕 Yes, the guitars are made from cigar boxes—and yes, you need to see this. The Jersey Shore Cigar Box Guitar Music Festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. at Brick Elks Lodge No. 2151, 2491 Hooper Ave. The $10 admission includes performances, vendors, games and a traveling museum devoted to cigar-box guitars and other homemade instruments. Food and drinks will be sold by the Elks. Event details

⚓ Step into Shore history. Explore Point Pleasant Beach’s Historic Lifeboat Station 105 during a public open house Saturday, Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 24 Inlet Drive. The event offers a closer look at local maritime history and the lifesaving crews who worked to find boaters before anyone could simply drop a location pin.

🎶 Meet us down by the docks. Jukebox Legends performs at 6:30 p.m. as part of Barnegat’s Summer Concert Series. The show takes place at Barnegat Docks, 427 East Bay Ave. Bring a lawn chair and prepare to be transported back in time to your favorite 1950s hangout.

🏖️ Ease into Sunday with music by the beach. Jimmy Brogan performs from noon to 2 p.m. during Sundays at 68th Street in Brant Beach.

🎨 Take an art break in Island Heights. Inspirations: A Global Cascade of Influence—From Old Souvenirs to New Voices is open from 1 to 4 p.m. at the John F. Peto Studio Museum, 102 Cedar Ave. The international exhibition brings together work by artists connected to the ÀNI Art Academies. Event details

🥕 Make it a market morning. The Point Pleasant Beach Farmers Market returns Sunday, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with seasonal produce and local finds. Located at 317 Cooks Rd. (in the NJ Transit parking lot).

Here’s what’s happening at Ocean County Library branches from Aug. 6 through Aug. 12. All programs are free, although registration is required for some.

🧠 Find connection at the Shore Memory Café. Adults experiencing early cognitive changes and their care partners can meet with others in a relaxed, supportive setting Thursday, Aug. 6 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Manchester Branch. Presented with the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater New Jersey.

💙 Caregivers can get a little support, too. Learn strategies for balancing the demands of caregiving during a support group Thursday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Barnegat Branch. New participants are always welcome.

🌿 Make something that smells better than the junk drawer. Local herbalist Vee leads a make-and-take sachet workshop Thursday, Aug. 6 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Lacey Branch. Explore lavender, chamomile, mint and ginger, then create a custom herbal sachet to take home. Registration required.

🀄 Play some Mahjongg. Open play runs Thursday, Aug. 6 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Brick Branch and from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Berkeley Branch. All levels are welcome in Brick. Players should bring a current card and set.

🥁 Hear the soundtrack of the Revolution. Folk singers Stacy Flora Roth and Bob Dupre perform fife-and-drum tunes, ballads, odes and hymns from the American Revolution Thursday, Aug. 6 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Tuckerton Branch.

🎹 Request a favorite and sing along. Pianist Gary Evans performs Great American standards Thursday, Aug. 6 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch. Stop in to listen, join the singing or make a request.

🥕 Turn the farmers market haul into dinner. Chef Brian Cook demonstrates how to prepare a simple farm-to-table meal with fresh, seasonal produce Thursday, Aug. 6 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Plumsted Branch. Registration is required, and potential allergens may be used.

🎶 Take a 250-year musical road trip. Melissa Kozlowski, curator of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, explores the artists and songs that shaped America Thursday, Aug. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch. Expect everyone from Thomas Edison and Frank Sinatra to Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Bon Jovi and the Boss.

🌲 Meet the neighbors of the Pinelands. Learn about the plants and animals that call New Jersey’s 1.1-million-acre Pinelands home Thursday, Aug. 6 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Manchester Branch. Presented by the Pinelands Alliance.

🎸 Follow the Blues across the Atlantic and back. Liverpool native John Paul Groom traces the history of the Blues and its influence on the British Invasion and American rock Friday, Aug. 7 from 2 to 3:15 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor Branch.

📖 Bring your favorite book to the beach crowd. The Surf City Book Club holds a relaxed meet-and-greet Friday, Aug. 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Long Beach Island Branch. Bring a favorite title and prepare to leave with a much longer reading list.

💻 Get comfortable clicking around. Learn how to navigate the internet and visit websites during a beginner-level class Friday, Aug. 7 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Lacey Branch. Registration required. No question is too basic, including “Where did that page go?”

🧶 Bring the project currently occupying half the sofa. Community Crafters meets Monday, Aug. 10 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Jackson Branch. Bring knitting, crochet, sewing, drawing or another project, or help make donated items for local organizations.

🀄 Start the week with a few cracks and bams. Mahjongg Mondays meets Aug. 10 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch.

🧶 Ocean County has plenty of places to get hooked on yarn. Knitting at the Library meets Monday, Aug. 10 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Little Egg Harbor. Knitting and Crocheting at the Beach meets from 1 to 3 p.m. at Point Pleasant Beach, while the Waretown Woolies gather from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Waretown Branch. Bring a project, trade tips and enjoy some conversation with fellow fiber fans.

🇺🇸 Celebrate America’s birthday with a little ragtime. Fred Lehotay and the Ragtimers perform patriotic favorites, sentimental melodies and Roaring Twenties tunes Monday, Aug. 10 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Manchester Branch.

🌿 Craft a sage wand and clear the air. Local herbalist Vee leads a make-and-take sage workshop Monday, Aug. 10 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Island Heights Branch. Learn about smoke cleansing, bundle white sage with flowers and take home your creation. Registration required.

🩺 Stop by for health information and community resources. The Ocean County Health Department hosts a drop-in outreach table Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Waretown Branch. Giveaways are available while supplies last.

😴 Put restless nights to bed. Certified Sleep Health Educator Kathy Feeney discusses sleep disorders and practical ways to improve sleep quality Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch. Presented by Hackensack Meridian Health.

🍸 Entertain like it is 1955. Historian Judith Krall-Russo explores ladies’ luncheons, cocktail parties and backyard grilling Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Jackson Branch. Registration is required, and 1950s attire is encouraged but not mandatory.

🏖️ Find your next beach read without judging it by the cover. The Manchester Branch hosts Beach Book Binge! Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 2 to 3 p.m., with recommendations covering thrillers, romances, comedy and nonfiction.

🧶 Once you start, you may be hooked. Experienced crocheters can bring a project, trade advice and meet fellow stitchers at the Adult Crochet Club Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Toms River Branch.

✍️ Meet New Jersey’s five famous signers. Historian Samuel Davis shares the stories of the five New Jersey men who signed the Declaration of Independence Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Long Beach Island Branch.

🌌 Turn down the lights for the birds and turtles. Learn how coastal light pollution affects marine life, birds and people during Coastal Dark Skies Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Brick Branch.

🐦 Learn where Ocean County’s birds are hiding. Josh Grant of Wells Mills County Park explains the county’s habitats, common species, seasonal visitors and best birding spots Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Little Egg Harbor Branch.

🎤 Finish the evening with Motown, doo-wop and disco. Rhythm ’N Sound performs rock ’n’ roll, pop standards, classic rock and Jersey Shore favorites Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Upper Shores Branch.

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

🩺 Cancer Screenings by Age: A Complete Preventive Health Guide and Timeline: Don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Catching cancer early is the best way to improve survival rates. This guide breaks down the recommended cancer screening schedule for every age group. U.S. News & World Report, July 31.

💊 GLP-1 Medicare Coverage: How to Get It for $50 (And the Catch): The new Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program caps weight-loss drugs at $50, but strict eligibility rules and out-of-pocket limits could catch patients off guard. Kiplinger, July 29.

💰 How to Prepare for the ‘Great Wealth Transfer’: Planning for an inheritance is a way to protect your future self — who may be grieving, overwhelmed and less able to make clear decisions. NerdWallet, July 30.

🌎 How Many Americans Retire Abroad? About 712,000 Americans receive Social Security benefits abroad. That’s barely 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries, a striking contrast with the percentage of Americans who say they’ve seriously considered retiring overseas. Investopedia, July 31.

Antiques, flea-market finds, classic cars and a peek inside a historic chapel are waiting just over the Ocean County line. Clear a little space in the trunk before heading to Allaire Village this month.

🛍️ Hunt for someone else’s treasure at the Allaire Flea Market. Browse antiques, collectibles and all sorts of intriguing finds Saturday, Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, while Allaire members enter free. The rain date is Sunday, Aug. 9.

🏺 Give your house a little more history at the Antique & Vintage Show. Shop farmhouse décor, pottery, linens, glassware, furniture, estate jewelry, vintage holiday decorations and more Saturday, Aug. 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The bakery, General Store and historic buildings will also be open, and a food truck will be on-site. Admission is $5 for ages 11 and older; children 10 and younger enter free.

⛪ Take a peek inside Allaire’s historic chapel. The village holds a Chapel Open House on Saturday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can tour the charming space and learn about renting it for weddings, vow renewals, memorials and other occasions. No proposal required.

🚘 Watch the classics roll into town. The 31st annual Rolling Iron Antique Auto Show takes over the village Sunday, Aug. 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Expect antique, classic, custom and modified cars, trucks and motorcycles, along with music, vendors, a food truck and a 50/50. Public admission is $5 per car. The rain date is Sunday, Sept. 13.

All events take place at the Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Ave. in Farmingdale. Visit AllaireVillage.org for details and registration.

Tomatoes, light sabers, country music and the biggest fireworks show of the season. The BlueClaws are packing much more than baseball into three busy nights at ShoreTown Ballpark.

🍅 The BlueClaws are ripe for a rebrand. For one night only, the team becomes the Jersey Tomatoes on Thursday, Aug. 6 in a Jersey Fresh celebration of New Jersey agriculture. Expect a full tomato-themed identity takeover, plus special merchandise for anyone ready to represent the Garden State’s most famous summer fruit.

🌟 The Force comes to the ballpark. Star Wars Night lands Friday, Aug. 7 with themed fun and post-game fireworks. A special ticket package includes admission and a light saber! Look at who’s the cool grandparent now!

🎆 The Fourth of July gets a do-over. Red, White and BlueClaws returns Saturday, Aug. 8 after a power outage canceled the original holiday fireworks. The rescheduled celebration features the team’s biggest fireworks show of the year, along with a Salute to Heroes.

🤠 Country Night joins the party. Saturday’s game also includes live music from Tequila Rose in the Sand Bar and line dancing with Fancy Feet Line Dancing.

🏠 The Last House — Netflix, Friday, Aug. 7: Greta Lee and Wagner Moura star as parents whose family has been mysteriously unable to leave its home for years. Directed by Louis Leterrier, this science-fiction thriller suggests that staying in may not always be the safest option.

🇮🇹 You, Me & Tuscany — Peacock, Friday, Aug. 7: Halle Bailey plays a house sitter who makes herself a little too comfortable in an Italian villa. A borrowed identity, a pretend engagement and an inconvenient spark with Regé-Jean Page provide the ingredients for a romantic comedy that looks as light and inviting as an afternoon cappuccino.

✍️ A Poet — Mubi, Friday, Aug. 7: This prizewinner from Colombian filmmaker Simón Mesa Soto follows Oscar, an unsuccessful writer still searching for his place in the literary world. Shot on grainy 16mm film, the Cannes-honored comedy takes a gritty, sharply satirical look at artistic ambition, disappointment and the sometimes ridiculous business of being creative.

⚽ Ted Lasso — Apple TV, Wednesday, Aug. 5: Three years after leaving AFC Richmond and returning to Kansas, television’s relentlessly upbeat soccer coach is heading back across the pond. This time, Ted takes charge of Richmond’s new women’s team.

Jason Sudeikis returns alongside Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Juno Temple, Jeremy Swift and Brendan Hunt. Expect familiar faces, fresh players and plenty of homespun wisdom.

A soap opera legend, a Brady sister, a Foo Fighter and two Hollywood heavy hitters are blowing out the candles this week.

🎉 Aug. 5: Actor Erika Slezak of One Life to Live turns 80. Maureen McCormick, forever Marcia Brady to generations of TV fans, is 70. Foo Fighters guitarist Pat Smear is 67. Director James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy and actor Jonathan Silverman of The Single Guy both turn 60.

🎈 And a very happy 67th birthday to Howard P. of Ortley Beach! We hope the day brings plenty of cake, good company and absolutely no pressure to act your age!

That’s all for this week!

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😎 See you next week!

The Ocean Senior Scoop team

Ocean Senior Scoop is published for general information and entertainment purposes only. Nothing in this newsletter should be considered medical, legal or financial advice. Please consult a qualified professional before making decisions about your health, money or other important matters, and always confirm event details with the organizer before heading out.