👋Hey, Ocean friends!

Ocean County is squeezing a whole lot of fun into one September weekend. We’ve got cardboard boats, Irish music, grape stomping, pizza, local history and library programs created with older adults in mind—plus opportunities to gather, reflect and remember.

🎉 Weekend Plans: Festivals, food, music and waterfront fun
📚 Beyond the Books: Baseball, art, music and a trip back to 1976
👓 Especially for Seniors: Decluttering, estate planning, health and more
💙 Parkinson’s Support: Coping with change for individuals and caregivers
🥂 Local Flavor: Explore the Ocean County Spirits Trail
🇺🇸 Ocean County Remembers: September 11 ceremonies in Plumsted and Toms River

Up first…

Ocean County residents are invited to gather Friday, Sept. 11, for two public ceremonies honoring the victims, survivors and first responders of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Plumsted Township Remembrance Ceremony will be held from 8:45–10 a.m. on the steps of the municipal building at 121 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. The observance will include ceremonial bell tolls, readings by local high school students and music by the New Egypt Town Band.

At 9 a.m., the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 will hold the county’s 25th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony at the September 11 Memorial in the Ocean County Courtyard, 129 Hooper Ave., Toms River.

Both ceremonies offer residents a place to pause, reflect and renew the promise to never forget.

See what’s happening at Ocean County libraries this week.

🎶 Hear how music helped America mourn, remember and heal. Melissa Kozlowski of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music explores songs that resonated after Sept. 11—including Whitney Houston’s national anthem, Mariah Carey’s “Hero” and Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising—during The Soundtrack of Resilience: Music and 9/11 at 2 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Lacey Branch. The free program requires registration; call 609-693-8566.

🪩 Take a musical spin back to 1976. Jazz vocalist Maggie Worsdale puts her own sophisticated twist on “Isn’t She Lovely,” “New York State of Mind,” “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” and other songs turning 50 this year during Maggie Worsdale Sings the Hits of 1976 at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Jackson Branch. The free concert requires registration; call 732-928-4400.

🎻 Sing, dance and move in two languages. Husband-and-wife duo Musiquita blends Latin folk, classical, jazz, pop and children’s favorites during A Bilingual Music Experience at 11 a.m. Sept. 15 at the Tuckerton Branch and 2 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Beachwood Branch. Additional performances are planned in Plumsted and Manchester on Oct. 12. The free program requires registration.

🎨 See how the Jersey Shore remembers 1776. Paintings, photographs, maps, historic collections and poetry come together in The Jersey Shore Remembers 1776, on display throughout September and October at the Long Beach Island Branch. Meet the artists—and enjoy light refreshments—during a free reception from 6–8 p.m. Sept. 16 at 217 South Central Ave., Surf City. No registration is required.

⚾ Step up to the plate for some great baseball stories. Author and former New York Times editor Phil Coffin revisits unforgettable moments from the sport’s past during The Boys of Autumn: Stories from Baseball History at 7 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Upper Shores Branch in Lavallette. The free program is geared toward teens, adults and seniors; registration is required or call 732-793-3996.

📦 Clear the clutter—and reclaim a little breathing room. An AARP education specialist shares practical strategies for organizing, downsizing and creating a more manageable home during You Can’t Take It With You! at 11 a.m. Sept. 9 at the Manchester Branch. Registration is required.

🚐 Bring county services a little closer to home. Visit the County Connections Mobile Unit outside the Upper Shores Branch from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Sept. 10, then head inside at noon for an overview of notary services, county ID cards, document drop-offs and more.

💡 Get some help keeping the lights—and heat—on. New Jersey Natural Gas and nonprofit representatives will assist residents with applications for LIHEAP, SHARES and other utility-aid programs during Energy Assistance Day from 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Lakewood Branch. Bring identification, Social Security cards, income verification, utility bills and housing documents.

👋 Make a new friend before lunch. Speed Friending for Seniors brings quick conversations, helpful icebreakers and light refreshments to the Jackson Branch from noon–1 p.m. Sept. 11. Think speed dating—without the dating or the awkward bill at the end.

🧘 Take a seat and stretch it out. Certified instructor Linda Higley leads Chair Yoga at 11 a.m. Sept. 12 at the Point Pleasant Borough Branch and an afternoon session at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Lacey Branch. Registration and a signed waiver are required.

ℹ️ Find out what Ocean County Senior Services can do for you. Staff will explain available programs and share helpful information about Medicare and Medicaid during a free Senior Services Overview at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 14 at the Jackson Branch.

💙 Caregivers need support, too. New members are welcome at the Caregiver Support Group, meeting from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Berkeley Branch. The program is presented with Hackensack Meridian Health; register by calling 609-978-4728.

📝 Protect your family, your wishes and your stuff. Attorney Paul R. Daniele explains wills, powers of attorney, living wills, trusts and asset protection during How to Protect Your Stuff at 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Lacey Branch. Registration is required.

⚖️ Put your estate plans in order. Attorney Robyn Goldberg discusses wills, trusts and other important planning tools during Estate Planning, Wills and Living Wills at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Plumsted Branch. Please register.

👨 Men, it’s time to stop dodging the checkup conversation. A Hackensack Meridian Health nurse educator discusses heart and lung disease, prostate cancer and other important concerns during Men’s Health: The Road to a Better Life at 2:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Brick Branch.

😌 Don’t let the end-of-summer blues follow you into fall. Learn practical coping skills and relaxation techniques during Coping With Stress and Anxiety at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Upper Shores Branch.

🌷 Learn to adapt to the changes Parkinson’s can bring. This supportive program explores grief, frustration, resilience, relationships and ways to maintain quality of life. Sessions will be offered at Barnegat at 2 p.m. and Berkeley at 6 p.m. Sept. 16. Individuals living with Parkinson’s, caregivers and loved ones are welcome.

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

Top U.S. Doctors Offer Updated Flu and COVID Vaccine Recommendations, Aiming to Ease Confusion: Leading U.S. medical groups are urging people to get updated flu and COVID-19 vaccinations this fall, banding together to issue shot guidelines — and highlight the science behind them — to help ease confusion caused by the Trump administration’s changing advice. Associated Press, Sept. 2.

Home Rehab Delays Linked to Poorer Recovery After Hip and Knee Replacement: After a hip or knee replacement, getting back on your feet may depend in part on how quickly rehab begins. HealthDay News, Aug. 31.

How to Train Balance as You Age: Staying sure-footed gets harder the older you are. But there are a few strategies that can help. The New York Times, Sept. 3.

🚣 Build it, float it—or sink spectacularly. Long Beach Township’s 4th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta comes to Bayview Park Saturday morning, with prizes for division winners, most creative boat and best sink. To participate, call 609-361-6697.

🚜 Take the scenic route through local history. The Historic Waretown Home Tour carries visitors along Main Street on a tractor-pulled trailer while a local historian shares stories about the community’s past. Tours depart from the United Methodist Church, 27 Bryant Road, from 10 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m. Tickets are $10 and space is limited.

🎃 Get lost—in the nicest possible way. The Argos Fall Festival opens for the season from 10 a.m.–6 p.m. at Argos Farm in Lacey, with a corn maze, pumpkin patch, live music, farm animals, photo spots, attractions and plenty of tasty treats.

⛵ Set sail for a full day on the bay. Sailfest New Jersey takes over the Island Heights Pavilion and bayfront from 10 a.m.–10 p.m. with sailing races, more than 130 vendors, food trucks, artists, crafters, live music and a kids zone.

🎡 Celebrate the town—and enjoy the rides for free. Lavallette Founders Day fills the Lavallette Gazebo and Bayfront with complimentary amusements, music, entertainment and a mobile gaming trailer from 11 a.m.–5 p.m.

☘️ Go green for a grand anniversary. The Ocean County Irish Festival celebrates its 10th year—and its move to Robert J. Miller Air Park—with Irish music and dance, food, vendors, a Celtic Kids Zone and raffles from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.

🍴 Take a delicious stroll through Point Pleasant Beach. The Point Pleasant Beach Restaurant Tour runs from noon–4 p.m., offering samples from some of the Shore’s favorite restaurants. Tickets are $40, only 200 are available and check-in opens at 11:30 a.m. at Point Beach Interiors.

🍇 Kick off your shoes and channel your inner Lucy Ricardo. Laurita Winery’s Grape Stomping Festival begins at noon Sept. 12 and 13 with grape stomping, live music, wagon tours and food trucks. Admission is $15 online or $20 at the door.

🍨 Add a little bluegrass to your ice cream. The Brick Township Historical Society’s Annual Ice Cream Social runs from noon–3 p.m. with music by The Last Whippoorwill and treats made with Sundae’s ice cream. Admission is free; bring a chair—and your sweet tooth.

🍷 Toast Local Summer with your toes near the sand. Wine on the Beach brings New Jersey and international wines, live entertainment and local artisans to the Seaside Heights boardwalk and beachfront from noon–5 p.m. This rain-or-shine event is for ages 21 and older; advance admission starts at $25.

🎆 Celebrate America’s 250th down by the bay. Ship Bottom’s Day at the Bay runs from noon–7 p.m. at the Municipal Boat Ramp at 10th Street and Shore Avenue with live music, food vendors, line dancing, contests, a dunk tank and activities for all ages. Fireworks follow at dusk.

🫐 Discover the Shore’s small but mighty native fruit. The Beach Plum Festival returns to Island Beach State Park from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. with beach plum jelly, ice cream, music, crafters, children’s games and environmental exhibits. A $10 donation is suggested.

🏕️ Step back into the 18th century. The General John Lacey Historical Festival runs from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at VFW Post 10118 in Forked River with an encampment, glassblowing, history programs, pony rides, music, food and more than 30 vendors. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the gate; children 10 and younger are free.

🍕 Finally, a festival everyone can agree on. Long Beach Township’s first Pizza Fest serves up pizza-inspired food, adult beverages, free children’s activities, NFL football and live music by The Pickles from noon–4 p.m. Admission is free.

🚒 Light up for a good cause. The Cigars and Brews fundraiser benefits Pine Beach Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 from 5–9 p.m. at Battle River Brewing in downtown Toms River. The $100 advance ticket includes three cigars, three drinks and food; call 732-644-7823 for details.

⚔️ Trade the Jersey Shore for swords, storytellers and a hearty “Huzzah!” The Sparta Renaissance Festival returns Sept. 5–6, 12–13 and 19–20 with jousting, sword fighting, live music, archery, axe throwing and more. This year’s theme is “A New Generation of Knights,” and the festivities continue rain or shine. Purchase tickets online or at the gate.

🥓 Come for the bacon and stay for the bourbon. The Bacon, Bourbon and Brews Festival lands at the Flying W Airport in Medford Sept. 12 with bold drinks, food trucks, live local music and family-friendly fun. Elastic waistbands strongly encouraged.

🐑 Get ready for a wild and woolly weekend. The 31st annual Garden State Sheep Breeders Sheep & Fiber Festival takes over the Hunterdon County 4-H Fairgrounds in Ringoes Sept. 12–13 with sheep shows, shearing demonstrations, herding dogs, spinning, weaving, food vendors and a fleece barn sale. Bring the family—but leave Fido at home.

Head south and see why Exit 0 is No. 1 with bird-watchers. National Geographic recognizes Cape May as one of the world’s best birding destinations, thanks to its narrow peninsula that funnels thousands of migrating songbirds, shorebirds and hawks through town each fall.

Bring the binoculars and visit Higbee Beach Wildlife Management Area, the Cape May Bird Observatory and the hawk-watching platform at Cape May Point. While you’re there, explore Cape May Point State Park and climb the Cape May Lighthouse for a view worth squawking about.

Planning an October return trip? The Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey takes place during the third weekend of the month, offering another bright reason to head down the Shore.

That’s a wrap for this week! Until next time, try something new, support something local and remember: If your weekend includes pizza, grape stomping and a cardboard boat race, you’re doing September right.

Know about an event, opening or community story we should share? Send it our way. And if you enjoyed this week’s Scoop, please forward it to a friend who could use more Ocean County in their inbox.

😎See you next week!

The Ocean Senior Scoop team

DISCLAIMER: Event details may change, so please confirm dates, times, prices and availability with the organizer before heading out. Health information is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.