• Ladies holiday shopping spree at Switlik Elementary School, 75 West Veterans Highway, Jackson, Nov. 12, 6:30-9 p.m. Holiday gifts, refreshments and raffles. Vendors can call (732) 928-0665 to rent tables for $20.
• Night of shopping — holiday shopping, crafts, collectibles, baskets, candles, jewelry, candy, cakes, more — Nov. 12, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Adelphia Firehouse, Route 524, Howell. Details: (732) 577-1781.
• Stand-up comedy evening Nov. 13 at St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson. Hosted by the Howell-Jackson Knights of Columbus Council. Tickets are $25 per person and include a hot pasta buffet dinner, snacks, dessert and a cash bar. The show begins at 9 p.m. No one under 21 will be admitted. Tickets: (732) 901-0906.
• A “Winter Wonderland Bazaar” will be held Nov. 13 at Christ Methodist Church, 678 Fifth Street, Lakewood, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. A holiday luncheon will be available. A silent auction will be held at 2 p.m. Details: (732) 363-8885.
• A holiday bazaar — handmade crafts, new and used items, fresh baked goods, children’s events table, gift baskets, light lunch — Nov. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West Farms United Methodist Church, 153 Casino Drive, Howell. Details: (732) 751-0698; (732) 938-3195.
• Julie Pasqual, storyteller, will present “Circus Tales” Nov. 13 from 2-4 p.m. at the Howell library, Old Tavern Road. The program, for children ages 5 and up, will combine folk tales with clown make-up, props and stilts.
• Vendor/gift auction sale Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Congregation Ahavat Shalom, 1075 Forest Ave., Lakewood. The event will feature an Israeli Café, “Kidz Corner,” cookie decorating, face painting, raffles and door prizes. Details: (732) 363-5190.
• “Music and Storytelling” will be presented Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. by the Simba Maasai Cultural Performers from Kenya at the Lakewood library, 301 Lexington Ave. Call (732) 363-2435, ext. 14, to register.
• Game Board Mania, a program for young adults in grades six through 12, will be held at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 16. Players are asked to bring their own games. Details: (732) 938-2300.
• Ocean County Coin Club meeting, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m. at the Brick municipal complex, Chambers Bridge Road. A junior free auction will take place at 6:50 p.m. The public is invited to attend the free meetings. Details: (732) 255-6911.
• “Homework for Mothers,” a program that demonstrates and explains various computer databases at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, will be offered Nov. 17 at 10:30 a.m. and at 3:30 p.m. The program will review how to find books, newspaper and magazine articles and how to renew books at home. Details: (732) 938-2300.
• “Cooking With the Chef,” a program for teens, will be held at the Howell library, 318 Old Tavern Road, from 7-8 p.m. Nov. 17. Call (732) 938-2300 to register.
• The Bat Shalom Chapter of Hadassah will meet Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Bella Terra, 1 Kathleen Drive, Jack-son. Entertainment will be provided by vocalist Rose Marie Caleen accompanied by keyboard artist Warren LoCascio. Members and guests are invited at no charge. Details: (732) 928-8555.
• “Speech Therapy Techniques” will be presented by the Howell Township Special Education Parent Advisory Council Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Taunton School. Techniques and tools will be presented to demonstrate how working the muscles can help to improve children’s speech. Details: (732) 942-1516.
• Fish fry dinner hosted by the New Egypt Elks, 105 Lakewood Road, Plum-sted, Nov. 19 from 6-8 p.m. The cost is $8 for a two-fish dinner or $9 for a three-fish dinner for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12, and free for children 5 and under. Details: (609)758-8700.
• Holiday craft fair, Nov. 20, 9-4 p.m. at the Southard School, 115 Kent Road, Howell. Featuring a variety of specialty crafters and vendors with gifts wrapped and ready for giving, homemade baked items, food and door prize raffles in addition to “ID A Kid” fingerprinting. Free admission. Vendors still needed. Details: (732) 901-7014.
• Free rabies vaccination clinic, Nov. 20, 9 a.m. to noon, at Howell Public Works Garage, Old Tavern Road. Open to any resident of New Jersey. Details: (732) 431-7456.
• Manasquan Reservoir Hike, Nov. 20, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The trip to the 5-mile hike, hosted by the Ocean County Dept. of Parks and Recreation will depart from the front gate of Ocean County Park in Lakewood. The terrain is flat and easy. Fee: $6/adults; $2 children ages 9-14. Registration: (877) OCPARKS.
• A holiday bazaar hosted by the Ardena Baptist Helping Hand will be held Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ardena Baptist Church, Route 524, Howell. Homemade baked goods, apple and pumpkin pies, cookies, crafts, white elephant table, children’s crafts and lunch will be available. Details: (732) 462-7831.
• A book discussion about “Advan-cing in the Prophetic” will take place Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Regent Diner, Route 9, Howell. Details: (732) 730-0444.
• Harvest lunch and bake, Nov. 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by the Church of the Assumption Rosary Altar Society, 76 Evergreen Road, Plumsted. Will feature lunch, home-made desserts and a raffle.
• Rattlesnake swamp hike, sponsored by the Ocean County Dept. of Parks and Recreation, Nov. 28, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The hike in the northwest section of New Jersey will take participants on the Appalachian Trail. The terrain will be a steep, rocky climb and may be slippery. Departs from the front gate of Ocean County Park, Lakewood. Fee: $6 for adults and $2 for children ages 9-14. Details and registration: (877) OCPARKS.
• Bible study is held every Friday at 7 p.m. by Spirit-Filled Life Ministries, Lakewood in the Lakewood municipal building, 213 Third Street, Lakewood, room 18. Open to all. Details: (732) 730-0444.