LINCROFT — Now that April showers have brought May flowers, it is the perfect time to enjoy the many free activities the Monmouth County Park System is offering.
- “Creative Arts and Music Festival” will take place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. April 30 and May 1 at Thompson Park, Lincroft. The art and music festival will feature pottery, jewelry, photography and painting. Admission and parking are free.
- “Mill Demonstrations” will be held each Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold. See a 19th-century gristmill in action.
- “Mid-Day Music” will be presented from 12-12:30 p.m. May 1 at Historic Walnford. Listen to members of Hopewell Hall as they present an a cappella performance of historical songs.
- “Seabrook-Wilson House Tours” will be given from 1-4 p.m. May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 at the Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth. Visit this 1700s house and see displays on bay ecology and local history.
- “The Casual Birder” for those age 8 and up will take place at 9 a.m. May 5 at Historic Walnford (meet in parking lot) and 9 a.m. May 19 at Holmdel Park, Holmdel (meet in Ramanessin section of parking lot). Join a Park System Naturalist for a relaxing morning bird walk. Meander for about an hour and look for birds. Expertise is not needed. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow.
- “National Public Gardens Day” will be celebrated from 2-8 p.m. May 6 at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. Take a guided tour or explore the grounds on your own, ask garden/landscape questions, learn about Earth-friendly garden tips, watch a container gardening demonstration, enjoy a scavenger hunt and pick up some seeds to plant at home.
- “Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower” will be observed from 11:30 p.m.-1 a.m. May 6 at Bayshore Waterfront Park. Join a Park System Naturalist for this spectacular natural event, which is capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. The new moon will ensure dark skies for what could be an excellent show.
- “Climb Time” will be from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. May 7 at the Marlu Lake area of Thompson Park, Lincroft. Try the Park System’s 25-foot portable climbing wall and experience the sport of rock climbing close to home. Climbers must be 42 inches or taller and age 8 or older (under 18 with adult).
- “Drop-in Surprise Story Time” for children age 3-7 will take place from 11-11:45 a.m. May 7 at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. Enjoy story time. If the weather is nice, look for the clue at the Horticultural Center’s entrance that leads to the secret spot. If it is rainy or cold, story time will be inside.
- “Seashore Scientist: Microscopic Munchies” will be from 12-1 p.m. May 7 at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park Activity Center, Long Branch. Learn about the microscopic organisms that are the basis of all life in the ocean during this interactive discussion. There will also be hands-on experiments.
- “Embroidery Demonstration” will be from 1-3 p.m. May 7 at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. See this delicate craft in action.
- “Frog Songs” will take place at 1 p.m. May 7 and 8 at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Discover which frogs are calling in May.
- “Blacksmith Demonstration” will be from 1-3 p.m. May 8 at Historic Longstreet Farm. Come see what the blacksmith is making in his workshop.
- “Music Man” Rich Marzec will perform from 1-3 p.m. May 8 at Historic Longstreet Farm. Enjoy music from the 1890s.
- “Walnford Day” will be celebrated from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. May 15 at Historic Walnford. Enjoy milling demonstrations, hands-on activities, games, exhibits and displays.
- “Special People United to Ride Horse Show” will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. May 21 at the Sunnyside Equestrian Center, Middletown. Come for a fun day as the riders of Special People United to Ride showcase their talents.
- “7 Prez SK8 Jam” will be from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May 21 at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park. Enjoy an amateur skateboarding contest at the recently refurbished Skateplex. Local skateboard and food vendors will be on hand. The cost to compete is $15 per person; cash or check only for onsite registration. Admission and parking are free.
- “Nature Lecture Series — Striped Bass: Scales and Tales of a Favorite Fish” will be from 7-8 p.m. May 26 at Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center. A Park System Naturalist will present the history and ecology of striped bass, the myths surrounding them and discuss their importance to the local aquatic environment.
To learn more, visit www.monmouthcountyparks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the Park System TTY/TDD number is 711.