• The Historical Society of Ocean Grove will host its 49th annual house tour on Aug. 4. The self-guided tour will include several historic homes, as well as tents, a historic inn and other historic buildings. Ocean Grove is a 19th century planned community on the Monmouth County shore. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on Aug. 4. To reserve tickets, visit oceangrovehistory.org or call 732-774-1869.
• First Financial Federal Credit Union will host a blood drive and shred event on Aug. 5 at its corporate office parking lot, 391 Route 9 North, Howell. Blood drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Paper shred truck available from 9 a.m. to noon (no magazines, newspapers, or wet, damp or mildewed paper). The event is open to the public. Advance registration for blood donations is preferred. Details: 732-312-1500.
• The Howell Alliance and Howell PAL will present the Hope for Howell vendor fair from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Aug. 16 at the Southard Community Enrichment Center, 115 Kent Road, Howell. Free admission. More than 30 vendors will be selling food, crafts, clothing, accessories and more. Children are welcome. There will be a DJ, bounce house, water slide and games. Proceeds benefit substance abuse prevention education and programs.
• The Desperados will perform in concert at the Jackson Library at 2 p.m. Aug. 19. The concert is for adults. The Desperados will play the greatest hits of the Eagles, Neil Young, Tom Petty and Fleetwood Mac. Free. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• A session of coloring for adults will be held at the Jackson Library at 10 a.m. Aug. 29. Rediscover the joy of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided along with light refreshment and relaxing music. Free. Register by calling 732-928-4400.
• The Jackson Library will host William Berg, a financial adviser with Waddell and Reed, at 6 p.m. Aug. 10. Berg will offer information that will help retirees make decisions regarding their Social Security benefits. The program is for adults. Registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400, press option 4.
• Designer Handbag Bingo will be held on Sept. 8 at Toms River Elks Lodge 1875, 600 Washington St., Toms River. Doors at 5 p.m., games at 7 p.m. The event will benefit CONTACT of Ocean and Monmouth Counties crisis intervention and suicide prevention hotline. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; price includes four Bingo cards for each game with the option of purchasing additional cards. Details: 732-240-6104.
• Musical duo Gilda Healy and Barry Rosenzweig will present an interactive journey exploring the music of the 1940s at 2 p.m. July 29 at the Jackson Library. The program is for adults. The program is free; advance registration is required. Details: 732-928-4400.
• The Monmouth County Fair will run from July 26-30 at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. Admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are free. The fair gate will be open from 5-11 p.m. July 26-28; from 3-11 p.m. July 29; and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 30. Entries will be accepted for the Home and Garden competition. To download a brochure, visit www.MonmouthCountyFair.com
• The Jackson Library will host a Red Cross blood drive from 2-7 p.m. July 31. Anyone who is at least 17 years old, weighs a minimum of 110 pounds and is in generally good health can donate blood. All blood types are needed. Donors should bring a photo ID. Visit www.redcross.org to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome.
• Look for turtles, egrets, herons, ospreys and other wildlife during a boat tour of the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. Each 45-minute tour leaves from the Visitor Center, Windeler Road, Howell. Tours are offered at the top of the hour from 2-5 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, May 6 through Sept. 4. Wednesday tours are offered at 2, 3 and 4 p.m. from July 5 through Aug. 30. Evening tours are offered on the first Friday of each month May through September; call 732-751-9453 as times vary for the evening tours. All tours are weather and water level dependent. The fee is $6 per adult and $4 per child age 12 and under.
• The Jackson Library’s knitting group, Knit-Chat-Chain, is seeking donations of yarn and wool. The members of the group create sweaters, hats, scarves and blankets to donate to charity. Yarn donations may be brought to the Circulation Desk during library hours: Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details: 732-928-4400.
• New Jersey Blood Services is in need of volunteers to work blood drives in Ocean and Monmouth counties. Tasks include assisting donors with registration, watching donors for post-donation reactions and responding to their needs. Details: Jan Zepka, 732-616-8741.
• St. Aloysius Church, 935 Bennetts Mills Road, Jackson, offers support groups to help people better understand their feelings and to meet others who are dealing with the same life issues. A bereavement support group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. and a divorced and separated support group meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. Both meetings are held in the parish office. A freewill donation of $5 is requested. Details: Email St [email protected].
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.