• Immanuel Bible Church, 1244 West Farms Road, Howell, will host an Athletes in Action soccer camp starting Aug. 6 from 6-8 p.m. The camp will end on Aug. 10. Ages 5 and up, cost is $40 per child. Call 732-431-0299 to register. The church will host a backpack give-away event for children in the community from 1-4 p.m. Aug. 18. Lunch will be served. Donations of school supplies are welcome. Immanuel Bible Church will host a bluegrass festival from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 22. Entertainment by Sonrise Mountain Revival and the IBC Worship Team. The festival is free and everyone is welcome to attend. There will be activities for the entire family.
• The Historical Society of Ocean Grove will host its 50th annual house tour on Aug. 3. Ocean Grove is a leading example of a 19th century planned community and contains more than 1,000 Victorian homes, as well as many other important architectural styles. This is a self-guided tour. Tickets: $30 in advance; $35 day of the tour. Call 732-774-1869 or visit www.oceangrovehistory.org for more information or to reserve tickets.
• Ocean County veterans meet monthly to discuss relevant subjects and to plan recreation opportunities. Topics include the transition to civilian life, the VA system, substance use, PTSD/other mental health issues and more. The group meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at Journey to Wellness Center, 25 S. Shore Drive, Toms River. Details: 732-244-0940 or email [email protected]
• Saint Gabriel’s Church, Marlboro, will host a juried craft and vendor fair on Nov. 11 from
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Prospective vendors should send name, business name, email, mailing address, phone number and a description of their work with four to six high-quality photos demonstrating sample crafts and wares and table set-ups to Julia A. Oliver at
[email protected]. The table fee is $45. Vendors should not mail payment until they are notified they have been selected to participate.
• The Allentown Business Community Association will host a Faerie Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 4 (rain date, Aug. 5) in Allentown. All are welcome, including faeries, gnomes, elves, pixies, and wizards. Fun for the whole family, including a storyteller at the Old Mill, tattoos at the One Eyed Turtle, fairy makeup before the contest for adults and children at the One Eyed Turtle, crafters selling goods for purchase, meet and greet with live faeries throughout town, a faerie garden treasure hunt throughout town, a Pixie Parade starting at the Old Mill at 11 a.m. with a costume contest to follow, unicorn rides behind Branching Out from 1-4 p.m. and a butterfly release at Pete Sensi Park at 3 p.m.
• “Bugs, Birds and Beyond,” a free festival for children of all ages, will be presented at the Monmouth County Agriculture Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 18 (rain or shine). “Penguins on Parade!” will be presented by Jenkinson’s Aquarium. There will be educational displays, activities, games and crafts. Live butterflies, snakes, turtles, rabbits, insects, bees and more. Details: 732-303-7614 or 732-431-7260, ext. 7264.
• Pitties and Pals Rescue Inc. will hold its first white party fundraising event at the Colts
Neck Golf Club, Colts Neck, from 7-10 p.m. Aug. 10. Proceeds will benefit Pitties and Pals’ rescue efforts. Tickets are $125 per person (food, drinks, music, raffles). Sponsorships are available. The group’s mission is to rescue dogs that are in danger of being euthanized from local animal shelters and to educate the public. Pitties and Pals is also seeking qualified fosters and adopters for dogs of all breeds. All costs associated with the care of the dog are paid for by Pitties and Pals during the fostering process. Details: Donna, 908-770-5263; or go to www.eventbrite.com/e/pitties-and-pals-white-party-tickets-46429829871-tickets; or www.pittiesandpals.com
• An outdoor flea market, craft sale and yard sale will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 4 at Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary, 118 Route 526, Upper Freehold Township. New and used merchandise, crafts, food and fun. Free admission. Family friendly. Leashed dogs welcome. Details: Email [email protected]
• Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures when the Monmouth County Park System hosts Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown, from 11 a.m. to noon, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, June 25 through Aug. 24. This program invites area residents to join park system naturalists as they seine the water and identify the aquatic creatures caught. This free program is open to all ages, under 18 with adult. Participants should meet on the beach. Closed-toe shoes are required. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is seeking new members who love to sing and perform. Interested individuals are invited to attend a rehearsal. The chorus rehearses at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Details: 732-446-9782.
• 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.
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.