• The Monmouth County Fair will be held from July 27-31 at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Freehold Township. Hours are 4-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $8 per adult; children 17 and under are admitted free. Follow the Monmouth County Park System on social media. Upcoming fair contests will be announced on the park system’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, offering an opportunity to win admission tickets and more. The fair is organized and presented by the Monmouth County Park System in cooperation with the Monmouth County 4-H Association. Details: www.MonmouthCountyFair.com
• Monmouth County officials have scheduled a paper shredding event so residents have the opportunity to dispose of old documents and confidential files safely. A shredding event will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 18 in Howell at the Memorial/Adelphia School, 485 Adelphia Road (Route 524). County residents may shred up to 100 pounds. Large binder clips must be removed from documents; staples and paper clips can remain. Details: See the recycling section of the county’s website, www.visitmonmouth.com, or call 732-683-8686, ext. 8967.
• The Historic Wainright House Museum and Craft Center, 48 Main St., Farmingdale, will host its second annual photography show from June 4-25. The show is hosted by Virginia Woolley, owner of the Wainright House, and coordinated by Vicky Culver. Hours are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.
• The Monmouth County Retired Educators Association will meet on June 14 at the Spring Lake Manor, Spring Lake. The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. Attendees may arrive early to enjoy the association’s 60th Jubilee celebration starting 10:30 a.m. A new slate of officers will be installed and the annual MCREA Philanthropic Awards will be presented to this year’s winners. Members are encouraged to bring non-perishable donations for the local food bank. For reservations, contact [email protected] or call 732-995-7754. Reservations must be completed before June 3. New members are always welcome.
• Bat Shalom Hadassah of Jackson will hold a 20th anniversary celebration on June 15 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Lakewood Country Club. The cost is $40 for a full buffet luncheon plus singer, auction, prizes and games. All are welcome. Details: Ina Goldberg, 732-833-2537.
• The DowntownFreehold.com Thursdays Rock concert series will make its 2022 debut on June 2 with a performance by James Maddock. All concerts take place from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Monmouth County Hall of Records plaza, Main Street, Freehold Borough. The concerts are free; bring a lawn chair. The rest of the schedule is as follows: June 9, Pat Roddy Band; June 16, Funky Uncle All-Stars; June 23, The Weeklings; June 30, Eddie Testa Band; July 7, Mission Dance; July 14, Joe Baracata Band; July 21, Matt O’Ree Band; July 28, Chuck Lambert Band with Coo Moe Jhee; Aug. 4, Parrot Beach; Aug. 11, Colossal Street Jam; Aug. 18, Pat Guadagno and Friends; Aug. 25, Turnstyles.
• The Freehold Borough Arts Council 2022 Jazz, Blues and More Summer Concert Series will take place every Sunday through August (June 5 through Aug. 28) from 7-9 p.m. at the Downtown Freehold Gazebo, Main Street, Freehold Borough. The concerts are free; bring a lawn chair.
• Allentown in western Monmouth County was a stop on the Underground Railroad and local historian John Fabiano will tell the story during a free 90-minute walking tour sponsored by The Allentown Village Initiative on June 18 beginning at 10 a.m. in Pete Sensi Park, Main Street, Allentown. “They Came for Freedom” will lead participants past historic homes, shops, cemeteries and landmarks which played a part in helping escaped slaves from the south reach freedom in the north. Register in advance for a timed tour start at www.allentownvinj.org. Registrants will be assigned timed starts in 30-minute intervals beginning at 10 a.m. June 18.
• New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center, will conduct blood drives which are open to the public. The following drives are scheduled: June 1, Howell Donor Center, 4068 Route 9 South, Howell, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; June 2, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 7, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 8, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; June 9, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 14, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 15, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; June 16, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 21, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 22, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; June 23, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 28, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m.; June 29, Howell Donor Center, 7:45 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.; and June 30, Howell Donor Center, 1:30-8:30 p.m. To donate blood or for information about how to organize a blood drive, call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org
Items for the Datebook may be sent to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.