Oct. 15
• One of the Best Tricky Tray, sponsored by St. Thomas the Apostle Knights of Columbus Council No. 4815, doors open at 6:45 p.m., calling begins at 8 p.m., at the council home, Pine Street, Old Bridge. Prizes include gift certificates to stores and restaurants, more. Food, beverages. Admission is $5 and includes one sheet of tickets, door prizes, coffee, dessert. Call Lorraine at (732) 727-2763 or Fran at (732) 251-4994.
• Oktoberfest, sponsored by Jamesburg Elks Lodge No. 2180, 7-11 p.m., at the lodge, 74 W. Railroad Avenue. Happy Tones “oompah” band, all-German buffet, limited refreshments. Cost is $25 per person. All proceeds benefit Elks charities. Call (732) 521-2180 or sign up at the lodge.
• Oldies Dance, sponsored by Spotswood American Legion Post No. 253, 8-11 p.m., at the post home, Devoe Avenue, next to the lake. Music of the ’50s and ’60s. Admission is $7 per person and includes soda, cake, coffee, tea. Singles welcome. Call Tony at (732) 251-0970 after 7 p.m.
• Mystery Masquerade Gift Auction, sponsored by the St. Joseph School PTA, doors open at 6:30 p.m., event begins at 8 p.m., in the school’s Betty Madden Memorial Auditorium, Maple Place, Keyport. Refreshments. Call the PTA hotline at (732) 264-2350.
Oct. 15-31
• Pumpkin Patch, noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, at Simpson United Methodist Church, 2095 Route 516, Old Bridge. Pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn, cornstalks, candy, baked goods, snacks, beverages available for purchase. Children’s play area, face-painting, live musical performances on weekends. Members of the cheerleading and dance teams at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, perform from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 23. All proceeds go to the church’s youth group retreats and the church building fund. (732) 679-7499.
Oct. 16
• Fall Craft Show and Bake Sale, sponsored by St. Thomas the Apostle HSA, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the school auditorium, Route 18 south, Old Bridge. (732) 723-3608 or (732) 866-0482.
• Riding Into the Future, sponsored by Special Strides Therapeutic Riding Center for children with special needs, Monroe, 7:30 p.m., at Congress Hill Farm, 118 Federal Road, Monroe. Dinner, dancing, silent auction, tribute book. Participants should wear barn attire. Honorees: Amy Handlin, member of the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and Michelle Roth, member of the governing body of Manalapan Township. Cost is $125. Proceeds go to the organization’s operating costs and the Steven Werthan Memorial Scholarship Fund, which allows special-needs children in need of financial support to take part in therapeutic horseback riding at the center. (732) 446-0945.
• Drive-In Drop-Off Food Collection, to benefit the Old Bridge Food Bank, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the food bank in the municipal complex, Route 516 and Cottrell Road. Individuals who drive their nonperishable donations to the food bank need not leave their cars. Volunteers will meet the donors at their cars, collect the donations and bring them into the food bank. (732) 721-5600, ext. 6635.
• Harvest Festival, sponsored by Sayreville United Methodist Church, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the church, 406 Main St., Sayreville. Flea market, seasonal items, mums, bake sale, children’s activities, games, food, more. Call the church at (732) 257-1084.
• Polka Mass and Dance, sponsored by St. Mary of Ostrabrama Rosary Society, South River, Mass at 7 p.m., dancing follows from 8 p.m. to midnight, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Jackson Street, South River. Cost is $15 in advance, $17 at the door, and includes beer, soda, coffee, tea. Food available for purchase. Call Arleen at (732) 257-3942 or Charlotte at (732) 254-5737.
• Car wash, sponsored by the East Brunswick High School Cheerleading Booster Club, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Central School, 371 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. Cost is $5 for cars, $7 for vans and sport utility vehicles.
Oct. 16 & 17
• Clothing drive, sponsored by Sacred Heart School HSA, South Amboy. Items may be brought to Sacred Heart Church parking lot, between Washington Avenue and Main Street, from 4-6 p.m. on Oct. 16 and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct.. 17, before and after weekend Masses. Clothing, towels, sheets, shoes, belts and stuffed animals sought. All items should be placed in plastic bags. (732) 721-0834.
Oct. 18
• Ring Rage Sale, sponsored by the Old Bridge Auxiliary of Raritan Bay Medical Center, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Auxiliary Hall B, lower level, Old Bridge Medical Arts Building, adjacent to the hospital, off Ferry Road, between routes 9 and 18. (732) 324-5006.