LINCROFT — The Monmouth County Park System has planned events for people of all ages during September.
To learn more about these activities, visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. The TTY/TDD number is 711.
Open Swim at the Fort will be held Sept. 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sept. 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. The cost is $7 per person, $20 per family (up to four). Costs are per day; cash or check only.
Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir are offered Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sept. 2-4 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. These 45-minute tours are narrated by park system naturalists and include opportunities to view local wildlife. The cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child, age 12 and under. Call to confirm schedule as tours are dependent on weather and water level. All tours leave from the Visitor Center.
Accordion Melodies of the 1890s will be presented on Sept. 2 from 1-3 p.m. at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. This is a free event.
Thompson Park canoe rentals will be available Sept. 2-3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Thompson Park, Lincroft. Canoes will be available for rent on Marlu Lake. All equipment provided; limited number of canoes available. Open to ages 3 and up, under 18 with adult. Fee is $15 per boat for one to three people for two hours. Cash or check only.
A mill demonstration will be held on Sept. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 and Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. See the 19th century grist mill in action. This is a free program.
Games Galore will be presented Sept. 2-4 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Enjoy family fun by playing historical games. This is a free event.
Seabrook-Wilson house tours will be offered Sept. 3, 10, 17 and 24 from 1-4 p.m.
at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown. Visit a house which dates back to the early 1700s and see displays about the ecology of the bay and local history. This is a free event.
The Casual Birder will be presented on Sept. 7 at 9 a.m. at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen. Join a park system naturalist for a morning bird walk. Open to ages 8 and up. This is a free event.
A butterfly walk will be held on Sept. 8 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the Huber Woods Environmental Center, Middletown, meet in the parking lot; and Sept. 22 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Holmdel Park, Holmdel, meet in the Ramanessin Trail parking lot. With a park system naturalist, identify butterflies found in the fields. The walk may be 1 mile or more. Open to ages 7 and up, under 18 with adult. This is a free event.
Amazing Stick Bugs will be presented on Sept. 9-10 at 11 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. Meet insects up close and learn about them. This is a free event.
A cookstove demonstration will be presented on Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. This is a free event.
Open Ceramics will be held on Sept. 10 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. at the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft. Choose from a large selection of bisque fired pottery pieces to glaze and make your own. Children age 12 and under are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $6 per hour plus price of bisque ware; cash or check only. Pieces will be fired in about a week.
Climb Time will be held on Sept. 10 from 1-5 p.m. at the Clayton Park Activity Center, Upper Freehold Township. Try the park system’s 25-foot-tall portable climbing wall. Climbers must be 42 inches tall or taller and age 8 or older (under 18 with adult). This is a free activity.
Bonsai Day will take place Sept. 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. Join the park system and the Deep Cut Bonsai Society for this event that features bonsai demonstrations and displays. Admission and parking are free.
Sunday Fun will be offered on Sept. 10 from 2-5 p.m. at the Clayton Park Activity Center, Upper Freehold Township. View soap making and Shibori dying techniques firsthand. Try fabric dying. The cost for hands-on fabric dying is $3 to $5 per person; cash or check only.
The Wind and Sea Festival will be held on Sept. 16 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, Middletown. Activities include kayaking, fishing, kite flying, volleyball, sandcastle building and more. Admission and parking are free. Some activities may have a fee. Parking at the Belford Ferry Terminal.
The Jersey Shore Rose Society Show will take place on Sept. 16 from 12:30-3:30 p.m. at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. Free garden tours will be offered and consulting rosarians will be available to answer questions. This is a free event.
All About Monarch Butterflies will be presented on Sept. 16-17 at 10:30 a.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell. There will be an in-depth discussion about Monarch butterflies. This is a free event.
A cornbread contest will be held on Sept. 17 at 12:30 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Enter the contest by bringing the equivalent of a 9-inch x 13-inch pan of cornbread and a typed copy of the recipe at 12:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to taste and vote on their favorites between 1-2:30 p.m. Winners announced at 3 p.m. This is a free event.
A corny joke contest will be held on Sept. 17 at 2:30 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. Tell your best family friendly jokes during this contest. This is a free event.
A Nature Lecture Series: Journey of the Monarch Butterfly in Monmouth County will be held on Sept. 21 from 7-8 p.m. at the Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth, Middletown. Discover the life history of monarch butterflies, what they eat, their migrations and threats to their long-term survival during this talk by a park system naturalist. This is a free event.
School’s Out Drop-In Days will be held on Sept. 21-22 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. Enjoy science exploration stations, take home kids creations, building fun and open gym time during this self-guided program open to ages 5-10. The cost is $5 per child per day; cash or check only.
An open house barn dance will be held on Sept. 22 from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft. There will be square dancing at this family friendly barn dance. This is a free activity.
The Great Fall Perennial Plant Swap will take place on Sept. 23 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. at Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown. Bring perennials in 1 quart, 1 gallon or 2 gallon containers and take home the same size and number of plants. Label all plants. Houseplants may also be exchanged, but no annuals. Plant intake from 8:30-10 a.m. Plant selection from 10-11:30 a.m. This is a free event.
Join a roving naturalist at 9 a.m. Sept. 23 at Huber Woods Park, Middletown, for a walk and discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife, and identify a bird or two. This is a 90-minute to two-hour program, but feel free to join in or drop out at any point. Dress for the weather as light rain is not a deterrent. This is a free event.
Have a Seat: Weaving Cane will be held on Sept. 23 from 1-4 p.m. at Historic Walnford, Walnford Road, Upper Freehold Township. See how cane is woven to create a sturdy seat while learning about furniture history and admire a variety of chair styles and seat materials. This is a free activity.
Open shoot archery will be held on Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft. This is a non-instructional open shoot. All equipment is provided. No outside equipment permitted. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. Cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.
A Harvest Home Festival will be held on Sept. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. This old-fashioned fair is reminiscent of the 1890s. Visitors can enjoy wagon rides, games and live entertainment. There are also ongoing crafts demonstrations and a home and garden competition. Admission and parking are free.