👋Hey, Monmouth friends!

This week in Monmouth County, you can sing along with the Beatles, salute Diana Ross, cheer on the horses at Haskell Day and begin plotting your Monmouth County Fair concert viewing strategy.

🎡 Fair Sounds — Queen, country, funk and funnel cake
🎉 Weekend Plans — Classic cars, concerts and Haskell Day
📚 Beyond the Books — Dancing, music, AI and a shipwreck mystery
🌳 In the Parks — Folk songs, birds and dolphins
🍅 Farmers Markets — Produce, baked goods and Jersey flavor
🍽️ Local Flavor — Coastal dining and dirty sodas
🍔 In the Kitchen — Burgers that refuse to be boring
🚗 Day Trippin’ — Fairs, flowers and vintage carnival fun
🏨 Shore Stay — Ocean Grove’s award-winning inn
🌍 Wanderlust Weekly — Fjords, river cruises and Mahjong
📺 TV Time — Fashion, dancing, crime and comedy
🎂 Celebrity Birthdays — Linda, Will, The Hoff and Peter

Up first…

🎶 Turn up the music—and pass the powdered sugar. The Monmouth County Fair returns to the East Freehold Showgrounds from Wednesday, July 22, through Sunday, July 26, with five days of live music, rides, games, exhibits and all the fried food your heart desires. If you go mainly for the music (and the funnel cake), here’s the musical acts lined up for this year’s fair.

🤠 Country roads lead to Freehold. Red Dirt Revolution opens the fair Wednesday with country favorites during two sets, from 8:15 to 9 p.m. and 9:30 to 10:15 p.m.

🎺 Get ready to shake your groove thing. THE FUMOS bring horn-heavy funk, rock, soul, jazz and ’70s dance music to the Main Stage Thursday from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

🎸 The playlist has no decade restrictions. MUSHMOUTH takes over Friday from 8:30 to 10 p.m. with hits, one-hit wonders and hidden gems from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and beyond.

🪕 Bluegrass in the afternoon, Queen after dark. Dark City Strings performs Americana, folk, bluegrass and contemporary covers Saturday from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

👑 Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? The Ultimate Queen Celebration brings “Somebody to Love,” “Radio Ga Ga,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and more to the stage Saturday from 8:30 to 10 p.m.

🥁 Sunday goes out with a bang—and a brass band. Rockit Academy students perform from 2 to 2:45 p.m., followed by the Ocean Avenue Stompers Brass Band from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

🎠 The music is only half the story. Expect rides, games, strolling entertainment, 4-H exhibits, the Home & Garden Competition and opening-night fireworks, weather permitting.

🎟️ Here’s the deal. The fair is open from 4 to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for adults; children 12 and younger, veterans and active-duty military members with ID enter free.

💵 Early birds save enough for dessert. Admission is half-price during the first two hours of each day.

👵 Sunday is senior day. Adults 65 and older enter free on Sunday—leaving a little extra money in the budget for that funnel cake.

The East Freehold Showgrounds are located at 1500 Kozloski Road in Freehold.

🚗 Chrome, classics and no fuzzy dice required. The Keyport Classic Car Show rolls onto West Front Street from 4 to 8 p.m. with vintage vehicles, live music and plenty of downtown dining nearby.

🎸 Yeah, yeah, yeah—bring a lawn chair. Back Beat performs the Beatles songbook during Colts Neck’s Sounds of Summer from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Town Hall Pondside, 124 Cedar Drive. Free!

🌊 Ocean breezes are part of the band. Thursdays by the Sea brings free live music to the Great Lawn in Long Branch from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Bring a blanket or chair and let summer do its thing. Free!

🎤 Stop! In the name of love—and don’t forget a lawn chair. Lady Supreme presents a tribute to Diana Ross from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Veterans Park on Union Avenue in Hazlet. Free!

🎶 That is a whole lot of Jersey in one night. MonmouthNJ 250: The Concert runs from 5 to 10 p.m. at the East Freehold Showgrounds with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Jake Clemons Band, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers with Gary U.S. Bonds, and The Weeklings.

🕺 Freehold fun on Friday. Rich Boland performs from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Downtown Freehold Gazebo. Bring a lawn chair and settle in for a free summer concert.

🏇 The horses are fast, but the hats may steal the show. Haskell Day runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, with top 3-year-old horses, stakes races, live music, family activities and Best Hat and Best Dressed Couple contests. Arrive early at Haskell Day for a free commemorative hat while supplies last.

🎨 Art, jazz and Ocean Grove charm—name a better trio. The Summer Stroll Art Show fills downtown Ocean Grove with local artwork and live jazz from 4 to 8 p.m.

🎵 Hold the line—the ’80s are calling. Toto, Christopher Cross and The Romantics perform at 6:45 p.m. at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Expect decades of hits and someone nearby singing every word.

🎼 End Saturday on a serenade. Cliff Smith and Charlie Hassell perform from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Downtown Freehold Gazebo. Free; lawn chairs encouraged.

🍝 Better study up before Tony hears about this. “The Sopranos” Trivia takes place Tuesday, July 21, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch. Brush up on Tony, Carmela and the gang, or risk a trip to the Pine Barrens!

The Monmouth County Library calendar is doing the absolute most this week—business advice, music, dancing, yoga, AI, Mahjongg and even a shipwreck mystery.

💼 Got a business idea? Bring it out of the group chat. Small Business Startup 101 runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan, covering networking, digital marketing, AI, taxes and accounting.

🖍️ Color outside the lines. We won’t tell. Adult Coloring Night runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Howell Branch with supplies, snacks and low-stress conversation included.

💃 No partner? No problem. Two left feet? Still welcome. The Social Dance Club practices salsa, swing, tango, waltz, cha-cha and more from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

☘️ A little bit of Ireland comes to Marlboro. The Cook College Ramblers perform reels, ballads, pub favorites and traditional tunes from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Marlboro Branch.

💙 Information, understanding and a room that gets it. The Jersey Shore Prostate Cancer Support Group meets from 7 to 8:30 p.m., both in person and online, for patients and caregivers.

🤖 Learn the basics of AI: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence runs from 10 to 11 a.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan, with an overview of ChatGPT, image generators and prompt writing. Laptops are welcome but not required.

📦 Keep, donate or finally admit you forgot you owned it. An AARP speaker shares practical downsizing and decluttering advice from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury.

🎤 Sing along, clap along or just enjoy the show. Steve Berger performs familiar songs and timeless favorites from 2 to 3 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

🎶 Your old record collection is having a very good day. Rhythm N’ Sound performs music from the ’40s through the ’80s—including doo-wop, Motown, disco and classic rock—from 2 to 3 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

🧘 Start Monday on a positive note: Chair Yoga with Stacy Newfeld runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Holmdel Branch with gentle movement, breathing and stretching.

♠️ Know when to hold ’em—and when to bid. Learn to Play Bridge meets from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. The session is for players who know the basics; seating is first come, first served.

🧘‍♀️ Stretch the stress right out of Monday. Yoga for Beginners runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. Bring a mat or thick towel.

🪑 Stay seated and still get moving. Chair Yoga runs from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan, with exercises for flexibility, strength and range of motion.

🀄 Clack ’em and stack ’em. Mahjongg runs from 1 to 4 p.m. at the West Long Branch Library. Tiles are provided, but bring your own Mahjongg card. Some experience is required.

⚓ A local mystery rises from the deep. Shipwreck diver Dan Lieb tells the story of the long-unidentified Manasquan Wreck from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Wall Township Branch.

💐 Florist style without florist prices. Beautiful on a Budget runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan, with tips for turning supermarket or garden flowers into polished arrangements.

🤍 Grief does not follow a schedule, but support can help. The Lost and Found Bereavement Support Group meets from 6:45 to 8 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

See what’s happening in Monmouth County Parks this week!

🎻 Folk music under the summer sky. Jackson Pines performs original songs and centuries-old folk tunes Friday, July 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Thompson Park Theater Barn in Lincroft. Bring a chair or blanket, food and soft drinks. Free! The show moves indoors if needed.

🐦 No birding résumé required. Casual Birder steps off Tuesday, July 21, at 9 a.m. at Big Brook Park in Marlboro for a relaxed 90-minute walk with a Park System naturalist. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Free!

🐬 Find out what the dolphins are really up to. Understanding Dolphin Behavior takes place Wednesday, July 22, from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center in Port Monmouth. Free!

Links to the latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

🏡 A new way to prepare for long-term care. Washington state has begun paying benefits through WA Cares, the nation’s first state-operated long-term-care insurance program. Eligible workers can use the benefit toward services including in-home care, caregiver respite, equipment and meals—and several other states are watching closely. KFF Health News, July 10

🥬 Your refrigerator may be hosting a science experiment—and that could be a good thing. Fermented foods such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut and kefir have been around for centuries, but growing interest in the gut microbiome has put them back in the wellness spotlight. Associated Press, July 11

📱 The problem may not be the phone—it may be how you use it. New research links compulsive smartphone use among older adults with a higher risk of depression, particularly when scrolling begins replacing purposeful activity and face-to-face connection. HealthDay/Rutgers, July 13

❤️ What is an aortic dissection? The medical emergency occurs when the inner layer of the body’s main artery tears, allowing blood to force its way between the artery’s layers. It can cause sudden, severe chest or back pain and requires immediate treatment. The condition received renewed attention after preliminary findings said it caused the death of South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham on July 11. Health Day, July 13

Fresh produce, baked goods, flowers and handmade finds are waiting across Monmouth County.

🌾 Shop local, then stay for a cold one. Tall Oaks Farm + Makers Market runs from 4 to 8 p.m. at Tall Oaks Farm + Brewery, 450 Colts Neck Road in Farmingdale, with artisan goods and craft beer in a relaxed farm setting.

🥕 Jersey Fresh with an ocean view nearby. The West End Farmers’ Market runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at West End Park, 607 Ocean Ave. N. in Long Branch, with produce, flowers, jams, cheese, baked goods, salsa and soups.

🧺 Fresh produce and handmade treasures—your tote bag has been warned. The Wall Township Farmers Market runs from 2 to 7 p.m. at 1901 Baileys Corner Road.

🌻 A charming market for a charming Shore town. The Allenhurst Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 201 Main St. with produce, baked goods, specialty foods, gifts and handmade items.

🍞 Come for the vegetables, leave with bread and jelly. The Atlantic Highlands Farmers Market runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Veterans Park, 111 First Ave., with produce, artisan breads, body-care items and gifts.

🍯 Honey, flowers and enough baked goods to derail lunch. The Downtown Freehold Farmers Market runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Main and Court streets.

🍓 This market has been doing Saturday mornings right for years. The Highlands Farmers Market runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Huddy Park, 329 Bay Ave., with produce, herbs, flowers, breads, pies, cheese, eggs, honey, soaps and juices.

🌽 Rain or shine, the corn is committed. The Hazlet Farmers Market runs from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the James J. Cullen Center, 1776 Union Ave. It moves indoors during heavy rain or excessive heat.

Marée Brings Sustainable Coastal Dining to Spring Lake

A gorgeous new dining destination has officially arrived in Spring Lake. Marée, a contemporary American bistro, is the latest brainchild of local culinary icon Marilyn Schlossbach (Whitechapel Projects) and Asbury Fresh co-founder Bret Morgan. Nestled by the coast, the restaurant takes "hyper-local" to the next level with a beautifully curated, seasonal menu focused entirely on sustainable ingredients sourced directly from nearby farmers, fishermen, and makers. If you're looking for an elegant, community-driven dining experience this summer, put Marée at the top of your list.

The "Dirty Soda" Trend Lands in Bradley Beach at Bev Shack

There is a brand-new way to beat the mid-summer heat in Bradley Beach. Co-founded by Abby Taylor Jordan—the creative force behind Monmouth County’s global success story, Playa Bowls—Bev Shack is now open and serving up the viral "dirty soda" trend (sodas spiked with cream, fruit, and flavored syrups). Located just steps from the beach, the vibrant walk-up window is also pouring loaded lemonades, gourmet iced teas, and refreshing, custom hydration drinks. It is the perfect pit stop for a cool, Instagram-worthy treat on your next beach day—and knowing what a “dirty soda” is might just impress the grandkids!

🍔 Your basic burger has officially been put on notice. Keep the grill going all summer with three new flavor-packed burger recipes from Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., funded by beef farmers and ranchers. Try a cheesy double smashburger with garlic aioli, a loaded St. Louis-style burger topped with hash browns, chili and a fried egg, or an open-faced French onion burger with caramelized onions and melted Gruyere. Big flavor for your next BBQ, where no boring burgers are allowed.

🎡 Can’t wait for the Monmouth fair? Start practicing elsewhere. The Ocean County Fair runs July 15 through 19 in Bayville with exhibits, food, entertainment and classic summer-night fair fun.

🎠 Head south for rides, games and old-fashioned county-fair charm. The Cape May County Fair runs July 16 through 18 in Cape May.

🌸 Stop and smell several thousand flowers. Terhune Orchards holds its Flower Festival July 18 and 19 in Princeton, with colorful blooms, farm scenery and seasonal activities.

🎟️ Step right up and take a trip backward in time. Yesteryear’s Carnival brings vintage-style games, activities and nostalgic summer fun to Cape May on July 18 and 19.

🏆 Not bad for the new inn on the block. Hotel Albatross, a 27-room boutique hotel one block from the Ocean Grove beach, has been named the No. 1 inn in the continental United States in Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards.

🏠 Victorian on the outside, modern getaway on the inside. The hotel opened July 15, 2025, in a restored 1881 building on Ocean Pathway, with original architectural details preserved alongside updated interiors.

🚲 Beach badges, bicycles and pastries? Check, check and check. Guests receive complimentary beach badges, Priority Coast bicycles, electric shuttle service, specialty coffee and pastries.

💳 The honor comes with luxury-level prices. Labor Day weekend rates currently range from $429 for a Cozy Queen room to $799 for the Pavliv Suite, which includes a living room and wet bar.

👩‍🍳 Dinner plans may soon be part of the stay. Hotel Albatross is planning a culinary program with guest chefs, pop-up events and collaborations with local creatives later this year.

🀄 Clack ’em, stack ’em and make a weekend of it. Here’s a very niche vacation idea for extreme Mahjong fans: The Hidden Parlor opens in August in downtown Andover, Massachusetts, with 11 custom tables devoted to American Mahjong.

🎴 New player or neighborhood ringer, there’s a seat for you. The stylish space will offer open play by reservation, beginner lessons, guided games, leagues and private events.

🛋️ It’s part game room, part social club. Cozy lounges, a quiet workroom and a boutique filled with Mahjong sets and accessories complete the experience. It could be a fun and unusual stop for Mahjong lovers planning a summer getaway to the area.

🧳 You flew all that way—why rush home? Celebrity River Cruises is adding two- and three-night Before and After Stays in Prague, Budapest, Amsterdam and Lausanne.

🍳 Breakfast and transfers are handled. Your only job is sightseeing. The packages include upscale hotels, daily breakfast, ship transfers and locally led experiences centered on food, history, art and culture.

🍺 Beer history, Cold War shelters and street art are on the menu. Prague and Budapest stays begin in 2027, with Amsterdam and Lausanne joining in 2028.

🏔️ Go for the fjords. Stay because the scenery has ruined ordinary views forever. Holland America Line is adding Flåm and Hellesylt to five seven-night Rotterdam cruises in 2027.

🚂 Yes, the famous Flåm Railway is involved. The itineraries feature UNESCO-listed fjords, towering waterfalls, mountain scenery and stops including Oslo, Bergen and Ålesund.

📅 Pack layers and clear the calendar. Departures run from late May through early August 2027.

For when the heat sends you indoors, here’s what’s new on TV this week.

🎬 Fashion gets the Sofia Coppola treatment. “Marc by Sofia” arrives Thursday, July 16, on HBO Max, following designer Marc Jacobs as he prepares to unveil a ready-to-wear collection. It is Coppola’s first documentary.

⛳ He was the world’s top golfer in 2004—and would like everyone to stop mentioning the year. Will Ferrell stars in “The Hawk,” premiering July 16 on Netflix, as an aging golfer determined to win one more major and complete a career Grand Slam.

🚗 A car crash leads somewhere unexpected. “Miroirs No. 3,” arriving Friday, July 17, on Mubi, follows a piano student recovering in the rural home of an older woman who lives near the accident site.

💃 The mirrorball is looking for fresh talent. “Dancing with the Stars” winner Robert Irwin hosts “The Next Pro” on Hulu, where 12 dancers compete for a professional spot on the show. The judges know a thing or two about ballroom drama. Mark Ballas and his mother, Shirley Ballas, are joined by rotating guests including Derek Hough, Witney Carson and Jenna Johnson.

🎟️ Winning the lottery should not be this complicated. Anya Taylor-Joy stars in Apple TV’s “Lucky” as a con artist with a winning ticket she cannot cash while federal agents and her crime boss close in. The first two episodes arrive Wednesday.

🌾 Half-Pint rides again. Netflix’s new “Little House on the Prairie,” based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books, follows the Ingalls family as they settle in Kansas and face the hardships of frontier life.

🍀 Hell’s Kitchen was not always about celebrity chefs. J.K. Simmons stars in MGM+ crime drama “The Westies,” about the Irish gang that controlled the Manhattan neighborhood in the early 1980s as younger and old-school members battled over its future.

🎂 First, a hometown birthday shoutout. Happy 68th birthday to Peter S. of Manalapan! We hope the week brings plenty of cake, good company and absolutely no pressure to act your age.

🎤 July 15 has range. Soul singer Millie Jackson turns 82, Linda Ronstadt turns 80, Ramones drummer Marky Ramone turns 74, model Kim Alexis and “Eight Is Enough” actor Willie Aames both turn 66, and Brigitte Nielsen turns 63.

🎥 July 16 brings movie nostalgia and maximum comedy. “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Gremlins” star Phoebe Cates turns 63, while “Elf” and “Anchorman” star Will Ferrell turns 59.

🚘 July 17 belongs to The Hoff. David Hasselhoff, best known for “Knight Rider” and “Baywatch,” turns 74. He talked to a car, ran on the beach in slow motion and made both seem perfectly reasonable. Honestly, that deserves an extra slice of cake!

Whether your plans this week involve cheering at the racetrack, browsing a farmers market or standing near the fair stage with powdered sugar on your shirt, we hope you find a little summer fun close to home.

And remember: Funnel cake calories don’t count when there’s live music playing nearby!

😎Have a wonderful week!

The Monmouth Senior Scoop team

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