Monmouth Senior Scoop: Things to Do This Week for Seniors in Monmouth County, NJ

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👋 Hello, Monmouth friends!

Summer is officially getting busy — and this week’s newsletter is ready to help you keep up. We’ve got boat rides, fishing derbies, Revolutionary War reenactments, library programs, statewide festivals and a day trip featuring tiny trains and one very familiar Impractical Joker. The grandkids can make Granddad a batch of chocolate chip cookies for Father’s Day, then add a singing ice cream shop to the summer to-do list!

🌳 In the Parks — Reservoir cruises, canoe rentals, fishing derbies, historic demonstrations and seining along Sandy Hook Bay

🚗 Day Trippin’ — Tiny trains, carnival fun and James “Murr” Murray at Summer Train Fest

🗺️ Around New Jersey — Blueberries, airplanes, wine, art, classic cars and weekend festivals across the state

⚔️ History Comes Alive — The Battle of Monmouth returns with reenactments, musket drills and colonial camps

📚 Beyond the Books — Yoga, AI deepfakes, bridge, mahjongg, travel sketching and gardening programs

🍪 Take the Grandkids — Bake Granddad a homemade Father’s Day treat

🍦 Summer To-Do List — Get your ice cream with a side of Broadway in Lavallette

Up first…

The year is 1778. The Continental Army has just finished training at Valley Forge, British and Loyalist forces are determined to crush the rebellion, and everyone is about to discover that wool uniforms were a questionable choice for late June in New Jersey.

The Annual Reenactment of the Battle of Monmouth returns to Monmouth Battlefield State Park on Saturday and Sunday, June 20–21, commemorating the historic battle fought nearby on June 28, 1778.

Hundreds of reenactors and living historians will set up camp and bring the Revolutionary War era to life with battle reenactments, musket and cannon demonstrations, military drills, colonial music, camp tours and historical programs. Visitors can watch soldiers prepare their weapons, officers plan military strategy and camp followers cook meals — all while hoping nobody starts a duel over a card game.

The encampments open at 9 a.m. both days. Saturday’s schedule includes a musket demonstration at 10 a.m., the “Over Here Molly Pitcher” program at 12:15 p.m. and the main battle reenactment at 3 p.m. On Sunday, visitors can see a cannon demonstration at 11:30 a.m., the Molly Pitcher program at noon and the battle reenactment at 2 p.m.

Children’s musket drills will be offered throughout the weekend, and a sutler area will sell period-inspired goods. A food vendor will also be stationed near the Visitor Center.

A $15 donation per vehicle is requested to help cover the cost of the event. Handicapped parking is available. The Craig House will be closed during reenactment weekend.

📅 Saturday and Sunday, June 20–21; camps open at 9 a.m.
📍 Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan
🎟️ Suggested donation: $15 per vehicle

Please leave the metal detectors, alcohol and archaeological ambitions at home. Digging for artifacts and metal detecting are prohibited throughout the park.

Ever wonder what’s moving around beneath the water in Sandy Hook Bay? Grab some closed-toe shoes and prepare to find out.

The Monmouth County Park System is hosting Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, June 22 through August 21, from 11 a.m. to noon at Bayshore Waterfront Park.

Park System Naturalists will lead participants into the water to pull a long seining net through the bay and take a closer look at the fish and other creatures calling it home. Think of it as a bay-wide meet-and-greet — although some of the guests may be a little slippery.

The free program is open to individuals and families of all ages. Anyone younger than 18 must attend with an adult. Meet on the beach near the parking lot, and remember that closed-toe shoes are required.

The program is weather permitting. For updates, visit MonmouthCountyParks.com or call 732-842-4000. The TTY/TDD number for people with hearing impairments is 711.

Monmouth County parks are serving up boats, baskets, fishing, woodworking and a little old-fashioned corn grinding this week. Basically, there’s no excuse to stay inside.

Want to explore the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell without doing any of the paddling? Climb aboard a 45-minute narrated boat tour led by a Park System Naturalist. You’ll learn about the reservoir and may spot local wildlife along the way.

Tours leave from the Visitor Center on Saturdays and Sundays, June 20–21 and June 27–28, at 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m.

Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 12 and younger. Children must be at least 2 years old and able to sit independently for the entire tour. Tickets are sold only on the day of the tour, and life jackets are required. Call before heading out because tours depend on the weather and water level.

Canoe rentals are back at Thompson Park in Lincroft. Rentals are available Saturday and Sunday, June 20–21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All equipment is provided, but the number of canoes is limited. Rentals must be returned by 3 p.m.

The cost is $15 per boat for one to three people for two hours, payable by cash or check only. All ages are welcome, but anyone younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

See a 19th-century gristmill turn corn into meal during a live milling demonstration at Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold. Each demonstration lasts about 15 minutes — just enough time to appreciate modern grocery stores.

Demonstrations will be held Saturdays and Sundays, June 20–21 and June 27–28, at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Admission is free.

Experienced sailors who need a refresher — or who know their way around a sailboat but lack formal certification — can attend Rigging 101 on Thursday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to noon. at the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell. Meet at the West Dock/Ramp.

Participants will learn how to rig the Park System’s 15-foot American sailboats. Sailors who demonstrate proficiency may earn a Monmouth County Park System sailing card, allowing them to rent the boats during drop-in sailboat rental hours. The session is free.

Basketmaking is a lot more complicated than weaving a few strips together and hoping for the best. Artisan Mary May will demonstrate the skill and patience behind traditional New Jersey basketmaking on Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Holmes-Hendrickson House, located in Holmdel Park in Holmdel.

Her work focuses on South Jersey white oak baskets and the traditions surrounding this historic craft. Admission is free.

Grab your fishing pole — or rent one when you arrive — for the Monmouth County Park System’s Freshwater Fishing Derbies.

The first derby will be held Saturday, June 20, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Manasquan Reservoir in Howell. The second takes place Sunday, June 21, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Turkey Swamp Park in Freehold.

Each day begins with a free fishing clinic from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the longest fish in three categories, so this is not the time to exaggerate about the one that got away.

Registration is $34 for a family of four or $10 per person, and a container of worms is included. Fishing poles may be rented for $5 each on a first-come, first-served basis. Walk-ins are welcome, and cash, checks and credit cards will be accepted.

Forget power tools. A historic woodworker will demonstrate how craftspeople once studied their materials, worked with hand tools and created items that were both useful and beautiful.

The demonstration will be held Sunday, June 21, from noon to 3 p.m. at the Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Admission is free.

Ice cream is already a crowd-pleaser. Add singing, dancing and a little Broadway flair, and you have an outing the grandkids may be talking about long after the last scoop disappears.

The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe in Lavallette serves up ice cream with a side of vaudeville-style entertainment. The nightly cabaret features Broadway-inspired songs and lively performances while guests dig into their favorite flavors.

It’s part dessert stop, part theater experience and much more memorable than grabbing a cone at the nearest drive-through. Put it on the summer to-do list — and be prepared for the grandkids to ask for an encore.

📍 The Music Man Singing Ice Cream Shoppe, Lavallette

Granddad probably does not need another tie. He may, however, need a warm batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies — and the grandkids can help make that happen.

These Grandma’s Humdinger Chocolate Chip Cookies are simple enough for young bakers to tackle with adult supervision and make about 32 cookies. Have the kids mix, roll and decorate a card while a grown-up handles the hot oven. The result is a Father’s Day gift that is homemade, heartfelt and unlikely to end up forgotten in a drawer.

Ingredients

Directions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, mix the melted butter with both sugars. Add the milk and vanilla, followed by the baking soda, salt and cream of tartar. Mix in the egg, flour and chocolate chips.

Spoon portions of dough into your hands and roll them into balls. Place them on a lined baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for another 10 minutes before moving them.

For the finishing touch, place a few cookies in a gift bag or small box and let the grandkids add a note that says, “Granddad, you’re one smart cookie.”

Recipe courtesy of Cookin’ Savvy via Culinary.net.

This week at the Monmouth County Library, you can stretch in a chair, spot an AI deepfake, improve your bridge game, sketch your lunch and learn why gardening may be as good for your mood as it is for your tomatoes.

Ease into the week with Chair Yoga with Stacy Newfeld on Monday, June 15, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Holmdel Library.

Designed for all ages and ability levels, the class combines guided breathing, seated stretching, mindful movement and a brief sound immersion. No yoga experience — or ability to touch your toes — is necessary.

That video may look real. That phone call may sound exactly like someone you know. Unfortunately, artificial intelligence is getting very good at fooling us.

Thomas Phair of the AARP Speakers Bureau will present AI Disinformation on Monday, June 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the West Long Branch Library. The program will explain how AI can create deepfake videos and cloned voices, along with practical ways to evaluate suspicious information and identify AI-generated content.

Native plants are not simply attractive additions to the yard. They are part of an interconnected neighborhood of birds, insects, animals and other plants — and apparently everyone has a role in the homeowners association.

Naturalist and garden designer Jason Goldman will present Ecology of Native Plants on Monday, June 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Library Headquarters, Manalapan. The program will explore the often-hidden connections among native plants and wildlife and explain why those relationships matter. The talk is co-sponsored by the Monmouth County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey.

Experienced bridge players can gather for an evening of cards on Monday, June 15, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

This is not a beginner lesson, so participants should already know how to play. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-seated basis. In other words, no bidding wars over the chairs.

Mahjongg players can head to the West Long Branch Library on Tuesday, June 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. for a weekly afternoon game.

The library supplies the tiles; players should bring their own mahjongg cards. Some knowledge of the game is required, and extra players will rotate in. Saving seats is not permitted — not even for your favorite East. The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

Travel memories do not have to live exclusively in your phone’s camera roll.

Local artist Teresa Bonner will lead Travel Sketching on Tuesday, June 16, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury. Participants will learn simple techniques for quickly capturing buildings, trees, food and everyday objects through drawing.

The class includes examples, demonstrations and guided practice. It is geared toward beginners, but all skill levels are welcome. Registration is recommended to guarantee a seat.

Instructor Kim Manganelli will lead Gentle Yoga for Adults on Tuesday, June 16, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Colts Neck Library.

The slow-paced class combines low-impact movement, stretching, mindfulness and guided meditation to help participants release tension and settle the nervous system. Basically, it’s one hour when nobody is allowed to ask what’s for dinner.

Bring a yoga mat or towel. Participants must sign a waiver, and registration is required. Seating is limited to 16.

Intermediate bridge players are invited to the West Long Branch Library on Wednesday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participation is first come, first served, and seats cannot be saved. Bring your best strategy and your most gracious losing face.

Those still learning the game can head to Library Headquarters in Manalapan on Wednesday, June 17, from noon to 4:45 p.m. for an afternoon of instruction and practice. Seating is limited and available on a first-come basis.

Gardening may nourish more than your flower beds.

Environmental educator and gardener Tanya Dinova will present The Joy of Gardening: Growing Plants, Growing Well-Being on Wednesday, June 17, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Library Headquarters, Manalapan.

The program will explore how tending plants can reduce stress, encourage mindfulness and strengthen our connection to nature. No sprawling vegetable garden is required. Even a small pot of herbs can apparently do some emotional heavy lifting.

Tiny trains, a backyard carnival and an Impractical Joker walk into a historic New Jersey borough. No, this is not the beginning of a joke — it’s the Pacific Southern Railway’s first-ever Summer Train Fest.

The rain-or-shine festival rolls into Rocky Hill on Saturday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving visitors a rare look at one of New Jersey’s most impressive model railroads.

The main attraction is a massive 5,000-square-foot HO-scale railroad layout tucked inside a local residence. Built and maintained by the nonprofit Pacific Southern Railway club, it features more than 3,500 feet of hand-laid track, working signal systems and miniature towns and landscapes created over decades. Basically, it’s the kind of train setup that makes the one circling your childhood Christmas tree look like public transportation for ants.

The fun spills outside with live music, food trucks, face painting, a balloon artist, family activities and even a wandering R2-D2 replica. Local firefighters and EMTs will also be there with emergency vehicles, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit area emergency services.

Adding a little celebrity horsepower to the locomotive lineup, the home was purchased in 2025 by James “Murr” Murray of Impractical Jokers and his wife, Melyssa. The couple bought the property to preserve the historic railroad and allow the nonprofit club to continue operating there. Both are expected to greet guests during the festival.

Admission is $10, and children younger than 10 get in free. Entry to the indoor layout will be scheduled in time slots to prevent the miniature train station from developing a very real rush-hour problem. Advance reservations are strongly recommended, although walk-up tickets may be available if capacity allows.

Street parking will be available along the north side of Washington Street, also known as Route 518.

📅 Saturday, June 20, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
📍 Pacific Southern Railway, Rocky Hill
🎟️ $10; free for children younger than 10

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😎See you Wednesday!

The Monmouth Senior Scoop team

🧹A little Scoop housekeeping: Event details, prices and schedules can change, especially when weather, water levels or tiny trains are involved. Please check with organizers before heading out. And while we’re happy to share helpful ideas, Monmouth Senior Scoop is not your doctor, lawyer, financial adviser or GPS — just your friendly neighborhood newsletter with a very full calendar.