Monmouth Senior Scoop: Your Fourth of July Guide to Monmouth County

Hey, Monmouth friends!

America’s 250th birthday is arriving with tall ships, fireworks, free concerts, patriotic celebrations — and temperatures that may make the entire county feel like one giant barbecue!

So before making plans, please take the heat seriously. Thursday and Friday are expected to be especially dangerous, with heat-index values possibly reaching 110 degrees. Stay hydrated, seek out air conditioning, limit time outdoors and check on older relatives, friends and neighbors.

Once you’ve made a cool-down plan, we’ve got plenty to keep you busy: tall ships in Sandy Hook Bay, fireworks up and down the Shore, canoeing in the parks, dancing at the library and a few air-conditioned options for anyone who prefers celebrating without melting.

🧨Fourth of July fun: Tall ships, concerts, fireworks and America’s 250th
🌳 In the Parks: Boat tours, pond life, canoeing and old-fashioned fun
🃏 Card Sharks: Bridge and mahjongg games around the county
📚 Beyond the Books: Dancing, music, crafts, history and helpful resources
📰 Prime Time News: Medicare, housing and the latest news on aging
🚗 Day Trippin’: Blueberries, battleships, The Commodores and more fireworks
📺 TV Time: Enola Holmes, Zorro, Madonna and American icons
🍹 Beach Bar Buzz: Three Jersey Shore spots earn national bragging rights
🍽️ The Local Dish: Red Lobster’s Crabfest is back
🎂 Birthday Corner: A local shoutout and this week’s celebrity birthdays
🇺🇸 One Last Thing: Let your flag fly

Up first…

Here’s where Monmouth County is celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

🎆 Start the party early in Aberdeen. Head to Veterans Memorial Park from 5 to 10 p.m. on July 1 for food, music, family activities and a fireworks finale.

🎺 Salute the red, white and blue at PNC. The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus take the stage at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel at 7 p.m. on July 1, joined by The American Bombshells for patriotic music with a little vintage USO flair.

🍕 Celebrate the Second of July in Howell. Soldier Memorial Park will have the Zac Brown Tribute Band, a DJ, food trucks, beer and wine, rides, cornhole, karate and fireworks from 5 to 9:30 p.m. There will also be a Pizza Olympics-style showdown between local pizzerias.

⛵ Watch the tall ships sail into Sandy Hook Bay. Sail 250 brings ships from around the world to Monmouth County on July 3 and 4 for a once-in-a-lifetime maritime celebration.

🎇 Light up the Union Beach waterfront. Food trucks, music and the town’s annual fireworks display take over the waterfront from 5 to 10 p.m. on July 3. Bring a chair, bring your appetite and prepare to look up.

🏊 Party like a Founding Father in Asbury Park. The Asbury Hotel is throwing a poolside bash from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 3 with DJs, themed cocktails, grilled bites and a dress code described as “Founding Father Chic.”

🧨 Get your fireworks fix in Hazlet. Veterans Park will have a DJ, food trucks and a free fireworks show from 6 to 9 p.m. on July 3. Bring a blanket or chair; fireworks begin at dusk.

🚢 Cruise past the tall ships. Set sail from Atlantic Highlands Marina from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m. on July 3 for views of the tall ships and Sea Bright fireworks, plus food, drinks and live music from Johnny Moon. Tickets are required, and this one may sell out faster than you can say “ahoy.”

🌊 Watch Asbury Park light up the ocean. The city’s annual fireworks show begins at 9 p.m. on July 3, with prime viewing from the boardwalk near First Avenue. The beach will be cleared at 6 p.m., so plan accordingly.

⛴️ Make a full day of it in Atlantic Highlands. Two July Fourth cruises will offer views of the tall ships parade in the morning and fireworks later that night. That’s boats before breakfast and fireworks after dinner — very ambitious holiday planning.

🎶 Spend the Fourth at OceanFest. Long Branch’s all-day boardwalk festival runs from 1 to 10 p.m. on July 4 with food, activities, live music and fireworks over the ocean. Performers include After The Reign, Dub Proof, Smokin’ Jackets and Jobonanno & Godsons of Soul.

✨ Watch Keyport Bay glow. Boats will light up the waterfront during Light Up the Bay from 6 to 10 p.m. on July 4. It’s part boat parade, part patriotic light show and a pretty good reason to stay out past sunset.

⛵ Get an up-close look at the tall ships. Seastreak is offering a special charter from Highlands to Sandy Hook, where guests can relax under a sailcloth tent near the historic Post Chapel at Fort Hancock, enjoy a cocktail reception and hear patriotic music from the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players. The return trip includes another look at what’s being billed as the largest international peacetime gathering of tall ships in a generation.

MonmouthNJ 250: The Concert, originally scheduled for July 3 at ParkStage, has been moved to Friday, July 17 at 5 p.m. because of the dangerous heat forecast for the holiday weekend.

The rescheduled lineup includes Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Jake Clemons Band, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers with Gary U.S. Bonds, and The Weeklings.

Tickets will be honored on the new date. Anyone who cannot attend should contact Ticketmaster by July 8 for a refund.

Low Cut Connie will instead perform July 3 at The Vogel at 7:30 p.m.

Here’s what’s happening in Monmouth County Parks this week.

🐟 See what’s swimming in Sandy Hook Bay. Park naturalists will pull a seine net through the water at Bayshore Waterfront Park to uncover fish, crabs and other bay creatures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to noon. Wear closed-toe shoes and leave the swimming for another day. Free.

🚤 Cruise the Manasquan Reservoir. Hop aboard a 45-minute narrated boat tour for wildlife spotting and waterfront views on Wednesdays, weekends and select Friday evenings throughout July. Tickets are $6 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger and are sold the day of the tour.

🐢 Go pond dipping at Freneau Woods. Take the grandkids to search for turtles, frogs, herons, fish and whatever else is lurking beneath the surface during Life in a Freshwater Pond, held Thursdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Closed-toe shoes required. Free.

🇺🇸 Party like it’s 1776. Historic Longstreet Farm is celebrating Independence Day with old-fashioned games and contests from noon to 3 p.m. on July 4. No fireworks, no traffic jams, no problem. Free.

🛶 Paddle around Marlu Lake. Canoe rentals return to Thompson Park on July 4-5 and July 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Rentals are $15 per boat for up to three people for two hours, with all equipment included. Cash or check only.

🌽 Watch history grind away. Historic Walnford’s 19th-century gristmill will turn corn into meal during 15-minute demonstrations every Saturday and Sunday in July at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Free.

🎶 Hear songs from the Civil War era. The Libby Prison Minstrels will perform music about life on the battlefield and the home front at Historic Longstreet Farm from 1 to 3 p.m. on July 5. Free.

Here’s where to shuffle, deal and possibly meet your next friendly rival at Monmouth County libraries this week!

♣️ Play bridge in West Long Branch. Intermediate players can join a casual game every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the West Long Branch Library. Seating is first come, first served — and no saving a spot for your favorite partner.

♦️ Learn duplicate bridge in Manalapan. Beginners and curious card players can learn the game Wednesdays from noon to 4:45 p.m. at Library Headquarters. Seats are limited, so arriving fashionably late may leave you watching from the sidelines.

♥️ Brush up on your bridge skills in Shrewsbury. Beginner and intermediate players meet Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Eastern Branch. Players help one another learn, and volunteer bridge experts are available when the bidding gets complicated. First come, first seated.

🀄 Make Thursday game day in Holmdel. Casual bridge and mahjongg games run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every Thursday the library is open. Tables and supplies are provided, but space is limited to five tables and players rotate when needed.

🐉 Keep the tiles clicking in Holmdel. Experienced mahjongg players can join the weekly club Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. The library supplies the sets; players bring their current National Mah Jongg League card. Capacity is 20, with seating in order of arrival.

♠️ Deal into Monday night bridge. Experienced players can gather at Library Headquarters in Manalapan from 6 to 8:30 p.m. beginning July 6. This one is for people who already know the game and are ready to get straight to the cards.

🀄 Try mahjongg in West Long Branch. Weekly games begin Tuesday, July 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. The library supplies the tiles, but players should bring their own mahjongg card. Some knowledge is required, extra players will rotate and — once again — no seat saving.

The Monmouth County Library calendar has dancing, music, history, and crafts happening this week.

💃 Take a spin around the dance floor. Instructor Lloyd “Silqui” Davis leads the Social Dance Club at Library Headquarters in Manalapan from noon to 1:30 p.m. on July 2. Practice salsa, swing, tango, cha-cha, waltz and more. Beginners and experienced dancers are welcome, and no partner is required.

🦟 Make yourself less appetizing to mosquitoes. Monmouth County biologist Marissa Mascaro will explain how to avoid mosquitoes, ticks and the diseases they carry at Library Headquarters in Manalapan from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on July 2. Consider it your summer survival briefing.

✂️ Make art with paper and scissors. Artist Linda Roemer explores the history of silhouette art before leading a hands-on cutting activity at the Atlantic Highlands Branch from 7 to 8 p.m. on July 2. No experience required — just steady hands and a willingness to trust the scissors.

🐍 Help build a rock snake in Hazlet. Paint a colorful stone for the library’s new outdoor Snake Rock Garden from 4 to 6 p.m. on July 6. Supplies are provided, all ages are welcome and registration is appreciated.

🤝 Get help navigating benefit programs. Monmouth ACTS representatives will be at the Allentown Branch from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 7 to answer questions about SNAP, NJ FamilyCare, Medicaid and other assistance programs. Help is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

📚 Go big at the Ocean Township book sale. The Friends of the Library are filling the Ocean Township Branch with thousands of books, audiobooks, large-print titles, DVDs, CDs and vintage vinyl from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on July 8. Bring a tote bag. Maybe two.

🧩 Trade one puzzle for another. Bring a complete, gently used puzzle of at least 250 pieces to the West Long Branch Library from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on July 8 and swap it for a new-to-you challenge. Missing pieces are not invited.

🪕 Take a musical trip through Appalachia. Sawmill Run Old Time String Band brings ballads, reels and America’s original roots music to the Ocean Township Branch from 2 to 3 p.m. on July 8. Free, open to the public and likely to get at least a few toes tapping.

🎶 Revisit the hits from the ’40s through the ’80s. Rhythm N’ Sound performs standards, doo-wop, Motown, disco, rock ’n’ roll and classic rock at the Howell Branch from 2 to 3 p.m. on July 8. Hand-clapping is encouraged.

🇺🇸 Revisit the Battle of Monmouth. Historian Rick Geffken explains the events leading up to the 1778 clash and why George Washington’s stand against the British mattered at the Holmdel Branch from 7 to 8 p.m. on July 8.

🏖️ Get the dirt on dunes. Samantha Hemming of the American Littoral Society explains how beach grass and coastal dunes help protect Jersey Shore communities at the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury from 7 to 8 p.m. on July 8. Turns out those little fences in the sand are doing important work.

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

💊 Medicare's New $50 Weight Loss Drug Program Starts July 1 — but the Fine Print Could Surprise You: Starting July 1, millions of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to weight loss medications like Wegovy and Zepbound for a fixed $50 monthly copay through a new federal demonstration program called the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. Medical Daily, June 24.

🤖 Medicare’s AI Push Snarls Patients and Doctors in Errors and Delays: Patients, doctors, and other healthcare professionals say the effort has created confusion, errors, long wait times, and stress. KFF Health News, June 23.

💔 Older Adults Are No Longer Staying in ‘Empty-Shell’ Marriages: Rates of gray divorce have risen sharply over the past few decades — and experts have a few theories as to why. The New York Times, June 22.

🏠 Older Adults Turn to ‘Golden Girls’ Housing: A growing network of home-sharing programs is helping people find compatible housemates. The New York Times, June 27.

Feel like taking a drive? July Fourth weekend has blueberries, battleships, big-name music and enough fireworks to keep your GPS busy.

🫐 Pick your way through blueberry country. Whitesbog’s Blueberry Summer Fest returns from 5 to 8 p.m. on July 3 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 11 in Browns Mills. Tour the historic home where cultivated blueberries began, then enjoy picking, pies, ice cream, live music, vendors and games. Admission is free; donations are welcome.

🥁 Catch New Jersey’s biggest Fourth of July parade. Historic Smithville’s annual celebration steps off at 9 a.m. on July 4 and draws about 10,000 spectators. After the parade, stick around for 60 shops, seven eateries, a carousel, train rides and paddle boats. Free.

🎆 Celebrate on the lawn at Congress Hall. Cape May’s landmark hotel continues a tradition more than 200 summers old with an All-American Cookout followed by fireworks at dusk. Historic charm, barbecue and fireworks — a pretty solid holiday trifecta.

🇺🇸 Party like it’s 1778 in Piscataway. George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette and Baron von Steuben return to the banks of the Raritan from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4 for music, historical storytelling and a recreation of the “fire of joy” celebration at East Jersey Old Town Village. Bring a chair or blanket. Free.

🛍️ Shop beside the bay. Craft Day by the Bay brings more than 70 vendors to Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 4. It happens rain or shine, so apparently neither drizzle nor humidity will stop the shopping. Free.

📜 Sign the Declaration in Princeton. Morven Museum & Garden hosts artmaking, garden tours, face painting, music and food trucks from noon to 3 p.m. on July 4. Then head to nearby Princeton Battlefield State Park for tours of the Clarke House and readings of the Declaration of Independence. Free.

🎤 Get funky with The Commodores. The Motown legends bring “Easy,” “Brick House” and plenty of soul to Camden’s Freedom Festival at Wiggins Waterfront Park on July 4. The concert begins at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks over the river. Free.

⚓ Watch fireworks from a battleship. The Battleship New Jersey opens its main deck at 7:30 p.m. on July 4 for live music, food, drinks, children’s face painting and prime views of the Delaware River fireworks. Tickets are $15.

🎆 End the night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Tropicana’s free fireworks displays light up the sky at 10 p.m. on July 4 and July 18. Watch from the beach or boardwalk — no reservations required.

A box-office surprise and Madonna’s return to the dance floor are among this week’s streaming highlights.

🎬 Obsession
Tuesday, June 30 | Premium on demand

After showing some serious staying power at the box office, Curry Barker’s thriller is finally heading home. Made for just $750,000, the film has earned more than $337 million worldwide. Michael Johnston stars as Bear, who uses a magical One Wish Willow to make his crush, played by Inde Navarrette, fall in love with him. Let’s see how that goes!

🔎 Enola Holmes 3
Wednesday, July 1 | Netflix

Millie Bobby Brown returns as Sherlock Holmes’ clever younger sister. This time, Enola is preparing to marry Lord Tewkesbury, played by Louis Partridge, when Sherlock, played by Henry Cavill, is kidnapped. Nothing disrupts wedding planning quite like having to rescue your famous detective brother.

💃 Madonna: Confessions II
Friday, July 3

Madge hath returned! Madonna’s new album arrives 21 years after Confessions on a Dance Floor gave us “Hung Up,” “Sorry,” “Get Together” and “Jump.” Early tracks include “I Feel So Free,” “Love Sensation” and “Bring Your Love,” a collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. Judging by the early reviews, Madonna is ready to send us back to the dance floor.

⚔️ Zorro
Tuesday, June 30 | MHz Choice, Prime Video and Roku subscription channels

Oscar winner Jean Dujardin stars as Don Diego de la Vega in this new French limited series set in 1821 Los Angeles. Diego hasn’t put on the Zorro mask in 20 years, but after unexpectedly becoming mayor, he finds himself battling corruption while juggling politics, family life and his secret identity. Capes apparently make governing more complicated.

🇺🇸 Ralph Lauren’s American Icons
Sunday, July 5 | History Channel app, History.com and On Demand

Ralph Lauren has designed a collection of 13 USPS stamps celebrating classic American images for the nation’s 250th birthday. This new History Channel special goes behind the project with unseen archival material and interviews featuring David Lauren, Ken Burns and others.

Three New Jersey spots just landed on USA Today’s list of the 10 best beach bars in America — because apparently the rest of the country has finally discovered that cocktails taste better with sand nearby.

PigDog Beach Bar in Wildwood ranked No. 3, Donovan’s Reef in Sea Bright came in at No. 5 and Harry’s Ocean Bar & Grille in Cape May took the No. 10 spot.

PigDog sits between the ocean and the Raging Waters slides at Morey’s Piers, serving barbecue, live music and a 32-ounce Bloody Mary topped with enough snacks to qualify as lunch.

Donovan’s Reef has been a Sea Bright favorite since 1976 and remains one of the rare Jersey Shore spots where you can order a drink right on the sand. There’s also a private beach, tiki bar, outdoor deck and live bands with the beach doubling as the dance floor.

Harry’s, Cape May’s only rooftop oceanfront bar, rounds out the trio with panoramic views, Orange Crushes, seafood and live music during dinner.

Three Jersey winners in the national top 10? We’ll drink to that!

Red Lobster fans, this one’s for you: Crabfest returned June 29, with more ways than ever to build your perfect crab feast.

The limited-time menu includes Snow crab, the return of Bairdi crab and customizable Seafood Boils with new flavor and spice options. Guests can also choose from six sauces, including Mike’s Hot Honey for a sweet-and-spicy twist. There are also new crab dishes, summer cocktails and plenty of the hands-on seafood favorites longtime Red Lobster customers look forward to every year.

Crabfest is available for a limited time at participating locations, there’s one in Toms River and Woodbridge,so grab the bibs and start cracking!

🎉 Happy 68th birthday this week to Henry P. of Middletown! Wishing you a great day filled with good food, good company and plenty of reasons to celebrate.🥳

A few other celebrities celebrating birthdays this week along with Henry include dancer and choreographer Twyla Tharp, 85; Blondie singer Deborah Harry, 81; actor Dan Aykroyd, 74; writer-director Larry David, 79; E Street Band keyboardist Roy Bittan, 77; model and actor Jerry Hall, 70; and actor Jimmy McNichol, 65. Also blowing out candles are writer Dave Barry, 79; actor Betty Buckley, 79; WKRP in Cincinnati actor Jan Smithers, 77; talk show host Montel Williams, 70; actor Tom Cruise, 64; and TV chef Sandra Lee, 60.

Monmouth County has one request for summer 2026: Put out the red, white and blue.

The county’s new “Fly Your Flag” effort is encouraging residents, businesses and community organizations to display the American flag in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday.

Since Monmouth County played a starring role in the American Revolution, officials are hoping to create a countywide sea of Stars and Stripes at homes, schools, storefronts and gathering places throughout the summer.

It’s a simple way to join the once-in-a-lifetime celebration — no powdered wig or history homework required!

Learn more about local America 250 events at MonmouthNJ250.org.

That’s it for this star-spangled edition. Celebrate big, stay cool and let someone else handle the grill!🧑‍🍳

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Stay safe, stay hydrated and have a happy Fourth of July!

😎See you next week!

The Monmouth Senior Scoop team

Disclaimer: Information is current as of publication and may change. Please confirm event details before heading out. This newsletter is for informational purposes only and is not medical, legal or financial advice.