The Monmouth Senior Scoop: Holiday Markets, Local Happenings & Thanksgiving Tips

👋Hey there, Monmouth County!

Ready for a little pre‑Thanksgiving sparkle? This week’s Monmouth Senior Scoop is stuffed like a turkey with holiday markets, twinkly lights, pie-saving bakeries, library gems, and the latest travel buzz. Whether you're shopping small, tasting big, or just sidestepping kitchen chaos, we’ve got you covered.

🎁 Holiday Markets Worth Bundling Up For
🦃 Turkey Help Hotline
🥧 Where to Score the Best Local Pies
🗓️ Events Happening Around Town
📚 Beyond the Books: Library Highlights
🎶 Holiday POPS! Returns
🧳 Wanderlust Weekly — New Trips to Tempt You

Up first…

‘Tis the season to stroll, sip, and support local makers! Here are the biggest, brightest, most festive holiday markets lighting up Monmouth County this year — perfect for gifts, goodies, and a little seasonal magic.

Nov. 29 & 30; Dec. 3, 7, 10, 13, 14, 17 & 20
Wednesdays 11am–4pm • Saturdays & Sundays 12–4pm
Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel
Cost: Free

The iconic metroburb turns into a full-blown winter wonderland as Bell Works Fresh fills the space with dozens of artisans, handcrafted gifts, jewelry, candles, treats, local food vendors, and live music. It’s bright, bustling, indoors, and weatherproof — aka perfect for holiday browsing. Shop small, snack often, and soak in the sparkle. Info

Saturday, Nov. 22, 12–4pm
Calgo Gardens, 462 Adelphia Rd, Freehold
Free entry with a non-perishable food donation

A feel-good market with a mission! Bring a pantry donation and enjoy a gorgeous autumn lineup of craft coffee, sourdough, baked goods, jams, fall treats, candles, soaps, florals, jewelry, skincare, clothing, accessories, and more. Plus: Cream Ridge Winery, Twin Lights Brewing, live music, and seasonal photo ops. A perfect pre-Thanksgiving outing. Info

Nov. 28–30, 12–5pm
Whitechapel Projects, Long Branch

Step into a cozy pop-up wonderland packed with handcrafted gifts, local makers, holiday music, craft workshops, kids’ fun, and festive décor. Kringle Cove adds extra cheer with themed nights, live holiday tunes, s’mores stations, specialty cocktails, and exclusive holiday menus. It’s equal parts shopping spree and holiday escape. Info

📍 Grand Arcade @ Convention Hall and The Asbury Hotel
📅 Select dates: Nov. 28 – Dec. 21 | 🎟️ Free admission

✨ Voted NJ’s Best Holiday Market by Food & Wine, this festive seaside bazaar brings major German Christmas market energy — right to the Jersey Shore. Info

🛍️ Shop artisan gifts, handmade crafts, and sweet holiday treats
🎅 Snap a pic with Santa
🍷 Sip seasonal cocktails
🎶 Enjoy live music, kids’ crafts, and magical décor

🕒 Schedule:
Grand Arcade at Convention Hall: Nov 28 (12–8 PM); Nov 29–30 (12–5 PM); Dec 5–7, 12–14, 19–21; Fri (3–8 PM), Sat/Sun (12–5 PM)

The Asbury Hotel: Nov 30, Dec 7 & 14 (12–5 PM)

Get your gift list done and support 300+ Monmouth County makers at this festive one-day market!

🗓 Saturday, Dec. 13 | 10 AM – 4 PM
📍 Collins Arena, Brookdale Community College
🎅 Free Santa selfies • 🎁 Prizes • 🎨 Art, food, jewelry & more

Admission and parking are free — come shop small and local!

🔗 Details at MadeinMonmouth.com

Turkey still frozen at noon? Burned the skin but the legs are raw? Dropped it on the floor during a dramatic carving flourish? Take a deep breath — and call the experts.

The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is your Thanksgiving 911, answering every kind of poultry panic — from stuffing woes to “wait, I left the giblets in?!”

📞 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372)
🌐 Chat, email, or text
🕙 Open daily through Thanksgiving

They’ve taken over 100,000 calls — no judgment, just solutions.

Bonus: Their site is full of trusted recipes, thawing charts, gravy saves, and leftover ideas. (Turkey pot pie, anyone?)

No shame in skipping the kitchen chaos — especially when a local legend is ready to do the heavy lifting. If you'd rather spend the day relaxing (or just want backup for your bird), head to Hincks Turkey Farm in Manasquan — aka the Shore’s Turkey HQ for over 80 years. They’ve got it all: fresh turkeys, turkey pot pie, turkey meatloaf, turkey chili, plus a full spread of homemade sides, salads, and desserts. Basically, if it gobbles — they’ve mastered it. Consider your feast handled.

Whether your pie crust shrinks, cracks, or mysteriously tastes like Play-Doh every year… fear not! Monmouth County is loaded with bakeries and farm markets turning out show-stopping, grandma-approved pies for your Thanksgiving table. Here are 8 sweet spots guaranteed to save your holiday (and your sanity).

1. Delicious Orchards
📍 315 Route 537, Colts Neck, NJ
🌐 https://www.deliciousorchardsnj.com

2. Wemrock Orchards
📍 100 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ
🌐 https://www.wemrockorchards.com

3. Del Ponte’s Bakery
📍 600 Main St, Bradley Beach, NJ
🌐 https://delpontesbakerybb.com

4. Baker’s Grove
📍 711 Main St, Shrewsbury, NJ
🌐 https://www.bakersgrove.com

5. Mueller’s Bakery
📍 80 Bridge Ave, Bay Head, NJ
🌐 https://www.muellersbakery.com

6. Smith’s Farm Market
📍 2810 Allaire Rd, Wall Township, NJ
🌐 https://www.smithsfarmmarketnj.com

7. Twin Pond Farm Country Market
📍 1459 US-9, Howell, NJ
🌐 https://www.twinpondfarm.com

8. Battleview Orchards
📍 91 Wemrock Rd, Freehold, NJ
🌐 https://www.battlevieworchards.com

Wheelchair? Hearing Aids? Yes. ‘Disabled’? No Way: Many older Americans shun an identity that could bring helpful accommodations, improve care and provide community. The New York Times, Nov. 15.

Medicare to Cover Obesity Drugs Under Trump Deal for as Little as $50. What You Need to Know: Trump's deal slashes GLP-1 drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries and others, unlocking coverage for millions with obesity and related conditions. Kiplinger, Nov. 14.

How Safe is Your Hospital? Check These Leapfrog Group Grades to Find Out: A new grading of U.S. hospitals from the patient safety organization Leapfrog Group is now available.

More Drugs to Fight High Cholesterol Are Emerging: Patients have options beyond statins, and other alternatives are on the horizon. Wall Street Journal, Nov. 8.

🗓️ Events Happening Around Town

📍 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel
📅 Nightly through Jan. 3 | 5–10/11 PM
🎆 Buckle up for a glittering drive-through holiday lights experience packed with animated displays, festive characters, and glowing cheer. One carload, one price — perfect for staying warm and toasty.
👉 Get Tickets

📍 Bell Theatre, Holmdel
📅 Nov 21–23
🎭 Dive under the sea with this junior production of the Disney classic. Great for grandkids — and grandparents who love a good toe-tapping tune.
🕒 Showtimes: Fri, Nov 21 – 7 PM; Sat, Nov 22 – 2 PM & 7 PM; and Sun, Nov 23 – 2 PM
👉 Info & Tickets

📍 Count Basie Center, Red Bank
📅 Nov 21–23
🧣 Macy’s, miracles, and music! This heartwarming musical adaptation of the classic film brings Santa Claus, courtroom drama, and Christmas magic to life on stage.
🕒 Showtimes: Fri, Nov 21 – 7:30 PM; Sat, Nov 22 – 2 PM & 7:30 PM; Sun, Nov 23 – 2 PM
👉 Get Tickets

📍 Thompson Middle School, Middletown
📅 Sat, Nov 22 | 9 AM – 4 PM
🧶 One of the biggest craft shows on the East Coast! Over 250 juried vendors with handmade ornaments, treats, jewelry, fudge, candles & more. Come early — it gets packed!
👉 Event Info

📍 The Historic Village at Allaire
📅 Sun, Nov 23 | 11 AM – 3 PM
🪵 Step back in time! Villagers in period dress host old-fashioned games, cooking demos, blacksmithing, and historic home tours. A must for history buffs and curious grandkids alike.
👉 Learn More

📍 Algonquin Theatre, Manasquan
📅 Sun, Nov 23 | 3 PM – 5 PM
🎶 Get jazzy with James Langton’s All-Star Band and Gimme Four as they croon holiday favorites and bring swingin’ sparkle to the stage.
👉 Buy Tickets

Here’s what’s happening at your Monmouth County Libraries this week.

Saturday, Nov. 22 • 1–4:30 PM • Headquarters, Room 7
Calling all seasoned paper artists! Drop in for an afternoon of folding, chatting, and learning with fellow origami lovers. Whether you’re perfecting cranes or tackling something wildly complex, this monthly meetup is a creative escape among friends. No registration needed.

Monday, Nov. 24 • 12:30–2 PM • Marlboro Branch
Grief can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Led by support facilitator Beth Stamp, this gentle, in-person group offers space to share stories, feelings, and coping ideas. A supportive circle for anyone healing after loss.

Monday, Nov. 24 • 6:30–8 PM • Headquarters (Rooms 1–3)
Unwind, stretch, breathe, and find your calm with instructor Steven Russell of Becoming Sound Yoga. This class welcomes all levels, from curious beginners to seasoned yogis. Bring a mat or thick towel and wear something comfy.

Tuesday, Nov. 25 • 10–11 AM • Headquarters, Manalapan
Prefer your yoga with a little extra support? Instructor Lisa Broad leads this accessible class designed to boost flexibility, balance, and peace of mind — all from the comfort of a chair (standing options available, too!).

Tuesday, Nov. 25 • 1–4 PM • West Long Branch Library
Crack. Bam. Dot. The tiles are out and the table is open! Beginners with basic knowledge are welcome to join this friendly weekly Mahjongg group. Tiles provided — just bring your card and your competitive spirit.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s beloved Holiday POPS! concert is back on Saturday, December 13, with two performances (3pm & 6pm) at Richardson Auditorium.

This year’s festive lineup features GRAMMY®-winning baritone and NJ native John Brancy, acclaimed mezzo-soprano Kara Dugan, and the always-wonderful Princeton High School Choir. John Devlin returns to conduct.

Expect a joyful mix of classics by Handel, Mendelssohn, Coleridge-Taylor, and Elgar, plus holiday favorites like “Winter Wonderland,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” and “Sleigh Ride.” And yes—there’s a carol sing-along!

Tickets: $30–$110
Youth (3–17): 50% off with adult purchase
Groups (10+): 20% discount
🎟️ princetonsymphony.org • ☎️ 609-497-0020

Perfect for kicking off the season with big, beautiful sound.

Your couch is calling—and this week’s watchlist answers with frontier grit, assassin chills, and a cowboy who’s ready to spill all the tea.

🚂 Train Dreams – Netflix, Fri (Nov 21)
Joel Edgerton stars in this slow-burning frontier stunner about a logger watching the world change. Adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella, it’s lyrical, haunting, and gorgeous.

🌹 The Roses – Streaming This Week
Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch go full scorched earth in this deliciously dark comedy remake of The War of the Roses. Marriage meltdown never looked this good.

🔍 A Man on the Inside – Netflix, Thu
Ted Danson is back as Charles, the widowed sleuth. This season: college hijinks, cryptic clues, and campus crushes—with real-life wife Mary Steenburgen joining the fun.

🎭 Vanguard – Viaplay, Tue
Craving another media-empire drama after Succession? Dive into this Swedish power struggle full of boardroom backstabbing and family fireworks.

🔫 The Assassin – AMC+, Thu
Keeley Hawes as a retired killer trying to stay low-key in Greece—until her son shows up with baggage. Moody, stylish, and mother-son messy.

🤠 High Horse: The Black Cowboy – Peacock, Thu
Jordan Peele rides into docuseries territory with this eye-opening 3-part look at the real history of Black cowboys in America. Essential viewing.

Ken Burns’ The American Revolution – PBS, Nov 16–21
Burns brings his signature depth to a six-part epic on the birth of a nation. Airing nightly or stream anytime with PBS Passport.

🗓️ Episode Schedule:

Dreaming of where to go next? We’ve got some ideas!

If you’re craving a holiday outing that feels downright magical, A Longwood Christmas returns Nov. 21–Jan. 11, transforming Longwood Gardens into a glittering world of jewel tones, twinkling lights, and holiday artistry.

Inside the Conservatory, you’ll find towering trees in sapphire blues, ruby reds, emerald greens, and metallic golds. The showstopper? A 12-foot jewel-encrusted Fraser fir rising from a giant jewelry box—yes, really—complete with gemstone ornaments and shimmering garlands. Outdoors, more than 500,000 lights illuminate the Gardens, plus the fan-favorite Wildlife Tree, the Meadow Tunnel, the Garden Railway, and festive fountain shows.

Looking to dine? Enjoy the lavish Taste of Christmas buffet (Dec. 21–24 & 26–30), or savor a prix-fixe jewel-themed meal at the 1906 Restaurant.
🎟️ Timed tickets required; adults $45; longwoodgardens.org

Meet Celebrity Xcel, the newest ship in Celebrity’s Edge-Series — and it’s a beauty. Designed using input from real guests, Xcel debuts with seven brand-new spaces, including The Bazaar, a three-story food-and-entertainment hub, plus a sunny outdoor “Vitamin D Deck” perfect for lounging. Xcel sails 7-night itineraries from Fort Lauderdale to The Bahamas, Mexico, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and more. Europe is on deck for summer 2026. Info

Foodies, rejoice — the brand-new Oceania Allura has officially launched, and she may be the most delicious ship at sea. With 12 dining venues, a new crêperie serving waffles & gelato, and dishes inspired by Jacques Pépin, Allura is built for travelers who savor every bite. Rooms are extra spacious (290+ sq. ft!), making it perfect for longer, relaxing itineraries. Sailings range from 7 to 34 days, visiting 90+ ports. Info

Long-range planners, get excited. Princess just rolled out 43 new itineraries visiting 31 ports across the Caribbean and a lineup of unforgettable Panama Canal crossings.

A standout for all ages: Celebration Key, a Bahamas private-island escape with calm lagoons, dining, family zones, and peaceful adult areas. The Panama Canal itineraries include 21 destinations and seven UNESCO sites — a bucket-list dream for many. Info

Monmouth County just snagged a 2025 Preservation Project Award for its beautifully restored Historic Racing Stable at Thompson Park in Lincroft — and it’s a big deal for anyone who loves local history.

The stable — dating back to circa 1880 — was once one of the grand showpieces of New Jersey’s Golden Age of thoroughbred racing. After a major rehabilitation project, the entire two-story, timber-framed structure has been fully restored and is now open to the public seasonally. Commissioner Ross Licitra calls it “an incredible piece of Monmouth County history,” and he’s right — it’s a must-see next time you’re at Thompson Park.

Want to learn more? Visit monmouthcountyparks.com for details.

⁉️Questions, comments or news to share? Email us at [email protected]

👀First time reading? Join thousands of Monmouth County seniors. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.

🦃See you next week!

P.S. Just in case no one told you, this Thanksgiving you deserve the biggest slice of pie, the comfiest seat on the couch, and at least one leftover sandwich.

Happy Thanksgiving, Monmouth County.
We’re thankful for YOU. 💛

The Better With Age New Jersey team