Your Week in Monmouth: The Senior Scoop

This week’s Scoop is filled with events, programs and helpful resources for Monmouth County seniors — including property-tax assistance, accessible beach information, library activities, live music, history programs and plenty of ideas for the weekend.

Whether you’re looking to get out, learn something new or simply make a few plans, there’s a lot happening close to home.

👋 Senior Scene — Art, beach access and property-tax help
🎉 Weekend Plans — Music, festivals, food and classic cars
📚 Beyond the Books — Senior-friendly library programs this week
🎡 Looking Ahead — Free senior admission at the county fair
🦖 Take the Grandkids — Dinosaurs after dark in Freehold
🍕 Local Flavor — A champion pizza maker arrives in Asbury Park
📺 TV Time — New movies, music and shows to stream
🔥 In the Kitchen — Three recipes for summer grilling
🍦 One Last Thing — New Jersey’s very serious love of ice cream

Up first…

The 2026 Monmouth County Senior Art Show will be held at Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan under the direction of Monmouth Arts. Senior artists who would like to participate must submit a completed application to Monmouth Arts by Friday, July 17. Space is limited to the first 100 applicants, so this is not the time to wait for artistic inspiration to strike. To apply, call Monmouth Arts at 732-212-1890, ext. 106, or download the application online. Questions may be directed to Maitte Avila at [email protected] or 732-212-1890, ext. 106.

The 2026 Monmouth County Accessible Beach Guide is now available with information about accessible beaches, ramps, walkways, parking, curb cuts and surf-chair availability throughout the county. The guide also includes beach fees, lifeguard hours, amenities and discounts for seniors and veterans. It’s a helpful place to start before packing the chairs, towels and enough snacks for a small army.

Friday, June 26, from 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Eastern Branch Library, Shrewsbury

Need help with ANCHOR, Senior Freeze or Stay NJ? Mady Einhorn, from the offices of state Sen. Vin Gopal, Assemblywoman Margie Donlon and Assemblywoman Luanne Peterpaul, will help seniors understand the programs and complete their applications for property-tax relief. Registration is requested.

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

🍴 Eat your way through Highlands. Taste of Highlands returns Saturday, June 27, with food and cocktail samples from 20 local spots, all packed into one walkable seaside town. Tickets are $50, the SeaStreak shuttle is included, and comfortable shoes are strongly encouraged.

🏃 Run for beer — or skip the running part. The Beer Run 5K takes over Allaire Village on Saturday, June 27, sending runners and walkers through the historic grounds before dropping them directly into a craft beer festival. Beer-fest-only tickets are available.

🎨 Spend the afternoon art hopping. Red Bank’s first Arts Festival lands on Monmouth Street on Saturday, June 27, with live music, visual art, performances, literary events and craft vendors. Rain date: Sunday, June 28.

🍺 Sample the world without leaving Asbury Park. The Beer, Wine and Spirits Festival fills Bradley Park on Saturday, June 27, with global pours, food, games and live entertainment.

🚘 Take a drive down memory lane. Monmouth Park’s Classic Car Show and Oldies Day rolls in Sunday, June 28, with 120 antique cars, Big Joe Henry broadcasting live, music from The Cameos and free family activities. Chrome, classics and a whole lot of nostalgia.

🎷 Welcome jazz back to Asbury Park. After more than a decade away, the Asbury Park Jazz Fest returns to Sunset Park on Sunday, June 28, with eight hours of back-to-back music. Bring a chair and settle in.

🇺🇸 Go big for America’s birthday. Middletown’s Red, White & You parade steps off Sunday, June 28, with a celebration of the Battle of Monmouth, local history and America’s 250th birthday. After the parade, the party continues at Mater Dei Park with rides, food trucks and live entertainment.

🎻 Hear the soundtrack of the Revolution. MadRegalia performs music from the Revolutionary era Sunday, June 28, at 2 p.m. at Monmouth County Library Headquarters in Manalapan. Expect colonial tunes, iconic moments and a much livelier history lesson than the one you remember.

🚒 Save room for one more fair. The Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair runs June 30 through July 4 with waterfront rides, food, live bands and fireworks on July 2. Five nights of fun, and absolutely no shortage of fried food.

🎆 Start Fourth of July week early. Bell Works hosts Red, White and Boom on Tuesday, June 30, with music, food, drinks, children’s activities and fireworks at 9 p.m. The Roof Deck afterparty runs until midnight.

🎖️ Feel the patriotic chills. The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus perform Wednesday, July 1, at PNC Bank Arts Center, joined by The American Bombshells for a major America 250 celebration.

🎬 Watch a movie with sand between your toes. Belmar’s Movies on the Beach series begins Wednesday, July 1, with Ratatouille. Bring a chair, a blanket and snacks.

Circle Sunday for the senior deal. The 51st annual Monmouth County Fair returns to the East Freehold Showgrounds July 22–26 with rides, live music, 4-H exhibits, animals, demonstrations and the Home & Garden Competition. Admission is $10, children 12 and younger are free, and tickets are half price during the first two hours each day. The best part: Seniors 65 and older get in free on Sunday, July 26. Fair hours are 4–11 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday.

Do you have a dinosaur-obsessed grandchild? LuminoCity’s Dino Safari returns to Freehold Raceway Mall from July 1 through Aug.16, turning the parking lot into a glowing prehistoric world with more than 70 life-sized roaring dinosaurs, illuminated pathways and enough photo opportunities to fill the family group chat.

New this year:

🌋 A 25-foot Volcano Bounce
🎧 A glowing DJ booth
🛝 An upgraded playground
✨ Even more light displays

Returning favorites include Dino Speedway and Safari Dig, plus theme nights and a special “Fourth of July with Dinosaurs” celebration. Visitors can also watch master lantern artisans demonstrate the traditional Chinese art behind the glowing displays — a nice educational bonus tucked between the roaring dinosaurs and bounce house.

📍 Freehold Raceway Mall, 3710 Route 9, Freehold
🗓️ July 1–August 16
🕔 Open evenings; closed Wednesdays except July 1
🚗 Free parking; ADA accessible
🎟️ Children 3 and younger are free. Early-bird pricing runs through June 30.

The Monmouth County Library has bridge, board games, music, history, crafts and some very useful property-tax help on the calendar. Here’s what’s happening:

♠️ Deal yourself in. Intermediate bridge players can drop by the West Long Branch Library from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Seating is first come, first served, and saving seats is off the table.

🃏 Learn the duplicate bridge basics. Newer players can practice at Library Headquarters in Manalapan from noon–4:45 p.m. Seats are limited and first come, first served.

🎲 Upgrade family game night. Learn modern favorites including Sushi Go!, Ticket to Ride and Catan from 6–8 p.m. in the Lower Gallery at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. Registration is required, and the session may be canceled if too few players sign up.

💙 Find support after a loss. The Lost and Found Bereavement Support Group meets from 6:45–8 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan, offering a place to share experiences, feelings and ideas for moving forward.

🇺🇸 Revisit the Battle of Monmouth. Dr. David Martin explores the 1778 battle that helped secure George Washington’s leadership and change the course of the Revolutionary War from 7–8 p.m. at the Howell Branch.

🎸 Spend the evening with classic rock. Robert Lafferty and Frank Tota of Vinyl Traction bring an acoustic mix of rock and pop favorites to the Holmdel Branch from 7–8 p.m.

♠️ Build your bridge skills. Beginner and intermediate players can learn together from 9:30 a.m.–noon at the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury. Seating is limited and first come, first served.

🀄 Make Thursday game day. Mahjongg and bridge players can join casual, player-led games from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at the Holmdel Branch. Supplies are provided, and no registration is required.

🧶 Bring your latest work in progress. Knit Wits meets from 6:30–8:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. Knitting, crochet, needlepoint and other crafts are welcome; bring your own supplies.

🏡 Get help with property-tax relief. Learn how to navigate ANCHOR, Senior Freeze and Stay NJ at the PAS-1 Workshop from 10:30–11:30 a.m. at the Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury.

📄 Put a finer point on your folding skills. Experienced adult origami enthusiasts can swap techniques from 1–4:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan.

🎶 Hear the Revolution in harmony. MadRegalia performs music from the Revolutionary era from 2–3 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. The concert is free, and seating is first come, first served.

💙 Find a place to talk through grief. Beth Stamp leads the Lost and Found Bereavement Support Group from 12:30–1:30 p.m. at the Marlboro Branch.

♠️ Pull up a chair for bridge. Experienced players can enjoy an evening of cards from 6–8:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. Seating is limited and first come, first served.

🀄 Bring your mahjongg card. Players with some experience can join the weekly game from 1–4 p.m. at the West Long Branch Library. Tiles are provided, and extra players will rotate in.

💃 Dance your way into summer. Practice salsa, bachata, tango, swing, cha-cha, waltz and more from 6–7:30 p.m. at Library Headquarters in Manalapan. All skill levels are welcome, and no partner is needed.

🎄 Celebrate Christmas in July — Revolutionary style. The Allentown Branch will display a handcrafted Morven Christmas tree July 1–31, filled with ornaments inspired by Allentown’s historic buildings and Revolutionary War connections.

🪵 See what’s turning at the library. The Eastern Branch in Shrewsbury will showcase distinctive lathe-turned creations by the Atlantic Shore Woodturners throughout July.

Award-winning pizza chef Nino Coniglio has opened King of Pies at 649 Mattison Ave., bringing favorites from his Morristown restaurant to the Jersey Shore.

The shop serves whole pies made with sourdough dough and imported Italian ingredients, including the Brooklyn Round, Upside Down Sicilian, Josephine’s Grandma Pie and a Tri-Color Grandma with vodka sauce, marinara and pesto.

Coniglio’s résumé includes a win on Food Network’s Chopped, a World Pizza Championship title and Pizza Maker of the Year honors. So yes, this man takes pizza very seriously!

King of Pies is open Wednesday through Sunday from 5–10 p.m. Follow @coniglios for updates.

Here’s what to stream this week:

📚 Get literary — and a little gangster. Oscar Isaac, Gal Gadot and Al Pacino star in In the Hand of Dante, streaming Wednesday, June 24, on Netflix. It has crime, Dante and plenty of high-minded drama.

🎧 Turn up the volume and regret it immediately. Undertone lands Friday, June 26, on HBO Max, following a paranormal podcaster pulled into something deeply unsettling. The scares come from ticking clocks, shrieking tea kettles and sudden blasts of sound, so maybe don’t watch this one with headphones.

🏠 Watch John Cena lose control of his very organized life. In Little Brother, streaming Friday, June 26, on Netflix, Cena plays a buttoned-up real estate agent whose chaotic “little brother,” played by Eric André, suddenly reappears. Michelle Monaghan, Christopher Meloni and Caleb Hearon round out the family dysfunction.

🎻 Take a tutoring job with terrible benefits. Chloe Bailey stars in Strung, streaming Friday, June 26, on Peacock, as a violinist hired by a prestigious family. Since this is a psychological thriller, we’re guessing the job listing left out a few details.

🎶 Spend the evening with Paul Simon. Paul Simon: The Quiet Celebration Concert streams Friday on Disney+ and Hulu, featuring deep cuts, new arrangements and classic songs recorded live in Seattle. Not quite front-row seats, but your couch has better legroom.

🏕️ Let Snoopy handle summer camp. Camp Snoopy returns for Season 2 on Friday, June 26, on Apple TV. Charlie Brown and the gang head back to Camp Spring Lake for friendship, adventures and a suspicious lack of mosquitoes. Babysitting the grandkids? This one has your name on it.

🇺🇸 Let Larry David rewrite American history. Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness debuts Friday, June 26, on HBO Max, with David playing historical figures alongside Jon Hamm, Kathryn Hahn, Bill Hader, Jerry Seinfeld, J.B. Smoove and more. Expect America’s past filtered through pessimism, irritation and at least one unnecessary argument.

Grilling season is here, and burgers and hot dogs do not have to carry the whole summer. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner has three new recipes for anyone ready to give the grill or smoker a little more responsibility.

🍜 Coulotte Steak Pancit pairs grilled coulotte steak — also known as picanha — with vermicelli rice noodles, grilled scallions and a savory soy glaze. It’s colorful, unexpected and a nice change from the usual cookout lineup.

🧀 Burnt Ends with Mac and Cheese uses seasoned smoked chuck roast coated in barbecue sauce and served with creamy homemade mac and cheese. In other words, nobody is leaving the table hungry.

🍖 Smoked Beef Meatloaf takes the familiar combination of ground beef, onions, breadcrumbs, barbecue sauce and Worcestershire sauce and gives it extra depth in the smoker. Same comfort food, better summer setting.

Tell us something we didn’t already know.

A new study from Innerbody Research has named New Jersey the most ice cream-obsessed state in America — and honestly, between boardwalk soft serve, neighborhood creameries and waffle cones big enough to count as lunch, this feels less like news and more like confirmation.

The average American eats about 4 gallons of ice cream a year, supporting an industry worth roughly $11.6 billion. New Jersey, naturally, appears determined to do its share.

Delaware, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York also ranked near the top, proving the Northeast takes frozen dessert very seriously.

As for flavors, strawberry was the national favorite. New Jersey went with chocolate chip, followed closely by cookie dough.

So congratulations, Garden State. We may argue about pork roll, traffic circles and which shore town is best — but apparently we can all meet at the ice cream counter.

That’s it for this week. Pick an event, call a friend and enjoy something happening right here in Monmouth County.

📢Have a senior event, program or community resource we should know about? Hit reply and send it our way.

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😎See you next week!

The Monmouth Senior Scoop team

Disclaimer: Information is provided for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, legal or financial advice. Event details may change, so confirm with the organizer before heading out.