Hey neighbors…
Are you still tired from daylight saving this past weekend?
Halloween is officially behind us, the clocks have fallen back, and it’s dark before dinner. Do you have your plans lined up for Thanksgiving yet?
Don’t pack away the flannel just yet, either. Fall is going out with a bang this weekend. We’ll have plenty of sunshine and unseasonably warm weather — along with a wine festival, a chili cook-off, hayrides, actual fireworks, and plenty of fire pits to cozy up to after dark.
Let’s see what’s going on around the county this weekend…
Table of Contents
TST Thanksgiving Specials
This week, we’re using the spotlight to list some of the team’s favorite recommendations for the Thanksgiving season!
Thanksgiving Dinner Playlist: A great list of family-friendly classics focused on thankfulness, home, and fun.
Raddish Kids Cooking Club: Monthly kits that turn kids into sous chefs — just in time for the big meal!
Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Recipes: Gluten-free and dairy-free, so everyone can dig in. (Including a homemade garlic herb cracker you’ve got to try!)
ThermoPop 2 Thermometer: Because nobody wants a dry turkey.
502 Baking Company: Too busy to make everything? Let a Brick bakery handle dessert this year.
Color-Your-Own Table Cover: Keeps the kids’ table happy (and busy) before and after the meal.
Pyrex Glass Storage Set: Leftovers deserve better than plastic containers and mismatched lids.
Thanks-For-Giving Turkey Trot (Nov. 21): Earn your pie with a great local charity 5K.
Telestrations Family Pack: Telephone meets drawing. Instant after-dinner laughs.
Holiday in the Park (Opens Nov. 21): The splashy holiday event is back at Great Adventure!
Now on to this week’s events!
This week in Ocean County...
Friday, November 6th
MORNING
Craft Supply Swap Refresh your crafting stash and exchange supplies with other local makers during a community swap at the Little Egg Harbor Library. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Flash Tattoo Event at Pinelands Brewing Company Stay Gold Tattoo brings artist Desmond Mooney to Pinelands Brewing Company for an afternoon of flash tattoos, craft beer, and a decidedly different Friday outing. Find out more here...
EVENING
Shemekia Copeland with JB Barnes Blues Band Award-winning blues singer Shemekia Copeland performs the second of two nights at the intimate Lizzie Rose Music Room, joined by South Jersey's JB Barnes Blues Band. Find out more here...
Did you know… we almost got an airport twice the size of JFK, Newark, and LaGuardia combined?
Credit: Ocean County Collection
In 1964, the Pinelands Planning Board proposed a 51-square-mile international jetport built for supersonic jets. The site? South of Route 72, right around where the Warren Grove bombing range sits today.
The plans were enormous.
At the time, it was estimated to cost $106.5 million, include eight runways, each 16,000 feet long, and employ 123,000 workers. A brand new “New City” expected to grow past 250,000 people within half a century, plus a new 26-mile Parkway spur from Toms River to New Gretna, monorails, and trains.
So what happened?
Ocean County Historian Timothy Hart thinks it was all wishful thinking. And here’s the twist: the backlash against it helped fuel the movement to protect the Pinelands for good.
Read the county’s full write-up here…
Saturday, November 7th
MORNING
Green Island Fall Festival Green Island Community Association welcomes neighbors for food trucks, live music, vendors, children's games, and crafts at its second annual fall festival. Find out more here...
Holly Berry Bazaar First United Methodist Church hosts its annual charity bazaar with baked goods, quilts, jewelry, collectibles, holiday decorations, and other handmade treasures. Find out more here...
Stafford Township EMS Auxiliary Holiday Craft Market Get an early start on holiday shopping at Southern Regional High School while supporting the Stafford Township EMS Auxiliary and browsing locally made crafts and gifts. Find out more here...
Third Annual LGBTQIA+ Resource Fair The Toms River Library hosts free workshops, community resources, an AIDS Memorial Quilt display, and a keynote presentation by comedian Julia Scotti. Find out more here...
Toms River High School South Marching Band Fall Craft & Vendor Fair Shop handmade crafts, seasonal decorations, and gifts at Intermediate South in Beachwood while supporting the Toms River High School South marching band. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Sip in Autumn Wine Festival Spend the afternoon at Veterans Park enjoying New Jersey wines, live music, food vendors, and artisan shopping during the sixth annual two-day festival. Find out more here...
Lacey PBA 238 Oktoberfest Argos Farm hosts a fundraiser featuring a pig roast from the Forked River German Butcher Shop, live music from The Pickles, seasonal drinks, and farm activities. Find out more here...
BaconFEST & Fire Pits with Fireworks at Laurita Winery Laurita Winery brings together food trucks, live music, wagon rides, apple-and-pumpkin cannons, and a Saturday fireworks display. Find out more here...
Fifth Annual Chili Cook-Off at Manafirkin Brewing Taste competing chili recipes, vote for your favorite, and support local food bank Starve Poverty during Manafirkin Brewing Company's charity cook-off. Find out more here...
Awesome Autumn Fun at Jakes Branch Bring the family for hayrides, a petting zoo, lawn games, live music, children's crafts, and food trucks at Jakes Branch County Park. Find out more here...
Family Promise of the Jersey Shore's 13th Annual Gift Auction Bid on hundreds of gift baskets at St. Mary's Parish Center while helping local families and individuals experiencing homelessness. Find out more here...
EVENING
Albert Music Hall: Jersey Devil Show Celebrate Pine Barrens folklore with live music, a Jersey Devil legend retelling, and performances by the Jersey Devil Pipe Band and local musicians. Find out more here...
Comedy Night Fundraiser for Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Company Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy while raising money for the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Company, with tickets listed at $33. Find out more here...
Family Pasta Dinner Benefiting the Maximilian Foundation Enjoy a family pasta dinner, live music from Billy T. Midnight, raffles, and a basket drop at the Manahawkin Elks while supporting youth prevention programs. Find out more here...
Forked River Fire Department Food Trucks & Fire Pits Support the local fire department with an evening of food trucks, outdoor fire pits, and community fun at the Oak Street firehouse. Find out more here...
Singer/Songwriter Evening: In the Round Six local songwriters share original music and the stories behind their songs during an intimate performance at Lizzie Rose Music Room. Find out more here...
A look at the weather…
You’d never guess it’s November in the Garden State. Friday will be rainy, but we’ll almost hit 70!
Then, it's sunshine in the 60s and 50s for Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Get outside and enjoy it while it lasts!
Sunday, November 8th
MORNING
Cloverdale Farm Plein Air Weekend Bring your art supplies to Cloverdale Farm County Park for a day of outdoor painting inspired by cranberry bogs, landscapes, and natural scenery. Find out more here...
Fall Market at Cuisine on the Green Shop jewelry, candles, honey, artwork, crocheted items, and other locally made goods from roughly 15 small businesses. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Sip in Autumn Wine Festival: Sunday Session The two-day wine festival continues at Veterans Park with New Jersey wineries, food vendors, live music, and artisan shopping. Find out more here...
Fifth Annual Field of Dreams Car & Truck Show Check out classic cars, trucks, and motorcycles alongside live music, raffles, vendors, and family activities while supporting the Field of Dreams organization. Find out more here...
Food Trucks & Fire Pits at Laurita Winery Enjoy a Sunday afternoon of food trucks, live music, wagon rides, seasonal treats, and vineyard activities, minus Saturday's advertised fireworks. Find out more here...
That’s it for this week.
November is in full swing. (And those pesky election ads are finally in the rearview mirror.)
Enjoy the sunshine ahead, and we’ll reconnect next week.
See you then!
P.S.
Know a local business, maker, restaurant, nonprofit, or hidden gem we should feature? Send them our way at [email protected].
We continue to have a string of great local spotlights lined up, and we want to keep introducing you to the people and businesses that make Ocean County special.