Hey neighbors…
Can you believe Labor Day is already here? (If you’re thinking about when to start the transition into cooler clothes, make sure to check out the weather section this week. It’s different every day.)
If you’re looking for ways to spend the long weekend, we’ve got a ton of options lined up in this week’s edition, including a special Labor Day Monday highlight at the end.
Pick your events, make your plans, and get ready to end the summer on a high note!
Also…we’ve got a giveaway this week!
Table of Contents
Community Spotlight: Bamber Village Farm
This week, the spotlight is on Bamber Village Farm, a wonderful family-run farm with a self-serve roadside farm stand loaded with local goods for its local community.
The family-run farm is located at 2326 Lacey Road, Forked River.
Here’s something that really touched us during our conversation with owners Ashley and Bryan:
“One of our favorite things about living here is how unique Ocean County really is. Shelby gets to grow up raising animals and getting dirty on a farm in the Pine Barrens, while also growing up on Barnegat Bay and experiencing everything that comes with living at the Jersey Shore. Having both of those worlds right in our backyard is incredibly special to us.”
What we love about Bamber Village Farm:
A small, family-run farm located in Forked River
Its own line of poultry and livestock feeds (along with branded JavaEarth coffee bedding)
A heartwarming rooster rehoming program
A great resource for others wanting to start backyard farms
Your weekend tips:
Our First Giveaway!
We’re excited to add that Bryan and Ashley kindly offered to give away…
A FREE bag of New Country Organics Corn & Soy Free Layer Feed!
If you have chickens (or know someone who has chickens), all you have to do is reply CHICKEN FEED to this email, and we’ll enter you into the giveaway.
Alright, on to this week’s events!
This week in Ocean County...
Friday, September 4th
MORNING
Morning Book Club Kick off the holiday weekend with a low-key morning discussion group at the Ocean County Library's Upper Shores Branch in Lavallette. Find out more here...
Fairytale Friday If you’ve got kids ages three to five, you can enjoy a classic fairytale followed by a themed craft at the Ocean County Library's Long Beach Island Branch. Find out more here...
Lacey Farmers Market Browse fresh food and local vendors at the weekly Lacey Farmers Market outside Lacey United Methodist Church in Forked River. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Teen Movie Friday Teens ages twelve to eighteen can spend the afternoon watching a PG-13 movie with fellow movie fans at the Ocean County Library in Lakewood. Find out more here...
Zumba Gold with Anne Get moving with a low-impact, dance-based fitness class in Toms River designed for beginners, active older adults, and anyone looking for a fun Friday workout. Find out more here...
Unlimited Rides at Fantasy Island Celebrate the unofficial start of Labor Day weekend with a $30 unlimited-rides wristband during the final Friday promotion of the season in Beach Haven. Find out more here...
EVENING
Downtown Night Out Washington Street comes alive with outdoor dining, shopping, and live music for a relaxed Friday night out in Downtown Toms River. Find out more here...
Wine Tasting with Charcuterie Grazing Table and Live Music Make it a date night with a curated wine tasting, a charcuterie grazing table, and live music at the historic Mathis House in Toms River. Find out more here...
Karaoke at the Boardwalk Bar & Grill Grab the microphone for one final summer Friday of karaoke with DJ Mike at Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. Find out more here...
Did you know… about the Ocean County cranberries?
Photo credit: Facebook
It’s harvest season! Did you know New Jersey is one of the top cranberry growers in the US, and, once upon a time, Ocean County alone produced over a quarter of America’s cranberries? This was partly because we had one of the premier cranberry-growing plots of land in the county …up until 14 years ago.
In 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit, and the Gowdy Bog at Double Trouble State Park was never the same again… Here’s how it happened.
In the early 1900s, Double Trouble became the home of one of the biggest cranberry operations in the country. When Edward Crabbe of Toms River bought 1,000 acres in the area in 1904, there were already cranberries there, planted by Captain Ralph Gowdy during the Civil War.
Crabbe turned more of the swampy area into a cranberry-friendly environment. His family owned the Double Trouble Company until 1964, at which point they sold it to the state.
Leaseholders continued to harvest the area until they became the last commercial cranberry growers in the county. Their work continued into the 21st century …until Sandy hit the area on October 29, 2012. The harvest never took place that year, and ever since, the wild cranberries in the bog share the space with a diversity of weeds and wildlife.
You can read more about the abandoned cranberry plot in Double Trouble State Park here…
Saturday, September 5th
MORNING
Women's Surf Retreat Camp Coastline Adventures and Toms River Recreation wrap up the summer with their final Women's Surf Retreat, open to women ages seventeen and older at Ortley Beach. Find out more here...
Farmer's Market Basket Workshop with Niki Giberson Learn how to make a practical handmade market basket with folk artist Niki Giberson at Tuckerton Seaport. Find out more here...
Seaside Park Annual Art & Craft Fair Browse handmade artwork and crafts from local vendors during Seaside Park's annual Labor Day weekend fair. Find out more here...
Craft Fair at Fabricated For You More than sixty outdoor booths and dozens of indoor vendors will offer handmade goods, art, food, and family-friendly activities in Toms River. Find out more here...
Busy Builders Kids (under 9) and families can experiment with LEGO, Magna-Tiles, marble runs, and other hands-on building challenges at the library's Sparks’s Lab in Toms River. Find out more here...
Berkeley Township Food Truck & Music Festival One of the weekend's biggest events features gourmet food trucks, live bands, a beverage garden, and activities for kids at Veterans Park in Bayville. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Drop-In Video Games for Kids Kids ages four to twelve can play video games and meet new friends during this casual drop-in program at the Toms River Branch. Find out more here...
Puzzle Swap Bring gently used puzzles and swap them with fellow puzzle lovers during this all-ages gathering at the Brick Branch. Find out more here...
EVENING
Little Mermaid at Surflight Theatre Bring the kids to a family-friendly theatrical version of The Little Mermaid, specially designed to entertain younger audiences while still being fun for the whole family. Find out more here...
Billy Joel Tribute by Wade Preston Enjoy a live tribute to the Piano Man from Wade Preston, who played Billy Joel's character in Broadway's Movin' Out, at Laurita Winery. Find out more here...
Labor Day Weekend Fireworks at Fantasy Island Cap off Saturday night with fireworks over Fantasy Island as part of the amusement park's Labor Day weekend celebration. Find out more here...
A look at the weather…
You know that weekend in the late summer/early fall when you suddenly know the season is changing? This might be it.
The high on Thursday is 90. By Sunday it’ll be 76 …with a low of 60! Plan accordingly. Either way, though, expect lots of sun!
Sunday, September 6th
MORNING
Co-ed Adult Group Surf Camp Beginner through advanced adult surfers can spend the morning improving their skills during this Toms River Recreation and Coastline Adventures session at Ortley Beach. Find out more here...
Point Pleasant Beach Farmers Market Shop local vendors and fresh goods at the Point Pleasant Beach Farmers Market before exploring the rest of the day's downtown celebration. Find out more here...
America's 250th Parade & Block Party Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a parade down Arnold Avenue followed by a community block party at the Bandshell. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Sundays at 68th Street Head to Long Beach Township for a free outdoor concert as the summer music series returns one more time to the beach in Brant Beach with the Bryan Hansen Band. Find out more here...
Ghost The Musical Matinee Catch an afternoon performance of the Broadway-inspired stage production of Ghost at Surflight Theatre. Find out more here...
John Bacon Documentary and Discussion Historian Toni Robbins will screen and discuss her documentary about the infamous Pine Robber Captain John Bacon at the Cedar Bridge Tavern Historic Site in Barnegat. Find out more here...
EVENING
2026 Summer in Review Trivia Put your knowledge of the summer of 2026 to the test during a themed trivia night with food, drink specials, and prizes at Seaside Social House in Seaside Heights. Find out more here…
Monday, September 7th: Labor Day!
MORNING
Lacey Elks Annual Labor Day Celebration Spend Labor Day at a full-day community celebration featuring food trucks, vendors, family activities, and two live bands at the Lacey Elks Lodge in Forked River. Find out more here...
Seaside Park Farmer's Market Catch the final market of the season for fresh goods and local shopping at the J Street Marina Lawn in Seaside Park. Find out more here...
AFTERNOON
Live Music: Shut Up Gus The first of two bands takes the stage during the Lacey Elks Labor Day celebration, alongside food trucks and family activities. Find out more here...
Labor Day Customer Appreciation Day at Laurita Winery Laurita Winery is thanking its longtime customers with FREE family food specials, discounted wine, and live music from The Medicine Man in New Egypt. Find out more here...
Labor Day Unlimited Rides at Fantasy Island Celebrate the holiday with a $30 unlimited-rides wristband for a full afternoon and evening at the amusement park in Beach Haven. Find out more here...
EVENING
Live Music: The Polish Nannies Stick around for the second live band of the Lacey Elks' all-day Labor Day celebration in Forked River. Find out more here...
Labor Day Fireworks at Jenkinson's Boardwalk Wrap up the holiday weekend with one last fireworks show over the beach and boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach. Find out more here...
That’s it for this week.
From our entire team here at The Shore Things, we sincerely hope you have a fantastic holiday weekend!
We’ll be back next week as the transition from the summer fun back to school gets in motion.
If you have any questions, as always, you can reach the team at [email protected].
See you then!
P.S.
Remember! If you have any local businesses you want to see featured in the newsletter, let us know. (Here’s that email again: [email protected]) Businesses are already lining up, and we want to continue giving the spotlight to these awesome local enterprises and their owners.
…And make sure to visit Bamber Village Farm and get some eggs!