Did anyone else check the forecast and do a double take? We get a bonus summer day in the upper 80s before things cool off!

Shorts on Friday, sweaters by Sunday. Welcome to October at the Shore!

Whatever you're wearing, this weekend is stacked with a ton of stuff to do. Kites over Surf City, chowder in Beach Haven, firehouse fundraisers, fall festivals, penguins, cosplay, glowing jack-o'-lanterns, and plenty of live music.

Pack sunscreen for Friday, keep an umbrella handy for Sunday, and let's get into it.

One more thing before we dive in…

We're working on an exciting NEW PROJECT for Ocean County locals, and…

It's just one question and takes about 10 seconds. Thanks in advance, guys!

This Saturday, October 3rd, the Pine Beach Fire Company, No. 1, is having their Fire Fest 2026 fundraiser. 

The event is open to the community and will be at Vista Park on Riverside Drive right in Pine Beach.

Here’s a picture from last year’s 100th anniversary!

Cloverdale Farm's Plein Air Weekend
Artists of all kinds can bring their own supplies and spend the day painting outdoors at Cloverdale Farm County Park in Barnegat during this all-weekend plein air event. Find out more here...

17th Anniversary Fall Huddy Park In-Water Boat Show
Stroll the downtown Toms River waterfront at this free boat show featuring everything from pontoons to fishing boats, plus free boat rides, all weekend in Huddy Park. Find out more here...

ACE Barnegat Grand Opening Weekend
Barnegat's new Ace Hardware celebrates its ribbon cutting and grand opening with daily demos from 11 AM to 3 PM, featuring live demos, giveaways, special deals, and plenty of family fun. Find out more here...

NJ 211 Community Resource Overview
Find out how NJ 211 can connect you with local health and human services during this free Lacey Branch session, offered in person and on Zoom with registration requested. Find out more here...

AFTERNOON

LBI Kite Show in Surf City
Surf City's three-day kite festival kicks off with beach demos at 12th Street from noon to 4 PM and an indoor kite show that night, with giant inflatables, sport kite teams, and a lighted night fly coming Saturday. Find out more here...

Halloween Mask Magic
Kids in fifth grade through high school can start sculpting their own plaster gauze Halloween masks during the first session of this two-part workshop at the Ocean County Artists' Guild in Island Heights. Find out more here...

Harvest Victorian Afternoon Tea
Toms River's Mathis House is serving its fall tea with seasonal soup, salad, warm scones, tea sandwiches, petite desserts, and live music, with seatings at 11 AM and 3 PM all week, including Friday through Sunday. Find out more here...

EVENING

Candlelight Concert at the LBI Historical Museum
Four Shore Strings fills the candlelit museum in Beach Haven with everything from Elvis and the Beatles to Taylor Swift, with sparkling wine, light bites, and gallery access included. Find out more here…

Dueling Pianos at Laurita
Laurita Winery in New Egypt turns Friday night into a dueling piano singalong, with doors opening at 5 PM so you can grab dinner before the show. Find out more here...

John Pizzarelli Presents “Dear Mr. Bennett”
Grammy-winning guitarist John Pizzarelli and his trio celebrate Tony Bennett's music and career, sprinkled with personal stories, on the Grunin Center main stage in Toms River. Find out more here...

Manhattan Short 2026
Watch ten short film finalists from ten different countries at LBIF in Loveladies, then vote for Best Film and Best Actor alongside audiences around the world. Find out more here...

Movie Night: The Nightmare Before Christmas
RWJBH Field of Dreams in Toms River hosts a free community screening of the Halloween-meets-Christmas classic in partnership with the Girl Scouts. Find out more here...

Laura Mann & Ben Arnold
Two longtime Philadelphia-area songwriters share the stage for an intimate night of soulful singer-songwriter music at the Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton. Find out more here...

Trivia Night by Quizzoholics
Round up a team and put your random knowledge to the test over a few beers during Friday trivia at Ship Bottom Brewery. Find out more here...

Point Pleasant started to emerge as a destination spot for visitors in the 1870s. This started with a roadway to reach the area. Five years later, the first bridge over the Manasquan River popped up, and a railway followed half a decade after that.

This booming shift in transportation was accompanied by a tourist explosion. Throughout the 1870s, houses were built. So were beachfront hotels. 

But it wasn’t until ten years later, in 1890, that the first boardwalk went up — and things didn’t go well at first. Point Pleasant Beach’s official site summarizes this first foray into ocean shore tourism thusly: “Ten years later, the first boardwalk was built - a flimsy, portable structure. It washed away within two years.”

After a failed first attempt, there was a long break. It wasn’t until 1915 that the first permanent boardwalk finally arrived. You can read the full story here…

MORNING

Ocean's Harbor House Community Bed Build
Lend a hand in Toms River as volunteers team up with Lowe's and Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for local kids who don't have one. No experience required. Find out more here...

Cloverdale Farm Bird Walk
Grab your binoculars for a free, roughly one-mile guided walk exploring the changing bird population at Cloverdale Farm County Park in Barnegat. Find out more here...

Penguins & Pajamas
Little ones can wear their pajamas to Jenkinson's Aquarium for penguin stories, a craft, and a meet-and-greet with one of the African penguins, with admission for the day included. Find out more here...

Ecto Ghouler 5K
Costumes are encouraged at this Halloween-themed 5K in Beach Haven, which wraps up with an after-party (and a free beer for 21+ runners) at Ship Bottom Brewery. Find out more here...

FanNation: The Geekstravaganza
The Toms River Branch turns into a free mini-convention with anime, gaming, K-pop dance classes, Jedi training for kids, nerdy trivia, and a 3 PM cosplay contest. Find out more here...

Point Boro Library Fall Fest
Bring a chair, a blanket, or even an instrument to the Point Pleasant Borough Branch's green space for crafts, games, live music, face painting, snacks, and an open jam session. Find out more here...

Fall Garden Day: Mindful Gardening in Ocean County
Rutgers Cooperative Extension blends gardening and wellness in Toms River with sessions on native plants, insects, pollinators, and mindful gardening practices. Find out more here...

7th Annual Rock for Awareness Festival
The Nicholas Hudanish Foundation fills Point Pleasant's Community Park with live music from The Nerds and The Surge, food trucks, vendors, and kids' activities, all supporting addiction awareness and prevention. Find out more here...

Brick Farmers Market
The market closes out its regular season at Windward Beach Park with dozens of vendors selling produce, baked goods, coffee, and handcrafted goods. Find out more here...

AFTERNOON

Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Co. Block Party
Amber Street will once again turn into one big firehouse fundraiser with bands, food, beer and wine, kids' activities, merch, and raffles from noon until 9 PM. Find out more here...

African Penguin Awareness Day
Jenkinson's Aquarium in Point Pleasant Beach celebrates its African penguins with drop-in crafts, activities, and a penguin feeding, all included with general admission. Find out more here...

2nd Annual Bites & Beats
Central Regional brings food trucks, live music, games, craft vendors, and a 21+ beer garden to the J Street Marina in Seaside Park, with proceeds supporting students. Find out more here...

Lakehurst Youth & Recreation Fall Festival
Lake Horicon hosts an afternoon-into-evening festival starting at 2 PM with food trucks, vendors, games, a DJ, a beer garden, raffles, and fireworks after dark. Find out more here...

Garden State Homegrown: A Tribute to New Jersey Musicians
Gerard and Diane Barros salute Jersey legends like Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith, Paul Simon, Dionne Warwick, and the Sinatras at this free Brick Branch concert. Register soon. Seats are nearly gone! Find out more here...

Toms River's Rockin' Fall Fest
Winding River Park goes all in on fall with a pumpkin patch, free carnival rides, face painting, kids' and scary hayrides, food trucks, a beer garden, and KISS tribute band KIZZ taking the stage from 7 to 9 PM. Find out more here...

EVENING

Italian Candlelight Dinner with Live Music
The Mathis House in Toms River sets the table for a candlelit Italian dinner with live music inside its Victorian mansion, at $35 a person. Find out more here...

The Royal Scam + Chris Fritz
Stafford Township Arts Center in Manahawkin hosts Steely Dan tribute band The Royal Scam, with a special performance by Chris Fritz. Find out more here...

Popa Chubby
Veteran blues-rock guitarist Popa Chubby brings more than 30 years of hard-driving blues to the intimate Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton. Find out more here...

Albert Music Hall Saturday Night Show
Six acts take the stage at Waretown's Albert Music Hall for a low-key night of bluegrass, country, folk, Americana, and Pinelands music, with the first act starting at 6 PM. Find out more here...

This weekend has a little bit of everything…

Friday is going to be gorgeous, with plenty of sun and a high in the mid-80s. Saturday and Sunday will bring things back down to earth. Don’t expect the temps to crack 70 — and be ready for a passing shower either day.

Tide Predictions

Full Weather Report

Full Traffic Report

MORNING

Seaside Half Marathon & 5K
The Ocean Running Club's 49th annual race sends runners through Seaside Heights and along the boardwalk, with 5K, half marathon, and combined challenge options starting at 7:30 AM. Find out more here...

Family Bird Walk
Families can join a free, one-mile guided bird walk around Cloverdale Farm County Park in Barnegat with no preregistration needed, so just grab your binoculars and go. Find out more here... 

Island Beach Fall Fest
Island Beach State Park celebrates fall at Swimming Area 1 with craft vendors, live music, kids' activities, food trucks, and a pet costume parade. Find out more here...

South Toms River Fall Harvest Festival
Mathis Plaza gets a full fall makeover with vendors, food trucks, music, a kids' zone, a mum sale, hayrides, and a pumpkin patch. Find out more here...

LBI Sea Glass & Art Festival
Things A Drift in Ship Bottom gathers sea glass jewelers and coastal artists alongside beach find identification, lectures, contests, fossils, and nautical treasures. Find out more here... 

Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off
A dozen local restaurants compete for chowder bragging rights, and ticket holders get unlimited tastings of red and white chowder with entertainment and drinks on site. Find out more here...

AFTERNOON

Sirens & Smiles
Kids can climb around first responder vehicles, meet character heroes, visit a petting zoo, and get free face painting outside Casino Pier's arcade in Seaside Heights. Find out more here...

Lacey Day 2026
Lacey's weather-postponed community celebration finally lands at Gille Park in Lanoka Harbor with free admission, local vendors, and plenty to do. Find out more here...

Nature and Forest Therapy Walk
Slow down with a two-hour guided walk at LBIF in Loveladies, led by Rich Collins and inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. Find out more here...

Vanities: The Musical
Surflight Theatre's Sunday matinee follows three Texas friends through decades of friendship, growing up, and change in this funny and poignant musical. Find out more here...

From Hearth & Home to the Battle: Black Colonial Life in the Revolutionary Era
Historic Cedar Bridge Tavern in Barnegat explores the lives of enslaved and free Black people and Black soldiers during the American Revolution. Find out more here...

Bobby Horton: Patriot Songs of the American Revolution
Musician and historian Bobby Horton, joined by special guest Sean Dietrich, blends songs, storytelling, and history about the people behind the American Revolution at the Grunin Center. Find out more here...

EVENING

Seaside Heights Restaurant Weekend
Finish the weekend by eating your way around town, with 11 participating Seaside Heights restaurants offering special menus, drinks, and deals. Find out more here...

Ellis Paul
Award-winning folk singer-songwriter Ellis Paul, whose songs have landed in films like Shallow Hal, closes out the weekend with an intimate show at the Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton. Find out more here...

Jacks & Lights at Argos Farm
Wander through thousands of glowing jack-o'-lanterns in Forked River, then hit the flashlight corn maze, pumpkin patch, seasonal treats, and the farm's Spook-easy. Find out more here...

From our entire team here at The Shore Things, stay cool …and warm this weekend!

One more quick reminder to chime in on the new COUPON BOOK idea too. We want to hear your opinion.

See you next week!

Know a local business, maker, restaurant, nonprofit, or hidden gem we should feature? Send them our way. (Here’s that email again: [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.