Welcome back (and for many of you, for the first time) to The Shore Things!

As many of you know, the goal for me and the team is to give you a clean, curated list of events going on in Ocean County this weekend. Some of these are one-time opportunities. Others are weekly or monthly staples that everyone should try out at some point.

We also want to give you plenty of fun, relaxed, and encouraging reading to keep you smiling as you plan out your weekend.

Let’s dive in!

I was doing some research for the newsletter, and I stumbled on a piece for the Barnegat Lighthouse. I had forgotten a lot of the history of “Old Barney.” 

Did you know the lighthouse was first lit on January 1, 1859? (Fun fact: It was started two years earlier based on the design of one George Meade, the future Civil War general and the Union hero at the Battle of Gettysburg — sorry, I’m a history nut!)

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1927. After decades of neglect, restoration started in the 1980s, but it was a slow process. It wasn’t until 2009 that the light was once again relit (this time via a new LED beacon). 

The importance of that date? It happened on January 1st of that year, which was the 150th anniversary to the day of the original lighting. (Are you getting goosebumps too?)

In many ways, I feel like picking up this newsletter again with so many new subscribers is my own small version of a relighting. I’m glad you’ve chosen to come along for the ride.

If you’ve never done the climb at Old Barney, you can see what it looks like here…

You can read more about the lighthouse and its museum here…

Alright, on to this week’s events!

Paw Patrol Party
Kids ages two to six can celebrate their favorite pups at this Toms River library party. Find out more here…

Hot Chocolate Bar
Kids ages six to twelve decorate their own mugs before digging into a hot chocolate bar in Brick. Find out more here…

Point Pleasant Beach Sidewalk Sale Days
Local shops take it outside with summer deals all day long in downtown Point Pleasant Beach. Find out more here…

Tuckerton Farmers Market (weekly)
Stock up on Jersey-grown produce and locally made goods at this Friday morning market in Tuckerton. Find out more here…

Seaside Park Farmers Market (weekly)
Grab produce, flowers, and food from local vendors at Seaside Park's Friday market, too. Only open for a few more weeks! Find out more here...

Blackout Poetry
Turn old pages into new poetry with supplied materials at the Toms River library. Find out more and register here…

Princess Party on the Pier
Little ones can enjoy a fairy tale afternoon of princess-themed fun at Casino Pier. Find out more here…

Wellness Screenings
More maintenance than fun (but everyone’s gotta do it!) Get a free health screening from a registered nurse at the Brick library on Friday afternoon. Find out more here…

Dock Road Marlin Fest
Fishing, local vendors, food, and live entertainment surround the White Marlin Invitational in Beach Haven. Find out more here…

Summer Clambake
Dig into scallops, shrimp, mussels, corn, and garlic bread at Laurita Winery (going all weekend). Find out more here…

BCW Wrestling
Watch live professional wrestling (in a Methodist church, no less!) and connect with local businesses at this Toms River event. Find out more here…

Temporary Grace at Water Street
Settle in for a night of live local music at Water Street Bar and Grill. Find out more here...

Downtown Night Out (weekly, Fri & Sat)
Dine under the stars on Washington Street as downtown restaurants spill outside for the night. Find out more here…

Tuckerton's Summer Concerts (seasonal, weekly)
Catch a free outdoor concert at All Wars Memorial Ball Field to close out your Friday. A great doo wop and dance band is on tap this week. Find out more here...

Summer Market Days at Reynolds
Shop more than 30 local artisans, makers, bakers, and potters at Reynolds Garden Shop in Manahawkin. Find out more here...

Junior Garden Explorers (recurring Saturdays)
Kids tour a historic garden, decorate planting pots, and get their hands dirty in Barnegat. Find out more here...

Toms River Boating Safety Class (recurring monthly)
Safety first! Spend the day earning your certification at this full-day NJ boating safety course at the Toms River Elks. Find out more here...

Brick Farmers Market (weekly)
Browse local produce and vendors at Brick's Saturday farmers market as the harvest season ramps up! Find out more here...

First Annual Summer Fest
How often can you experience the first of an annual event? Classic cars, live rock, craft vendors, food trucks, and ice cream take over Tuckerton for its first-ever Summer Fest, running all day. Find out more here...

Butterfly Tent Event
Walk through a live butterfly display and learn about pollinators and native plants in Toms River. Find out more here...

Africa in Our Blood
Local speakers share stories and photography from Tanzania and global health work in Surf City. Find out more here...

Needlepoint for Beginners
Looking for a chill activity to keep you busy for hours on end? Try your hand at a beginner-friendly needlepoint class at TRAC in Toms River. Find out more here...

Street Eats and Brews (recurs multiple weekends)
Pick flowers, sip beer and wine, and browse vendors and food trucks at this New Egypt favorite. Find out more here...

Mary Fahl at Lizzie Rose Music Room
Mary Fahl, formerly of October Project, performs in an intimate Tuckerton music room. Find out more here...

Pretty Woman: The Musical
Surflight Theatre brings the Julia Roberts movie to the stage as a musical in Beach Haven. Find out more here...

Cloverdale Star Party
Astronomy enthusiasts share telescope views of the night sky at Cloverdale Farms in Barnegat. Find out more here...

Wonders of the Seasonal Sky (recurring show)
Take a live planetarium tour of New Jersey's current stars, planets, and constellations. Find out more here…

Barnegat Summer Concerts (weekly)
RB Express will be live during Barnegat Recreation's free dock concert series. Find out more here...

Vintage Car & Truck Show
The 2nd annual show ever! Classic vehicles, music, trophies, and food fill American Legion Post 232 in Barnegat. Find out more here...

What Does 250 Mean to You?
Missing the Independence Day buzz? Kids can explore America's 250th anniversary through stories and activities in Barnegat. Find out more here...

Point Pleasant Fresh Farmers & Makers Market (weekly)
Local farms, makers, and food purveyors fill this Sunday market in Point Pleasant Beach. Find out more here...

Farmers Market at the Lacey Elks (weekly)
Produce, homemade treats, crafts, gifts, and live entertainment await in Forked River. Find out more here...

Jenkinson's Aquarium Yoga (monthly)
Start your day with a serene yoga session before the aquarium opens, surrounded by the flexible seals Turbo and Noelani. Find out more here...

Toms River Stand-Up Paddleboarding (recurring)
Interested in a new activity? Try a beginner/intermediate paddleboarding clinic at Shelter Cove Beach. Find out more here...

Retaliation and Revenge in the Revolution
Itching for a little more “liberty or death”? Hear colorful stories of grudges and feuds from the Revolutionary era in Barnegat. Find out more here...

Acrylic Painting Class
Needlepoint wasn’t for you? Try a relaxed, step-by-step acrylic painting class for all skill levels in Toms River. Find out more here...

Street Eats and Brews (recurs multiple weekends)
Another weekend time slot to pick flowers, sip beer and wine, and browse vendors and food trucks at this New Egypt favorite. Find out more here...

Sunday Portrait Drawing Workshop (weekly)
Join a casual portrait drawing session at the Ocean County Artists Guild in Island Heights. Find out more here...

90s Pop Culture Trivia
Throwback trivia comes with prizes, raffles, and food and drink specials in Seaside Heights. Find out more here...

Song Circle (monthly)
Enjoy acoustic folk, pop, hymns, and informal music making at the Artists Guild in Island Heights. Find out more here…

Movies on the Beach: E.T. (weekly series)
Bring a blanket or beach chair for a free movie under the stars in Seaside Heights. Find out more here...

Lavallette Summer Concert Series (weekly)
Enjoy free live music by We’ll Be Fine under the stars at the Lavallette Gazebo. Find out more here...

If you’re looking for a good movie this weekend, there are a few good options to choose from…

If you’ve got kids, Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie has finally hit theaters this week. While we haven’t seen it yet, there is a lot of buzz around this one featuring Chase, Marshall, and the rest of the crew on a mysterious island populated by dinosaurs!

If you’re feeling the need for a good drama, The Odyssey continues its strong theatrical run. We saw Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece on opening weekend, and it’s been sparking conversations ever since. If you like epic storytelling, this one’s worth watching…in IMAX, if you can swing it!

If you want something the whole family can enjoy, swing in to watch Spider-Man: Brand New Day. This movie has completely blown up the box office (it’s made over $1.5 billion in less than two weeks!) and is a great chance to catch up with the Marvel saga before Avengers: Doomsday arrives in a few months.

Expect beautiful weather this weekend! The extended forecast looks warm and sunny for the most part, but bring an umbrella just in case…

Tide Predictions

Full Weather Report

Full Traffic Report

Phew, it’s great to be at this again. Thank you again for so much support as we get things moving once more. 

If you think of it, send me some photos and a review of any of the events that you end up attending. You can reach me at [email protected]. I’ll try to include them in next week’s newsletter!

Our team had such a great response to the relaunch announcement last week. I just want to let you know that we are actively going through your feedback. (Thank you to everyone who filled out the survey!) 

If you missed it, you can still fill out the survey here: 

More to come!