Get Ready For Thompson Park Day Oct. 20 In Middletown

LINCROFT, NJ — From start to finish, Thompson Park Day is fun for the whole family. A celebration of the season, the event is held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, October 20 at Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road in Lincroft.

Free activities for the day include canoeing on Marlu Lake (weather permitting), kids’ races, pie-eating contests, entertainment, mini golf and more. Activities requiring two tickets ($1 per ticket) or a wristband ($12 per person) are archery, bungee trampoline, climbing wall, inflatable rides, wagon rides, Turbo Twister and Turbo Tubs. The following activities accept tickets only: remote control car racing and ceramics (two tickets each), pumpkin painting (three tickets), and pony rides (six tickets).

A scarecrow contest will be held from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Entries are $10 in advance or $12 day of event. This year also features the brand new Spooktacular Jack O'Lantern Contest. The cost is $10 per family, per pumpkin; pre-registration is available and guarantees a pumpkin. The Friends of the Parks will once again hold their annual Strut Your Mutt doggie costume contest as well. Details for these contests are available online at www.MonmouthCountyParks.com.

Scheduled activities for the day include:

Kids’ Races:

Diaper Derby:

(Crawlers) 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m.

Tot Trot:

(Walkers to 17 mos.) 11:45 a.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:45 p.m.

(18 to 23 mos.) 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.

(2 to 3 yrs.) 11:15 a.m., 2:15 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 4:15 p.m.

Pee Wee Run:

(4 to 6 yrs.) 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m.

Sack Races:

(7 to 8 yrs.) 12:15 p.m., 3 p.m.

(9 to 10 yrs.) 1:45 p.m., 4:45 p.m.

Entertainment:

Theater Barn:

11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. - Interactive Storytime with Cheryl Scoles

1-1:45 p.m. - Tucker Puppeteers Present Aesop’s Fables

2:30-3:15 p.m. - Moving & Grooving with Hopscotch from K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital

4:15-5 p.m. - “Inflated Theater” – Interactive Storytime Experience with Doug Young

Strolling Performers:

11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. - Crunchy the T-Rex

12-4 p.m. - Freaky Frankie Balloon Twister

12-4 p.m. - Pumpkin Face the Scarecrow Balloon Twister

To learn more about Thompson Park Day or other Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000.