What's Planned In Monmouth County Parks In September

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Bookended by the last hurrah of summer and the first days of autumn, September is a great time to visit your county parks.

The Monmouth County Park System makes it even better by filling the month with family fun. Here’s what is planned:

Fishing 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to Fishing

Thursday, September 3 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell
Learn how to rig, bait, cast and hopefully, catch your first fish! Come and go at any time. Bait and tackle provided. Open to all ages; under 14 with adult. Fishing license required for ages 16-69. Stop by the bait shop for day-of registration. No groups please. FREE!

Cookstove Demonstration

Saturdays, September 5 & 19 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See what's cooking on the woodstove and discover how recipes, cooking techniques and kitchens have changed since the 1890s. FREE!

Milling Demonstrations

Saturdays & Sundays, September 5 & 6, 12 & 13, 19 & 20, and 26 & 27 at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
See the 19th century gristmill grind corn into meal. Each demonstration lasts approximately 15 minutes. FREE!

Music on the Porch

Sunday, September 6 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
Hear the toe-tapping tunes of an acoustic duo. FREE!

Casual Birder

Tuesday, September 8 at 9 a.m.
Huber Woods Park, Middletown
Tuesday, September 22 at 9 a.m.
Hartshorne Woods Park - Meet in the Rocky Point parking lot in Highlands.
Join a Park System Naturalist for a laid-back morning bird walk and meander through the park for about an hour and a half to see what birds we can find. Participants should expect to be walking a few miles (2-4) on sometimes uneven or muddy terrain. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. FREE!

Awesome Autumn Amble

Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a.m.
Huber Woods Park, Middletown - Meet in the Environmental Center parking lot.
Wednesday, September 16 at 10 a.m.
Clayton Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in the Emley's Hill parking lot.
Explore the trails with a Park System Naturalist and discuss all manners of plant and animal phenomena. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. FREE!

Jigsaw Puzzle Swap

Saturday, September 12 from 10-11 a.m.
Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft
Bring used puzzles and swap them for "new to you" ones. For every puzzle you bring, you will get one token to take a "new" puzzle home. Complete puzzles in good condition, please. All categories welcome. FREE!

Open Shoot Archery

Saturday, September 12 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft
All equipment is provided for this open shoot. No outside equipment permitted. This is not an instructional clinic and NOT designed for beginners. If you are new to archery, register for one of our instructional classes prior to attending. Open to ages 10 and up; under 18 with adult. The cost is $10 per person; cash or check only.

Piano Ballads from the Turn-of-the-Century

Saturday, September 12 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Hear popular turn-of-the-19th-century ballads. FREE!

Potato Harvest

Saturday & Sunday, September 12 & 13 from 12-2 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Learn how potatoes were grown and harvested at the end of the 19th century. Help the Longstreet Farm staff bring in the crop and dig some potatoes for your own family. Weather and field conditions permitting. FREE!

Bonsai Day

Sunday, September 13 from 12-4 p.m.
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown
The Monmouth County Park System and the Deep Cut Bonsai Society present Bonsai Day. Experience this intricate and ancient art through demonstrations and displays, with experts on hand to answer your questions. Admission and parking are free.

Blacksmith Demonstration

Sunday, September 13 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Head to the farm’s blacksmith shop and see craftsmanship in action and learn about the rich history behind the forge. FREE!

Open Mic Poetry - Becoming and/or poems written only in the present tense

Sunday, September 13 from 3-4:30 p.m.
Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft
Explore or recite literary works during a time of alliteration, rhythm and verse. All are welcome to read your work aloud or read work from your favorite poet(s). Must be appropriate for a family-oriented audience. Pre-registration is recommended for readers. FREE!

Nature Lecture: Travel to the Galapagos Islands

Thursday, September 17 from 7-8 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth
Learn about the Galapagos Islands and their sights, sounds and biodiversity during this talk by a Park System Naturalist who visited them. FREE!

Open House Square Dance

Friday, September 18 from 7-9 p.m.
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft
Give square dancing a try during this fun, family-friendly evening with the Middletown Ramblers! Ages 14 and up are welcome; under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. FREE!

Deep Cut Gardens Fall Native Plant Exchange

Saturday, September 19 - Plant drop-off from 8:30-10 a.m.; Swap starts at 10 a.m.
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown
Bring established native plants in 4-inch, 1-quart, 1-gallon or 2-gallon containers to exchange with like sizes. Label all plants. Only plants native to the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States will be accepted. FREE!

Wind & Sea Festival

Saturday, September 19 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Celebrate all things water-related during this family-friendly festival. Some activities are weather and conditions permitting. Admission and parking are free; some activities may have a fee.

Accordion Melodies of the 1890s

Saturday, September 19 from 1-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Hear melodies of the 1890s played on the accordion during your visit. FREE!

Preserving the Harvest

Sunday, September 20 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See 19th century techniques for food preservation such as salting, pickling, drying and jelling during this demonstration. FREE!

Everyone Has a Story

Saturday, September 26 from 6-8 p.m.
Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft
Gather for a night of storytelling through life experiences. James Dalton, creator of AP & Me Productions, invites a cast of different characters from the region, all with unique voices and perspectives, all sharing their stories through a variety of topical prompts. Audience members will be encouraged to share their stories that relate to the given prompts as time allows. FREE!

Harvest Home Festival

Sunday, September 27 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
This old-fashioned fair is reminiscent of the 1890s. Visitors can enjoy games and live entertainment. Admission and parking are free.

To learn more about these Park System activities, please visit www.MonmouthCountyParks.com or call the Park System at 732-842-4000. For persons with hearing impairment, the Park System TTY/TDD number is 711. The Monmouth County Park System, created in 1960 by the Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks and Recreation agency.