Health & Fitness
Welcome Fall with Fun in the Parks
Ready to celebrate fall? This October the Monmouth County Park System has plenty to offer the entire family to enjoy. From creating designs with glitter and glue to swapping your old Halloween costumes for new-to-you ensembles, this October is packed with all sorts of fun and excitement.
Here’s some of what the Park System has to offer you and your family this October:
Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir
Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Weekends & holidays at 2, 3, 4 & 5pm (now through October 14)
Manasquan Reservoir, Howell
Find out what's happening in Freeholdwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
These 45-minute tours are narrated by Park System Naturalists and include opportunities to view wildlife. The cost is adults: $5.61; children 12 & under: $3.50 (tax not included). Boat tours are first come, first served. Tickets are available for purchase starting at 7am on the day of the tour. For additional information, call 732-751-9453.
Focus on Fitness & Fun!
Tuesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 from 3:30-5:30pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Children ages 6-10 will have fun, get help with their homework, and hang out with friends. We’ll begin in the gym with some exercise and fitness activities and then break to work on homework and art activities. Cost is $25 per child; cash or check only.
Trash to Treasure
Thursday, October 3 from 1:30-3pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Create a work of art using recycled materials and craft supplies. All ages are welcome; under 18 with adult. Cost is $5 per person; cash or check only.
Parent/Child Morning Chores at Longstreet Farm
Saturday, October 5 at 8am
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Rise and shine! Come help the staff with morning chores. You and your child (age 4 & up) can milk a cow, collect eggs, and feed the animals. The cost is $15 per pair; $5 per additional person. Cash or check only.
Saturday Morning Craft Time
Saturday, October 5 from 9:30-11am
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Start your morning off right with some cute craft projects to make with your little ones (ages 4-7). Science and art will meet during today’s fun sidewalk chalk project. Cost is $5 per parent/child pair; cash or check only.
Open Shoot Archery
Saturday, October 5 from 10am-1pm (ages 8 and up, under 18 with adult)
Thompson Park Activity Barn, Lincroft
If you are looking to try your hand at archery, join us for an open shoot. All equipment provided. This is a non-instructional program. The cost is $7 per person (cash or check only please).
Drop-In Surprise Story Time
Saturdays, October 5 & 19 from 11-11:45am
Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown
It's story time! If the weather is nice, look for the clue at our Horticultural Center entrance that leads to the secret spot in the gardens. If it’s rainy, we’ll be inside. FREE!
Climb Time
Sunday, October 6 from 10am-1pm
Saturday, October 19 from 10am-1pm
Thompson Park, Lincroft
Enjoy a free chance to try our 25-foot rock climbing wall. Climbers must be 42 inches or taller. FREE!
Walnford Day
Sunday, October 6 from 11am-5pm
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
Celebrate Walnford’s 241st anniversary with games, crafts, wagon rides, activities, demonstrations, exhibits, and so much more! Admission and parking are free.
Historic Seabrook-Wilson House Open for Tours
Sundays, October 6, 13, 20 & 27 from 1-4pm
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Visit this house, which dates back to the early 1700s, and see displays on the ecology of the bay and local history. Free!
Open Ceramics
Sunday, October 6 from 12:30-4:30pm
Thompson Park Creative Arts Center, Lincroft
Choose from a large selection of bisque fired pottery pieces to glaze and make your own. The cost is $6 per hour plus price of bisque ware; cash or check only. Pieces will be fired in about a week.
Square Foot Field Trip
Monday, October 7 from 3:30-4:30pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Ages 6-9 will by amazed as they explore the world beneath their feet! They’ll collect, dig, examine and record the incredible tiny universe we walk over every day. Cost is $15 per child; cash or check only.
Re-Spook, Re-Wear, Re-Scare Costume Swap
Sunday, October 13 from 1-5pm
Thompson Park Visitor Center, Lincroft
Drop off your gently used kid, adult and pet costumes between 10am-4pm from October 7-11 or from 10am-12pm on October 12 at one of the following locations: Huber Woods Environmental Center, Middletown; Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell; Thompson Park Visitor Center, Lincroft; Dorbrook Recreation Visitor Center or Activity Center, Colts Neck; or the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls. You will receive one token per costume you drop off. Then, visit the Thompson Park Visitor Center, Lincroft, between 1-5pm on Sunday, October 13 and exchange your tokens for new-to-you costumes. While there enjoy snake or turtle shows and make a recycled craft. Questions, call 732-751-9453.
Blacksmith Demonstration
Sunday, October 13 from 1-3pm
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Visit the blacksmith in his workshop. FREE!
Music Man Rich Marzec
Sunday, October 13 from 1-3pm
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Hear tunes from yesteryear. FREE!
Glitter & Glue
Tuesday, October 15 from 11am-12pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
You and your child (ages 2-5) will explore all the designs you can make with just glitter and glue. Cost is $15 per parent/child pair; cash or check only.
Roving Park System Naturalist
Wednesday, October 16 at 2pm
Hominy Hill Golf Course, Colts Neck (meet in the Matthews Road parking lot)
Monday, October 28 at 9am
Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands (meet at the Rocky Point entrance)
Join our Roving Park System Naturalist for a walk and learn about seasonal points of interest. FREE!
Gym Jam
Thursday, October 17 from 7-9pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Kids ages 12-16 will love enjoying the open gym to shoot some hoops, playing a pick up game, or even floor hockey. Looking for something more low key? Bumper pool, air hockey, and more will also be available. Cost is $5 per child; cash or check only.
Plein Air Artists
Saturday, October 19 from 11am-5pm
Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold
Observe accomplished artists as they translate Historic Walnford’s picturesque landscape and historic buildings into works of art. View the day’s works at an informal reception and silent auction that will begin at 4pm. Purchases will benefit the Monmouth County Park System.
Corn Harvest
Saturday & Sunday, October 19 & 20 from 12-2pm
Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
We will harvest our feed corn this weekend and to give visitors and understanding of the process. FREE!
Thompson Park Day
Sunday, October 20 from 11am-5pm
Thompson Park, Lincroft
Enjoy a day of autumn fun for the entire family! This popular annual event features kids’ races, wagon rides, pumpkin painting, rides, entertainment, and so much more. Admission and parking are free; some activities require a fee.
Shrink Art Fun
Monday, October 21 from 3:30-5pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Children ages 6-8 will create colorful designs and watch them shrink into a custom pendant or key chain. Cost is $5 per child; cash or check only.
Farewell to Summer Fish & Crabs
Saturday, October 26 from 2-3pm
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth
Explore the interesting and wild sea creatures of the Park System’s aquarium and fish tanks to discover some of the animals that live in Sandy Hook Bay. FREE!
Autumn Nature Walk
Saturday & Sunday, October 26 & 27 at 1:30pm
Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, Howell
Venture onto the trails with a Park System Naturalist as your guide as you marvel in the beauty of autumn. FREE!
Play Dates in the Park
Sunday, October 27
10am-12pm at Dorbrook Recreation Area, Colts Neck
1-3pm at Thompson Park, Lincroft
Join us for a game of Jumbo Basketball. This popular game is played with a 10-foot blow-up basketball goal! Ages 5 and up, with adult. No experience necessary. FREE!
Baby Story Time
Tuesday, October 29 from 10:45-11:30am
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
Share the fun of nursery rhymes, songs and short stories with your little one (ages 11 months-18 months, with adult). Cost is $15 per parent/child pair; cash or check only.
Punch Out Collages
Wednesday, October 30 from 3:30-5pm
Fort Monmouth Recreation Center, Tinton Falls
We’ll have fun while creating unique collages. All ages welcome; under 18 with adult. Cost is $5 per person; cash or check only.
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 Chosen Freeholders, is Monmouth County’s Open Space, Parks, and Recreation agency.
