New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Monmouth County Park System In May

originally published: 04/24/2022

(LINCROFT, NJ) -- — Now that April showers have brought May flowers, it’s the perfect time to enjoy a county park.  From Mill Demonstrations to the Decoration Day Celebration, the Monmouth County Park System is bursting with activity.  Here’s a look at events in May.



Mill Demonstrations - Saturdays & Sundays, April 30 & May 1, May 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, and 28 & 29 at 12:30:00pm, 1:30:00pm, 2:30:00pm & 3:30:00pm; Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold. See the 19th century gristmill in action. Each demonstration lasts approximately 15 minutes. FREE!  



The Casual BirderTuesday, May 3 at 9:00am; Perrineville Lake Park, Millstone - Meet in the Agress Road parking lot.

The Casual Birder - Tuesday, May 10 at 9:00am; Clayton Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in the Emley’s Hill Road parking lot.

The Casual Birder - Tuesday, May 17 at 9:00am; Hartshorne Woods Park - Meet in the Rocky Point parking lot in Highlands.




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



The Casual Birder - Tuesday, May 24 at 9:00am; Manasquan Reservoir, Howell - Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.

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. No need to be an expert at identifying birds to enjoy. A limited number of binoculars will be available to borrow if needed. FREE!  



Great Spring Perennial Plant Swap - Saturday, May 7; Plant drop off from 8:30am-10:00am; Plant selection from 10:00am-11:00am. Tatum Park, Middletown – Use Red Hill Road entrance. Gardeners are invited to bring established plants in one-quart, one-gallon or two-gallon containers and take home the same size and number of plants. Please label all plants. Herb and vegetable seedlings are allowed for an equivalent exchange. FREE!  



Creative Arts FestivalSaturday, May 7 from 10:00am-4:00pm; Thompson Park, Lincroft. See the works of artists and fine crafters from all mediums including pottery, jewelry, photography and painting. Events also include live music and food. Admission and parking are free.



Embroidery DemonstrationSaturday, May 7 from 1:00pm-3:00pm; Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. View the lost art of applying decorative designs with a needle and thread during this demonstration. FREE!



Cookstove Demonstration - Saturdays, May 7 & 21 from 11:00am-3:00pm; 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! 



Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir - Saturdays & Sundays, May 7 & 8, 14 & 15, 21 & 22, 28 & 29 and Monday, May 30 at 2:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm & 5:00pm; Manasquan Reservoir, Howell. These 45-minute tours are narrated by Park System Naturalists and include opportunities to view local wildlife. The cost is $6 per adult and $4 per child, age 12 and under. Please call to confirm schedule as tours are both weather and water level dependent. All tours leave from the Visitor Center. Life-jackets required. Tickets can be purchased on day of tour only.






Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



Plant a Sunflower - Sunday, May 8 from 12:00pm-2:30pm; Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Plant this year’s sunflower field. Visit the farm throughout the summer and watch as the Mammoth Russian sunflowers grow to over 10 feet tall! Participants are invited to return in the fall and harvest their very own sunflower. FREE! 



Splendid Spring Strolls - Monday, May 9 from 10:00am-11:30am; Clayton Park, Upper Freehold - Meet in the Emley’s Hill parking lot. 

Splendid Spring Strolls - Monday, May 23 from 10:00am-11:30am; Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot.

Join a Park System Naturalist on a peaceful trail walk through the park. Sturdy footwear is recommended as trails used may have inclines or tree roots to step over. FREE! 



Open Shoot Archery - Saturday, May 14 from 10:00am-2:00pm; 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, check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover accepted.



19th Century Woodworking Demonstration - Saturday, May 14 from 12:00pm-3:00pm. Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel; See the carpenter use 19th century woodworking and carving tools. FREE!  



Piano Ballads from the Turn of the Century - Saturday, May 14 from 1:00pm-3:00pm; Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Tap your feet, dance a one-step, or sing-along to popular turn-of-the-19th-century ballads as they are played inside the farmhouse. FREE! 



Walnford Day - Sunday, May 15 from 11:00am-5:00pm; Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold. Experience the sights and sounds of history during this annual celebration of the site. Admission and parking are free.



Horse-Drawn Plowing Demonstration - Sunday, May 15 from 12:00pm-2:00pm; Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Stop by the field and chat with the farm staff about the steps needed to ensure a good harvest, and maybe even get a chance to plow (with the farmer’s help). Weather dependent. FREE! 



Climb Time - Tuesday, May 17 from 3:00pm-6:00pm; Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen




Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



Climb Time - Sunday, May 22 from 12:00pm-3:00pm; Turkey Swamp Park, Freehold 

Try the Park System's 25’ portable climbing wall. You must be 42” or taller to climb. Open to ages 8 and up; under 18 with adult. FREE! 



Accordion Melodies of the 1890s - Saturday, May 21 from 1:00pm-3:00pm; Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Hear melodies of the 1890s played on the accordion. FREE!  



Nature on the Move - Saturday, May 21 at 3:00pm; Manasquan Reservoir, Howell – Meet in the Visitor Center parking lot. Look for our colorful Nature on the Move van and join one of our Park System Naturalists for a 45-60-minute hands-on interactive program FREE! 



Nature Lecture Series: Horseshoe Crabs Trying to Survive in a Modern World - Thursday, May 26 from 7:00pm-8:00pm; Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth. Discover why the population of horseshoe crabs is declining, what people are doing to protect the crab through research, and what you can do to help. FREE!  



Thompson Park Canoe Rentals - Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29 from 10:00am-3:00pm; Thompson Park, Lincroft. Canoes will be available for rent on Marlu Lake. All equipment provided; limited number of canoes available. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. All rentals must be returned by 3:00pm The cost is $15 per boat for 1-3 people for two hours. Cash or check only.



Historic Battery Lewis Tours - Saturday & Sunday, May 28 & 29 from 12:00pm-4:00pm; Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands – Rocky Point section. Tour the restored Historic Battery Lewis and learn about the history of this important former coastal defense site. FREE!  



Decoration Day Celebration - Monday, May 30 from 1:00pm-3:00pm; Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel. Enjoy the company of family and friends as we honor this early American holiday. 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

FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Tuesday

Tuesday Night Book Club - Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea

Tuesday, April 08, 2025 @ 7:30pm
VIRTUAL
category: community


 

Dr.

Dr. Temple Grandin: The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism and Asperger’s

Wednesday, April 09, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: community


 

NRI

NRI Antakshari ka Suhana Safar with Dr Annu Kapoor

Saturday, April 12, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: community


 

Tracy

Tracy K. Smith

Monday, April 14, 2025 @ 6:00pm
VIRTUAL
category: community


 

Tracy

Tracy K. Smith

Monday, April 14, 2025 @ 6:00pm
VIRTUAL
category: community


 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Monmouth

Monmouth County Park System to Host 2025 Spring Craft Show

(TINTON FALLS, NJ) -- On Saturday, April 12, the Monmouth County Park System will host its 2025 Spring Craft Show at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center. This seasonal craft show features local artists and crafters and is the perfect place to find Mother's Day gifts, spring decorations, and more. The event runs from 9:00am to 2:00pm.



Hear

Hear a Jersey Shipwreck Saga at the Ocean County Library Barnegat Branch

(BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- Many storied sea tragedies have unfolded off the New Jersey coast, but few are as unique as the 1884 sinking of a sleek cargo carrier and the loss of its entire crew. Join historian and diver Dan Lieb for "The Tragedy of the Schooner, John K. Shaw" at the Ocean County Library Barnegat Branch on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The event begins at 7:00pm.



RVCC

RVCC Planetarium to Feature Two New Star Shows in April

(BRANCHBURG, NJ) -- The Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium in Branchburg will present two new star shows in April: Max Goes to the Moon, designed for youngsters ages 6-12, and Phantom of the Universe: The Hunt for Dark Matter, for audiences ages 10-adult.



Chefs

Chefs Who Care: A Night with Lidia Bastianich to Support Pediatric Cancer in New Jersey

(BRIELLE, NJ) -- The Ashley Lauren Foundation presents its Chefs Who Care event, set to take place on April 29, 2025 at the amazing Addison Park in Aberdeen. This special evening will feature celebrated Italian American chef, Lidia Bastianich as their 2025 Honoree. It promises to be an unforgettable culinary experience benefiting children with cancer and their families.



Two

Two River Theater to Honor T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center with Inaugural Spotlight Award

(RED BANK, NJ) -- As part of its 31st Gala on Saturday, May 3, 2025, Two River Theater is thrilled to honor local Community Partner T. Thomas Fortune Cultural Center with its inaugural Spotlight Award.