What's Planned This August In Monmouth County Parks

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Go seining in Sandy Hook Bay, look for a shooting star and enjoy live music in your county parks this August. These are just some of the family-friendly activities the Monmouth County Park System has planned for the month.

Here's everything you can look forward to this August:

Related: August Events For Kids And Teens At Sandy Hook

Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay

Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays, August 1-22 from 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth - Meet on the beach near the parking lot.

Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures as we pull a long seine net along the edge of Sandy Hook Bay. Closed-toe shoes are required. Parents or guardians are required to stay with and supervise their children. No swimming during the event. This program is designed for individuals and families. Weather permitting. FREE!

Boat Tours of the Manasquan Reservoir

Friday, August 1 at 6 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Saturdays & Sundays, August 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, and 30 & 31 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Wednesdays, August 6, 13, 20 & 27 at 2 p.m., 3 p.m. & 4 p.m.

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. Children must be 1 year or older to attend and able to sit independently during the duration of the tour. 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.

Cookstove Demonstration

Saturday, August 2 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!

Thompson Park Canoe Rentals

Saturdays & Sundays, August 2 & 3, 16 & 17, and 30 & 31 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

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 p.m. The cost is $15 per boat for 1-3 people for two hours; cash or check only.

Milling Demonstrations

Saturdays & Sundays, August 2 & 3, 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 23 & 24, and 30 & 31 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!

Victorian Laundry Demonstration

Sunday, August 3 from 1-2:30 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

From lighting the wood stove to ironing the aprons, experience a late-Victorian laundry day during this demonstration. FREE!

Tidal Tuesdays - Seining at Fisherman's Cove

Tuesdays, August 5, 12, 19 & 26 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Fisherman’s Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan

Seine for a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures along the cove during this Park System naturalist-led program. Closed-toe shoes are required. Parents or guardians are required to stay with and supervise their children. No swimming during the event. Weather permitting. FREE!

Fishing 101 – A Beginner’s Guide to Fishing

Thursdays, August 7, 14, 21 & 28 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Manasquan Reservoir, Howell

Learn how to rig, bait, cast and, hopefully, catch your first fish during this program. 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!

Life in a Freshwater Pond

Thursdays, August 7, 14 & 21 from 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen - Meet outside the Visitor Center.

Join Park System naturalists to explore a freshwater pond and look for basking turtles, hopping frogs, hunting herons, splashing fish and anything else that catches our eye. We will also discover the unique life that lies underneath the water in a freshwater pond. Wear closed-toe shoes. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. Weather permitting. FREE!

Basket Weaving Demonstration

Saturday, August 9 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold

Visit the Penn/Jersey Basket Weaving Guild as they weave baskets. FREE!

Open Shoot Archery

Saturday, August 9 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.

Under the Summer Stars

Wednesday, August 13 from 10:30-11:30 p.m.

Dorbrook Recreation Area, Colts Neck – Use the soccer field parking lot.

Look for key objects and constellations in the night sky with our guide. Bring a camp chair to rest on as we star search and a flashlight to light your way in the dark. Program may be cancelled due to overcast skies or inclement weather. Open to all ages; under 18 with adult. FREE!

Concert in the Park: Bring on the Funk with The Fumos

Friday, August 15 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft - Concert is outdoors but will move inside if weather is inclement.

Come ready to dance to an array of memorable classic tunes and jams. Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, food and soft drinks. FREE!

19th Century Woodworking Demonstration

Saturday, August 16 from 12-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

See how a woodworker studies his materials, plies his tools, and crafts beautiful and functional items. FREE!

Piano Ballads from the Turn-of-the-Century

Saturday, August 16 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Hear popular turn-of-the-19th-century ballads played in the farmhouse. FREE!

Bluegrass and Old-Time Music

Sunday, August 17 from 1-3 p.m.

Thompson Park, Lincroft – Outside the Theater Barn

The Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association will meet for a jam session under the trees. Bring your own bass, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or guitar to join in, or just stop by and enjoy an afternoon of music. FREE!

Music on the Porch

Sunday, August 17 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold

Let the toe tapping tunes of an acoustic duo enliven your visit. FREE!

Casual Birder

Tuesday, August 19 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!

Open Mic Poetry - Reinvention & The Romantic Era

Wednesday, August 20 from 7-8:30 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 and available by calling 732-542-1642, ext. 4648. FREE!

Nature Lecture: Sea Turtles of the Jersey Shore

Thursday, August 21 from 7-8 p.m.

Bayshore Waterfront Park Activity Center, Port Monmouth

Find out which species of sea turtles call the Jersey Shore home and what threatens their survival during this talk by a Park System naturalist. FREE!

Accordion Melodies of the 1890s

Saturday, August 23 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

Hear melodies of the 1890s played on the accordion during your visit. FREE!

Penny Rug Demonstration

Saturday, August 23 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

See how scraps of wool or felted wool from old clothing were used to create mats and rugs during this demonstration. FREE!

Concert in the Park - American Classics: Weill, Gershwin, Bernstein in Concert

Saturday, August 23 from 7-8:30 p.m.

Thompson Park Theater Barn, Lincroft

Celebrate the musical legacies of Kurt Weill, George Gershwin and Leonard Bernstein during this performance by Creative OPERAtions. FREE!

Climb Time

Sunday, August 24 from 12-3 p.m.

Shark River Park, Wall

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!

Smocking Demonstration

Saturday, August 30 from 1-3 p.m.

Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel

View the lost art of smocking, a decorative embroidery made by gathering cloth in regularly spaced round tucks. FREE!

Also, the Park System has a number of sites listed on the National Registers of Historic Places that open for free tours during the warmer months including:

Historic Battery Lewis

Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; tours offered through October 12.

Hartshorne Woods Park - Use Rocky Point entrance in Highlands.

Historic Holmes-Hendrickson House

Friday-Sunday from 12-3 p.m. starting every half hour; tours offered through October 5.

Holmdel Park, Holmdel

Historic Portland Place

Wednesday-Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.; tours offered through November 16.

Hartshorne Woods Park, Locust section of Middletown

Historic Racing Stable

Fridays from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturdays & Sundays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; tours offered through October 19.

Thompson Park, Lincroft

Historic Seabrook-Wilson House

Mondays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1-4 p.m.; tours offered through October 30.

Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth

Please note that these historic sites may close due inclement weather and on county holidays.

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