The Monmouth County Fair is Coming!

The highlight of the summer has arrived! Organized and presented by the Monmouth County Park System in cooperation with the Monmouth County 4-H, the 44th annual Monmouth County Fair returns to East Freehold Showgrounds on Wednesday-Sunday, July 25-29. Whether it’s a family tradition or your first time visiting, this five-day event offers fun for all ages with musical entertainment, a variety of food vendors, rides, home and garden competitions and exhibits, and so much more!

Rides

Sure to delight thrill seekers of all ages! This year's rides are once again provided by Reithoffer

Shows. Two rides areas will be available, one for smaller children's rides and another for the thrill seekers in your family. Wristbands can be purchased every night at a cost of $25 on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and $30 on Friday and Saturday. Single ride tickets will also be available for purchase. Ride wristbands are also available for early-bird purchase on the Reithoffer Shows website for $25; early-bird sales end on July 24. There will also be a variety of fun carnival-style games you can play as well! 

Entertainment

Entertainment has always been a big part of the Fair and this year’s performers promise to deliver! Each day is filled with fun and excitement! There will be plenty of returning favorites that are always a hit with families, such as Bwana Jim’s Wildlife Show where you can catch a glimpse at wild animals such as snakes, alligators, hawks, owls, turtles and more. Be sure to check out Mutts Gone Nuts, featuring everyone’s favorite four-legged pets showcasing their skills, their personalities, and their senses of humor as they complete tricks and jumps. Hell on Wheels BMX Stunt Show also returns this year with an exhilarating performance that's sure to fill spectators with excitement. Other fun and exciting events include Wheel of Destiny, Robinson's Racing Pigs, and Hilby the Skinny German Juggle Boy.

And don’t forget our musical entertainment! The Moroccan Sheepherders kick things off on Wednesday night, performing a mix of classic rock covers and original music at 8:15 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. On Thursday night, vibe out with The Chuck Lambert Band at 8:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Friday night, be inspired by the young and talented group Musicians on a Mission at 8:30 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. with a performance that brings awareness and funds for local charitable organizations through planned musical events that showcase New Jersey performers. There are a lot of cover bands out there, but there’s only one that can kick off a Saturday night like the Jimmy Buffet & Friends Tribute Band, scheduled to perform at 8:15 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Come experience the ViRAGO Music Celtic Trio as they bring the Fair to a close on Sunday with their mix of ethnic melodies and rhythms with original songs at 12 p.m. & 1:45 p.m. 

Vendors & Exhibits

There are plenty of vendors and exhibits to visit during the Monmouth County Fair as well! From shopping to eating, you’ll find a variety of booths. There are over 25 food vendors if you need a bite to eat, so don’t worry there will be plenty to choose from, including our first ever vegan vendor! Be sure to support local Monmouth County businesses at the Made in Monmouth tent where you’ll find an assortment of products made in Monmouth County that may include unique household and decorative items, jewelry, specialty foods and pet accessories. At the Grown in Monmouth booth you’ll learn about this new and exciting program designed to help retain and grow the County’s Agricultural industry. Other highlights include a variety of Monmouth County 4-H exhibits and events such as animal shows, contests, demonstrations and entertainment. The Home & Garden Tent features entries in a variety of competitions from photography to painting, fruits and vegetables to baking, plus daily demonstrations that may spark your interest in learning something new. If you’re a history buff, stop by the Living History Tent and learn about the county’s rich agricultural environment through hands-on activities and demonstrations. 

The Monmouth County Fair is open from 5-11 p.m. on Wednesday-Friday, July 25-27; 3-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 28; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, July 29. Admission is $8 per person; children 12 and under are free. For more information about the Fair, visit www.MonmouthCountyFair.com, or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312.

Park & Recreation Month: A Lifetime of Discovery

Make every day an adventure in Monmouth County’s beautiful parks this month! This July, the Monmouth County Park System is celebrating Park and Recreation Month, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA). Since 1985, America has celebrated Park and Recreation Month during the month of July to acknowledge the influential impact the parks and recreation services has in organizing and preserving the quality of life for, and contributing to the physical, economic and environmental well-being towards our local parks. 

In this annual monthly celebration the Monmouth County Park System encourages residents to get out and experience the benefits of parks and recreation. From health and wellness to conservation efforts and everything in between! Playgrounds, recreation centers, programs and summer camps are just a few of the things that come to mind when we think of parks and rec. But, parks and recreation are so much more than that. It’s a time for visitors to explore the undiscovered roles of our local parks as we showcase all the exciting things you can experience in your parks. Whichever activity you choose to do, don’t experience it alone. 

Here are some free activities to help you begin your outdoor adventures in the parks this July:

• Seining Along Sandy Hook Bay - Discover a variety of fish, crabs and other sea creatures as we pull a long seine net along the edge of Sandy Hook Bay at Bayshore Waterfront Park located in Port Monmouth. It will be a fun time for everyone as we find out what lives and swims in the Sandy Hook Bay. This program runs every Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. this summer through August 24.
• Tidal Tuesdays - Every Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Fisherman's Cove Conservation Area, Manasquan, take part in activities such as meeting creatures living in the water that we find in our seine net or creating crafts from natural materials found along the shore. Meet at the Activity Center.
• Independence Day Celebration - Independence Day was a festive time in the 1890s. Patriotism was celebrated with music and games. Join the staff at Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel as they celebrate the holiday with games and contests from 12-3 p.m.!
• Enviro-Quest - Every Thursday of July offers nature fun at a different park. When you arrive at the scheduled park, follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where our Park System Naturalist awaits. Once there, you'll join in activities, crafts or games for approximately 30-60 minutes of fun. For upcoming dates and locations, click here. 
• Roving Naturalist -
  
  Join our Roving Naturalist on Saturday, July 7 at 9 a.m. and explore Dorbrook Recreation Area in Colts Neck, as we discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife and identify a bird or two. This is a 1.5-2 hour program, however feel free to join in or drop out at any point during the walk. Dress for the weather as light rain is not a deterrent. 
• Climb Time - Head to Clayton Park Activity Center in Upper Freehold on Saturday, July 14 from 12-4 p.m. to try our 25' rock climbing wall. It’s the perfect way to see if rock climbing is for you! Climbers must be 42” or taller and age 8 or older (under 18 with adult). 
• The Casual Birder - Join this laid back morning bird walk at Freneau Woods Park, Aberdeen on Thursday, July 19 at 9 a.m. We will 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 these walks. A limited number of free binoculars will be available on a first come, first served basis. 

These are just some of the excellent options available to visitors this month. For a full listing of what's happening in the parks, view our Calendar of Events. For all upcoming programs this summer, check the current issue of our Parks & Programs Guide. 

We want to see how you're having fun in your Monmouth County parks this July! Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@MonCountyParks) and share a photo of you and your family and/or friends enjoying the parks! Be sure to use the hashtags #MonmouthCountyParks and #DiscoverJuly to encourage others to support local parks and recreation and to share why they think it's important to explore and discover all the Monmouth County Park System has to offer!

Volunteers assist in keeping the parks well-maintained for our visitors to enjoy.

Even More History in Your Parks!

Those looking to get outside and enjoy the weather will find an extra dose of history this spring in the Rocky Point section of Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands. The WWII era Battery Lewis has a new permanent walk-through exhibit inside the subterranean installment, which once housed two 16-inch guns that helped protect New York Harbor.

Battery Lewis will have an Open House on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The Dedication Ceremony originally scheduled for this date has been postponed due to inclement weather until Saturday, June 16 at 10 a.m. The exhibit will remain open Thursday-Sunday, May 24 through October from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The exhibit features interpretive panels, replica shells, and an impressive a 16-inch gun barrel mounted on a concrete pedestal to give visitors a sense of size and space. The barrel on display at the park was mounted on the USS New Jersey during WWII.

The Army constructed the Navesink Military Reservation in 1942 as part of the Modernization Program for the Harbor Defenses of the Continental U.S. While Battery Lewis is the only 16-inch gun battery in the state of New Jersey, similar batteries can be found, in varying conditions, in many coastal areas throughout the United States; from Battery Townsley in Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco to Battery Harris at Fort Tilton, New York. The Navesink Military Reservation was listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

For more information about military history in the park visit the Hartshorne Woods Park page.

Bicycling is Fun & Great for Your Health

Increasing physical activity can do so much for our health. According to the Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, “Physical activity of the type that improves cardiovascular

Thompson Park, Lincroft

endurance reduces the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes and improves mental health.” There is no better time then right now for you to improve your health and your life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intense aerobic activity per week for adults, and 60 minutes per day for children. Many of us don't come close to those numbers.

With May being National Bike Month, this is a perfect time to start having fun while getting fit. No matter what your age or weight, recreational biking is a safe, low-impact aerobic activity for all ages. Consider this: a 200 lb. cyclist can burn 546 calories while riding 12 miles per hour. That's a lot of calories, almost the equivalent of a McDonald's Big Mac.

Here are some interesting facts that may give you that extra push to get out and start cycling:

• Cyclists, on average, live two years longer than non-cyclists and take 15% fewer days off work for illness.
• Women who walk or bike 30+ minutes a day have a lower risk of breast cancer.
• Adolescents who participate in bicycling, in-line skating or skateboarding more than four times a week are 48% less likely to be overweight as adults.
• In 1964, 50% of children rode bikes to school and the obesity rate was only 12%. In 2004, 3% rode to school and the obesity rate had risen to 45%.
• The U.S. could save 462 million gallons of gasoline a year by increasing cycling by 1% to 1.5% of all trips.

Clayton Park, Upper Freehold

With so many places to go bike riding within your Monmouth County parks, why not give it a shot this month? Popular parks for bike riding include: Clayton Park, Upper Freehold; Henry Hudson Trail; Hartshorne Woods Park, Highlands; Manasquan Reservoir, Howell; and Thompson Park, Lincroft. For a full list of the Park System's trails, click here. Don't own a bike? Rentals are available at the Manasquan Reservoir during the warmer months. Details are available here.

In the long run, buying a bicycle is more economical than buying exercise equipment for your home or signing a contract for a gym membership. And it's a great way to get into shape with the whole family, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and reduce your stress level.

Bicycle rentals will once again be available at the Manasquan Reservoir, Howell, this summer. Details will be posted to our website as they become available. Be sure to also keep an eye on our Parks & Programs Guide for upcoming bicycling programs in the parks. 

We'll see you on the trails!

Volunteers in the Parks

Did you know that this week is National Volunteer Week?

At the Monmouth County Park System we pride ourselves on the great number of local individuals who help to enrich the parks through their dedication as "Volunteers in Parks". Every year over 1,000 residents of varying age groups and backgrounds help to make your county parks something special.

The Volunteers in Parks program is ever expanding. Currently, volunteers can be found doing a number of notable jobs, including the following:

• Gardening and pruning at various parks such as Deep Cut Gardens, Historic Longstreet Farm, and Thompson Park
• Trails maintenance to assist with over 140 miles of trails throughout the Park System
• Docents/Welcome Desk Greeters at locations like the Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center and Deep Cut Gardens
• Equestrian and horse care at Sunnyside Equestrian Center and for Special People United to Ride (SPUR)
• Beach Nesting Bird Monitors at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park
• Environmental cleanups and beach sweeps - don't miss the upcoming environmental clean-up taking place at Freneau Woods Park in Aberdeen this Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Volunteers age 16 and up are welcome; new volunteers will be asked to fill out a volunteer form when they arrive. Please bring work gloves, wear sturdy shoes, and dress for the weather.
• Assisting at special events like the Monmouth County Fair, Thompson Park Day, and various races
• Lending their talents during park programs and summer camps

Each year, hundreds of volunteers give over 20,000 hours of assistance to your Monmouth County Park System. Though you may not always spot a volunteer, their hard work can be seen in every park you visit. 

And we're always happy to meet new volunteers who are interested in helping their county parks. 

For more information on how you can become a volunteer with the Monmouth County Park System, email us at volunteer@monmouthcountyparks.com or call 732-842-4000, ext. 4283.