🎡🎁🎶 This Week in Monmouth: Fairs, Freebies & Festival Vibes

🔔 See what's happening in Monmouth County for seniors this week!

Hello friends!

😎Summer's heating up, and so is the calendar! This week’s edition is packed with fresh finds for Monmouth County seniors — from free park events and creative library programs to the return of the Monmouth County Fair’s beloved Home & Garden Competition (think pies, petunias, and prize ribbons). We’ve got big news for pickleball fans, a 55+ dream home, and an encore of high culture at the Princeton Festival. Grab a lemonade and read on!

👀What’s on tap today

  • 🎡 Could your peach pie win a blue ribbon? The Monmouth County Fair’s Home & Garden showdown is back — and better than ever.

  • 🎭 Tosca, Motown & ABBA? Yep, the Princeton Festival’s final week has something for every musical mood.

  • 🏡 55+ House Pick: Gourmet kitchen, sunny porch, and serene living in Surrey Downs for $429K.

Up first….

News and Notes

🧁🌼 Ready, Set, Ribbon!

Join the Fun at the Monmouth County Fair’s Home & Garden Competition

It’s a golden year for the Monmouth County Fair — they’re celebrating their 50th Anniversary, and guess what? You’re invited to be part of the blue-ribbon excitement!

This 5-day summer extravaganza at the East Freehold Showgrounds is packed with music, rides, tasty treats, 4-H shows, and one of our favorite traditions: the Home & Garden Competition. Whether you’ve got a prize-winning pie recipe, a picture-perfect petunia, or a handmade quilt stitched with love, it’s your time to shine.

🎨 CALLING ALL CRAFTERS, BAKERS & GARDENERS!
Think your jam is top-shelf? Your knitwork knit-witty? Your zucchinis the size of baseball bats? Now’s your chance to prove it!

🗓️ Mark your calendars:

  • Sunday, July 20 (9am–3pm) & Monday, July 21 (8–11am): Drop off your art, crafts, photos, needlework & canned goods.

  • Friday, July 25 (8–11am): Time to show off your garden’s bounty — flowers & veggies galore!

  • Saturday, July 26 (8–11am): Calling all cookie queens and bread barons — it’s baked goods day!

  • Monday & Tuesday, July 21–22 (9am–12pm): Special entry window for Senior Centers & Adult Day Programs — let your group’s creativity bloom!

🍯 NEW THIS YEAR: Black Jar Honey Contest!
Got the sweetest honey in town? Bring one classic 1-lb. jar (filtered and filled to the line) to the fairgrounds on Saturday, July 26 (8–11am). Judging is at 2pm — and yes, bragging rights are included.

🌿 Love flowers? Try this!
The On-Site Native Plant Flower Arranging Competition happens Friday, July 25 at 7pm. You bring the container, they’ll bring the plants. Just one hour to create your masterpiece — and yes, there are prizes!
(Pre-registration required: [email protected] or call 732-872-2670 ext. 4374)

👀 All entries will be on display during Fair hours — come admire your neighbors’ talents (and maybe your own!).

🎡 Fair Dates & Times:
📍 East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold

  • Wed–Fri, July 23–25: 4–11 p.m.

  • Sat, July 26: 11 a.m.–11 p.m.

  • Sun, July 27: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

🎟️ Admission:

  • $10 for adults

  • FREE for kids 12 & under

  • Seniors 65+ get in FREE on Sunday!

  • Bonus: Half-price entry the first 2 hours each day

  • Veterans & active military get in free (with ID)

👉 For all the juicy Fair details or to download a brochure, visit: www.MonmouthCountyFair.com
Or call: 732-842-4000 (TTY/TDD: 711)

💡 P.S. Follow the Monmouth County Park System on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram — they’re giving away Fair tickets and other goodies!

So go ahead — dust off that recipe box, polish up your photos, and pluck the prettiest produce from your garden. The blue ribbon could be yours this year. 💙

📰Prime Time News

A roundup of the latest news on aging from trusted media sources.

As Federal Health Grants Shrink, Memory Cafes Help Dementia Patients and Their Caregivers: As state & local health departments nationwide try to make sense of what the potential loss of $11 billion of federal funding will mean for the services they can offer their communities, memory cafe organizers believe their work becomes even more important. KFF Health News, June 6

The Friendly Caller Who’s Helping Seniors Feel Less Lonely: An AI companion is just a phone call away for residents of this senior living community—and their mental health is improving as a result. Wall Street Journal, June 14

The ‘First Year of Retirement’ Rule: The 'first year of retirement' rule says the 12 months after you leave work set the tone for your entire later life — so it's vital to approach them mindfully. Kiplinger, June 14

Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment May be 2.5% in 2026, New Estimates Find: Those estimates may be subject to change, since there are four more months of data before the official cost-of-living adjustment for next year is announced. CNBC, June 11

Do You Know How to Prepare for Your Digital Life After Death? From family photos in the cloud to email archives and social media accounts, the digital lives of Americans are extensive and growing. The Conversation, June 9

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

📚 This Week At the Library

From soothing yoga to show-stopping performances, there's something for everyone at our local libraries this June!

🎶 An Afternoon of Song – New Jersey Gay Men's Chorus
Celebrate Pride Month with music and joy!
Get ready for toe-tapping tunes and heartfelt harmonies from this inclusive, all-volunteer chorus. First come, first seated — no registration required.
📍 Headquarters, Manalapan
📅 Saturday, June 21 | 🕑 2:00 – 3:00 PM

📖 A Novel Idea Book Discussion: The Jane Austen Society (Hybrid)
Celebrate Jane Austen’s 250th with a cozy chat about Natalie Jenner’s beloved novel. Join in-person or online!
📍 HQ, Manalapan or via Zoom
📅 Wednesday, June 18 | 🕥 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Registration required for Zoom link

🧘 International Day of Yoga
Stretch, breathe, and unwind with a 90-minute guided yoga session. Bring your mat and a light shawl for deep relaxation.
📍 Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
📅 Saturday, June 21 | 🕙 10:00 – 11:30 AM
Registration required – space is limited!

🖍️ Travel Sketching: Tips & Techniques
Capture your vacation memories in a sketchbook! A peaceful hour of creative expression for all levels.
📍 Atlantic Highlands Branch
📅 Saturday, June 21 | 🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

🧶 Kelly’s Knit and Crochet Circle
Pull up a chair and bring your yarn! Learn and stitch with instructor Kelly Cavanaugh. Sponsored by Friends of Howell Library.
📍 Howell Branch
📅 Monday, June 23 | 🕓 4:00 – 6:00 PM

🧘‍♀️ De-stress Through Meditation, Yoga & Breathing
Find your inner calm with gentle movement and guided breathing led by Art of Living’s Dhan Goboori.
📍 Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury
📅 Monday, June 23 | 🕖 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Register to save your seat

📚 Wall Township Book Sale
Browse books, DVDs, puzzles, and more — with a $2 bag sale starting June 26!
📍 Wall Township Branch
📅 Saturday, June 21 – Thursday, July 3 | 🕘 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

✨ Tip: Most library events are free and open to the public — and a great way to meet neighbors, learn something new, or just enjoy a relaxing hour or two! For more information, visit https://monmouthcountylib.org/

🏞️ Park Events This Week — All Free!

🎯 Take the Grandkids!
Climb Time
📅 Saturday, June 21 | 🕛 12–3 p.m.
📍 Thompson Park, Lincroft (use Marlu Lake parking lot)
Challenge yourself on the Park System’s 25-foot portable climbing wall — perfect for adventurous kids and active grandparents! Open to ages 8 & up (must be at least 42” tall; under 18 with adult).

🧶 Spinning, Knitting & Weaving Demonstration
📅 Saturday, June 21 | 🕐 1–3 p.m.
📍 Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
Watch traditional fiber arts come to life! Learn how fleece is spun and the techniques behind classic knitting and weaving.

🐑 Felting Demonstration
📅 Sunday, June 22 | 🕐 1–3 p.m.
📍 Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel
See how wool transforms into felt during this hands-on history demo. Great for crafty types and curious minds of all ages!

All events are FREE — bring a friend, bring the grandkids, and enjoy some time in the parks! For more information, visit https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/

🏓 Pickleball Fans, Get Ready!

A brand-new indoor pickleball club is coming to Freehold this fall! 🎉

Dill Dinkers, a fast-growing franchise, is opening its first New Jersey location at Mount’s Corner Shopping Center — right off Route 9.

You'll find:
✅ 9 indoor courts (3 championship, 6 cushioned)
✅ 25,000 sq. ft. of climate-controlled play space
✅ Lessons, leagues, tournaments & more!

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just curious about the game, this club is set to be a year-round hub for fun, fitness, and community.

📍 202 Mount’s Corner Drive, Freehold
🔗 Learn more about Dill Dinkers

🏡 55+ House of the Week

Surrey Downs, Monmouth County
🛏️ 2 Bed | 🛁 2 Bath | 🚗 Garage | 💲**$429,000**

Tucked into a quiet corner of the sought-after Surrey Downs community, this beautifully maintained home shines with upgrades throughout — from the gourmet kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances to updated baths, crown molding, and ceramic tile floors. Relax in the 3-season enclosed porch and enjoy low-maintenance living in an amenity-rich 55+ neighborhood.

2025 Princeton Festival continues this week

This year’s Princeton Festival on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden continues to draw crowds with events such as this weekend’s opening of Puccini’s dramatic opera Tosca. Directed by Eve Summer, with scenic design by Ryan McGettigan, the production and superb performances by the main cast including Toni Marie Palmertree (Tosca), Victor Starsky (Cavaradossi), and Luis Ledesma (Scarpia) are holding audiences spellbound.

Other recent events include a solo recital featuring crossover violinist Tessa Lark, An Evening of Pas de deux with American Repertory Ballet, and Sunday morning Yoga accompanied by cellist Georgia Bourderionnet.

The 2025 Princeton Festival runs through Saturday, June 21 with Baroque music, a Motown revue, and the music of ABBA ahead. For tickets and information, visit the Festival website at princetonsymphony.org/festival.

Enjoy this selection of photos below from the festival!

Photos courtesy of the Princeton Festival

🔥 Recipe of the Week: Sizzle Up These Delicious Steak Ideas!

Steak Frites

Ready to fire up the grill? Try these tasty beef recipes from Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.:

Grilling Tip: Let your steak rest 5 minutes after grilling to keep it juicy and tender.

For more recipes and grilling tips, visit BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.

Time to make your grill the star of the season!

🎬That’s a wrap!

🥳Special shoutout this week to the Princeton Festival, for giving NJ residents a chance to experience world-class talent right in our backyard. Bravo to all the artists, organizers, and volunteers who make the Princeton Festival a highlight of the season!

❓Questions, comments or news to share? We’d love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]

👀First time reading? Join thousands of Monmouth County seniors. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter here.

😊See you next week!

The Better With Age New Jersey team