News · Barnegat, Brick Township, Jackson Township, Lacey, Little Egg Harbor, Ocean Township, Plumsted, Point Pleasant, Seaside Heights, Toms River
The Weekend Ahead: Bookchella in Toms River, a Little Egg Harbor Harvest Festival and Brick's Plant and Puzzle Swaps
A library-heavy weekend in Ocean County: a teen book-and-music festival in Toms River, plant and puzzle swaps in Brick, free flu shots in New Egypt and a Saturday Harvest Festival in Little Egg Harbor.
Good morning, Ocean County. It's a library-heavy weekend, and that's no complaint: teens get a book-and-music festival in Toms River, Brick trades houseplants and jigsaw puzzles, Barnegat kids learn magic tricks and Jackson makes tiny handmade books. Free flu shots come to New Egypt on Friday, Little Egg Harbor residents can put questions to two township committee members over lunch, and a Harvest Festival closes out Saturday in Little Egg Harbor.
Friday, Oct. 16
- Free flu shots in Plumsted — 10 a.m., Plumsted Branch, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt. The Ocean County Health Department is giving 2026-27 seasonal flu vaccines to residents age 1 and up at no out-of-pocket cost.
- A fire truck at the Barnegat library — 10:30 a.m., Barnegat Branch, 112 Burr Street. Barnegat Fire Company talks fire prevention with kids ages 3 to 10. Registration requested.
- Meet the Little Egg Harbor Township Committee — 12:30 p.m., Little Egg Harbor Branch, 290 Mathistown Road. An informal sit-down with two committee members; bring your questions. Registration requested.
- Houseplant Swap in Brick — 2:30 p.m., Brick Branch, 301 Chambers Bridge Road. Bring a cutting, leave with something new.
- Pumpkin Party in Waretown — 3:30 p.m., Waretown Branch, 112 Main Street.
Saturday, Oct. 17
- Ask a Master Gardener — 11 a.m., Waretown Branch, 112 Main Street. Fall cleanup and bulb questions welcome.
- Bookchella in Toms River — 12:30 p.m., Toms River Branch, 101 Washington Street. A teen music festival with a bookish theme. Registration required.
- Artist reception in Point Pleasant — 1 p.m., Point Pleasant Borough Branch, 834 Beaver Dam Road, celebrating an exhibit of work by the branch's Friends group.
- Magic Trick Workshop in Barnegat — 2 p.m., Barnegat Branch. Kids 6 to 12 learn tricks and take home their own magic kit, courtesy of the Friends of the Barnegat Library. Registration required.
- Bookbinding with Meg Wastie in Jackson — 2 p.m., Jackson Branch, 2 Jackson Drive. A short history of bookbinding, then make three miniature books to keep.
- Puzzle Swap in Brick — 3 p.m., Brick Branch. Bring as many gently used puzzles as you like and trade.
- Harvest Festival in Little Egg Harbor — 4 p.m., 565 Nugentown Road. Vendors, music, food and drinks.
Sunday, Oct. 18
The calendar is quiet so far. Sunday also opens National Friends of Libraries Week (Oct. 18-24), which several town councils recognized this month. Hosting something? Add it to the calendar.
All weekend
- Friends of the Brick Library Clothing Drive — Friday from 3:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m., Brick Branch. New or gently used clothes, shoes, purses, belts, bed and bath linens and stuffed animals; proceeds benefit the branch.
Around the county
- Trunk or Treat in Toms River: The township's safe Halloween night is Monday, Oct. 19, 5 to 8 p.m. at the Riverwood Park soccer field, 201 Riverwood Drive (rain date Oct. 20). Recreation is still looking for teams, businesses and groups to decorate a trunk; call 732-341-1000, ext. 8415 or 8410. Toms River Township
- Halloween at Popcorn Park: Lacey's township committee approved a special use permit for Popcorn Park Zoo's Halloween event at its Oct. 8 meeting. Meeting details
- 5K for Pizza: Seaside Heights approved the race for Saturday, Oct. 24 on the boardwalk. Meeting details
More on the Ocean County events calendar. Have a good weekend.