🧸Holiday Made in Monmouth!!

Together With

Good morning Monmouth County! We’re three days from Hanukkah and two weeks from Christmas and Kwanzaa. The holiday season is in high gear. As we begin our final descent, please try to keep your neighbors in mind. For all the great things this season can bring it can also be especially challenging, stressful, and isolating for others. What better way to celebrate the true spirit of the season than by loving your neighbors? Take care of yourselves and each other!

🧸 Holiday Made in Monmouth

🎅 Santa Breakfasts and Brunches 🥞

☃ Winter Fresh Farmers Market

🎄 Christmas House at Freehold Raceway Mall

🍸 December Cocktail Class

🍻 Asbury Ale House Howell

❄ Middletown Outdoor Winter Wonderland

🎭 The Nutcracker

🎸 A Bluegrass Christmas at Belmar Arts Center

🥊 Dead Serious MMA at iPlay America

🌊 Ocean Temp/Tides

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners has reminded shoppers that the 2025 Holiday Made in Monmouth event will take place this Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Robert J. Collins Arena and the Warner Student Life Center at Brookdale Community College. Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone, liaison to the Division of Economic Development, called the event "the perfect place to do some holiday shopping," noting that this year's installment will feature the most vendors ever—more than 300 Monmouth County-based vendors offering products like art, accessories, food, drink, jewelry, and home décor, along with prize opportunities and free take-your-own photos with Santa. Arnone added that the event, which started in 2012 as a once-a-year effort to support local businesses, has since grown into a cherished tradition that celebrates and strengthens the County's small business community, making it a must-visit for those looking to shop local.

A “Code Blue” alert has been extended across Monmouth County, opening warming centers and shelters for those who need immediate assistance during dangerously cold weather.

The “Code Blue” designation is activated when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing, posing a threat to unsheltered individuals.

Breakfast with Santa | 12/13 8:30am | Wall Twp. Municipal Park (Wall) | info

Santa Brunch Cruise | 12/13, 12/20, 12/21 10:30am-1:30pm | Seastreak (Highlands) | info

Breakfast with Santa | 12/13 9am-12:30pm | Sweet Lew’s Cafe (Freehold) info

Breakfast with Santa | 12/13 9:30am-12pm | Amelia's by the Sea (Spring Lake) | info

Breakfast with Santa | 12/13 11am-2pm | Branches (W. Long Branch) | info

Barkfest with Santa | 12/14. 9am-11am | Doggie Sweets-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/14, 12/21 10am-3pm | Bella Vista Country Club (Marlboro) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/14, 12/21 10am-3pm | The American Hotel (Freehold) | info

Santa Brunch | 12/14, 12/20 11am-2pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/21 10am-3pm | The Proving Ground (Highlands) | info

Breakfast with Santa | 12/14 9am-11:30am | Jumping Brook Country Club (Neptune) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/14, 12/21 10am-3pm | McLoone's Pier House (Long Branch) | info

Brunch with Santa | 12/14, 12/21 10am-3pm | The Rum Runner (Sea Bright) | info

Brunch with the Grinch | 12/14 10am-4pm | The Proving Ground (Highlands) | info

Sunday Brunch with Santa | 12/14, 12/21 11am-3pm | MJ's at The Buttonwood Manor (Matawan) | info

Santa Brunch at Waypoint 622 | 12/14 10am-3:30pm | Waypoint 622 (Brielle) | info

Breakfast with Santa | 12/14 10am-11:30am | Magnolia Equine Sanctuary (Farming) | info

Frosty, Grinch, Santa Brunch | 12/21 11am-2pm | The Bistro-iPlay America (Freehold) | info

Christmas House | 12/12-12/14 F 5pm-9pm, S 11am-9pm, Su 11am-8pm | Freehold Raceway Mall (Freehold) | info

Red Bank River Center Elf Scavenger Hunt: 11/28-12/21 All Day | Multiple Locations (Red Bank) | info

Christmas Train Village: 11/29-12/31 Wed-Su 12pm-5pm | Duggan Hall (Spring Lake) | info

Magic of Lights: 12/4-1/3 Su-Th 5pm-10pm, F/S 5pm-11pm | PNC Arts Center (Holmdel) | info

The Village at Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm: 12/4-12/30 5pm-9pm | Anne Ellen Christmas Tree Farm (Manalapan) | info

Merry Mile of Lights: 12/4-12/31 5:30pm-9:30pm | A. Casola Farms (Holmdel) | info

Christmas Wonderland - Maple Leaf Farms: 12/10-12/12 12pm-5pm | Maple Leaf Farms (Manalapan) | info

Christmas on the Farm | 12/12 4pm-8pm | Magnolia Equine Sanctuary (Farmingdale) | info

New School Holiday Caroling: 12/12 11am-11:30am | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

Downtown Freehold Jolly Trolley: 12/12 5pm-8pm | The American Hotel (Freehold) | info

Sea Glass Winter Tree Workshop: 12/12 6pm-8pm | Masons Famous Lobster Rolls-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Holiday Wrapping Paper Workshop: Carve, Ink, Print: 12/12 5:30pm-7:30pm | Mutiny Beach (Asbury Park) | info

Grinchmas & Light Fight: 12/12, 12/13 F 6pm-10pm, S 4pm-8pm | Program Activity Center (Farmingdale) | info

The Holiday Evening Stroll: 12/12, 12/13 6pm-9pm | Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info

Old Fashioned Christmas on the Farm: 12/12-12/14 4pm-8pm | Allaire Community Farm (Wall) | info

Hannukah Storytime & Crafts: 12/12-12/14 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Series: 12/12-12/14 F 3pm-8pm, S/Su 12pm-5pm | Convention Hall, Asbury Hotel, Whitechapel Projects (Asbury Park, Long Branch) | info

Allaire Christmas VIP Lantern Tours: 12/12, 12/13 4:30pm-7pm | Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info

Sea Bright Holiday Market | 12/13 1pm-4pm | Eleven Jiu Jitsu & Cafe 11 (Sea Bright) | info

Friends of Keyport Library Holiday Bazaar | 12/13 11am-5pm | Keyport Library (Keyport) | info

Storytime with Mrs. Claus: 12/13, 12/14 12pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Red Bank Holiday Trolley: 12/13, 12/14 12pm-4pm | Multiple Locations (Red Bank) | info

Bell Works Fresh Holiday Market: 12/13, 12/14 11am-4pm | Bell Works (Holmdel) | info

The Sweetest Season: Wine & Trees at 4 JG's: 12/13, 12/14 11am-3pm | 4 JG's Orchard & Vineyard (Colts Neck) | info

Christmas at G & G Stables: 12/13, 12/14 11am-4pm | G & G Stables (Howell) | info

Santa Express at Pine Creek Railroad: 12/13, 12/14 S 11am, 6pm Su 11am | New Jersey Museum of Transportation (Farmingdale) | info

Visit with Santa at Historic Longstreet Farm: 12/13, 12/14 12pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info

Holiday Made in Monmouth: 12/13 10am-4pm | Brookdale Community College (Lincroft) | info

Made in Asbury Pop-Up Holiday Market: 12/13 10am-2pm | Monmouth Habitat for Humanity (Asbury Park) | info

Holly Jolly Market Square: 12/13 11am-8pm | Pyanoe Plaza (Belmar) | info

Manasquan Visit with Santa at Christmas Central: 12/13 11am-12pm | 114 Main St. (Manasquan) | info

Winter Workshop at Dick's House of Sport: 12/13 12pm-3pm | Dick's House of Sport-Freehold Raceway Mall (Freehold) | info

Paint with Santa: 12/13 10am-4pm | Indigo Shore Art Studio (Middletown) | info

Santa by the Sea: 12/13 12pm-2pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Strolling Christmas Carolers: 12/13 12pm-3pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Belmar Christmas Light Show: 12/13 6pm-8pm | Pyanoe Plaza (Belmar) | info

Strolling A Capella Entertainment: 12/14 12pm-3pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Christmas at Allaire: 12/14 11am-4pm | Historic Village at Allaire (Wall) | info

Bradley Beach Menorah Lighting: 12/14 4pm-6pm | Riley Park (Bradley Beach) | info

Fair Haven Menorah Lighting: 12/14 4:30pm-5:30pm | Memorial Park (Fair Haven) | info

Ocean Twp. Menorah Lighting: 12/14 4:30pm | Historical Museum (Ocean Twp) | info

Holiday Market & Storytime | 12/14 11am-2pm | Beach Haus Brewery (Belmar) info

Outdoor Winter Wonderland: 12/12-3/8 11am-7:30pm | Middletown Sports Complex (Middletown) | info

U-Pick Tulips Winter Wonderland: 12/12-12/14 5pm-8pm | Holland Ridge Farms (Cream Ridge) | info

Carter's DIY Day: 12/13 10am-12pm | Carter's-Freehold Raceway Mall (Freehold) | info

Tiny Hands Studio: 12/13 10am | Sun Moon Studio (Keyport) | info

Pinecone Feeder Event: 12/13 10am-12pm | Environmental Building at Natco Park (Hazlet) | info

Open House at Lake House Music Academy: 12/13 11am-3pm | Lake House Music Academy (Red Bank) | info

Snow Much Fun: 12/13 2pm-4pm | Red Bank YMCA (Red Bank) | info

Colts Neck Collectibles Expo | 12/13 9am-3pm | Colts Neck Fire Dept. #2 (Colts Neck) | info

Bingo Loco | 12/13 5pm, 9pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

JSAC Pet Adoption Event | 12/14 10am-12pm | Driftwood Coffee House (Spring Lake) | info

Asbury Ale House has expanded its presence with a new location in Howell-taking over the former Arooga's Sports Bar and Pub space at 5169 Route 9. Their new spot, which held its soft opening on Sunday, offers 30 different beers on tap, a diverse gastropub menu, and specialty cocktails, according to its social media page. AAH is also known for its seasonal cocktail menu featuring signature drinks like watermelon kegs and frozen margarita flights, mirroring its original location at 531 Cookman Ave. in Asbury Park. The operating hours for the Howell location are Monday through Thursday from noon to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Fresh Pasta for the Holidays: 12/12 6:30pm-9pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

Cork & Explore: Walk Around Wine Tasting Experience: 12/12 6pm-8pm | Avenue-Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Gingerbread House Workshop: Mommy & Me Style!: 12/13 9am-10:15am | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

Gingerbread House Workshop: 12/13 10:45am-12pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

Holiday Cookie Workshop: Sweet Traditions & Treats: 12/13 1pm-4pm | Taste & Technique (Fair Haven) | info

Mexi-Boys Food Truck: 12/13 2pm-8pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info

Winter Fresh Farmers Market: 12/14 10am-1pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info

Hott Carl's Pizza: 12/14 12pm-5pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info

Holiday Vendor Event: Santa is Coming to Bakes: 12/14 12pm-4pm | Bakes Brewing Co. (Wall) | info

Scoops with Santa: 12/14 1pm-4pm | Taylor Pavilion (Belmar) | info

December Cocktail Class: 12/14 5pm-7pm | Asbury Park Distilling Co. (Asbury Park) | info

Born to Run 50: Photographs by Eric Meola: 9/5-12/18 M-F 10am-5pm | DiMattio Gallery (W. Long Branch) | info

Dennis McNett & Ben Venom: Double Trouble Exhibit: 10/10-12/18 M-F 10am-5pm | Rotary Ice House Gallery (W. Long Branch) | info

Seen & Unseen: Charles Sills' Memorial Group Art Exhibit: 11/1-12/10 M-F 9am-7pm, S/Su 10am-4pm | Pollak Gallery (W. Long Branch) | info

Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend: Now-3/1 T-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Members Showcase: Celebrating Creativity Exhibit: Now-1/11 T-Su 10am-4pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

Great Beads for Good Causes: 12/12-12/31 9am-9pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Manasquan River Group of Artists Art Exhibit: 12/12-12/31 9am-5pm | Wall Library (Wall) | info

The Creative Arts Center Exhibit & Sale: 12/12 11am-4pm | Thompson Park Creative Arts Center (Lincroft) | info

Writers Workshop: 12/12 10:30am-12pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

Keyport Candlelight House Tour: 12/13 2pm-7pm | Keyport Historical Society Museum (Keyport) | info

Winter Beach Walk at Fisherman's Cove: 12/13 11am-12:30pm | Fisherman's Cove (Manasquan) | info

Weekend Workshop: Clay Impression Ornaments: 12/13, 12/14 10:30am, 1pm | Monmouth Museum (Lincroft) | info

The Sounds of Christmas at Historic Longstreet Farm: 12/13 1pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info

Nature Lecture: Explore the Galapagos Islands: 12/14 1pm-2pm | Freneau Woods Park (Aberdeen) | info

Blacksmith Demonstration: 12/14 1pm-3pm | Historic Longstreet Farm (Holmdel) | info

The 29th New Jersey Infantry at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862: 12/14 2pm | Monmouth Battlefield Visitor Center (Manalapan) | info

Under the Winter Stars: 12/14 7:30pm-8:30pm | Dorbrook Recreation Area (Colts Neck) | info

The Spring Lake Community Theater’s annual production of Scrooge is sold out for all of it’s remaining shows.

White Christmas The Musical: 12/12-12/14 F 7:30pm, S 2pm, 7:30pm, Su 3pm | Algonquin Theater (Manasquan) | info

My Three Angels: 12/12-12/14 F/S 7:30pm, Su 2:30pm | First Ave. Playhouse (Atl. Highlands) | info

The Nutcracker: 12/12-12/14 F 7pm, S 1pm, 5pm, Su 1pm | Count Basie-HMH Theater (Red Bank) | info

Ella McCay (Cinema): 12/12 4:30pm, 7pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info

ComedySportz: Live Improv...Played as a Sport: 12/13 7pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info

A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play: 12/13 7pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info

Love Actually (Cinema): 12/13 7:30pm | The Showroom (Asbury Park) | info

Elf, Jr. The Musical: 12/13, 12/14 S 3pm, Su 2pm | Middletown Arts Center (Middletown) | info

WTO/99 (Cinema): 12/14 1:15pm | Basie Center Cinemas (Red Bank) | info

Shore Regional High School Chorus Performance: 12/12 12pm-1pm | Pier Village (Long Branch) | info

Jesse Malin: 12/12, 12/13 7pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

A Carole King Christmas: 12/12 7:30pm-9:30pm | Bell Theater (Holmdel) | info

Frontiers: The Ultimate Journey Tribute Band: 12/12 7:30pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

The Taylor Party: 12/12 8:00 PM | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Princeton Symphonic Brass Ensemble | 12/13 2pm | First Baptist Church of Freehold (Freehold) | info

The Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD - Andrea Chenier: 12/13 1pm | Pollak Theater (W. Long Branch) | info

Red Bank Holiday Harmonies: 12/13, 12/14 12pm-4pm | Red Bank River Center (Red Bank) | info

Shadows of the 60's - A Holiday Tribute to Motown: 12/13 2pm, 8pm | Bell Theater (Holmdel) | info

Holiday Hootenanny: 12/13 7pm-9pm | Belmar Arts Center (Belmar) | info

A Big Band Holiday to Remember: 12/13 7:30pm-11pm | Jersey Shore Arts Center (Ocean Grove) | info

The Sensational Soul Cruisers: 12/13 7:30pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Sal Valentinetti: 12/14 2pm, 6:30pm | Count Basie-The Vogel (Red Bank) | info

Band of Two Rivers Joy of the Season Concert: 12/14 2pm-3pm | Shrewsbury Library (Shrewsbury) | info

A Bluegrass Christmas: 12/14 3pm, 7pm | Belmar Arts Center (Belmar) | info

The Last Waltz Celebration: 12/14 3pm | Axelrod PAC (Deal) | info

The Joys of Jazz with Jon Faddis & The Next Gen Quartet: 12/14 5pm-7pm | Two River Theater (Red Bank) | info

Ember Choral Arts Presents GLOW: Light & Miracles: 12/14 5pm | Trinity Church (Asbury Park) | info

The Callous Daoboys: 12/14 7pm | House of Independents (Asbury Park) | info

Holiday Homecoming with the Pedrito Martinez Group: 12/14 7pm | Transparent Clinch Gallery (Asbury Park) | info

Swinging Sundays: Jazz Night: 12/14 7pm-10pm | The Asbury Hotel (Asbury Park) | info

Hungerthon Benefit Concert: 12/14 6pm | The Stone Pony (Asbury Park) | info

Wrestling Fundraiser for Cooperstown: 12/12 7:00 PM | Bayshore Middle School (Middletown) | info

Dead Serious MMA 65: 12/13 6pm | iPlay America (Freehold) | info

Fri 12/12: High 1:07 am | Low 7:10 am | High 1:15 pm | Low 7:43 pm | Sunrise 7:10 am | Sunset 4:31 pm

Sat 12/13: High 1:59 am | Low 8:13 am | High 2:08 pm | Low 8:33 pm | Sunrise 7:11 am | Sunset 4:31 pm

Sun 12/14: High 2:51 am | Low 9:08 am | High 3:03 pm | Low 9:18 pm | Sunrise 7:11 am | Sunset 4:31 pm