Monmouth GuideThe Weekend EditionIssue #1Oct 2–4, 2026
Welcome to Issue 1 of The Weekend Edition, our Friday note about what is happening around Monmouth County. This time we are looking at October 2 through 4, a weekend stacked with farm festivals, farmers markets and community days from Matawan down to Avon by the Sea.
Inside you will find the weather, five top picks, a day-by-day rundown, free things to do, family outings, a few places to eat, this week's local news and a closer look at Red Bank. Skim it, pick one or two things, and enjoy the first full weekend of October.
Weekend weather at a glance
Showers and thunderstorms are likely tonight, Saturday looks mostly sunny near 70, and rain showers return Sunday. Plan the outdoor plans for Saturday if you can.
- Tonight59°FShowers And Thunderstorms Likely · 60% rain
- Saturday70°FMostly Sunny · 7% rain
- Saturday Night57°FMostly Clear
- Sunday65°FRain Showers Likely · 57% rain
Top 5 picks this weekend
Five things we would put on the calendar first, from sunflower fields at Holland Ridge Farms to the flea market at the Historic Village at Allaire.
- U-pick Sunflower: Fall Festival - Holland Ridge Farms
This festival is more than just a day at the farm—it's a unique experience to create unforgettable memories. Ride the tractor shuttle or wander… - Fall Harvest Festival- Happy Day Farm
Enjoy a full day of fall fun at happy Day Farm! From the pumpkin patch and giant corn maze to farm animals, fun games, picture-perfect photo… - Flea Market - The Historic Village at Allaire
Mark your calendars! The Flea Markets will feature hundreds of vendors selling antiques, collectibles, crafts, and vintage items. - Hazlet Farmers Market
Get ready for the kickoff of a brand-new season. This Hazlet Township team is dedicated to fostering a vibrant community space and providing a… - Marlboro Farmers Market
The market is set on 56 acres of preserved land that was once the Stattel Farm. It provides a venue for small family farmers to sell locally grown…
Friday, October 2
Friday leans quiet and indoors, with art on display, a tots dance session and open gym time to ease into the weekend.
- All day Park System Historic Sites Free
- All day Sip & Shop at Red Bank Antiques at Two River Theater
- 10:30 AM Dance and Sing
- 12:00 PM Open Gym at the Fort Monmouth Recreation Center
- 1:00 PM On Display Rose Reilly Leonard Annual Student Art Show
Saturday, October 3
Saturday is the busiest day on the list, with a kids fishing derby at Silo Pond, morning markets and a 5K starting in Lake Como.
- 8:00 AM Wall Township Kids Fishing Derby Free
- 8:30 AM Highlands Farmers Market
- 9:00 AM Environmental Day
- 9:00 AM Food & Produce Market
- 9:00 AM Pat Magovern Shillelagh 5K Race & One-Mile Walk - Lake Como
Sunday, October 4
Sunday brings long walks, surf and more fall festival fun, with rain showers in the forecast, so check ahead before you head out.
- 8:00 AM Jetty Surf Club
- 8:00 AM Endless Summer Walk: 30 miles Matawan to Asbury Park
- 9:00 AM CARC: Walkathon Against Domestic Violence - Ocean Grove
- 10:00 AM Howell Farmers Market
- 10:00 AM Fall Festival - Twin Pond Farm
Free things to do
These cost nothing to attend, including demonstrations at Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel and Avon Day with live music and fireworks at dusk.
- Sat · 11:00 AM Cookstove Demonstration at Historic Longstreet Farm Free
- Sat · 12:00 PM Asbury Park Community Festival! Free
- Sat · 2:00 PM Avon Day Free
- Sun · 12:00 PM Cider Making Demonstration at Historic Longstreet Farm Free
- Sun · 12:00 PM Fall Festival on the Baronet Rooftop! Free
Family-friendly
Community days and fall festivals fill Saturday afternoon, including Red Bank Porchfest and the Matawan Day Fall Festival on Main Street.
- Sat · 12:00 PM Red Bank Porchfest
- Sat · 12:00 PM Matawan Day Fall Festival
- Sat · 12:00 PM Neptune City Fall Festival
- Sat · 1:00 PM Eatontown Community Day
- Sat · 3:30 PM Community Day: Monmouth 250 - Tinton Falls
Where to eat
A few places to fold into your plans, whether you want brunch, coffee or pizza near the shore.
Wall Township
- Turning Point (Sea Girt/Wall)
Highly rated brunch spot for creative pancakes, Benedicts and skillets, with a fireplace and outdoor seating. - Zoni's Brooklyn Brick Pizzeria
Coal brick-oven pizzeria known for Margherita and white pies, open until 2:30am on weekends.
Belmar
- Turnstile Coffee Roasters
Family-owned specialty coffee shop roasting small batches in-house since 2011, a mile from the beach. - Federico's Pizza & Restaurant
Belmar pizza institution on Main Street for about 30 years, serving crisp-crust pies, pasta and sandwiches.
This week’s local news
A quick look at Monmouth County headlines this week, much of it tied to last weekend's nor'easter.
- Massive flood project shields Sandy-ravaged N.J. town from nor’easter damage. ‘It did its job.’
- Jersey Shore drawbridge resumes boat traffic following nor’easter closure
NJ.com reports a Jersey Shore drawbridge reopened to boat traffic on October 1 after flooding kept it from opening since September 27.
- NJ Couple Marries In Midst Of Autumn Nor’easter
Rumson-Fair Haven Patch reports a couple whose venue was knocked out by the nor'easter married after a local restaurant hosted their ceremony.
- Storm Brush Cleanup Collection Announced In Howell
Howell Patch reports that public works will collect branches and brush left in yards by last weekend's nor'easter.
One town to explore: Red Bank
This week we are spending a little time in Red Bank, a walkable downtown on the Navesink River.
- Semolina
Chef-owned BYOB focused on handmade pasta and seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. - Two River Theater
A professional regional theater staging classics, new plays and world-premiere musicals.
That is Issue 1. If the Sunday rain holds off, there is plenty left on the list, and if it does not, the markets and indoor stops are still there. Thanks for reading, and tell a neighbor. See you next Friday.
Quick answers
What is there to do in Monmouth County this weekend (Oct 2–4)?
Top picks include U-pick Sunflower: Fall Festival - Holland Ridge Farms (Friday, Holland Ridge Farms), Fall Harvest Festival- Happy Day Farm (Friday, Manalapan) and Flea Market - The Historic Village at Allaire (Saturday, Wall Township). The Weekend Edition lists 20 events for the weekend, plus 5 free things to do.