FREEHOLD – Don’t let the chill of winter give you the blues. December is one of the best times to enjoy the many activities Monmouth County has to offer!

 

Indoors and out, there are events for every taste and budget – from highbrow to lighthearted, said Jeanne DeYoung, Monmouth County’s tourism representative.

 

“The list of activities gets longer each year, and the quality and variety that people have to choose from is truly wonderful,” DeYoung said. “There are house tours, horse-and-carriage rides, caroling in the streets, tree lightings, concerts and much more.”

 

For the historically minded, DeYoung recommends one or all of the following: Christmas at Allaire State Park, a candlelight Christmas Inn Tour in Spring Lake, a Historic House Candlelight Tour in Keyport and the Doll Houses of the Past exhibit in Ocean Grove, just to name a few.

 

Tree lightings and caroling will be in Manasquan and Ocean Grove, and holiday lighting ceremonies will be held at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Holmdel and at the Winter Festival Weekend in Belmar. In addition, volunteers will re-create traditional holiday activities in historic Allaire Village at Allaire State Park.

 

Music lovers can partake of Handel’s Messiah in Red Bank, the Hand Bell Concert in Ocean Grove, the Shrewsbury Chorale concert in Fair Haven, “Scrooge in Rouge,” an English music hall Christmas carol in Asbury Park, and the Orchestra of St. Peter By The Sea at Monmouth University in West Long Branch. There also will be caroling in the streets of Red Bank.

 

If you enjoy musicals, “A Year with Frog and Toad” is onstage at the Two River Theatre Company, Red Bank, and the premier of “Cupid and Psyche” is offered by the New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch. And find out who will be the king and queen of New Jersey campus comedy at the NJ Comedy Festival Finals at Monmouth University.

“These are just some of the events you’ll find on our Web site,” said Bea Duffy, director of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. “There is also the model railroad at the InfoAge Center in Wall, Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell in Red Bank and the senior art show at Monmouth University. There’s something for every age and taste.”

There’s much more. A complete list of events can be found on the Monmouth County Web site in the tourism Calendar of Events at www.visitmonmouth.com/tourism.

 

The Monmouth County Department of Economic Development and Tourism keeps the tourism Web site current by adding events daily. Those who wish to receive information by mail can write to the department at the Hall of Records Annex, One East Main St., Freehold, 07728, or have a package of brochures sent by calling (800) 523-2587. All requests will be filled within 24 hours of their receipt.

 

 

#     #     #