Happy Tuesday, Monmouth County! School is officially back in session, which means so is my annual tradition of getting stuck behind a school bus the exact moment I’m already running late. Seriously nothing builds patience quite like hitting every single stop.

On the docket:

• Kick off Fall with a Cold One at Brew by the Bay

• Cannoli, Costumes & Italian Festivities

• Sunflower Season is Back at Holland Ridge Farms

• Celebrating 250 Years in Tinton Falls

• Live Music Lowdown

Kick off Fall with a Cold One at Brew by the Bay

Cold beer, waterfront views and early fall weather sound like a pretty solid Saturday. Brew By the Bay is back at Seafarer Bar in Highlands on Saturday, September 26 from 12 to 5 PM, bringing together eight local breweries for an afternoon of craft beer, live music and hanging by the fire pits.

Sample pours from Twin Lights, Icarus, Carton, Last Wave and more, then grab a full pint of your favorite. Fresh on the Bay will also be serving up food because an afternoon of beer tasting definitely calls for snacks.

Grab some friends, find a spot by the water and consider your fall Saturday handled.

Cannoli, Costumes & Italian Festivities

Come hungry because Belmar’s Annual San Gennaro Festival is taking over Main Street on Saturday, September 19 from 11 AM to 6 PM. The day will be packed with food, festivities and plenty of Italian flair along Main Street from 8th to 10th Avenue.

Things get even more competitive with the annual cannoli eating contest at 1:30 PM, which benefits the West Belmar Methodist Church Food Pantry. There’s also the 4th Annual Cagnolino Doggie Costume Contest, giving your four-legged family members their own chance to steal the show.

Italian food, cannoli and dogs in costumes. Belmar clearly understood the assignment.

Sunflower Season is Back at Holland Ridge Farms

Sunflower season has officially arrived at Holland Ridge Farms, where more than one million blooms are ready for picking during the annual U-Pick Sunflowers Fall Festival. The farm is open through October 12, with fields full of sunflowers, gladiolus and dahlias that are practically begging to make an appearance on your camera roll.

There’s plenty to do beyond flower picking, including food trucks, a farmers and makers market, free hayrides, farm animals and weekend horse and carriage and pony rides. There’s also beer, wine and floral cocktails, because apparently wandering through a million sunflowers can get even better.

Grab a bucket, pick your favorites and prepare to leave with significantly more flowers and photos than you planned.

Celebrating 250 Years in Tinton Falls

Tinton Falls is celebrating America’s 250th with a full afternoon of festivities at Community Day 2026 on Saturday, September 26 from 3:30 to 8:30 PM at Sycamore Recreation Complex.

Expect kid-friendly activities, entertainment and plenty of food trucks throughout the day, all leading up to a spectacular drone show once the sun goes down. Basically, come hungry, bring the family and prepare to spend at least part of the night staring at the sky.

It’s a pretty fun way to celebrate 250 years, and definitely more exciting than a history lesson.

Live Music Lowdown

Friday, September 18
The Proving Ground, Highlands | Skinny Amigo | 6 PM
The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park | Sea.Hear.Now: There Goes the Neighborhood | 7:30 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands | Patty C | 4-7 PM
Red Rock Tap + Grill, Red Bank | Liam Davis Band | 7 PM
The Stone Pony, Asbury Park | Sea.Hear.Now: The Offspring | 7:30 PM
Donovan’s Reef, Sea Bright | Party Til Dawn | 6 PM

Saturday, September 19
The Proving Ground, Highlands | Ty Mares | 1-4 PM
The Proving Ground, Highlands | Liam Davis Band | 6-10 PM
The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park | Sea.Hear.Now: Makua | 10:30 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands | John Rafferty | 4-7 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands | No Surrender | 7-10 PM
The Stone Pony, Asbury Park | Sea.Hear.Now: The Ocean Ave Stomp | 11 PM
Donovan’s Reef, Sea Bright | The Haven | 6 PM

Sunday, September 20
The Proving Ground, Highlands | Carl Gentry | 5-9 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands | Hang Loose | 2-5 PM