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Thanksgiving week in Monmouth County mixes turkey trots, the first big lightings of the season and Small Business Saturday downtown. Here is what is happening in Monmouth County, NJ, from Sunday, November 22, through Sunday, November 29, 2026, in date order.
Day of Thanks at Allaire Village
- Town: Wall
- Where: The Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue
- When: Sunday, November 22, 2026, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Admission: $5 per person, ages 4 and up
Watch the villagers prepare a Thanksgiving feast with demonstrations and hearth cooking. At 1 p.m., Allaire opens the vault in the Chapel to show relics and museum pieces.
Run Your Giblets Off Turkey Trot
- Town: Holmdel
- Where: Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road
- When: Thursday, November 26, 2026 (Thanksgiving), first wave at 9 a.m.
Earn your Thanksgiving dinner with a 5K run, a 5K walk or a kids’ run at Bell Works. Register in advance online.
Born to Run 5 Mile Race
- Town: Freehold
- Where: Court Street and Lafayette Street, downtown Freehold
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, kids’ one mile race at 10 a.m., 5 mile race at 11 a.m.
The day after Thanksgiving, runners take over downtown Freehold for a 5 mile race open to ages 10 and up, plus a one mile race for kids ages 7 to 14.
Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar Opening Weekend
- Town: Asbury Park
- Where: Grand Arcade of Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Avenue
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, November 28 and 29, noon to 5 p.m.
- Admission: Free
Skip the mall on Black Friday and shop local vendors inside Convention Hall on the boardwalk.
Red Bank Elf Scavenger Hunt
- Town: Red Bank
- Where: Downtown Red Bank
- When: Friday, November 27 to Friday, December 18, 2026
Red Bank RiverCenter releases an elf guide on November 27 listing elf sightings at downtown businesses. Find them, return your completed guide to RiverCenter by December 18 and you can win a Red Bank Bucks digital gift card.
Red Bank Town Lighting featuring Holiday Express
- Town: Red Bank
- Where: Broad Street, downtown Red Bank
- When: Friday, November 27, 2026, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Admission: Free
Holiday Express performs around 7 p.m., and the Borough Council lights downtown around 8 p.m.
Small Business Saturday Red Bank Bucks Giveaway
- Town: Red Bank
- Where: Toast City Diner
- When: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Stop in for free breakfast bites and pick up one $25 Red Bank Bucks digital gift card per household, both while supplies last. The card works right away at more than 50 downtown businesses.
Jersey Shore Arts Center Holiday Art Market
- Town: Ocean Grove
- Where: 66 South Main Street
- When: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shop handmade gifts and original art from local artists for Small Business Saturday.
Cookstove Demonstration at Historic Longstreet Farm
- Town: Holmdel
- Where: Historic Longstreet Farm, Holmdel Park, 44 Longstreet Road
- When: Saturday, November 28, 2026, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Admission: Free
See what is cooking on the woodstove and how kitchens have changed since the 1890s. Over at Historic Walnford in Upper Freehold, the gristmill grinds corn on Saturday and Sunday, November 28 and 29, at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m., also free.
Spring Lake Christmas Train Village Opens
- Town: Spring Lake
- Where: 313 Washington Avenue
- When: Opens Saturday, November 28, 2026, and runs through December 31, Wednesday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Bring the kids downtown to see the Christmas train village during the season. Santa also visits downtown Manasquan on November 28 from noon to 4 p.m.
Pier Village Tree Lighting
- Town: Long Branch
- Where: Pier Village
- When: Sunday, November 29, 2026, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Close out the holiday weekend at the oceanfront tree lighting in Long Branch.
Holiday Lights Open All Week
Magic of Lights at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel runs nightly from November 20, and its November-only car ticket is $22 online or $30 at the gate, valid for November visits only. Holland Ridge Farms’ Winter Wonderland in Cream Ridge opens November 13 and is closed on Thanksgiving Day. See our holiday light displays guide for hours and details.
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