Arts & Entertainment
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•December 30, 2025
Rock Into 2026 With Billy Penn and the Inside Drivers
Who says you have to leave LBI for a rockin’ New Year’s Eve? According to Billy Penn and the Inside Drivers, you don’t – just swing over to Black-Eyed Susans in Harvey Cedars, where the band will…
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•December 27, 2025
Winter Hootenanny at Albert Music Hall
After a holiday break, the Albert Music Hall in Waretown opens the 2026 concert season with a special “Winter Hootenanny” on Sunday, Jan. 4. Doors open at 1, and music begins at 2.
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•December 26, 2025
Local Carver’s Characters Invoke ‘A Christmas Carol’
Formerly of Oakland and now a full-time Long Beach Island resident, Skip Van Wert first picked up wood and carving tools in 1989 to see how it felt, and he never stopped. In the ensuing decades his…
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•December 24, 2025
‘Seashells and Sleigh Bells’ Lend Natural, Classic Vibes to Holiday House Tour
A match made in ho-ho-heaven, “seashells and sleigh bells” set the stage for the 58th installment of the Garden Club of Long Beach Island’s Holiday Tour of Homes on Dec. 10 and 11. The club’s 179…
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•December 18, 2025
Christmas Carolers Delight Residents, Staff at Seacrest
The sweet sound of familiar Christmas songs filled the hallways of Seacrest Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center and the hearts of its residents on Monday night, Dec. 8 as American Legion Post 493…
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•December 18, 2025
Holiday Magic, Her Way: Mrs. Claus Gets Hero’s Welcome at Waretown Library
Bellarine Theatre Co.’s Founding Artistic Director Jessica Huch created a holiday kids’ program for Ocean County Library that blends laugh-out-loud improv, feminist overtones and too-cute-for-words…
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•December 17, 2025
Quaint Microcinema Beckons Tuckerton Movie Lovers
Tucked away in Tuckerton, a small, cozy movie theater dubbed a “microcinema” welcomes film enthusiasts of all ages, encourages engaging discussion of shared interests and provides a space for genuine…
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•December 17, 2025
Billy Joel Tribute Show Returning to Surflight by Popular Demand
Surflight Theatre’s New Year’s Eve show is so nice they’re presenting it twice.
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•December 17, 2025
So Many Great Christmas Movies It Was Difficult to Pick the Greatest
In this year’s “Holiday Gift Guide,” a special publication of The SandPaper, I wrote a story about my favorite Christmas movies. I invited readers to join in the fun and email me with their picks.
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•December 17, 2025
Manahawkin Will Turn Into Motown on New Year’s Eve
The Stafford Township Arts Center is going to ring out 2025 with a bang.
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•December 16, 2025
Restaurant Windows the Canvas for Holiday Spirit in Surf City
Jimmy Harrop grew up watching Saturday morning cartoons, sprawled on his stomach and doodling away. While he never received formal art training, he parlays this hobby into a festive wonderland for…
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•December 15, 2025
Santa Sighting at Seacrest
Santa and Mrs. Claus are surely busy prepping for the big day coming up next week, but they’ve allowed some time in their schedules to make a stop at Seacrest Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center in…
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•December 11, 2025
Joey’s Pizza Family Subject of ‘LUPO’ Film, Documentary Series
Joe Rulli, owner and operator of the Joey’s Pizza and Pasta restaurants on LBI and the mainland since 1990, recently partnered with New Jersey filmmaker and actor Kevin Interdonato to produce both a…
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•December 11, 2025
Stafford’s Heritage Park to Hold Christmas Market With Horse and Carriage Rides
During last year’s annual Holiday Wonderland and Christmas Market in Stafford Township, the line for the horse and carriage ride was huge, so big the recreation department staff realized a change was…
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•December 10, 2025
Tuckerton Comes Alive with Old-Timey Christmas Spirit
Tuckerton was filled with small-town spirit on Saturday, Dec. 6 as the daylong Ye Olde Christmas festivities took over every corner of the borough.
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•December 10, 2025
Grunin Center Ending 2025 Season With Five Different Shows
The Grunin Center for the Arts at Ocean County College is wrapping up its 2025 season –and it’s doing a lot of wrapping.
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•December 10, 2025
Art Notes, Dec. 10
Entrez, Vous: The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has put out a call for submissions to the Morris Museum’s 2026 New Jersey Arts Annual, “Common Ground: New Jersey Artists Think Monumental,” a…
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•December 9, 2025
Toby Keith Tribute Coming to STAC
The Stafford Township Arts Center in Manahawkin will host a show called “The American Ride,” a tribute to the late Toby Keith, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13.
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•December 9, 2025
Meet Miss Santa, Elves at Waretown Library
The Waretown branch of the Ocean County Library presents “Holiday Magic – Meet Miss Santa and Her Elves” on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 11:30 a.m.
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•December 9, 2025
A Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Soprano, and Big Band Will Close Stockton’s 2025 Season
The Stockton University Performing Arts Center will end its 2025 season with three shows in the coming days, all usual suspects.
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•December 8, 2025
Light Up the Holiday for First Responders at Christmas Tree Sales
As families and friends gather to deck the halls, two volunteer fire companies invite the community to give back to those who answer the call. The annual Christmas tree sales in Ship Bottom and Surf…
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•December 8, 2025
They Put Up Their ‘Ukes’ at Stafford Library
Walk into the Stafford branch of the Ocean County Library on a Monday mid-afternoon, and you might hear the sound of stringed instruments playing in the background. That’s because from 3:15 to 4:30…
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•December 7, 2025
Author Gives Talk on Supercommunicators
Charles Duhigg, author of the bestselling books The Power of Habit and Smarter Faster Better, will take part in an online discussion on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. to talk about his latest work…
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•December 6, 2025
Grinch Wreaks Havoc in Stafford, Will Pay With Community Service
Maybe the rare Who Roast Beast was a little overcooked or the Who Hash was stale. Maybe his heart shrank again. Maybe Cindy Lou Who didn’t play with him and he got upset.
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•December 5, 2025
Traffic Changes Ahead of Ship Bottom Christmas Parade This Saturday
Perhaps, the biggest Christmas miracle in Ship Bottom each year is the absence of everyday vehicular traffic on the Boulevard for a few hours as the gateway to the Island is transformed from summer…
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•December 4, 2025
Surflight’s ‘Elf The Musical’ Delights Adults and Children
Dustin Ceithamer, who plays Buddy the Elf, stands out in more than one way in Surflight Theatre’s current production of “Elf The Musical.” In other words, both literally and figuratively.
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•December 4, 2025
Cedar Bridge Tavern Skirmish Commemoration Dec. 7
Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace announced the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation will celebrate the 22nd commemoration of the 1782 Affair at Cedar Bridge, at Cedar Bridge…
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•December 4, 2025
STAC Concert Features Legendary ’50s Rhythm and Blues Groups
The Stafford Township Arts Center will host a show titled “Holiday Oldies” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7.
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•December 3, 2025
Brace for Cold, Pause for Beauty in Pine Shores’ ‘Holly Days’ Show
Come see nearly 50 winter- and holiday-themed paintings, 3-D, clay and craft works in Pine Shores Art Association’s “Holly Days” exhibition, on view at the Tuckerton Art Center through Jan. 26. A…
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•December 3, 2025
Lay Wreaths in Remembrance of Veterans
On Saturday, Dec. 13, join Little Egg Harbor’s American Legion Post 493 and other local organizations for national day of remembrance, and honor those who served with a wreath placement at Miller…
