Skip to main content
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.

Registration opens:
October 01st, 2026

Sensory Haunted House
2026-10-15 18:30:00 2026-10-15 19:30:00 America/New_York Sensory Haunted House Family Program. Spooky stations that pair immersive play with silly, haunted experiences. Registration Required. Manchester Branch -

Thursday, October 15
6:30pm - 7:30pm

Add to Calendar

Family Program. Spooky stations that pair immersive play with silly, haunted experiences. Registration Required.

Family Program. Spooky stations that pair immersive play with silly, haunted experiences. Registration Required.

Register online, in-person at the Manchester Children's Desk, or by calling (732) 657-7600, option 6. Please add your first child as the main registrant and any additional children as a guest. Include the ages of all children attending. 

AGE GROUP: | Kids |

EVENT TYPE: | General |

TAGS: | |

Manchester Branch
Phone: (732) 657-7600
Hours
Skip Open Hours widget
Mon, Sep 14 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Tue, Sep 15 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Wed, Sep 16 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Thu, Sep 17 9:00AM to 9:00PM
Fri, Sep 18 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Sep 19 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Sep 20 Closed
previous
this week
next

Upcoming Events

Skip Upcoming Events widget
9/11: 25th Anniversary
Tue, Sep 15, 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Moises Gomez, an emergency responder on duty at New York City's World Trade Center during the 1993 and 2001 terrorist attacks, will share recollections of the horrors that unfolded that day.
Playdate- Toddler
Wed, Sep 16, 9:30am - 10:15am
Ages 0-3. Open playtime in our meeting room. Babies not yet walking, and their caregivers are welcome to join us in the baby area to play and talk with other caregivers. Registration Required.
This event is full
Playdate- Preschool
Wed, Sep 16, 10:30am - 11:15am
Ages 2-6. Open playtime in our meeting room. Registration Required.
This event is full
Houseplant Hospital: Diagnosing Your Sick Plants
Wed, Sep 16, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Bring in your ailing plants to have a Master Gardener take a look and see what could be the problem.
OCEAN COUNTY CONNECTION-INFORMATION TABLE
Thu, Sep 17, 11:00am - 3:00pm
The County Connection of Ocean County will be on site with an information table with what services they offer and notary services will be available.
Spanish Made Simple! - Part 1: For Absolute Beginners!
Thu, Sep 17, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room
For Absolute Beginners: Introduction to Spanish language covering essential vocabulary, phrases, and pronunciation tips for basic conversation. No prior knowledge needed - just bring your enthusiasm!
Read & Learn
Fri, Sep 18, 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages 4-8. Hang out with other families and participate in storytime followed by a book discussion or activity. Perfect for homeschoolers. Registration Required. 
Spoons and Toons
Sat, Sep 19, 10:00am - 11:00am
Family Program. Join us at the library for a fun morning of cartoons, crafts, and games. Please notify staff of food allergy concerns. Registration is required.
Microscope Mystery
Sat, Sep 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Ages 5-12. Drop by the library and try out our microscope! Look through the lens and guess what you see. Drop by anytime between 2pm and 4pm. No registration necessary.
The Recharge
Mon, Sep 21, 11:00am - 12:30pm
Manchester Meeting Room
Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, in partnership with the Ocean County Library, is offering a support group for caregivers and their loved ones who are experiencing memory loss.
Parkinson's Speech Therapy Group
Mon, Sep 21, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room
This program is designed to improve communication skills for those with Parkinson's and other neurological disorders.
Fashion Club
Mon, Sep 21, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Ages 6-12. Come to the Manchester Library to create a new mini garment, design a runway look, and play fashion games with other kids. Registration is required. 
Adults with Special Challenges Fall Craft
Tue, Sep 22, 10:00am - 11:00am
Manchester Meeting Room
Make a fall paper tree craft.
Move & Play- Toddler
Wed, Sep 23, 9:30am - 10:15am
Ages 0-3. Open playtime in our meeting room with fun obstacle course elements to encourage movement. Registration Required.
Move & Play- Preschool
Wed, Sep 23, 10:30am - 11:15am
Ages 2-6. Open playtime in our meeting room with fun obstacle course elements to encourage movement. Registration Required.
Ask a Master Gardener
Thu, Sep 24, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Drop in and talk to a Master Gardener from the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County.
Spanish Made Simple! - Part 2
Thu, Sep 24, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room A
PLEASE register for Part I to participate. Part 2 of our beginner-friendly introduction to Spanish language to help with basic conversations. No prior knowledge needed- just bring your enthusiasm!
Hooked On Yarn: A Knitting and Crocheting Group
Thu, Sep 24, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room B
Love to knit or crochet, come to our meeting room and join others with the same passion. Bring your yarn, needles, hooks and current projects.
Tween & Teen Button-Making
Thu, Sep 24, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Tweens and teens will create their very own buttons to wear. Ages 10 - 16. Please add siblings attending as guests and list each teen attending with their age.
Pizza Read & Play
Mon, Sep 28, 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages 2-6. A short storytime for beginning listeners, followed by a craft or activity and open playtime in our children's department. Registration is required.
This event is full
Disaster Preparedness: - For Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities
Mon, Sep 28, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room
It is vital for everyone to prepare for an emergency such as a natural disaster or an accident. But seniors and individuals with disabilities need to take extra precautions to ensure their safety.
Teen Pirate Escape Room
Wed, Sep 30, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Teens will participate in a themed escape room. They will have 1 hour to escape. Ages 12 - 18. Please register, add siblings attending as guests, and list each teen attending with their age.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 16 2026 at 9:00am
Veggie Scavenger Hunt
Thu, Oct 01, All day
Family Program. For the month of October, search the department to find all of the images on the check-off sheet. The images will be of different types of vegetables.
Teen Photography Challenge
Thu, Oct 01, All day
Teens can take & email photos of reflections in water to: vlimbo@theoceancountylibrary.org. Ages 13 - 18. Photos will be displayed in the Teen Zone along with the submitter's first name. 
Shore Memory Cafe - Shore Memory Cafe
Thu, Oct 01, 10:00am - 11:00am
Early-Stage Memory Cafés provide opportunities for concerned persons experiencing early cognitive decline, and for those diagnosed with early-stage memory loss, and their care partner(s) to meet.
Book Cafe
Thu, Oct 01, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Book Lovers Book Cafe. Adult Program. Please Register.
Spanish Made Simple! - Part 3
Thu, Oct 01, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room A
PLEASE register via Part I to participate: Part 3 of our beginner-friendly introduction to Spanish language to help with basic conversations. No prior knowledge needed- just bring your enthusiasm!
Lego Club
Thu, Oct 01, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Ages 6-12. Come to the Manchester Library to build something amazing with our Legos! Registration is required.
Registration opens Thursday, September 17 2026 at 9:00am
Sign Language for Adults with Special Challenges - Part 2
Fri, Oct 02, 10:00am - 11:00am
Manchester Meeting Room
Continue to learn basic American Sign Language.  
Model Magic Mosaics
Sat, Oct 03, 10:30am - 11:15am
Ages 5-12. Come to the Manchester Library and create your own bean mosaic! Registration is required.
Registration opens Saturday, September 19 2026 at 9:00am
Eating and Drinking in Ancient Rome
Mon, Oct 05, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
What did Caesar and his fellow ancient Romans eat? This lecture will introduce you to the surprises and delights of ancient Roman cuisine and even supply you with recipes to try at home.
Registration opens Monday, September 21 2026 at 9:00am
Manchester Daytime Book Discussion
Tue, Oct 06, 10:15am - 11:30am
Book Title: "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" by James McBride
Tween & Teen Karaoke
Tue, Oct 06, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Tweens & teens will sing popular karaoke songs together. Ages 10 - 16. Please add siblings attending as guests and list each teen attending with their age.
Registration opens Tuesday, September 22 2026 at 9:00am
Paint & Play- Toddler
Wed, Oct 07, 9:30am - 10:15am
Ages 0-3. Join us for messy play and leave the cleanup to us! Playtime with toys, painting, and coloring. Registration is required.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 23 2026 at 9:00am
Paint & Play- Preschool
Wed, Oct 07, 10:30am - 11:15am
Ages 2-6. Join us for messy play and leave the cleanup to us! Playtime with toys, painting, and coloring. Dressing for a mess is encouraged. Registration is required.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 23 2026 at 9:00am
Teen Volunteer Hour
Wed, Oct 07, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Gain valuable leadership skills and earn community service hours through our Teen Advisory Board (TAB). Meet us in the Teen Zone to participate in our school year volunteer program! Ages 13 - 18.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 23 2026 at 9:00am
Adults with Special Challenges Fall Craft
Thu, Oct 08, 10:00am - 11:00am
Manchester Meeting Room
Have fun making a fall craft. All supplies are included. Caregivers do not need to register.
Infant Safety for Parents and Grandparents
Thu, Oct 08, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Infant Safety for Parents and Grandparents. Adult Program. Please register.
Hooked On Yarn: A Knitting and Crocheting Group
Thu, Oct 08, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room B
Love to knit or crochet, come to our meeting room and join others with the same passion. Bring your yarn, needles, hooks and current projects.
Tween & Teen Chess/Checkers Club
Thu, Oct 08, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Tweens & teens will learn to play and practice chess & checkers with one another. Ages 8 - 18. Registration is required. Please add siblings attending as guests and list each of their ages.
Registration opens Thursday, September 24 2026 at 9:00am
Cuentos y Canciones: Hispanic Heritage Month Read & Play
Sat, Oct 10, 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages 2-6. A short storytime for beginning listeners, followed by a craft or activity and open playtime in our children's department. Registration is required.
Registration opens Saturday, September 26 2026 at 9:00am
Musiquita - A Bilingual Music Experience
Mon, Oct 12, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Musiquita, a bilingual (English/Spanish) all ages music experience. The wife/husband duo encourages the audience to move along with them in joyful celebration.
Registration opens Tuesday, September 29 2026 at 9:00am
Knights of the S.T.E.A.M. Table
Mon, Oct 12, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
Ages 6-12. Join us at the Manchester Library as we face fun themed math and science challenges on our way to saving the lost King and Queen of Camelot. Registration is required.
Registration opens Monday, September 28 2026 at 9:00am
Italian American Heritage Month Film: Somewhere in Queens
Mon, Oct 12, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
The Russo's live a simple life in Queens, surrounded by their overbearing Italian-American family. When their son finds success on his high-school basketball team, Leo tears the family apart. 106m (R)
Registration opens Monday, September 28 2026 at 9:00am
Writers Group
Tue, Oct 13, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Manchester Meeting Room
Bring your poetry, essays, and short stories. The Writers Group critiques each others works and provides feedback.
Tween & Teen Artist Workshop
Tue, Oct 13, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Tweens & teens will participate in artistic prompts centered around writing, drawing, painting, etc. Ages 10 - 16. Please add siblings attending as guests and list each teen attending with their age.
Registration opens Tuesday, September 29 2026 at 9:00am
Cuentos y Canciones: Hispanic Heritage Month Read & Play
Wed, Oct 14, 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages 2-6. A short storytime for beginning listeners, followed by a craft or activity and open playtime in our children's department. Registration is required.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 30 2026 at 9:00am
Ask a Master Gardener
Wed, Oct 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Drop in and talk to a Master Gardener from the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Ocean County.
Cybersecurity Awareness
Wed, Oct 14, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
October is Cybersecurity awareness month. A Cybersecurity advisor with the DHS will provide a cybersecurity briefing on the cyber threat landscape and best practices to reduce cyber risk.
Registration opens Wednesday, September 30 2026 at 9:00am
Sensory Haunted House
Thu, Oct 15, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Family Program. Spooky stations that pair immersive play with silly, haunted experiences. Registration Required.
Registration opens Thursday, October 1 2026 at 9:00am
See all events