Cattus Island County Park in Toms River holds its Winter Solstice Celebration on Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Cooper Environmental Center. Ocean County Parks and Recreation lists it as a free event.

The schedule mixes holiday traditions with the nature programs the center runs all year. On the county's list for the day: games, crafts, live animal talks, campfire storytime, food, a visit from Santa and a Candy Cane Nature Walk. Horse-drawn carriage rides run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., so families who want a ride should plan to arrive after the first hour.

What is on the program

  • Horse carriage rides, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., along the park's paths.
  • Live animal talks at the environmental center.
  • Campfire storytime and crafts for younger children. Photos on the county's flyer show visitors making greens arrangements at outdoor tables.
  • A Candy Cane Nature Walk on the trails.
  • Santa, food and games through the day.

The celebration is presented by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, with Commissioner Robert S. Arace serving as liaison to Ocean County Parks and Recreation.

About the park

Cattus Island County Park is an Ocean County park on the Barnegat Bay side of Toms River, and the Cooper Environmental Center is its nature center and the base for the day's activities. The Candy Cane Nature Walk takes visitors onto the park's trails, which makes the day a different outing from the town's holiday events downtown.

More free county park events in December

The same county parks calendar lists The Affair at Cedar Bridge, a Revolutionary War program at Cedar Bridge Tavern in Barnegat, on Sunday, December 6, and Lighting Up Nature, a drive-through holiday light display at Jakes Branch County Park in Beachwood, December 11 through 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Planning a visit

The Winter Solstice Celebration runs Saturday, December 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Cooper Environmental Center, 1170 Cattus Island Boulevard, Toms River. Admission is free. Dress for the weather: much of the day is outdoors.

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