The acting troupe at Temple Beth Am, Lakewood, is available to entertain at area venues. The Temple Beth Am Players perform their own scripts and compositions throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties for various organizations and adult communities.

Lenore Turtlebaum, director, has written scripts as well as the accompanying musical compositions that are performed.

For more information on booking the Temple Beth Am Players, call Temple Beth Am at (732) 363-2800.

Country dancing at

New Egypt Elks Lodge

New Egypt Elks will sponsor a country dance 8-11 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Elks Lodge, 105 Lakewood Road, New Egypt. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. The event will include open dancing from 8-11 p.m., with one dance lesson at 9 p.m. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Music and lessons will be provided by Country Class. Admission is $6 per person, with proceeds to benefit the New Egypt Elks Children’s Memorial Garden. Details: (609) 758-4789.

Church pumpkin patch to offer fun, charity

JACKSON — After the success of last year’s first charity Pumpkin Patch at the Jackson United Methodist Church, 68 Bennetts Mills Road, the church will once again host the event. This year’s pumpkins will be delivered on Oct. 5.

Many new family events and activities have been added this year such as “Veggie Tales Family Movie Night,” which will feature an outdoor viewing of the movie “Min-nesota Cuke and the Search For Samson’s Hairbrush,” Oct. 7 at 7 p.m., and a Hallo-ween Parade on Oct. 29 at 10 a.m.

Children are invited to come in costume for the parade in the pumpkin patch, which will be followed by refreshments and a viewing of “The Great Pumpkin” movie. Admission to both movie events is a canned food item for the Jackson food pantry.

Saturdays are “Family Fun Days” with face painting, pumpkin decorating, storytime, bake sales and more from noon to 4 p.m. On Oct. 15 and Oct. 29 at 1 p.m., magic shows are scheduled, and pony rides will be available on Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

Last year’s pumpkin patch raised more than $4,000 for charity, with half going to the Jackson food pantry and the other half going to the United Methodist World Ser-vice Fund, which supports mission work around the world, according to a press release.

The Pumpkin Patch is at the Jackson United Methodist Church and will be open daily from Oct. 6-30. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Details: (732) 833-8808 or www.jacksonumc.org.