This weekend in Ocean County, NJ

Seaside Heights, New Jersey sets the stage for the seventh annual celebration of modern muscle, bringing together hundreds of performance cars from across the Northeast. The day centers on horsepower and style, as enthusiasts converge for a memorable showcase of contemporary machines and the culture that surrounds them.

At Robert J. Novins Planetarium, a fulldome film led by showman The Great Schiaparelli invites viewers into his remarkable Observatorium for a high-energy journey through space and time. Glide from Mercury’s blistering terrain to the frozen outskirts near Pluto, then venture farther still as thrills and discoveries reveal how rare and valuable Earth is. The Observatorium is not just a spectacle... it places the audience in the midst of some of the Solar System’s most dangerous locations, and only nimble piloting will get everyone back safely. Suited for grade 1 and older, this immersive experience runs 25 minutes.

This Yu-Gi-Oh! locals event welcomes duelists to bring their best decks and face off against local competitors in a spirited showdown to see who will be crowned the ultimate duelist.

At the Robert J. Novins Planetarium, a live presenter leads an in-depth tour of the current night sky over New Jersey. This Sky Talk changes with the season and highlights visible constellations, standout stars, planets in view, notable deep-sky objects, and timely celestial sights. Constellation stories and recent happenings in the sky are included. Guests are encouraged to ask and answer questions in a relaxed, conversational setting. Recommended for grades 6 and up. The program runs 60 minutes.

This community ride features on-site registration at the firehouse and a route through the Pines. It is open to motorcycles, Slingshots, dirt bikes, trikes, cams, and side by sides, and groups are welcome to participate. A rain date is planned.

A full day of casual, multiplayer Commander pods for Magic: The Gathering. Commander, also known as EDH, invites players to select a legendary creature as their commander and build a deck around that card’s color identity and signature abilities. Decks consist of 99 cards plus the chosen commander. Except for basic lands, each individual card can appear only once. The card pool spans the breadth of Magic’s history, creating a flexible and social way to play.

A weekly casual Warhammer session featuring game demos and ample space for matches. The focus is on connecting with the community and setting up friendly games. Players can request matchups, ask questions, and share lists through the Warhammer Battleforged at ECG Facebook group and the ECG Discord.

A nurturing ceremony weaves ceremonial cacao with a live soundscape of singing bowls, gong, drumming, handpan and other instruments, complemented by Reiki and energy clearing. Cacao is honored here as a sacred plant that supports circulation and gently opens blood vessels, including the heart. In a held setting, the vibrations of sound help cultivate emotional awareness and a deeper connection with the light and love within. As bodies and minds soften, the sounds move through the space and participants are supported in meeting inner truth and developing a deeper relationship with the higher self, feeling grounded and supported in the heart. The container encourages balance, clarity, steady presence and heart coherence. Experiences naturally vary, from quiet reflection to tears, joy, insight or stillness, and every authentic response is welcome. Comfort items are encouraged. Bring a blanket, pillow, eye mask, warm socks and any personal allies such as a favorite stuffed animal, crystals, malas or oracle cards, plus a mug for cacao and water. Preparation suggestions include fasting for three hours beforehand and avoiding caffeine, dairy, alcohol for twenty-four hours and other plant medicines to receive cacao’s benefits with full presence. A closing sharing circle offers time to be heard and witnessed as integration begins. Attendance is intimate, limited to ten participants. The energy exchange is $55, with a minimum of six attendees. Safety notes: connect privately in advance if taking antidepressants, anti anxiety medications or heart medications. Cacao contains mood-elevating compounds similar to those targeted by some antidepressants, so serving size may need adjustment. It can raise heart rate by about ten to twenty percent and, as a naturally fermented food, contains tyramine, both of which some cardiac medications advise limiting. Those who are pregnant can still enjoy cacao, typically at a smaller dose that varies by trimester. Questions are welcome.

Michael Jackson’s music takes center stage in a laser show set to a soundtrack of his most iconic songs. Dynamic laser effects create a vivid tribute to the artist’s lasting influence on music, dance, fashion, and filmmaking. Presented at Robert J. Novins Planetarium, the program runs 49 minutes. Please note that it features flashing lights and rapidly changing imagery, which may affect people with photosensitivity.