Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo sails into Lakewood, and more things to do this weekend
See boats and more this weekend as the Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo cruises into ShoreTown Ballpark in Lakewood.
Produced by the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, the Friday to Sunday show features top brands and plenty of 2025 models. More than 20 New Jersey dealers will be at the show. Attendees will see lots of pre-owned boats, too.
A boater’s marketplace will offer marine services, boating supplies and more. Little skippers can participate in a nautical “I Spy Scavenger Hunt,” spotting boating items around the show. Kids that complete the hunt can enter to win a fishing or boating related prize, with a winner chosen at the end of the day on Saturday and Sunday.
Head up to the stadium concourse on Saturday and Sunday for face painting — and run the bases on the minor league field. The Jersey Shore BlueClaws mascot, Buster, will visit the show at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Food and refreshments will be available throughout the show. Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10, free for kids under 12 when accompanied by an adult.
Go: Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo, Friday to Sunday, ShoreTown Ballpark 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, $10, free for kids under 12 when accompanied by an adult; 732-292-1051, JerseyBoatExpo.com.
Here are more things to do this weekend in and around the Shore, including the Harvest Home Festival in Holmdel, and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in New Brunswick.
Greek Festival in Toms River
St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church's Greek Festival, now in its 51st year, is a celebration of the country's cuisine, music and culture.
An outdoor food court will serve gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita, grilled octopus and more, plus pastries and Greek coffee. The festival features an indoor dining room, indoor and outdoor bars, games, live music and traditional Greek dance performances.
Go: Greek Festival, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 2200 Church Road, Toms River; 732-255-5525, saintbarbaranj.org. Shuttle service is available from Ocean County College, 1 College Drive.
'American Mariachi' in Red Bank
Two River Theater kicks off its 2024-2025 season with "American Mariachi," a comedy "full of humor, heart and joyful live music" directed by James Vásquez. The show runs Saturday through Oct. 20.
“After having directed the world-premiere production in 2018, I’m so happy to be revisiting 'American Mariachi' at Two River and sharing it with Red Bank,” Vásquez said in a news release “It is a story about community and family, traditions both old and new, and a celebration of the most glorious music ever played.”
"American Mariachi" by José Cruz González, with arrangements by Cynthia Reiles Flores, follows cousins Lucha and Boli. They have a plan to start an all-girl mariachi band. So what if it’s the 1970s and no one’s heard of such a thing? So what if they can’t play and have no costumes? So what if their families disapprove? They are on a mission to find some bandmates and make their mariachi dreams come true.
Tickets range from $50 to $80.
Go: "American Mariachi," Saturday through Oct. 20, Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank, $50 to $80; 732-345-1400, tworivertheater.org.
Eek-O-Fabulous Costume Swap in Aberdeen
Upcyle your gently used child, adult or pet costume for a spooktacular new-to-you ensemble during the Monmouth County Park System’s Eek-O-Fabulous Costume Swap.
Drop off a costume and receive a token entitling you to a “new” costume on the day of the swap, which is from noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Costume drop-offs will be accepted through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drop-offs can be done at the following locations:
Huber Woods Environmental Center, 25 Browns Dock Road, Middletown
Manasquan Reservoir Environmental Center, 331 Georgia Tavern Road, Howell
Thompson Park Visitor Center, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft.
Please, no dirty, stained or torn costumes, a release said.
"New” costumes can then be selected during the Sunday swap at the Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center in Aberdeen.
Almost due or have a newborn? No token required for baby’s costume. Costumes are only available during the swap date and time. Unused tokens may be used at next year’s swap.
Go: Eek-O-Fabulous Costume Swap, noon to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, 360 Monastery Lane, Aberdeen; 732-872-2670, MonmouthCountyParks.com.
Harvest Home Festival in Holmdel
The Monmouth County Park System will host its Harvest Home Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Historic Longstreet Farm in Holmdel.
Reminiscent of an old-fashioned fair from the 1890s, this event features wagon rides, games, live entertainment and craft demonstrations. Other activities include cider making, a pie-eating contest, and a timber framing activity.
To learn more, visit monmouthcountyparks.com.
Go: Harvest Home Festival, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Historic Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, free; 732-842-4000, MonmouthCountyParks.com.
The Japanese House in Asbury Park
Alt-pop UK musician Amber Bain, also known as The Japanese House, plays Saturday at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park.
In June, Bain released ":)," also known as "Smiley Face," a country-tinged, unabashed ode to happiness.
“ ‘Smiley Face’ is a song I wrote when I was very excited about talking to someone off a dating app,” The Japanese House said in a news release. “She lived in Detroit, and I was fantasising about flying to meet her. I was in a session at the time for someone else’s stuff, but I couldn't help this song spilling out of me, I was in some sort of frenzy. Turns out I did buy the plane tickets, now we're engaged.”
The 2023 album "In the End It Always Does" is a collection of songs highlighting heartbreak and love lost, as well as emotional reflections on childhood trauma and identity. Matty Healy and George Daniel (The 1975), Katie Gavin (MUNA), Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon and Charli XCX contributed to the album.
Bain has received praise from, among others, the New York Times and Rolling Stone. Here's what Alternative Press had to say: “Her most poignant work to date — a razor-sharp fusion of potent songwriting, rich instrumentation, and, above all, danceable beats that breathe new life into the sincerity of the project.”
More information is available at thejapanesehouse.co.uk.
Go: The Japanese House, with Venus & the Flytraps, 7 p.m. Saturday, Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park, $30; 732-481-0713, asburylanes.com.
Life Time hosts charity workout event in Red Bank
On Saturday, the athletic club Life Time will be hosting a GO90 charity workout event to benefit Augie's Quest to Cure ALS and the Life Time Foundation.
Seven New Jersey locations are participating, including the one in Red Bank (Life Time refers to it as their Middletown -Red Bank location) at 230 Half Mile Road. GO90 will be a 90-minute workout. Why 90 minutes? Because roughly every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS.
The event runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Registration is open on the Life Time Digital app for members. Non-members of Life Time can take part by registering; visit here to make a donation.
Go: GO90 charity workout, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Life Time, 230 Half Mile Road, Red Bank, $25 donation; 732-889-8300, my.lifetime.life/clubs/nj/middletown.html, lifetime.formstack.com/forms/g090_fight_against_als.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in New Brunswick
Who loves you? Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons play at 8 p.m. Friday at the State Theatre in New Brunswick.
The original Jersey boy himself, Valli's career (with the group and solo) has spawned countless hit singles, including “Sherry,” “Walk Like A Man,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “December ‘63 - Oh What A Night,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and “Grease.”
The Tony Award-winning musical "Jersey Boys," which chronicles the group's career, has now been seen by over 18 million people worldwide.
Valli is now 90 and this tour is called "The Last Encores." There are a handful of tickets left, from $129 to $299. There may be additional tickets available on secondary markets.
Go: Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, 8 p.m. Friday, State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick, $129 to $299; 732-246-7469, stnj.org.
Coming Monday: Chris O'Leary in Tuckerton
Soulful vocalist and harmonica master Chris O'Leary plays at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Lizzie Rose Music Room in Tuckerton.
The Marine veteran's latest release is "The Hard Line," his Alligator Records debut.
“O’Leary’s voice contains startling emotion … reaching an intensity and emotional rawness [that’s] primal," No Depression magazine said. "The performances practically vibrate with an authenticity that stays with you.”
"The Hard Line" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Tickets are $38 for general admission, $53 for Gold-Front Row.
Go: Chris O'Leary, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Lizzie Rose Musi Room, 217 E. Main St., Tuckerton, $38, $53; 609-276-6758 (information only), lizzierosemusic.com.
Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore things to do include boat show, expo, Lakewood
