WHAT’S GOING ON? Here is a small sample of area happenings — some in-person, others online — you may want to check out in the coming days.
Art/Museums
JULY 24
ASBURY PARK “Home,” opening reception for exhibit of works by 12 artists, 7-10 p.m., art629, 629 Cookman Ave. art629.com, 908-278-1597.
KEYPORT Arts Society of Keyport Inaugural Arts Walk, self-guided tour of original art and music throughout the business district, 4-8 p.m., Downtown Keyport, West Front Street. asknj.org/events, 201-341-6911.
MORRISTOWN “Dig It, Plant It, Eat It” Family Saturday, hands-on gardening, tour of museum’s historic rooms and art project for ages 4-10 accompanied by adults, 10 a.m., Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Ave. Free but registration required. maccullochhall.org, 973-538-2040, ext. 11.
JULY 25
SPARTA “Rita Joyce -- Evolution of an Artist,” Sparta Historical Society summer art exhibit, 1 p.m., Van Kirk Homestead Museum, 336 Main St. vankirkmuseum.org, 973-726-0883.
Comedy
JULY 23
BOUND BROOK Joe Matarese, 8 p.m., Brook Arts Center, 10 Hamilton St. $25-$35. brookarts.org, 732-469-7700.
LAKEWOOD “Countdown to Crushing Covid: A Concatenation Comedy Night,” Joan Rivers tribute with Linda Axelrod, 8 p.m., Strand Center for the Arts, 400 Clifton Ave. $30. strand.org, 732-367-7789.
ROSELLE Central Jersey Comedy Showcase, hosted by Comedy Therapy, 8 p.m., also July 24-25, 8 p.m. Central Park Restaurant, 2401 N. Wood Ave. $20 and two-item minimum. eventbrite.com/e/158189144991, 848-391-8808.
JULY 24
EAST BRUNSWICK Vic DiBitetto, outdoor show hosted by Uncle Vinny’s Comedy Club, 7 p.m., Brunswick Square Mall, 755 Route 18. $32.10-$44.94. unclevinniescomedyclub.com, 877-862-5384.
RED BANK Shayne Smith, outdoor “concert on the plaza,” 7 p.m., Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St. $25. countbasietheatre.org, 732-842-9000.
WEST ORANGE Michael Jr., family-friendly comedy, 5 p.m., also July 24, 7 p.m. Life Christian Church, Northfield Campus, 747 Northfield Ave. $35-$75. michaeljr.com, eventbrite.com.
JULY 25
NEW BRUNSWICK Hart of the City Comedy Reunion, Rey Gibbs, Ty Raney and Cee Jay Craxx, 7:30 p.m., Stress Factory Comedy Club, 90 Church St. $50 table for two with two-item minimum. stressfactory.com, 732-545-4242.
Fairs/Festivalss
JULY 23
FREEHOLD Monmouth County Fair, rides, stage entertainment, exhibits, home and garden competition, children’s games, competitions, fireworks, 4-11 p.m., also July 24, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; July 25, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road. $8, free ages 17 and younger. monmouthcountyfair.com, 732-842-4000.
READINGTON 38th annual New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning, hot air balloon launches, music by Barenaked Ladies, Styx,and Laurie Berkner, fireworks, nighttime balloon glow, children’s amusement rides and entertainment, food, 1-10 p.m., also July 24, 6 a.m.-10 p.m.; July 25, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Solberg Airport, 39 Thor Solberg Road. $10-$135. balloonfestival.com, 973-882-5464.
WANAQUE Summer Carnival, 7-10:30 p.m., also July 24, 6-10:30 p.m.; July 25, 5-10 p.m. St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 868 Ringwood Ave. in Haskell. stfrancishaskell.org, 973-835-0480.
Music
JULY 23
EATONTOWN Jorma Kaukonen, Count Basie Center “Concert on the Green,” 7:30 p.m., also July 24, 7:30 p.m. Suneagles Golf Club, 2067 Tinton Ave. in Fort Monmouth. $39-$59. thebasie.org, 732-842-9000.
MILLBURN “Brookside Cabaret,” live outdoor performance with optional prix-fixe meal at the F.M. Kirby Carriage House Restaurant, 7:30 p.m., Paper Mill Playhouse, 22 Brookside Drive. $20-$35 and $20-$30 food/drink minimum. papermill.org, 973-376-4343.
MORRISTOWN Abbie Gardner, online live house concert with limited in-person attendance, 7:30 p.m., The Folk Project, Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road. $10 for in-person attendance by advance purchase. folkproject.org, 973-335-9489.
SOUTH ORANGE Eaglemania, in-person tribute band concert, 8 p.m., South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way. $39. sopacnow.org, 973-313-2787.
WAYNE Sylvia Cuenca Group, “Jazz Room Series” concert, 7:30 p.m., William Paterson University, Shea Center for Performing Arts, 300 Pompton Road. $10. wp-presents.org, 973-720-2371.
JULY 24
BLOOMFIELD “Music at the Mansion” Porch Dinner Concert, outdoor performance by David LaMarr and Darnell White with Frungillo Catering boxed dinner, 7 p.m., Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center, 240 Belleville Ave. $65 in person; $30 virtual. nicoristudios.com, info@nicoristudios.com.
HILLSIDE Michael Mayo, outdoor lawn concert, 6:30 p.m., Kean University, Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Ave., East Campus. $30. keanstage.com, 908-737-7469.
MILLVILLE Billy Bob Thornton and the Boxmasters, 8 p.m., Levoy Theatre, 126-130 N. High St. $39-$49. levoy.net, 856-327-6400.
NEWARK New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, “Scores -- the Cone Institute Concert” of new music by 2021 NJSO Edward T. Cone Composition Institute composers, 8 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Prudential Hall, 1 Center St. $10-$15. njsymphony.org, information@njsymphony.org.
“De Colombia para el Mundo,” Nicky Jam, Jessi Uribe, Francy, Grupo Niche, Farina, los Diablitos, Fruko y sus Tesos and DJ Alex Sensation, 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St. $104-$234. prucenter.com, 973-757-6600.
JULY 25
EATONTOWN Marc Cohn, Count Basie Center “Concert on the Green,” 7 p.m., Suneagles Golf Club, 2067 Tinton Ave. in Fort Monmouth. $39-$59. thebasie.org, 732-842-9000.
GARWOOD Queer Women In Music First IN-Person Festival of Musicians, Chix Appeal, Jamie LeRose, Jean Navarr, Redbird, Stephanie Chin, Lavenderblu and Joanne and Laurie, 3-8 p.m., Crossroads, 78 North Ave. $12-$15. xxroads.com, 908-232-5666.
MORRISTOWN Montclair Orchestra String Sextet, outdoor concert of works by Tchaikovsky, Strauss and 2021 N.J. Music Teachers Association composition competition winner Kailyn Williams, 8 p.m., Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road. $50 for space to accommodate two patrons by advance order only. morrismuseum.org, 973-971-3706.
MOUNTAINSIDE August Symphony Orchestra, free outdoor concert at the Loop Pavilion, 1:30 p.m., Watchung Reservation, New Providence Road and Coles Avenue. tasonj.org, 201-310-1131.
OCEAN CITY Ocean City Pops with Justin and Rachel Anne Moore, 7:30 p.m., Ocean City Music Pier, Moorlyn Terrace at Boardwalk. $15-$20. ocnj.tix.com, 609-399-6111.
STANHOPE King Solomon Hicks, 3 p.m., Stanhope House, Outdoor beer garden, 45 Main St. $16.50. stanhopehousenj.com, 973-347-7777.
Theater
JULY 23
EDISON “Rock Roll and Soul,” free “Plays-in-the-Park” production, also live-streamed on Facebook, 8 p.m., Stephen J. Capestro Theater at Roosevelt Park, Route 1 South and Grandview Avenue. middlesexcountynj.gov, 732-548-2884.
FLORHAM PARK “Snug,” outdoor production of Bonnie J. Monte homage to band of mechanicals from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” 8 p.m., also July 25, 8 p.m. College of St. Elizabeth Greek Theatre, 2 Convent Road (off Route 124). $40-$45. shakespearenj.org, 973-408-5600.
FREEHOLD “Prelude to a Kiss,” Center Players outdoor dessert theater production of the romantic comedy, 7:30 p.m., also July 24, 7:30 p.m. Lake Topanemus Park, Robertsville Road. $10. centerplayers.org, 732-462-9093.
LAMBERTVILLE “Rapunzel,” family production, 11 a.m., also July 24, 11 a.m. $10; “Matlida,” musical based on the picture book character, 8 p.m., also July 24-25, 3 p.m. $25. Music Mountain Theatre, 1483 Route 179. musicmountaintheatre.org, 609-397-3337.
MANASQUAN “Godspell,” 8 p.m., also July 24, 2 and 8 p.m.; July 25, 3 p.m. Algonquin Arts Theatre, 60 Abe Voorhees Drive. $30-$40. algonquinarts.org, 732-528-9211.
MIDDLETOWN “Grease,” Premier Theatre Company production of the musical, 8 p.m., also July 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Henderson Theatre, Christian Brothers Academy, 850 Newman Springs Road, Route 520 in Lincroft. $15-$28. premiertheatre.com.
RED BANK “Toybox Live with Rinde Eckert,” outside show, 7 p.m., also July 24-25, 7 p.m. Two River Theater Company, Plaza, 21 Bridge Ave. $50 table for two; $100 table for four. tworivertheater.org, 732-345-1400.
RIDGEFIELD PARK “Hamlet,” free outdoor Black Box Performing Arts Center production, 8 p.m., also July 25, 8 p.m. Overpeck Park, amphitheater, 100 Challenger Road. blackboxpac.com, 201-569-2070, blackboxpac@gmail.com.
SPRING LAKE “Anything Goes,” on-site production of the musical, 7:30 p.m., also July 24, 7:30 p.m.; July 25, 2 p.m. Spring Lake Community House, 300 Madison Ave. $25-$35. springlaketheatre.com, 732-449-4530.
WEST ORANGE “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” musical revue built around the songs of Leiber and Stoller, 8 p.m., also July 24, 8 p.m. Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center, 4 Boland Drive. $5-$10. ospacnj.org, 973-669-7385.
WOODBRIDGE “Waist Watchers -- the Musical,” comedy set in a women’s gym with Angela Thomas, Sarah Grant, Jordana Forrest and Sharyn Peoples, 8 p.m., also July 24, 2 and 8 p.m. Avenel Performing Arts Center, 150 Avenel St. in Avenel. $39.50. avenelarts.com, 732-314-0500.
JULY 24
FLORHAM PARK “Comedy of Errors,” outdoor Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey production, 8 p.m., also July 25, 5 p.m. College of St. Elizabeth Greek Theatre, 2 Convent Road (off Route 124). $40-$45. shakespearenj.org, 973-408-5600.
HILLSIDE “Pinocchio,” Yates Musical Theatre outdoor family production, 11 a.m., Kean University, Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Ave., East Campus. $15. keanstage.com, 908-737-7469.
POMPTON LAKES “The Great American Songbook,” musical revue, 8 p.m., also July 25, 3 p.m. Rhino Studio 237, 237 Hamburg Turnpike. $24. smilingrhinotheatre.com, 973-248-9491.
RIDGEFIELD PARK “As You Like It,” free outdoor Black Box Performing Arts Center production, 8 p.m., Overpeck Park, amphitheater, 100 Challenger Road. blackboxpac.com, 201-569-2070, blackboxpac@gmail.com.
WEST CAPE MAY “Vaudeville Variety,” outdoor East Lynne Theater Company revue of skits and songs, 7 p.m., West Cape May Borough Hall, 732 Broadway. $20-$25. eastlynnetheater.org, 609-884-5898.
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Patrick O’Shea may be reached at poshea@njadvancemedia.com.
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