WEEKEND: HENRY, HOCKEY, & HEEBIE JEEBIES

Staged by Michael Sexton of the Shakespeare Society, the Bard’s Henry V opens a three-week run at Red Bank’s Two River Theater Friday night. (Photo by T Charles Erickson. Click to enlarge)

We’ve got a solid block of entertaining and educational diversions available on the Green this weekend. Getting right to it…

Thursday, October 25

7 p.m. – Middletown Public Library will host a free wedding planning workshop and presentation by Rachael Citron of Glass Slipper Wedding and Events. Q&A session will follow. Register online or call 732-671-3700×320. 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown.

7:30 p.m. – Executive Hockey Editor for the Associated Press and Fair Haven resident Tim Sullivan will present details on this year’s Eastern Conference Finals between the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils. Hosted by River Road Books, the event takes place at the Nauvoo Grill Club. Contact River Road Books to reserve: 732-747-9455. 121 Fair Haven Road, Fair Haven.

7:30 p.m. – Red Bank Public Library will host a free performance by a trio of local jazz favorites known as The Gambone Project (Gregg Gambone, Jonathan Sims, Vince Giardina). 84 West Front Street, Red Bank.

8 p.m. – Count Basie Theatre will host a Lite Rock night of ‘70s hits as Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS), Firefall, and Exile take the stage. Tickets range from $25-70. Call Count Basie to purchase: 732-842-9000. 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

8 p.m. – Dennis Miller, the Emmy winning veteran of Saturday Night Live, Monday Night Football and CNBC will present an Election Season evening of “rightward skewing rant, ‘Reasoned Discourse’ and trademark references.” Tickets range from $39-109. Call Count Basie to purchase: 732-842-9000. 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

10 p.m. – Rock’n’Roll Karaoke at The Downtown, a weekly event hosted by the band from NYC’s Arlene Grocery. 10 West Front Street, Red Bank.

Friday, October 26

10 a.m. – Middletown Public Library invites children ages 2-6 to come in their costumes, share a spooky story, and enjoy an early Halloween parade. Advance registration required by calling 732-671-3700×340. 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown.

1 p.m. – Free yoga session at the Red Bank Public Library by Amy Richardson. No resgitration required, bring your own mat. 84 West Front Street, Red Bank.

4 p.m. – Kids ages 5-9 are invited to Middletown Public Library for scary stories and more. Come in costume. Advance registration required by calling 732-671-3700×340. 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown.

8 p.m.  – It’s opening night at the Two River Theater for HENRY V, William Shakespeare’s supercharged history of a gung-ho young king and the costs of living in a perpetual state of war — and the play that gave us the rousing exhortation ‘Once more unto the breach.’ Runs through; tickets $24 to $57. 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank .

8:30 p.m. – The monthly series Reckless Steamy Nights returns to Red Bank’s Woman’s Club, presented by the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation. Jazz scholar and musician Mike Barris with Doug Clarke, Jennifer Jordan and Tom Bender will perform. The $10 donation will benefit the scholarship programs of the JSJBF and the Woman’s Club. 164 Broad Street, Red Bank.

8:30 p.m. – Jersey Shore Ghost Tours leads guided tours of the borough’s most historical haunts every Friday night through Halloween. Tickets are sold at 8 p.m. in front of the Dublin House: $10 for kids 10 and under, $12 for all others. Tours depart at 8:30. Reservations may be made by calling 732-500-6262. 30 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

Saturday, October 27

11 a.m. – The second annual New Jersey Women’s Expo will take place at the Robert J. Collins Arena at Brookdale Community College‘s Lincroft campus. The event will feature hundreds of vendors, prizes, fashion shows, free samples, book signings, product demos, beauty makeovers, psychic readings, cooking with restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach, a model search for In Jersey Magazine, and free health screenings at the Meridian Health Pavilion. Admission is $10. Also takes place Sunday, same time. Newman Springs Road/Route 520, Lincroft.

2 p.m. – Acoustic Saturdays continue at Red Bank Public Library, featuring local musicians. Admission is free. 84 West Front Street, Red Bank.

2 p.m. – Dubbed the “live AAAGGH!tion” scary walk-through, the Haunted Theater created by the Brookdale Theater Club is back at the Lincroft campus Performing Arts Center for six nights of “blood-drenched diorama and poppin’ fresh fear mongering.” Admission is $8 ($5 for BCC students). Takes place Sunday as well at 2 and 7 p.m. Newman Springs Road, Lincroft.

2 p.m. – The Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library system will host “KAPOW! ComicCon Extravaganza,” a panel of ‘cosplayers’ who will share tips on ‘creating imaginative costumes and having fun at cool conventions.’ Ages 11 and up are encouraged to wear their costumes to the event, and all ages are invited to see and take pictures of the Batmobile. 1001 Route 35 North, Shrewsbury.

8 p.m. – Grammy winner and leader of The Fleckstones, Bela Fleck, will bring together seven banjo players for a Count Basie Theatre performance. Tickets range from $25-49.50. Call Count Basie to purchase: 732-842-9000. 99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.

Sunday, October 28

9 a.m. – Every Sunday from May through November is the Red Bank Farmers Market, held in the Galleria parking lot, featuring fresh locally grown produce and homemade crafts from approximately 30 vendors. Bridge Avenue at West Front Street, Red Bank.

3 p.m. – Sandy Hook’s Rocktober Concert at the Post Theater at Fort Hancock will feature local singers and songwriters for a two hour live event. 67 Hartshorne Drive, Sandy Hook.

8 p.m. – Presented on the first and third Sunday of every month is Irish Open Mic Night, upstairs at the Dublin House starting at 8 p.m. 30 Monmouth Street, Red Bank.