SPECIAL EVENTS
Fireworks post-game fireworks display July 12 and 13 Lakewood BlueClaws FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood for tickets: 732-901-7000, option 3
Cruise Night July 12 at 6 p.m. Jackson Crossing, 21 S. Hope Chapel Road, Jackson 732-747-7846
Appearance by Nat Geo’s Casey Anderson Host of “America the Wild with Casey Anderson” on the National Geographic Channel July 13 Six Flags Great Adventure Route 537, Jackson www.sixflags.com/greatadventure
Annual Indian American Festival July 13 and 14, noon to 10 p.m. rides: Saturday 2-8 p.m., Sunday 1-7 p.m. Garden State Exhibit Center 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset www.venkateswara.org
WWE Live! Supershow July 13 at 7:30 p.m. Sun National Bank Center 81 Hamilton Ave., Trenton tickets: $15-$95 800-298-4200; www.comcasttix.com
Belmar Five Mile Run 2013 July 13, 8:30 -10:30 a.m. Taylor Pavilion, 5th & Ocean Avenues, Belmar www.belmarfive.com
Annual Summer Crafters Market at Allaire Village over 125 local craftspeople and artisans, demos July 13, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; rain date July 14 Free admission to Crafters Market, parking is $5/car Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Ave., Wall 732-919-3500; www.allairevillage.org
5th annual Lobster Festival seafood and more, kids’ entertainment, live music, beer and wine, crafts July 13 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 14 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Boardwalk between 4th & Brinley aves., Bradley Beach free 732-897-1111
10th annual Freehold Township Day & Festival rides, games, food and music July 13, 5-11 p.m. Michael J. Tighe Park 65 Georgia Road, Freehold Township
Ocean County Fair through July 14, Tues.-Thurs. 5-10 p.m., Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Robert J. Miller Air Park Route 530, Berkeley admission: $7; free for kids under age 10
Haskell Classic Car Show 20th year of cars from 1930s-1950s July 14, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monmouth Park 175 Oceanport Ave., Oceanport $3 grandstand admission grants access to car show www.monmouthpark.com
11th annual FreedomFest country K-9 show, Eudora petting farm, nightly horse shows, pie-eating contests, agricultural demos, carnival midway, international food, games, crafts through July 14 Tues., Wed., Thurs. and Fri. 5-11 p.m. Saturday noon-11 p.m.; Sunday noon-10 p.m. fireworks on Friday at 10 p.m. Horse Park of New Jersey Exit 11 on Route 195, Upper Freehold admission: $10, $5 seniors, $5 under 10, free under 4 freedomfeststatefair.com
Night of Thrills 300-mph Top Fuel Dragsters & Jet Cars and eight of the world’s wildest Monster Trucks
July 17, gates open at 5 p.m. Drag Race and Monster Truck Spectacular at 8 p.m. Raceway Park, 230 Pension Road, Englishtown tickets: $30; $10 ages 6-11; free 5 and under 732-446-7800; www.etownraceway.com
27th annual Sandcastle Contest free giveaways, drinks, snacks, music and more July 17 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 18th Avenue Beach, Belmar 732-681-3700; www.njsandcastle.com
Garden State Cat Expo more than 400 cats will compete for rosettes, demos, feline agility competition, kids corner, Bengal cats July 20 and 21, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Garden State Exhibit Center 50 Atrium Drive, Somerset admission: $10, $8 seniors
Forest Resource Education Center “Wildlife Habitats,” July 17 walking is required, may not be suitable for children under the age of 5 Don Connor Boulevard, Jackson www.state.nj.us/dep/parksandforests/forest/visitfrec.html
45th annual House Tour self-guided walking tour July 19, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (rain or shine) The Historical Society Museum across from Auditorium Square Park 50 Pitman Ave., Ocean Grove tickets: $30, in advance $25 732-774-1869; www.oceangrovehistory.org
Ocean Grove Historic District Walking Tours featuring: the Great Auditorium, interior of the famous Ocean Grove tents, Centennial Cottage through mid September Wed. and Fri. at 1 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m. begins at the Historical Society of Ocean Grove Museum 50 Pitman Ave. donation: $10, $8 seniors 732-774-1869
ON STAGE
The Music Man Phoenix Productions July 12, 13, 19, 20 at 8 p.m. July 14 and 21 at 3 p.m. Count Basie Theatre 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank tickets: $22-$32 743-842-9000 www.countbasietheatre.org
The Diary of Anne Frank July 12 through Aug. 4 Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. no performance July 13 Center Playhouse 35 South St., Freehold tickets: $25, $23 seniors/students 732-462-9093; www.centerplayers.org
An Evening with Groucho one-night-only performance by Frank Ferrante July 12 at 8 p.m. Algonquin Arts Theater 173 Main St., Manasquan tickets: $38, $28 children 732-528-9211; www.algonquinarts.com
Back to the 80s July 12-27, Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m. Sundays at 2 p.m. Main Street Theatre 3018 Bordentown Ave., Parlin tickets: $20, $18 seniors, $12 age 12 and under 732-553-1153; www.smstc.org
Godspell July 12, 13, 19 & 20 at 8 p.m., July 14 & 21 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre Mercer County Community College Old Trenton Road, West Windsor tickets: $16, $14 seniors, $12 student/children 609-570-3333; www.kelseyatmccc.org
ON STAGE
Spamalot July 17-27 at 8:30 p.m. No performances Sunday Parks-in-the-Park tickets: $7, $5 seniors, free 12 and under Capestro Amphitheater Roosevelt Park 12 Pine Drive, Edison www.playsinthepark.com
The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee July 18, 19 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. July 20 and 27 at 8 p.m., July 21 and 29 at 2 p.m. Ocean County College College Drive, Toms River tickets: $22, $18 seniors, $10 students 732-255-0500; www.ocean.edu
La Cage Aux Folles July 19, 20, 26, 27, Aug. 2 and 3 at 8 p.m. July 21, 28 and Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. The Urban Nest 630 Lake Ave., Asbury Park tickets: $28; $35 premium table seating preview: July 18 at 8 p.m., $14 877-CFL-TKTS; www.lacage.brownpapertickets.com
Spelling Bee Shadow Lawn Stage through July 21, Wed.-Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 7 p.m. Lauren K. Woods Theatre, Monmouth University West Long Branch tickets: $35, $25 seniors, $15 students 732-263-6889; www.monmouth.edu/arts
Leading Ladies through July 28, Fri. & Sat. at 8:30 p.m., July 14 at 2:30 p.m., July 25 at 8:30 p.m. First Avenue Playhouse 123 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands tickets: $22 732-291-7552; www.firstavenueplayhouse.com
MUSIC
Ray Rodriquez y Swing Sabroso, July 11, 6-8 p.m. Random Test Reggae Band, July 18, 6-8 p.m. Thompson Park, Monroe
The Nerds, July 11, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Rising, July 18, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Hall of Records, Freehold
Motor City Revue, July 11, 7-9 p.m. The Nerds, July 18, 7-9 p.m. Festival Plaza Pier Village, Long Branch 732-923-2044
Andrew Tyson, July 11 at 7:30 p.m., tickets: $15 59th annual Choir Festival featuring 1,000 choristers July 14 at 7 p.m., tickets: $15 Andrew Tyson, July 11 at 7:30 p.m., tickets: $15 ABBA Tribute by Arrival, July 13 at 8 p.m., $30 reserved, $25 general Bella Hristova, violinist, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. Great Auditorium Pilgrim and Ocean Pathways, Ocean Grove 800-590-4064; www.oceangrove.org
Richard Barone/The Sunday Blues, July 11 at 7 p.m. Michael McDermott/Jerzy Jung, July 18 at 7 p.m. Ocean Ave. between 5th and 6th avenues, Belmar free
Leslie Ford Quartet July 12 at 8 p.m. Urban Nest 631 Lake Ave., Asbury Park admission: $5 asburyjazz.com
Leo Gayten Jazz, July 11, 7:30-10 p.m. Jazz Duo featuring Erex Lirov,July 13, 7-9:30 p.m. La Tavola Cucina Ristorante 700 Old Bridge Turnpike, South River 732-238-2111; www.latavolacucinanj.com
The Brummy Brothers July 13 at 7 p.m. Community Arts Center 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick free
New Jersey National Guard 63rd Army Band July 13 at 7 p.m. National Guard Joint Training Center Sea Girt
Blues By the Beach: Chuck Lambert July 14 at 7p.m. West End Park, Brighton & Ocean avenues, Long Branch free
Music in the Parks Outdoor Summer Concert Series The Jose Rodriguez Latin Band, July 14, 6-7:30 p.m. Warren Park Mini Theater Florida Grove Road, Woodbridge Walt Wagner & the Serenaders, July 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Raritan Bay Waterfront Park South Amboy/Sayreville Beachfront The Jersey Swingtones, July 17 Thompson Park Gazebo Forsgate Drive, Jamesburg/Monroe free
Freehold Idol through Aug. 7; finals Aug. 14 and 21 every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Hall of Records 1 E. Main St., Freehold Borough
Melissa Etheridge July 15 at 8 p.m., tickets: $47-$108 The Go-Go’s with special guests The Psychedelic Furs July 16 at 7:30 p.m., tickets: $35-$85 A Midsummer’s Night with the Monkees July 17 at 8 p.m., tickets: $45-$129 Count Basie Theatre 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank 732-842-9000; www.countbasietheatre.org
Shore Ratz July 17 at 7 p.m. Manalapan Township Recreation Center Route 522, Manalapan free
BethAnne Clayton July 17 at 6 p.m. Beach E Sandy Hook free
The Stray Birds and Brian Dunne July 17 at 7:30 p.m. Parker Press stage, Parker Press Park Main Street and Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge free
Gordon Turk, organ recital July 17 at 7 p.m., July 20 at noon Great Auditorium Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove free
Cody Simpson July 17 at 7 p.m., tickets: $16.50 Broadway Rocks Todd Ellison’s Broadway in Concert July 18 at 8 p.m., tickets: $25-$50 State Theatre 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick 732-246-7469; www.statetheatrenj.org
DANCE
Alborada Spanish Dance Theatre July 11, 6-8 p.m. Summer Courtyard Concerts Princeton Shopping Center Courtyard 301 N. Harrison St., Princeton free 848-203-3420; www.alboradadance.org
FOR KIDS
The Jungle Book through Sept. 7, Saturdays at noon Paper Moon Puppet Theater 171 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands tickets: $9; free for children under age 2 call for reservations: 732-775-0290 www.papermoonpuppettheatre.com
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs July 16 at 10:30 a.m. for ages 4 and older State Theatre 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick admission: $5 732-246-7469; www.statetheatrenj.org
Mr. Ray whimsical music July 20, 2-4 p.m. Old Franklin School 491 Middlesex Ave., Metuchen tickets: $15 www.mrrary.com