• A talent showcase is being presented by Performing Arts Ensemble in late July. Dancers, singers and other talented performers are invited to contact the ensemble to set up an audition. Some performers will be chosen to go into the showcase and some performers will be invited to take part in production numbers. Children over the age of 7, teens/adults and seniors have their own divisions. Several awards will be presented. All are welcome to participate by calling 732-614-5426.
• A free workshop that will cover basic sewing tasks will be held at 7 p.m. July 13 in the United Presbyterian Church of Millstone, 211 Perrineville Road, Millstone Township. Men and women are welcome to attend. Learn how to thread a needle, repair buttons and sew a hem. Individuals who know how to sew may try out a sewing machine. This is a hands-on workshop. Call or text Anne Haines at 732-299-7827 or email [email protected] to sign up.
• Freehold Borough will celebrate Independence Day with a free concert and fireworks display on July 3 at Freehold Raceway, 130 Park Ave., Freehold. The band NRG will begin the celebration at 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs. Food and beverages will be available. Rain date is July 10. Details: www.freeholdboroughnj.gov
• Performing Arts Ensemble is holding auditions for several summer shows. Wanted are boys and girls ages 3 to 12, plus teen and young adult performers for fairy tale excerpts including “Beauty and the Beast” and “Cinderella.” Parts are also open for musical theater performers, especially dancers. Light flexible rehearsal schedule. Parts open for beginners through adult performers. Costumes provided. Details: 732-614-5426. Performing Arts Ensemble is a nonprofit organization and a member of Monmouth Arts.
• Members of the public are invited to attend the following events at the Plumsted library, 119 Evergreen Road, New Egypt: Quilting, July 5 and July 19 at 1 p.m. Join the Plumsted quilting club. Bring a project to work on. Beginners welcome; Read to the Dogs, July 11, 2 p.m. Children can practice their reading skills by reading a story to a therapy dog; T’ai Chi Chih, July 21, 2 p.m. T’ai Chi is a gentle, mindful moving meditation that may be done seated or standing; Coloring for Adults, July 26, 1 p.m. Rediscover the joy of coloring. Coloring sheets and art supplies provided; and Life-size Board Games, July 27, 7 p.m. Teens in seventh through 12th grade may join library staff for life-sized board game night with Candy Land. Details: 609-758-7888.
• The Allentown Art Guild will host a members show at the Gourgard Gallery in the Cranbury municipal building, 68 Maple Ave., Cranbury, from July 10-29. There will be an opening reception on July 10 from 1-3 p.m. On July 24 there will be an art demo by an guild member. The gallery is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The guild is a nonprofit organization. Monthly meetings include workshops, demonstrations and lectures by distinguished artists. Members of the public are invited to attend the events.
• The Standardbred Retirement Foundation has scheduled a meet and greet and tack sale from 6-8 p.m. July 9 at 43 Arneytown-Hornerstown Road, Cream Ridge. Approximately 60 horses will be on hand to greet guests, some in demonstrations, all available for adoption. A tack sale will also be held and there is no charge for guests to set up to sell their own items. Guests should bring their own table. Should there be a change due to weather, it will be posted on SRF’s Facebook page and on SRF’s website at AdoptaHorse.org. Details: 732 446-4422.
• The Monmouth County Fair will be held at the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 27-31. Hours are 5-11 p.m. July 27-29; 3-11 p.m. July 30; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 31. There will be Kids’ Zone rides in the outdoor entertainment area, a trapeze act, Bwana Jim, racing pigs, home and garden competitions, vendor displays, food, entertainment and more. General admission is $8 per person. Children 12 and under are admitted free at all times. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Ladies of St. Joseph, Millstone Township, will sponsor a bus tour of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., on Oct. 11. The cost is $99 per person and includes a buffet lunch at the Thayer Hotel. Bus will leave from St. Joseph Church at 8:15 a.m. and return at 8 p.m. There will be a guided tour of West Point at 1 p.m. and free time from 3-4:30 p.m. at the academy. For tickets, call Rosalie, 732-490-5302.
• Camp Invention will take place in Millstone Township this summer. The camp is open to children entering grades one through six. Children will explore connections between science, technology, engineering and innovation. The week begins on Aug. 1 with Michelle Falanga serving as director of the Epic program. Registration is $155 (regular price $255), due to a generous donation provided by the Nordson Corporation Foundation. Details: www.campinvention.org or 800-968-4332.
• Millstone Elks Lodge No. 2613, 22 Burnt Tavern Road, Millstone Township, will run a bus trip to see the New York Mets play the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia on July 15 at 7:05 p.m. Cost is $60 per person and includes bus, game ticket and refreshments on the bus. Bus will leave at 4 p.m. from the Elks lodge. For tickets, call Tom, 732-904-8366. The Elks Lodge has space available for daytime/evening meetings. Details: 609-259-8911.
• The Jackson Premium Outlets, Route 537, Jackson, will present a summer concert series every Saturday from 1-4 p.m., weather permitting, outside the food court. The series will conclude on Sept. 3. All performances are free and open to the public. Live performances will range from summer tunes to bluegrass, classic rock and pop.
• An Italian festival will be held from June 29 through July 2, 6-11 p.m., at Freehold Raceway, Route 9, Freehold. The event is sponsored by the Italian American Association of Monmouth County. There will be rides, games, entertainment, crafters and food at the festibal. Details: Cheryl Scuorzo, 732-536-5832.
• The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance meets every Sunday from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Freehold Community Wellness Center, 17 Bannard St., Freehold. Details: 908-433-1993 or 732-367-7450.
• The Essential Tremor Support Group meets from 7-9 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month (July 7) at the Jack Aaronson Conference Center in the Star and Barry Tobias Ambulatory Campus, 901 W. Main St., Freehold Township. Details: 732-462-8304, after 10 a.m.
Items for the Datebook may be sent via email to [email protected]. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.