Toms River celebrates Pride, and more things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore (2023)

Pride month continues in New Jersey with Toms River's fifth annual LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday on Washington Street in downtown.

"It is our hope that this ever-growing tradition will spark meaningful collaboration that not only benefits the evolving Downtown District, but advances our mission of fostering a safe and welcoming environment for members and allies of the LGBT+ community in the Greater Ocean County area and our neighboring counties," says a statement from Toms River Pride on the Exit 82 Studio Theater home page.

​​There will be food, vendors, shopping and festivities. ASL interpreters will be present at all mainstage performances.

Toms River Pride has partnered with The Virtual Queer Library for a book drive on Saturday.

"In response to the book bans sweeping the nation, we need your help to expand this library!," says a post on Toms River Pride's Facebook page. "If you have any LGBTQ+ themed books, please consider donating them to the Virtual Queer Library booth! Books for all ages, both fiction and nonfiction, are welcome!"

More information is at https://vqlibrary.blogspot.com/.

Go: Toms River Pride, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Washington Street, Toms River; facebook.com/TomsRiverPride.

Here are more things to do at the Jersey Shore this weekend:

Lighthouse International Film Fest on LBI

"American Pot Story: Oaksterdam"will have its East Coast premiere at theLighthouse International Film Festival at 3:45 p.m. Saturday at LBI Foundation of the Arts in Long Beach.

The festival takes place from Wednesday to Sunday.

"American Pot Story: Oaksterdam"tells the unknown origin story of a handful of underdogs whoare the reason for the huge changewe see today in cannabis policy in the U.S. What began at the first ever cannabis college in Oakland, California, would end up impacting the whole world, reflecting NorthernCalifornia's rich history of civil resistance. Notable personalities in the documentary are actor and advocate Tommy Chong, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, andEvan Nison of Nison Co, the New Jersey-based Cannabis PR firm.

"Parachute" is the festival's opening night film, showing at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at LBI Foundation of the Arts. In her directorial debut, actress Brittany Snow, known for her playful performances in"Pitch Perfect"and"Hairspray," brings to the screen a dramatic account of two young people struggling with emotional challenges and finding comfort in each other’s strengths and deficiencies. Tickets are $15.

A complete list of films and screening locations is at lighthouseff.com.

Go: Lighthouse International Film Festival, through Sunday, passes available, individual tickets start at $12, LBI Foundation of the Arts, 120 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach; lighthouseff.com.

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Meshell Ndegeocello at the Basie

Acclaimed Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter Meshell Ndegeocello plays The Vogel at the Count Basie Center for the Arts at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Ndegeocello makes her Blue Note Records debut with "The Omnichord Real Book," a jazz influenced album available June 16. In a release posted on the Basie website, Ndegeocello said the album marks the start of a new chapter in her career.

“It’s a little bit of all of me, my travels, my life,” says Meshell in a release posted on the Basie site. “My first record I made at 22, and it’s over 30 years from then, so I have a lot of stored information to share.

“This album is about the way we see old things in new ways,” she continues. “Everything moved so quickly when my parents died. Changed my view of everything and myself in the blink of an eye. As I sifted through the remains of their life together, I found my first Real Book, the one my father gave me. I took their records, the ones I grew up hearing, learning, remembering. My mother gifted me with her ache, I carry the melancholy that defined her experience and, in turn, my experience of this thing called life calls me to disappear into my imagination and to hear the music.”

Tickets are $20 to $89.

Go: Meshell Ndegeocello, 8 p.m. Wednesday, The Vogel, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $20 to $89; 732-842-9000, thebasie.org.

Joshua Bell plays with New Jersey Symphony

Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell returns to perform Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 with the New Jersey Symphony Friday to Sunday, led by Music Director Xian Zhang. The program also features the world premiere of Daniel Bernard Roumain’sFarah (Joy) for Voice and Orchestra, as well as Stravinsky’s masterpiece "The Rite of Spring."

Performances take place at 8 p.m. Friday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, 8 p.m. Saturday at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, and 3 p.m. Sunday at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark.

Violinist and composer Roumain is a musical polymath who has embraced electronica, jazz, R&B, pop, hip-hop, gospel and traditional African American music, in addition to classical. Farah (Joy) is Roumain’s second work commissioned by the New Jersey Symphony in his capacity as the orchestra’s first Resident Artistic Catalyst.

At 7 p.m. Friday and Sunday, there will be a Classical Conversation before the performances. Learn more about the music from New Jersey Symphony musicians, guest artists and insiders.

Tickets start at $25 and are available at 800-255-3476 or njsymphony.org.

Go: New Jersey Symphony, with Joshua Bell, 8 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Sunday, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark; 8 p.m. Saturday, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank. Tickets for NJPAC range from $25 to $90, $25 to $80 for the Basie; 800-255-3476, njsymphony.org, njpac.org, thebasie.org.

Shrewsbury Chorale performs in Red Bank

The Shrewsbury Chorale presents "Fire and Water" at 4 p.m. Sunday at the United Methodist Church, 247 Broad St. in Red Bank.

The program, under the direction of Fiona Smith Sutherland, features Henryk Gorecki’s “Broad Waters," a larger piece sung in Polish that features poetry about the Vistula River, the effect of water on the people, and the river as an image of the passage of time.

Classic works by Palestrina and William Billings also are on the program, as is a musical setting of a Christina Rosetti poem, composed for and dedicated to the Shrewsbury Chorale. A reception will follow the concert.

Advance tickets are $20, $17 for seniors/students, $8 for children.

Go: Shrewsbury Chorale, "Fire and Water," 4 p.m. Sunday, United Methodist Church, 247 Broad St. Red Bank; https://shrewsburychorale.org/purchase-tickets/.

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A speakeasy inside an Italian steakhouse in Middletown

Looking for a dining adventure?

Head to Gabriella's Italian Steakhouse and take a look around: There's a secret door — look for a painting of flowers flanked by golden sconces — that opens to a speakeasy.

"The chic and elaborate 50-seat speakeasy and bar area is the perfect addition to the restaurant," said co-owner Frank Brusco, who opened the space last month.

Leather banquettes, chandeliers, hanging florals and a cocktail bar fill the room, where Gabriella's menu is available.

“After the food is served, the space can transform into a dance floor and party room," said designer Vincent Celano.

Go: Speakeasy at Gabriella's, noon to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, noon to midnight Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays; 447 Route 35, Middletown; 732-456-6699, gabriellasnj.com.

Greenwood Lake Air Show returns

The Greenwood Lake Air Show returns for its 14thyear this weekend in Passaic County.

"Some of the world’s best aerial acrobatic performers will be flocking to West Milford ... to display their daredevil skills at the only night air show in the Northeast," saidTim Wagner,Greenwood Lake Air Show chairman.

The night shows culminate with an aerial pyrotechnic, light and musical finale.

Headlining this year is the Aeroshell Aerobatic Team, flying their World War II Trainer T-6 Texans. Nathan Hammond, aka “Ghost Writer,” also returns. After dark, Hammond will illuminate the night sky with more than 200 pounds of pyrotechnics and 4,000 brilliant LED lights.

Making his debut performance at the show is Kent Pietsch, who will execute three acts including a dead-stick (engine off) routine from 6,000 feet, and a rooftop landing on a moving RV. He's best known for a comedy act that features a detached wing flap and a wingtip-scraping pass down the runway.

You'll also be able to see historic aircraft from World War II, and visit the Army Air Forces Historical Association exhibit for an interactive, living history lesson on the aircraft and the fliers who took them to war.

Gates open at 5 p.m. Friday, with performers taking to the sky at 7 p.m. There are two shows on Saturday. Gates open at 2 p.m, with performances starting at 5:30 p.m. and after 8:30 p.m. On Sunday, gates open at 11 a.m., with performances starting at 2 and concluding at 5 p.m.

Advanced tickets can be purchased atgreenwoodlakeairshow.com. Admission is $35, $25 for seniors and military veterans, $10 for children ages 4 to 12, free for kids under 4.

This is a rain or shine event. For general admission, bring a folding chair or blanket to enjoy the show. Parking is $15 in the general lot, with shuttle buses running to the gates. On-field parking is $35.

Vendors will be offering a variety of food options.

Go: Greenwood Lake Air Show, Greenwood Lake Airport, 126 Airport Road, West Milford, Friday to Sunday, $35; Facebook.com/GreenwoodLakeAirShow.