Baseball game fundraiser for Jackson boy with cancer, and more things to do this weekend
You Got This, Alex.
Gates open at 6 p.m. Friday for a baseball game to benefit Alex Kacmarsky, an 11-year-old boy from Jackson who has stage 4 cancer. The Savannah Bananas-style game will be played by Holbrook Little Leaguers in Jackson (366 Bartley Road).
Expect lots of shenanigans, with live band Rock Bottom offering entertainment in between the eight-inning game. Opening ceremonies begin at 6:45 p.m., and first pitch (a special guest "from very far away") is 7 p.m.
There will be refreshments (coffee, cocoa and food) for sale, with proceeds going to the Kacmarskys. There also will be party-themed items for sale, including glow sticks. Giveaways include You Got This Alex T-shirts and hoodies, Topps baseball card packs and more (while supplies last). There also will be face painting.
A donation is mandatory to meet former Major League Baseball player Todd Frazier, who will autograph baseballs and photos (one per guest) while supplies last. No personal items can be signed. All proceeds will be donated to the Kacmarskys. There also will be a secret special guest signing autographs next to Frazier.
The first 50 children through the gate will receive an autograph baseball from Sam Allen of the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro Leagues). Pedro Sierra of the Negro Leagues and Minnesota Twins has provided the event with 50 autographed baseballs (minimum donation is $25).
Can't make it to the game? Check out the livestream at Jacksontv.org.
Go: Baseball game to benefit Alex Kacmarsky, 7 p.m. Friday, 366 Bartley Road, Jackson; cme3669@gmail.com, #yougotthisalex, #teamyougotthisalex.
Here are more things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore:
Diwali festival in Colts Neck
Celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights, at Marlboro Indian Foundation's Diwali Milan beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday at Colts Neck Fire Company #2.
There will be fireworks, dancing, music — and lots of traditional dishes and sweets. There also will be Diwali rituals, such as the lighting of diyas and the exchange of heartfelt greetings.
Appetizers and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be served from 5 to 8 p.m. DJ and dancing goes from 6 to 11:30 p.m. Dinner will be served from 9 to 11:30 p.m.
A designated fireworks area for children will be set up and runs until 7:30 p.m. No outside fireworks are permitted.
Ticket prices are $50 per person with drinks, $40 without alcoholic drinks, $25 for kids 5 to 16. To buy tickets online, visit here.
Go: Diwali Milan, starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, Colts Neck Fire Company #2, 50 Conover Road, Colts Neck, $25 to $50; marlboroif.org.
'Bridal extravaganza' in Long Branch
Babes in Business, the New Jersey-based national network of female entrepreneurs, is presenting Brides, Bubbles & Beers on Sunday at Whitechapel Projects in Long Branch.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the "bridal extravaganza" will offer wedding selfie stations, themed rooms, drinks and local vendors selling everything from cookies to flowers to dresses. Babes in Business' design team aims to transform Whitechapel Projects into a "Wedding Wonderland," according to a release. Each room will be themed differently.
There also will be Champagne and hors d'oeuvres. Tickets are $5 per person.
"This is an event for everyone — your best friend, your fiancé and your family (including dogs)," according to the release. "(Brides) can treat yourself to all the things while picking out your wedding details. We want to make planning your wedding fun again."
Go: Brides, Bubbles & Beers, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Whitechapel Projects, 15 2nd Ave., Long Branch, $5; babesinbusiness.com/event-details/brides-bubbles-beers-at-whitechapel-projects.
Beers on the Boards in Point Pleasant Beach
Craft beer fans will flock to the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk Saturday for the Chamber of Commerce's annual Beer on the Boards.
More than 30 breweries, including Icarus Brewing, Kane Brewing Company, Asbury Park Brewery, Ross Brewing Co. and Last Wave Brewing Co. will attend. Spiked seltzers and hard ciders also will be available, and the event includes live music and an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Go: Beers on the Boards, sessions at 12:30 and 6 p.m., Martell's Tiki Bar, 312 Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach, $65 for beer drinkers, $25 for designated drivers; pointpleasantbeachchamber.com.
More: Don't miss these beers and ciders this fall at the Jersey Shore
All Saints' Memorial Church presents Candlelight Concert
All Saints’ Memorial Church, also known as the Stone Church, welcomes back Eric Wyrick, Concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, along with NJSO musicians for the 41st anniversary candlelight concert and reception at 4 p.m. Sunday.
A mixture of accessible contemporary and well-known works, the concert features Brennan Sweet, Assistant Concertmaster, NJSO; Jonathan Spitz, cello; and Brett Duebner, viola.
The program features "5 Folksongs in Counterpoint" by Florence Price; "Lyrics for Strings" by George Walker' "Strum" by Jessie Montgomery; and String Quartet No. 13 in B flat major, Op. 130 by Beethoven.
Reservations are requested as seating is limited.
Go: All Saints' Memorial Church, 202 Navesink Ave., Navesink section of Middletown, $45; 732-291-0214, allsaintsnavesink.org,
Service of Remembrance in Red Bank
In addition to ending lives too soon, COVID-19 interfered with our ability to gather, remember, mourn and say farewell. At 3 p.m. Sunday, the United Methodist Church on Broad Street in Red Bank will host the greater Red Bank community in an Interfaith Service of Remembrance.
Leaders from local churches and synagogues will offer essential words of comfort and reconciliation. A joint choir and 10-piece orchestra will perform selections from Gabriel Fauré’s "Requiem."
"Although the language of the "Requiem" is from Christian liturgy, these particular words speak everyone’s understanding that our departed friends are still present," a release says.
“No matter what our individual beliefs are, our communities are at their best when we remember and honor those who have preceded us." said Rev. Cam Overbey of UMC Red Bank in a release.
Go: Service of Remembrance, 3 p.m. Sunday, United Methodist Church of Red Bank, 247 Broad St.; 732-747-0446, umcredbank.org.
Lakewood library Fall Festival
The Ocean County Library Lakewood Branch celebrates its 25th anniversary with a Fall Festival that kicks off at 2 p.m. Thursday.
After a reception, there will be a presentation Thursday by Waretown’s Out of Sight Alpaca Farm, complete with its friendly, furry inhabitants. The branch will be filled with craft and activity stations, too.
Celebrations continue with a performance of contemporary hits, classics and Broadway tunes by Dakota & Elle at 2 p.m. Saturday.
All events and activities are free, but register at theoceancountylibrary.org/events.
Go: Fall Festival, Ocean County Library Lakewood Branch, 2 p.m. Thursday and 2 p.m. Saturday, free; 732-363-1435, theoceancountylibrary.org/events.
Tuckerton Art Center exhibit
If you like things "Silky and Shiny," head to Tuckerton Art Center. The exhibit features work "where color floats through painted silk scarves and dances on alcohol ink canvas and tiles," according to a news release.
Featured in the exhibit are Linda Blum, Judy Kronmeyer, Chuck Person, Jeanne Easton Preston, Linda Saladino, Alexandra Smith, Joette Van Ness, Barbara Whelan and Sara Zimmerman.
Painting on washed, stretched and dried silk is an ancient art that outdates painting on canvas and paper by centuries, according to the release.
"The medium is not a fabric paint, but rather a dye that penetrates the silk, making both sides an art object," the release said. "The art is first drawn with a resist medium that keeps the dye from spreading out beyond the artist’s design. The resist is then washed out, leaving a painted image with silky soft transparency."
Alcohol ink is a relatively new technique that has become popular in America, but is still largely unknown elsewhere. The artistic results are "sparkly electric color."
Free parking is located behind the building. The Main Street driveway is shared with Wells Fargo Bank. .
Go: "Silky and Shiny," through Nov. 16, the gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays; redcanoestudio@comcast.net, ibbausmith@gmail.com. Information about Pine Shores classes and activities is available at pineshoresartassociation.org
Mania: The ABBA Tribute
Who's a "Dancing Queen"?
If you missed this ABBA tribute group on Wednesday at the Basie in Red Bank, you can catch them on Friday in Collingswood at the Scottish Rite Auditorium.
Mania: The ABBA tribute (formerly ABBA Mania) formed in 1999 and has performed more than 3,000 concerts in over 30 countries. Complete with costumes, staging and lighting, millions of people have seen them bring the music of the beloved Swedish supergroup to life.
Dig out those platform shoes, dust down those flares, and enjoy all your favorite hits — and there are a lot of them. Among this reporter's favorites: “Voulez-Vous,” “Knowing Me, Knowing You," “Super Trouper,” "The Visitors" and "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!"
Go: Mania: The ABBA Tribute, 8 p.m. Friday, Scottish Rite Auditorium, 315 White Horse Pike, Collingswood, $39 to $59; 856-858-1000, https://scottishriteauditorium.com/event/abbamania.
Sarah Griesemer contributed to this story.
Have an event coming up at the Jersey Shore? Tell us about it. Email Bill Canacci at bcanacci@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Jersey Shore things to do this weekend includes baseball benefit
