Handel's Messiah, Darlene Love and more things to do this weekend at the Jersey Shore

All hail the Christmas Queen.

Bruce Springsteen did, at Darlene Love's recent holiday show at Town Hall in New York City. The Boss presented Love with an RIAA platinum album plaque for “A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector,” the 1963 album that includes Love's classic, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”

The song is “absolutely the greatest Christmas rock 'n' roll song of all time,” Springsteen said. “That song and Darlene have been a part of our holidays for 60 years. Overdue but well deserved!”

Love, called the Christmas Queen by David Letterman, brings the good cheer to the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on Friday (and to the Newton Theatre in Newton on Dec. 22).

Go: Love for the Holidays with Darlene Love, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $35 to $129; 732-842-9000, thebasie.org. Also, 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, Newton Theatre, 234 Spring St., Newton, $59 to $89; skypac.org.

Here are other things to do at the Jersey Shore this weekend, including a drive-thru light show in Ocean Township, a frightful take on Christmas in Asbury Park, and more holiday happenings at the Basie:

Chris Pinnella presents Christmas in Red Bank

He's shared the stage with the legendary Julie Andrews, earned a platinum record and toured the globe with Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Now vocalist Chris Pinnella returns to The Vogel at the Basie Saturday for two performances with his 15-piece orchestra, offering his interpretations of beloved holiday hits and Christmas classics.

At 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, expect to hear "Silver Bells," "This Christmas," "Christmas Time Is Here," "The Christmas Song" and many more. Pinnella will be joined by three backup vocalists — plus a surprise guest at each show.

'I'm so thrilled to be bringing this concert back to Red Bank for the second consecutive year," Pinnella said in a news release. "We've toured this concert for just about a decade now, so getting to share this evening of music with audiences young and old and at such an incredible venue is always such a blast."

Go: Chris Pinnella: Christmas in Red Bank, The Vogel, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., $39 to $59; 732-842-9000, thebasie.org.

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'Messiah and More'

Now in its 75th anniversary season, the Monmouth Civic Chorus presents "Rejoice Greatly: A Celebratory Messiah and More" at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank.

This year’s program will feature favorite selections from Handel’s Messiah, intertwined with Artistic Director Ryan James Brandau’s original settings of holiday classics like "O Holy Night" and "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."

The chorus of more than 80 voices will be joined by a professional orchestra, and by the chorus of Red Bank Regional High School’s Visual & Performing Arts Academy, under the direction of Brian Krajcik.

Go: "Rejoice Greatly: A Celebratory Messiah and More," 4 p.m. Sunday, Count Basie Center for the Arts, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, $15 to $60; 732-933-9333, monmouthcivicchorus.org.

'The Frightmare Before Christmas' at Asbury Lanes

Asbury Lanes aims to redefine the festive season with "The Frightmare Before Christmas."

Starring "America’s Got Talent" semifinalist and dazzling shock illusionist Dan Sperry and "The Great Deceiver" Albert Cadabra, the holiday magic show on Saturday "combines a twist of horror with the mystifying art of shock illusion," according to a release.

Get ready for "a true night of fright and an enchanting experience during the most wonderful time of the year."

Doors open at 7 p.m. for this 18 and older show. Tickets are $35.

Go: "The Frightmare Before Christmas," doors open at 7 p.m. Saturday, Asbury Lanes, 209 4th Ave., Asbury Park, $35; asburylanes.com/calendar.

Drive-through light show in Ocean Township

Friday and Saturday evenings are the last days to catch the Holiday Light Spectacular at Corliss Park Lake and Recreation Area.

Among the colorful characters you'll encounter along the merry and bright way are a gingerbread man, a snowman, penguins — even some of the "Peanuts" gang.

Funds raised will be shared by Waretown Volunteer Fire Company and Ocean Township. Tickets are $15 per car/truck.

Go: Holiday Light Spectacular, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Corliss Park Lake and Recreation Area, 182 Wells Mills Road, Waretown, $15 per car; 609-693-3302, ext. 601, https://twpoceannj.gov.

Visit a holiday wonderland at Laylow

Laylow, a cocktail lounge beneath Reyla in Asbury Park, has been transformed into a holiday pop-up called Sleighlow, with decorations, Christmas music and festive cocktails.

Try "Not Your Grandma's Coquito," made with tequila, rum, coconut and cinnamon; "Christmas Cookie," a red and green-sprinkled cocktail made with walnut, almond and pineapple; or "Wake Me Up Before You Ho-Ho," made with vodka, cereal oat milk, espresso, and maple foam.

Go: Sleighlow holiday pop-up, Thursdays through Sundays at Reyla, 603 Mattison Ave. in Asbury Park, runs through Dec. 31; 732-307-9640, laylowap.com.

Two River Theater's Holiday Pop-Up on the Plaza

Two River Theater hosts a festive celebration of art, community, friends and music outside on the plaza and indoors in the lobby on Saturday.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., you can check out what local vendors and artisans are selling. There also will be activities for kids and hot cocoa.

“It is always so wonderful to welcome our neighbors and community partners at the theater," said Two River Artistic Director Justin Waldman. "Bringing people together to gather and celebrate the season is what Two River is all about.”

Go: Holiday Pop-Up, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Red Bank; 732-345-1400, tworivertheater.org.

Model Railroaders presents Winter Open House

The Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders presents its Winter Open House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Sheldon Wolpin Historical Museum.

Visitors to the Open House will see permanent layouts of passenger and freight trains running continuously. Ted Bertiger, president of the society, said, “We will have some holiday-themed trains running as well. Come see our train club in action!”

Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Go: Ocean County Society of Model Railroaders, Winter Open House, Sheldon Wolpin Historical Museum, 502 Country Club Road, Pine Park, Lakewood, free; 732-363-7799, captnkraft@aol.com, https://ocsmr.com.

Holiday Hootenanny in Belmar

For a new take on holiday classics, check out the Holiday Hootenanny on Thursday at Belmar Arts Center with New Jersey reggae legends Predator Dub Assassins; experimental folk group Gaia Raga, led by vocalist Niki Arrowsmith;  and Kevin Spyker & Dave Gatenby.

We're told there's bound to be a sing-along or two.

Go: Holiday Hootenanny, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Belmar Arts Center, 608 River Road, $7 advance, $10 at the door; 732-749-3360, belmararts.org/store/p507/Holiday_Hootenanny.html.

All about the snowy owl

Get ready for snowy owl season!

This largest (by weight) North American owl shows up irregularly in winter in New Jersey to hunt in windswept fields or sandy dunes. At 3 p.m. Saturday, a Monmouth Park System Naturalist will share general information about these fascinating creatures, including their behavior and movements.

Among the topics to be discussed at the Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center in Aberdeen Township: Why do they travel down from their breeding grounds in the Arctic to more southern latitudes?

The discussion is part of a series of talks by Park System Naturalists and guests to discover what’s lurking in or near the waters of Monmouth County.

Go: Snowy owl discussion, 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Freneau Woods Park Visitor Center, 360 Monastery Lane, Aberdeen; 732-842-4000, ext. 4247, monmouthcountyparks.com.

Chris Jordan and 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 include Darlene Love