Downtown Freehold Holiday Tree Lighting

Thursday will be sunny with a high near 51 degrees and an overnight low of 34, according to the National Weather Service.

Freehold’s annual tree lighting ceremony will take place Thursday at 5 p.m. in front of the building.

The event will include a performance by the Rock N Roll Chorus and a special appearance by Santa.

The 2011 tree is a Norway spruce from Charleston Springs Golf Course in Millstone, according to a Monmouth County media advisory.

Local author Julia Spencer will take part in a book signing of her memoir Looking Through a Keyhole at Chico’s in Freehold Raceway Mall on Thursday at 4 p.m.

The Center Players will hold auditions for Alan Ayckbourn’s How the Other Half Loves on Thursday from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the . The theater is looking to fill parts for three male and three female characters. The play will from in February.

The Monmouth County Environmental Council will meet at the Hall of Records building on Thursday at 5 p.m.

The Freehold Township Planning Board will meet at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.