In the three cultural hubs of eastern Monmouth County — Red Bank, Long Branch and Asbury Park — art happens in the most amazing places.

Mark Mothersbaugh exhibit at Parlor Gallery, Asbury Park. And this weekend, from theaters to art galleries and from boardwalks to sidewalks, the TriCity Arts Tour 2009 will take place May 15, 16 and 17 thanks to a coalition of arts, business and civic organizations.

The arts festival promises to be bigger and better than last year, when the tour included more than 100 stops, with new venues, new artists, and a new spirit designed to showcase the depth and vitality of the local arts scene.

The arts tour is a rain or shine mix of indoor and outdoor events, many presented free of charge; others with ticketed admission, and all located within minutes of each other by train or auto.

The Welcome Center inside New Jersey Repertory Company at 179 Broadway in Long Branch will provide maps, brochures and other tour-related info; as well as directions to events and other information on local attractions.

Bobby Bandiera Events in Red Bank include:

• Street Life, live performances at downtown locations, 7-10 p.m., Saturday.

• Farmers Market Craft Fair in the parking lot of The Galleria at Bridge Avenue and West Front Street, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday.

• The Albumen Photographs of Giorgio Sommer: From the collection of Gary Steven Groves, at McKay Imaging Gallery, second floor at 12 Monmouth St., Friday, 3-8 p.m. Saturday.

• Window art displays at Monmouth Street Emporium, 27 Monmouth St., and CT Peters Appraisers, 2-A West Front St., Friday - Sunday.

• Make your own jewelry at Joel McFadden Jewelry, 32 Monmouth St., Friday, Saturday by appointment.

• Family time crafts, 3 p.m. Saturday; Jim Crawford & Friends, free acoustic concert 2-4 p.m. Saturday, at the Red Bank Public Library, 84 W. Front St.

• Book signing and reading by Dawn Marie Daniels and Candace Sandy, authors of "Soul of My Sisters: Black Women Break Their Silence, Tell Their Stories and Heal Their Spirit" at Frank Talk Art Bistro and Books, 163 Shrewsbury Ave., Saturday, 2-4 p.m.

• Horse and wagon Historic Building Tour of Red Bank departing from The Galleria at Bridge Avenue and West Front Street, 1-4 p.m. Saturday.

• Noel Coward's "Private Lives" at Two River Theater, 21 Bridge Ave., Friday - Sunday.

• First-run indie films at Clearview Cinemas, 36 White St. Friday - Sunday.

• Performances by Chris Botti, Dion and Monmouth Symphony Orchestra at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., 8 p.m. Friday - Sunday.

• Shore music legend Bobby Bandiera, at Walt Street Pub, 180 Monmouth St., 2-4 p.m. Saturday.

Events in Long Branch include:

• SculpToure '09 presented by SICA Gallery; an installation at locations around the city of innovative and attention grabbing 3-D artworks.

• A Taste of Pier Village Welcome Summer Party celebrating cuisine, Festival Plaza at Pier Village 3-6 p.m. Saturday, rain date Sunday.

• Group show at Shore Institute for the Contemporary Arts, 20 Third Ave.

• The Housewives of Mannheim, world premiere comedy-drama at New Jersey Rep, 179 Broadway.

• The Uncle Floyd Show, Tuff Darts/Frankenstein 3000, The Brighton Bar, 121 Brighton Ave.

• Live jazz/blues at Rooney's Ocean Crab House, Ocean Place Spa & Resort, McLoone's Pier House.

Events in Asbury Park include:

• Art, music and film on downtown streets and the Arts Tour mainstage at Press Plaza features free gospel, kid's shows, dance programs and more.

• The Carousel Arcade hosts a Vintage Flea Market, and boardwalk merchants host a series of craft demonstrations.

•Theatrical presentations by Provincetown Fringe in Asbury Park, and short films at the new Showroom.

• Punk and metal at the Stone Pony and The Saint; dance music at Mattison Park; acoustic folk and blues at Twisted Tree; and an Arts Tour AfterParty at Asbury Lanes.

• Collide-A-Scope slate of art gallery events and live performance, including the annual Walk of Art and Mark Mothersbaugh's visual art installation at the new Parlor Gallery Friday evening.

A complete updated schedule and full details can be found at the official tour website www.tricityartstour.com.