Yes, folks, it’s that time of year. The book is closed on Halloween. Jim Bruno’s crew from Powerhouse Signworks has started stringing lights in trees downtown. And the event planners at Red Bank RiverCenter are sniffing around for a tree.

No, not one of Bruno’s trees. This one needs to be 20- to 25-feet tall, evergreen, full-bodied and ready to give its life for the joy of the multitudes expected to jam Monmouth and Broad Streets on Friday, November 26.

That’s the traditional night of the downtown Christmas/holiday (take your pick) tree lighting and Holiday Express feel-good street concert.

Here are the full details, per a press release:

Red Bank RiverCenter is looking for a 20 – 25 ft. full Evergreen, preferably Blue Spruce, to use in the business district as Red Bank’s Christmas tree for the 2010 Holiday Season.

Red Bank has a wonderful holiday atmosphere, excellent customer service, music on the sidewalks and stores with beautiful items for everyone on your gift list.

Each year RiverCenter sends out a request to the public to donate a tree that will be lit at the Dublin House Courtyard, 30 Monmouth Street from November 26, 2010 – January 10, 2011. RiverCenter covers the cost for the removal of the donated tree, and the donor individual or family is recognized onstage at the Red Bank Town Lighting and Holiday Express concert planned for November 26.

Because of logistics in transporting the tree, we are looking within a 5-mile radius of Red Bank. The tree will be removed from the donor’s property and installed at 30 Monmouth Street on Sunday, November 21^st with the help of Steve Garcia of The Tree Man, Beckers Tree Service, Jim Bruno of Powerhouse Signworks, Red Bank Department of Public Works and the Red Bank Police Department.

Those interested in donating a tree are asked to contact RiverCenter’s office at the Visitors’ Center phone number at 732-741-9211.