Compiled by Katrina Langer and Kevin Coughlin
If you love holiday music, you will love this weekend in Greater Morristown.
From Celtic Thunder to Handel’s Messiah, virtually every style of carol is covered.
And you can explore creches, Teddy Bear Teas and even A Civil War Christmas. The electric choo-choo will be chugging around the Green, where Santa will be holding forth for the first of three weekends.
Other diversions abound, too. Scroll down for details. Check our handy calendar for even more entertainment choices.
And on Friday, treat yourself to a cone at the Creamery — this fundraiser could make a world of difference to a sweet family.
THURSDAY, DEC. 4, 2014:
Feast on free holiday music for lunch, at the Morristown United Methodist Church. Flutist Patricia Lazarra and harpist Kristy Chmura present A Midwinter’s Day Dream at 12:15 pm, at 50 S. Park Place. A light lunch will be available for purchase before and after the concert.
Get a jump on your holiday shopping — responsibly — at the Holiday Boutique at the Red Oaks School in Morristown. The sale features free trade and international items. At 21 Cutler St., from 4 pm to 7 pm today and Friday. Proceeds benefit The Red Oaks School Parents’ Association.
Lisa Lampanelli, comedy’s Queen of Mean, comes to Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Luke McCollum opens. Mature themes, adults only. Tickets: $55. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.
Discounted preview performances of Much Ado About Nothing come to the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey at 8 o’clock tonight and Friday, and at 2 pm on Saturday. Prices start at $25; student rush tickets for all performances are $15, available a half-hour before curtain for with a valid student ID. On the campus of Drew University, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Rd.), Madison. Call 973-408-5600 for more.
FRIDAY, DEC. 5:
Buy ice cream at the South Street Creamery’s Cones for Cancer fundraiser today, and all proceeds will be donated to research into a rare form of cancer afflicting owner Lori Ann Giardina’s husband, Jeff. Lori Ann has sweetened countless occasions for area families; please help her if you can. The Creamery is at 146 South St., Morristown. Hours today are noon to 8:30 pm .
The Third Annual Community Crèche Christmas Celebration starts at 6 pm and continues over the weekend at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building at 283 James St., Morris Township. See creches from around the world, and hear live music by sopranos Jamie Baer Peterson and Elena Teresa Bird, pianist Carl DiCasoli, and the sextet Express Male, from The Morris Choral Society. Hours: Friday, 6 pm to 8:30 p.m.; Saturday, 4 pm to 8:30 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 pm to 7 p.m.
Award-winning fine art photographer Danielle Austen will have a reception for her exhibit Kenai Peaks from 6 pm to 8 pm at Fox Rothschild LLP on 15 Maple Ave., Morristown. The exhibit, part of the Art Around the Park series, features images from Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula in 2012. Admission is free. The show continues through the end of the year.
Morristown High School alum Danielle Merzatta and her husband Chris open the first solo exhibition of their hand-crafted jewelry, at Wallflowers Gallery, 35 Mill St. in Bernardsville. The reception starts at 6 pm. Hear the Merzattas describe their inspirations, and help them celebrate a special milestone. Their exhibition runs through Jan. 5, 2015.
It’s Chorus Song Night at The Minstrel in Morris Township. At 8 pm, four singers will lead a round-robin sing-along. The panel: Jean Rohe, Zoe Mulford, ukist FiL Wisneski, and Minstrel Program Chairman Mike Agranoff. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, at 21 Normandy Heights Road. Admission: $9; children 12 and under, free.
An Arts Lounge at Drip Coffee will feature the Hub Camera Club with live music by Coteries. The 90-minute soiree starts at 8 pm and is hosted by Arts by the People. Admission: Free. At 46 S. Park Place, Morristown.
Skate the night away with DJ Earl at the Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township. Hear new hits and old favorites, under psychedelic lights, from 8 pm to 10 pm. Admission: $7, skate rental $3.50. At 161 Hanover Ave., Morris Township. Call 973-326-7651 for more.
Santa Koz is coming to town! Saxophone wizard Dave Koz blows through Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm with guests Jonathan Butler, Christopher Cross and Maysa for a holiday celebration. Tickets: $59-$89. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.
Hip hop favorites Universal Rebel perform at the Dublin Pub at 9 pm; it’s the band’s last DubPub gig for 2014. At 4 Pine St., Morristown.
SATURDAY, DEC. 6:
Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin are among the music icons featured in a new exhibition opening today at Morristown’s 70 South Gallery. The late stars were photographed by Klaus Schnitzer, now director of photography at Montclair State University. Also on display are images by pros Nicole Robertson and Poliana DeVane, and Morristown High School seniors Sarah Yenesel, editor of the school yearbook, and Fiona Mullen, a past winner of the MorristownGreen.com Film Festival. Admission: Free. At 70 South St. Call 201-323-5842 for more.
The Morris Museum continues its Teddy Bear Tea tradition at 11 am, 1 pm and 3 pm. Ideal for families with children ages 3 to 8: Teatime treats, a performance of The Woodbin Holiday Follies, and a visit with Santa. Tickets: $20 per person. Advanced reservations are required. At 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township. See the museum website or call 973-971-3706. Note: The 11 am seating is sold out.
The Christmas Festival on the Morristown Green roars into action with activities from noon to 7 pm. Here’s the schedule:
- 12-3 PM & 4-7 PM Santa Visits & Photos
- 1-3 PM Gingerbread House Making courtesy of Kings Food Market
- 1-7 PM Mini Train Rides
- 4-6 PM Macculloch Hall Historical Museum Family Craft Activity
To get you into the proper mood, here is video of Santa’s arrival last Sunday:
From noon to 5 pm today experience A Civil War Christmas at Historic Speedwell in Morristown. Check out a soldier’s winter encampment, and an Officers’ Ball, at 333 Speedwell Ave. Period decorations and crafts, too. Also on Sunday, from noon to 4 pm. Admission: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+), and $5 for children ages 4 to 16. Call 973-285-6550 for more.
Celtic Thunder performs traditional carols and contemporary favorites, backed by a symphony, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm. Tickets: $69-$109. At 100 South St., Morristown. Call 973-539-8008 for more.
Handel’s Messiah will be performed for the first time at Drew University’s beautiful Dorothy Young Center for the Arts. The 8 pm holiday concert features the Drew Chorale and Choral Union, a choir of students, faculty, staff and community members directed by Jason Bishop, Drew music professor. The orchestra will showcase students and guest instrumentalists. More holiday songs are on the program.The public is invited; admission is $5. Students get in free. At 36 Madison Ave., Madison.
SUNDAY, DEC. 7:
The Presbyterian Church in Morristown presents a major musical work as its 10 am service: Bach’s Magnificat in D Major. The church Chancel Choir and chamber orchestra–which includes musicians from the New Jersey Symphony–will be directed by Matthew Webb, the music director for the church. Freewill offerings gratefully accepted. At 57 East Park Place. Call 973-538-1776 for more.
From noon to 4 pm, experience A Civil War Christmas at Historic Speedwell in Morristown. See Saturday entry for details.
The Christmas Festival on the Morristown Green continues, with Santa visits and photos from noon to 3 pm, ornament-making from 1 pm to 3 pm, mini-train rides from 1 pm to 7 pm, ice sculpting from 2 pm to 5 pm, and an Original Music School sing-along from 4 pm to 5:30 pm.
If you prefer warm indoor activities, the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum halls are decked, the Christmas gift shop is open and a new Yuletide exhibit awaits you. Guided tours run from 1:15 to 3:45 pm. At 4:30 pm, the Harmonium Outreach Chorus will perform — scroll down for details. Museum admission is $8 for adults; $6 for seniors and students; and $4 for children 6-12. Members and children under 5 are free. The museum is at 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown.
St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Morristown hosts a discussion of Dr. Elizabeth Johnson’s new book, Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love, at 2:30 pm. Professor Johnson, a past president of the Catholic Theological Society, will discuss how theology and evolution can co-exist. Liturgy follows at 4:30 pm. Free. At 100 Harter Road. Call 973-538-4063 for more.
The New Jersey Youth Chorus kicks off its 23rd season with a 3 pm winter concert at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. This concert will feature a variety of young singers. Last year, the group sang at the Super Bowl, at Carnegie Hall, and the New Jersey State Repertory Opera. Tickets are $10 to $30 and can be purchased here.
Also at 3 pm: A holiday concert at St. Mary’s Abbey of the Delbarton School in Morris Township. Sopranos Elise Figa and Elena Teresa Bird will be accompanied by seven talented musicians and singers, performing music spanning the 17th to 20th centuries. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted for Homeless Solutions Inc. At 230 Mendham Road.
And then, at 4:30, the Harmonium Outreach Chorus performs at the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum. Sing along on Christmas favorites and Yiddish and African holiday tunes. Tickets: $8 for adults, $4 kids (6 –12 yrs.). For visitors who purchased an afternoon museum ticket, members or students, concert tickets are a special price of $5.
The Church of the Redeemer in Morristown welcomes the season with its annual Lessons and Carols Service at 7 pm. Special songs by the choir, traditional scripture and modern theology…followed by fellowship and refreshments. At 36 South St.
Dar Williams returns to The Sanctuary in Chatham, at 7 pm. Williams plans to revisit her very first album, The Honesty Room, and share stories about her favorite tunes. Tickets: $30. Seats are limited; advanced purchase recommended. At the Presbyterian Church, 240 Southern Blvd.
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