Compiled by Kevin Coughlin
The holiday machine shifts into high gear this weekend in Greater Morristown, with music from Harmonium, the Morris Choral Society, and special guests on the Morristown Green.
Nutcracker dances into the Mayo Performing Arts Center. The Santa Special rides the rails.
Holiday bazaars come to Assumption Church, the Morristown Armory and the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, the Gingerbread capital of the world.
For variety, you have women’s roller derby, yodeling train buffs, and planetarium extravaganzas.
On a serious note, demonstrations are scheduled to protest police violence in America.
Scroll down for more details… and see our calendar for more weekend events.
THURSDAY, DEC. 11, 2014:
Students at Drew University in Madison are planning a “die-in” on the lawn of Mead Hall at noon, followed by a march down Madison Avenue, as part of a national protest against police violence towards black men.
Organist Brian Preston Harlow will give a free half-hour concert at 12:15 pm, at the Morristown United Methodist Church, 50 Park Place (on the Green). The Music at Noon program will feature music by Edmundson, J.S. Bach, Muhly and Vierne. Free childcare is available during the concert. The sanctuary is handicapped accessible. A light luncheon is available for purchase before or after the concert (11:30 am to 1:30 pm). The cost of the luncheon is $8 for adults and $6 for seniors and students.
Love trains? Sing their praises with musicians Mike Del Vecchio and Jeff Loy at the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township. They will perform songs of the rails, at a special meeting of the Tri-State Railway Historical Society Inc. The meeting gets rolling at 7:15 pm, with music at 8 pm. Admission is free; all are welcome. Light refreshments will be available. At the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road.
FRIDAY, DEC. 12:
Holiday CraftMorristown returns this weekend to the Morristown Armory on Western Avenue in Morris Township, for its 24th year. The juried show starts today from 4 pm to 8 pm, featuring contemporary work by 165 artists and craftspeople from across the country. There are gourmet specialty foods, too. General admission is $9 (includes unlimited re-entry); seniors are $8; children under 6 are free. Call 845-331-7900 for more.
Enjoy a Holiday Under the Stars, at 7 pm in the Longo Planetarium at the County College of Morris in Randolph. Designed for an adult crowd, this hour-long program will explore the night sky as it appeared thousands of years ago, and discuss how it relates to the season for cultures around the world. At 214 Center Grove Road. Admission: $10 Adults, $5 for seniors and kids under 12. Call 973-328-5076 for more.
The Center for Spiritual Living in Harding presents its monthly Spiritual Cinema evening, with selected shorts at 7 pm followed at 7:30 pm by the documentary Louder Than a Bomb, an upbeat story about an urban youth poetry slam. Admission: Free, goodwill offering gratefully accepted. At 331 Mount Kemble Ave.
The New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker begins its extended run at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 7:30 pm. For ages 4 and up. Tickets: $25-$59. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008.
The Morris Choral Society presents its 11th annual Holiday Spectacular, at 8 pm at the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township. Wayne Walters will lead the chorus in seasonal favorites from around the world, including excerpts from Handel’s Messiah, highlights from Frozen and A Charlie Brown Christmas, and some holiday surprises. The Parsippany Hills High School concert choir, under the direction of Matthew Lee, will join the fun. Be ready to sing, too. An encore performance is scheduled for 3 pm Sunday. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for children under 18. Tickets at the Bickford Theatre box office, 973-971-3706. For more, call 973-998-7239 or visit the choral society’s website. The Bickford is at the Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Place.
The monthly open stage returns to The Minstrel in Morris Township, at 8 pm. Acoustic musicians can perform 15-minute sets; the audience can see diverse new talent. Some open stage graduate to the regular Minstrel shows on Fridays. For information on how to secure a performance slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit the link above. Admission: Adults $9, children 12 and under are free. The Minstrel is at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road.
SATURDAY, DEC. 13:
The Gingerbread Wonderland Craft Show resumes from 10 am to 5:30 pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 E. Hanover Ave., Morris Township. Local crafters offer affordable hand-made gifts…and the kids can check out dozens of gingerbread castles. Admission: $2 per person. Call 973-326-7600 for more.
Holiday CraftMorristown continues at the Morristown Armory on Western Avenue in Morris Township from 10 am to 6 pm. Please see Friday’s entry for details.
The Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green continues from noon to 7 pm, courtesy of the Morristown Partnership. Here’s the schedule:
- Noon-3 pm & 4-7 pm Santa Visits & Photos
- 1-3 pm Santa Bag Making
- 1-5 pm Mini Train Rides (Weather permitting, our electric train will not run in heavy rain. Power permitting, the cold weather affects battery life.)
- 5 pm The Mayo Performing Arts Company, singing traditional and Broadway holiday favorites
All aboard the 23rd annual Santa Claus Special at the Whippany Rail Museum! The 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursion from Whippany to Roseland will include a visit by Santa Claus makes his way through the train and visits with the children on board. Fares: Adult $14; child (under 12) $9; infants (1 year and under), free. For times and online tickets, visit the site above or call 973-887-8177. At 1 Railway Plaza.
The New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker run continues with shows at 1 pm and 6 pm, at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center. Please see Friday entry for details.
The Fifth Annual Christmas Market at Assumption Church in Morristown will offer Christmas ornaments and cards, gift cards, fine art photography, watercolor paintings, hand-knit hats and scarves, fashion accessories, jewelry, author-signed books, note cards, and more, with proceeds benefiting relief efforts of Africa Surgery Inc. The sale runs from 2 pm to 7 pm today, and again from 7 am to 7 pm on Sunday, in the community room at 94 Maple Ave. Free parking is available behind the church.
The Black Lives Matter Action Committee of Morris County will stage a 2:30 pm rally at Pioneer Plaza, at Morristown’s Headquarters Plaza, to protest police brutality in the wake of the recent non-indictments on Staten Island and in Ferguson, Mo. Speakers from the local NAACP, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and Drew University are scheduled.
Our Youth Their Future invites you to its second annual Holiday Extravaganza from 3 pm to 6 pm at the Marion Sally Residence Center, 23 Clyde Potts Drive, Morristown. Admission is free. Call 973-234-6029 for more.
At 3 pm, the Longo Planetarium in Randolph reprises its Holiday Under the Stars show. Please see Friday entry for details.
What’s the next best thing to meeting Bruce Springsteen? Meeting his illustrator, of course! Frank Caruso, who has drawn Popeye and Betty Boop for years at King Features, has created a picture book inspired by the Boss’ song, Outlaw Pete. Frank can tell you all about it at 4 pm, at the Short Stories Community Book Hub, at 32 Main St. in Madison. Here are Frank and Bruce on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart:
The Jerzey Derby Brigade battles the Red Bank Roller Vixens in the year’s final bout at In-Line Morristown. Doors open at 6:15 pm, the opening whistle is at 7 pm. Admission is $12 at the door, and $10 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com (search “Jerzey Derby Brigade”). Children 12 and under are free, and military discounts are available. Please bring an unwrapped gift for the Marines’ Toys For Tots collection. At 38 Dumont Place.
The Harmonium Choral Society presents its winter concert, O Mystical Journey, at 8 pm, and again on Sunday at 3 pm, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown. The concert features other-worldly compositions by Hallock, Part, Willan, Bruckner, Gretchaninoff, Chilcott, Tavener and more. Organist Joshua Stafford and flutist Kris Lamb will accompany the 100-voice chorus. Admission: In advance, $25, or $20 for students and seniors; at the door, $30 and $25. Call 973-631-5151 for more.
SUNDAY: DEC. 14
The Fifth Annual Christmas Market at Assumption Church in Morristown concludes from 7 am to 7 pm. Please see Saturday entry for details.
The Gingerbread Wonderland Craft Show winds down from 10 am to 5:30 pm at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township. Please see Saturday entry for details.
Holiday CraftMorristown concludes at the Morristown Armory on Western Avenue in Morris Township from 11 am to 5 pm. Please see Friday’s entry for details.
The Christmas Festival on the Green continues in high gear, from noon to 7 pm, courtesy of the Morristown Partnership. Today’s schedule:
- Noon-3 pm & 4-7 pm Santa Visits & Photos
- 1-3 pm Snowflake Making
- 1-7 pm Mini Train Rides (Weather permitting, our electric train will not run in heavy rain. Power permitting, the cold weather affects battery life.)
- 2-5 pm Ice Sculpting Demonstration
- 4-5:30 pm Original Music School Christmas Sing-Along
- 6-7 pm Kat Zangari singing Christmas Carols
The New Jersey Ballet’s Nutcracker continues at Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center with shows at 1 pm and 6 pm. Please see Friday entry for details.
The 23rd annual Santa Claus Special continues at the Whippany Rail Museum, with 10-mile, 45-minute round trip excursions from Whippany to Roseland and visits by Santa. Please see Saturday entry for details.
The Morris Choral Society presents its 11th annual Holiday Spectacular, at 3 pm at the Bickford Theatre in Morris Township. Please see Friday entry for details.
The Harmonium Choral Society presents its winter concert, O Mystical Journey, at 3 pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, at South Street and Miller Road in Morristown. Please see Saturday entry for details.
