By Barbara Snyder
Well, it’s the Fourth of July weekend in the (Twice) “Military Capital of the American Revolution.” I’ll say no more; just read on for a list of just some of the many patriotic (and other) events going on this weekend.
Don’t forget to check the calendar for the full rundown of what’s happening around town – and don’t forget to add your own events.
THURSDAY, June 30
Join educators at an Open Art Workshop from 3:30 – 6:30 pm at the Morris Museum. Create your own work of art and have some fun. Drop in anytime during the session to participate. Cost is $2/child for members; $3/child for non-members, and museum admission is included in the price of the workshop. At 6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown; call 973-971-3718 for more.
FRIDAY, July 1
The Jean Rohe Band appears at the Minstrel, with opener Amandala starting the evening at 8 pm. Jean Rohe, a Folk Project regular since the age of 8, is now pursuing her own career. She sings and plays multi-lingual original music of the Americas, North and South. Jean plays mandolin and percussion, and will be joined by Skye Steele (violin) and Ilusha Tsinadze (guitar); check out her unique style at her website – there’s some gorgeous stuff there. Opening act Amandala is a 13-member all-female, student-directed global a cappella group from Highland Park High School. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown. Admission: “$7 on your way in plus the balance of what you think the show was really worth on your way out.”
SATURDAY, July 2
Enjoy a walking tour of the wonderful Willowwood Arboretum starting at 10 am. The Morris County Park Commission’s Horticultural Program Specialist leads the tour and discussion about the history of Willowwood Arboretum, the significance of its plant collections and enjoy the seasonal blooms. No pre-registration required. Please note: this is an outdoor program and will not be held if the weather is inclement. Cost is only $2 per person; please bring exact change. Willowwood Arboretum is at 300 Longview Road in Chester Township.
Just down the street from Willowwood, at 170 Longview, a walking tour of Bamboo Brook starts at noon. This tour will focus on the history of Bamboo Brook and recent renovations to the site, and leaves time to enjoy the seasonal blooms. No pre-registration required for this tour, either — and again, it will not be held in bad weather. Cost: $2 per person; please bring exact change.
Did you know a president spent the winter at Jockey Hollow’s Wick House? Join a Park Ranger at the Wick House starting at 1:30 pm to discover who it was, as well as the impacts he made during the American Revolution. Free; call 973-539-2016 x 210 for more information.
SUNDAY, July 3
Hurrah for Independence Day! That’s the theme from 1 – 3 pm at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown. Observe the 235th birthday of the USA: Pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic pavilion, ride in the horse-drawn wagon, play games that were popular long ago, and help make and sample hand-cranked ice cream! Admission to the farm is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children ages 4 – 16 years, and $2 for children ages 2 and 3 years. Free for children under 2 and Friends members with a valid membership card. Call 973-326-7645 to find out more.
Today there’s another patriotic event at the Wick House: Hear eyewitness accounts of the battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield from a (re-enactment) soldier just back from the battles as he rests at the Wick House. From 1:30 – 4 pm; this one’s free, too.
At 8 pm it’s the Opening Convocation of the American Guild of Organists’ 2011 Convention in Morristown, at Calvary Episcopal Church, 31 Woodland Ave., Summit. The Rev. Victoria Sirota will speak, and the Harmonium Choral Society will perform. This event is free and open to the public; be sure to check out some of the other things going on during this week’s convention.
MONDAY, July 4
Of course there are lots of July 4th Festivities at Morristown National Historical Park; the celebration kicks off at noon at Washington’s Headquarters (30 Washington Place, Morristown) and include an inspection of the troops. At 1 pm, the “Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence” will commence; attendees will be given a copy of the Declaration, and encouraged to cheer along with park rangers and re-enactors as they denounce tyranny and praise liberty. At the conclusion of the reading, members of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment, Helms’ Company, a volunteer re-enactment group, will fire a feu de joie (musket salute). Following the reading of the Declaration, the Ford Mansion will be open for tours with a number of re-enactors in period dress bringing life to the mansion once again. Visitors are asked to bring water to drink and a chair or a blanket to sit on, and are reminded to dress appropriately for the weather including wearing a hat and sunscreen. Due to limited parking, guests are encouraged to carpool or walk to the event. All other areas of the park, including the Wick House and the Jockey Hollow Visitor Center will be open throughout the day. Admission to all parts of the park is free all day, and all events will go on rain or shine. Call 973-539-2016 x 210 or 973-543-4030 for more information.
The first of the AGO Convention Organ Recitals — fittingly titled “Americana” — will be played by Carol Williams today from 11 am – 12:30 pm at The Presbyterian Church at 57 East Park Place in Morristown. Admission is $5.
Then, from 2 – 3:30 pm, Drew University’s Mark Miller leads “A Post-Modern Hymn-Sing Revival” at the Church of the Assumption (91 Maple Ave., Morristown). Admission $15/$10 Seniors/Students; find out more at the AGO Convention website.
Celebrity Musician Eric Hayes and Friends host a “Monday Night Jam Session” tonight at the Dark Horse Lounge from 7 – 11 pm. It’s an open-mic jam session at the club, including a full stage, performance lighting, a new sound system, and comfortable lounge seating. Guitarists, bassists, drummers, singers, harp players, sax players, etc., are all welcome to join in, at 4 Dehart Street, Morristown.
And there’s still more organ music, from 8 – 9:30 pm at the Morristown United Methodist Church, at 50 South Park Place. It’s “Music for Organ and Instruments,” with Marilyn Keiser, organist, and the Shanghai Quartet (harp, flute, and oboe). Admission $15, $10 Seniors/Students. See the AGO Convention website for more, including a PDF of the programs for all recitals this week.
TUESDAY, July 5
James Hicks, organist of The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, will give a workshop on Organ Music from Nordic Lands, tracing development of music in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Iceland with emphasis on 20th century and contemporary composers. The presentation will include examples from his recent “Nordic Journey” album, recorded on historic Setterquist organ at Linkoping Cathedral, Sweden. Admission: Free.
The U.S. Army Field Band will play a free July 5 concert at Ginty Field in Morris Township tonight starting at 7 pm. This is the the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, and they travel thousands of miles each year throughout the nation and abroad. Since its formation in 1946, the Field Band has appeared in all 50 states and in more than 30 countries on four continents.
AND MORE
The AGO Convention is in town through Wednesday, so do check out their website for a list of all concerts and recitals. And a reminder that Music Without Borders returns to the Green at noon Wednesday with music from the Balkans, and Dickey Betts is in town for a concert on Wednesday night at the Mayo.
