Compiled by Katrina Langer and Kevin Coughlin
Are you ready for a Revolutionary Times weekend?
We certainly are–and everyone except Arthur is invited!
Declarations, historical tours, fireworks ( here is a list) and more awaits you, all within a cannon shot (more or less) of the Morristown Green.
Scroll down for details. For even more entertainment choices, march over to our handy calendar.
THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2014
Independence Day festivities start early, with a reception for Bringing the War of Independence to Life: 19th Century Illustrations of the American Revolution, an exhibition at the Washington’s Headquarters Museum, at 30 Washington Place in Morristown. The reception runs from 5 pm to 7 pm and the public is invited. The show features 42 illustrations of the Revolutionary War by 16 artists published in the 19th century. (Remember all those numbers for the next Lotto drawing!) It’s a joint presentation of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area, the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area and the Valley Forge National Historical Park. All the artworks are from the personal collection of Schuylkill River Heritage Area Executive Director Kurt Zwikl.
The Learned Ladies , Molière’s family friendly farce, continues its outdoor run with an 8 pm show at the Greek Theatre of the College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road in Morris Township. Tickets: $35. A production of the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.
FRIDAY, JULY 4:
Want to burn off a few calories before the weekend barbecues? Start with a four-mile “fun run.” Hosted by Superhero Events, the run starts at 8:30 am at the Morristown Running Company on South Street. Suggested donation is $10, with all proceeds going to Meals on Wheels. (Please bring cash or make check payable to “Meals on Wheels.”) The course will be identical to the Pre-Game 4-Miler in February. Walkers are welcome, too.
What better place to celebrate American Independence than on the historic Morristown Green, where General Washington himself spent part of his Revolution? The Four Old Parts and Wire Harp will warm up the crowd, with help from National Park Service Ranger Eric Olsen, at 11 am. Then, Park Ranger Tom Winslow will read the Declaration of Independence with fiery fervor, followed by a musket salute and pealing church bells. The Presbyterian Church in Morristown–where Washington prayed–will offer free tours. At 2 pm, Fort Nonsense–a Revolutionary War lookout site–will hold a ribbon-cutting to celebrate renovations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The improvements were made possible by a Fort Nonsense endowment fund managed by the Washington Association of New Jersey, private partner of the Morristown National Historical Park. The entrance to Fort Nonsense is on Chestnut Street, near the intersection with Ann Street behind the Morris County Courthouse. NOTE: In case of rain, Revolutionary Times will go ahead as scheduled at the Presbyterian Church in Morristown directly across from the Green.
SATURDAY, JULY 5:
The Learned Ladies , Molière’s family friendly farce, continues its outdoor run with shows at 4:30 pm and 8 pm in Morris Township. See Thursday entry for details.
SUNDAY, JULY 6:
The Morristown Farmers Market is back for its 24th season, courtesy of the Morristown Partnership and its sponsors. From 8:30 am to 2 pm, you can find produce from North Jersey farms, baked goods, and more, in the municipal parking lot 10, behind the post office. Lots of entertainment- and wellness events will be sprinkled throughout the year, too. The Farmers Market opens Sundays through the end of November.
Worship on the historic Morristown Green at 10 am with members of The Presbyterian Church in Morristown, the Morristown United Methodist Church and other local churches. All are welcome. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, lean against a tree, let your children play — relax and enjoy this casual service (some chairs and benches are available). This week’s service, on the theme Finding a Place to Sit, will be led by PCM pastor Dave Smazik and feature jazz saxophonist Matthew Willis.
Take a free tour of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township at 2 pm. Meet in the lobby of the Haggerty Education Center, at 353 East Hanover Ave. Call 973-326-7600 for more.
Mandolin Orange, a popular North Carolina duo, kick off the “Summer Concerts in the Garden Series” at the Macculloch Hall Historical Museum at 4 pm. The pair have shared the stage with the likes of Rosanne Cash and Chatham County Line, both here and abroad. They’ll perform songs from their album, This Side Of Jordan, a collection of gospel, folk, and bluegrass music. Tickets go on sale at 1 pm before the concert (no advanced sales). Bring blankets and chairs to sit in the garden; service animals only, please. Admission is $15, $10 for members, seniors, students; free for children under 12. The Macculloch series runs on Sundays in July, and concert-goers are invited to take a guided tour of the Museum between 1 and 3 pm. Admission to the Museum is $5. In case of bad weather, check the Museum voicemail at 973-538-2404 for contingency plans.
The Devil’s Disciple, George Bernard Shaw’s only play about America, is a unique way to mark the Independence Day weekend and New Jersey’s 350th anniversary. Set during the American Revolution, the production at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison starts at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15-$75. At 36 Madison Ave. Call 973-408-5600 for more.
