Greater Morristown weekend preview: We love a PARADE!

Expect marchers of all ages to participate when the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at noon on Saturday. Sharon Sheridan photo
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Compiled by Katrina Langer and Kevin Coughlin

Greater Morristown has plenty of fun events this weekend– as you’ll gather by scrolling below–but center stage belongs to the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade.

Just about every place else is green with envy this time of year, and you will remember why when you visit Morristown on Saturday. Free parking will be plentiful. While the parade kicks off at noon, the festivities start earlier.

Make sure to give a friendly wave to MorristownGreen.com–we’re marching toward the back of Division II!

And don’t forget to check our handy calendar for fun options, pre- and post-parade.

 


THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015:

Cover image of Jane Austen in Scarsdale bookPaula Marantz Cohen, distinguished professor of English at Drexel University, will speak about The Challenges of Writing Social Satire after Jane Austen, at 7 pm at the Morristown & Township Library. Professor Cohen  has written her own fiction in addition to studying literary giants from Jane Austen to Henry James. Some of Professor Cohen’s fiction work includes: What Alice Knew: A Most Curious Tale of Henry James and Jack the RipperJane Austen in Scarsdale: Or Love and Death and SATs and Jane Austen in Boca. Admission: Free. At One Miller Road, Morristown.

The North Jersey Civil War Roundtable invites teachers and students of all ages to its 62nd meeting at Washington’s Headquarters Museum, in the Great Hall at 7:14 pm. This week’s special guest is Neil W. Ronk, the lead historian for Christ Church. Admission: free. The museum is at 30 Washington Place in Morristown.

Dr. Andrew Weil, who has preached the gospel of wellness on PBS, will discuss Optimum Health: Maximizing the Body’s Own Healing Systems, at 7:30 pm at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Tickets: $59-$99. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

 

Andrew Weil
Andrew Weil

FRIDAY, MARCH 13:

The Spring Craft Morristown show launches its weekend at the Morristown  National Guard Armory from 4 pm to 8 pm, and continues on Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm and on Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.  More than 150 artists will be selling their creations, in all price ranges.  Admission: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors, children under 16, free. At 430 Western Ave., Morris Township.

budrus documentary The Center for Spiritual Living Morristown   presents Budrus,  a documentary about an unarmed Palestinian struggle in the occupied territories. Spiritual shorts roll at 7 pm, followed by the feature at 7:30 pm. Admission: Free. Donations welcome. At 331 Mount Kemble Ave., Harding.

It’s open stage night at The Minstrel in Morris Township. Show what you can do, at 8 pm, at the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road.

The Women of Ireland should put you in the proper mood for this weekend’s St. Patrick’s Parade.  These three siblings from County Kerry bring Irish song and dance to Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets: $39-$69. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

 

The Women of Ireland
The Women of Ireland

SATURDAY, MARCH 14:

Starting at 9 am, prior to the Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade, the Woman’s Club of Morristown will be selling refreshments, to benefit veterans.  Club members in front of the historic Dr. Lewis Condict House, at 51 South St., will sell coffee, hot cocoa, hot tea, bottled water, bagels, cookies, soda bread, and Irish-themed trinkets.  All proceeds go to Project Gratitude to support hospitalized veterans.  The Club also will accept donations of toiletry items (full-sized shampoo, deodorant, soap, etc.) for gift bags given to veterans.

It’s bad to have your head in the clouds. But your data, that’s another story. Learn how to use Google Drive to back up documents, spreadsheets, photos, etc., in the cloud.  A free seminar runs from 9:30 am to 11 am at the Morristown & Township Library, One Miller Road, Morristown. Topics will include how to create, edit, share, and export documents, and how to access them from any Internet connected device. You will need basic computing knowledge, and a Google account. Registration is required.  Call the Reference Desk at 973-538-2592 to register, or for more information.

The Spring Craft Morristown show continues at the Morristown National Guard Armory from 10 am to 6 pm. See Friday entry for details.

The 11th annual Farmers St. Paddy’s Day 5K starts at 10 am at Ginty Field in Morris Township. This joint production of Superhero Events LLC., NJ Races and the Morristown Running Company costs $25 if you sign up by Friday, and $30 on race day.

Rockaway firefighters donned special uniforms for the parade. Sharon Sheridan photo
Rockaway firefighters in their parade best. Sharon Sheridan file photo

It’s parade day! The bagpipes don’t start rolling down the street until noon, but festivities start around 9 am with refreshments from the Women’s Club of Morristown at the Lewis Condict House at 51 South St.

At 10 am, the Mass of St. Patrick will be commemorated at Assumption Church on Maple Avenue.

At 10:15, pre-parade festivities get going in front of the Presbyterian Church on the Green, with music from Willie Lynch and his Irish Band.

At 10:30, introductory ceremonies start with the presentation of colors and a 21-gun salute from the VFW. The ceremony includes more Irish tunes from Willie Lynch, an overview of Irish storytelling from a Drew University doctoral candidate, and a band performance from the Thomas Jefferson and Sussex Avenue elementary schools. Meanwhile, visitors have the chance to get up close and personal with The Bat Mobile, Scooby Doo, and the Back to the Future car.

At 11:30, the DeNogla School of Irish Dance will present dancers, and at 11:45, Willie Lynch provides the soundtrack for the chalking of  “the Four Shamrocks,” by children of the Assumption School.

Expect marchers of all ages to participate when the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at noon on Saturday. Sharon Sheridan photo
Expect marchers of all ages to participate when the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at noon on Saturday. Sharon Sheridan photo

Then, at noon, it’s the 37th annual Morris County St. Patrick’s Parade, with Grand Marshal Al DeBenedictis. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to line South Street for the parade, which will feature no less than 20 bands and 100 other organizations. During and after the parade, the Knights of Columbus invites spectators to grab a sandwich and a beverage at its Council Hall at 13 South St.

HERE’S THE LINE OF MARCH

The parade is family-friendly, alcohol-free, and funds raised by the Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will benefit numerous area charities.

MAKE SURE TO CHECK BACK HERE AT MORRISTOWN GREEN FOR COMPLETE PARADE COVERAGE!

 

Coro Lirico presents an evening with Puccini: Gloria Mass, arias and choruses, at 8 pm at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, 36 South St., Morristown. Director: Warren Helms. Admission is $25, $20 for seniors and students. Call 973-887-6336.

coro lirico poster

Quintetto Sincopato
Quintetto Sincopato

The Morristown United Methodist Church presents Quintetto Sincopato,  featuring Mary Cherney on flute, John La Barbera on mandolin, Darren O’Neill on guitar,  Mark Wade on bass and Rex Benincasa on percussion. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Suggested donation: $20 adults/$15 seniors/students with ID, free. Advance sales: $17/$12 by calling 973-538-2132. Reception following the concert. At 50 S. Park Place (on the Green).

The New Jersey Ballet brings Romeo & Juliet to life, and Macbeth, too, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center  in Morristown at 8 pm. Tickets: $29-$59. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

The New Jersey Ballet
The New Jersey Ballet

SUNDAY, MARCH 15:

 

luck o the farmDuring the 19th century, the Irish flocked to the United States for a new life — and many of them found it in Morristown. At Luck O’ the Farm, from noon to 4 pm at the Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township, learn about the Irish immigrants who left their mark on Greater Morristown. Chores not your thing? Take a break to enjoy the Irish music of Linda Russell, and listen to Irish folklore stories. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $6 for children 4-16 years of age, $4 for children between 2-3, and free for children under age 2. On Kahdena Road. Call (973) 326-7645 for more.

The Spring Craft Morristown show concludes at the Morristown National Guard Armory from 11 am to 5 pm. See Friday entry for details.

The New Jersey Symphony presents Leonard Bernstein’s Symphony No. 2, The Age of Anxiety, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Titan,  at 3 pm at the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown.  Tickets start at $20. At 100 South St. Call 973-539-8008 for more.

Voice of the Faithful New Jersey will mark the 50th anniversary of the march from Selma to Montgomery by showing the documentary, Crossing the Bridge at 3:30 pm, at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 100 Harter Road, Harding. Admission is free; liturgy will follow the discussion period. Call 973-538-4063 for more or write.

 

 

 

1 COMMENT

  1. Flaunt your Irish proudly and step lively. Just save what you can for this week. We love our parades here, too.

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