Compiled by Kevin Coughlin
If you like festivals, Greater Morristown gives you quite an assortment this weekend.
Morristown’s got its book fest, and a veggie fest, and a Doggy Dash, too; Madison has an all-day bash to boot.
There is an art opening as well, and pop icon Graham Nash performs here.
Scroll down for details. Check our handy calendar for even more activities–and add your own events, too!
THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 2016
Meet the seven artists of the Fall/Winter Invitational Exhibit at Morristown’s Atrium Art Gallery, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Free, with refreshments. Some 275 artworks fill four floors in a free show that runs on weekdays during business hours through Jan. 5, 2017. Presented by Morris Arts. At 10 Court St.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 30:
Best-selling author and filmmaker Sebastian Junger (Tribe, The Perfect Storm, Restrepo) delivers the keynote of the third annual Morristown Festival of Books at 7:30 pm, in the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Tickets: $35 and include a copy of TRIBE; students, $15, without the book. At 100 South St. Call 973-538-8008 for more.
At 7:30 pm, The Minstrel Open Stage offers an opportunity for acoustic musicians to perform a 15-minute set, and for the audience to enjoy a diverse collection of acoustic musicians. Many Open Stage acts return as opening acts at The Minstrel. To secure a slot, call 973-335-9489, or visit www.FolkProject.org/Minstrel/OpenStage. Admission: $9. At 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morris Township.
SATURDAY, OCT. 1:
The Morris Plains Farmers Market runs every Saturday through Oct. 8, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Speedwell Avenue Merchant Block across from the train station.
The third annual Morristown Festival of Books will feature free talks by 40 authors, including four Pulitzer Prize winners, Goosebumps creator N.L. Stine, and the Queen of Suspense, Mary Higgins Clark, from 10 am to 5 pm. Venues are St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (121 South St.), the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer (36 South St.), the Presbyterian Church (65 South St.) and the Morristown & Township Library (One Miller Road). Here is the schedule, and here are our author interviews. A food and wine tasting with Jockey Hollow restaurateur Chis Cannon ends things at 5 pm; admission to that is $20.
Madison’s annual Bottle Hill Day street festival runs from 10 am to 6 pm in the downtown: Music, food, thoroughbred dogs, antique cars and more.
Morris Township’s Hillside Hose Company No. 1 is throwing an Oktoberfest fundraiser from 2 pm to 8 pm at 132 Western Ave. Beer, brats and pretzels, with live music by Big House Groove.
The Morristown High School football team (0-3) will seek its first victory for new head coach John Power, against his former team, Columbia High School, in Maplewood at 2 pm. Go Colonials!
Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the Hollies comes to Morristown’s Mayo Performing Arts Center at 8 pm. Tickets: $39-$79. At 100 South St. Read our interview with Nash.
SUNDAY, OCT. 2:
The Morristown Farmers Market is back for its 26th season, every Sunday through Nov. 20 from 8:30 am to 2 pm, in parking lot 10 between Morris and Spring streets.
The first annual New Jersey VegFest comes to the Hyatt Regency Morristown from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. Guest speakers, panel discussions, vendors and a screening of the new documentary, Eating You Alive. Tickets: $25. At 3 Speedwell Ave.
The fourth annual Seeing Eye Doggy Dash gets under way in Morristown with registration at 11 am, followed by a walk at noon, and pageant judging at 1 p.m. Fees: Adults, $35; children ages 5-12, $25; children under 5, and dogs over 6 months, can walk for free. Pageant fee: $5 per dog, per category, must be over 4 months. At Lidgerwood Park, at Lidgerwood Parkway and James Street.
Eating You Alive, a new documentary, will be screened at 6:30 pm at Morristown High School, 50 Early St. Tickets: $25, include admission to first annual New Jersey VegFest (see above.)
