December is here! We’ve rounded up some fun and family friendly events to help you plan your weekend. Check ‘em out!
On Saturday, the Morris Museum (6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown) will host a Teddy Bear Tea. Children can enjoy a treats, a special performance in the Bickford Theater and a visit with Santa. This event is designed for children ages 3 to 8 and their families. Tickets are $20 per person for members; $25 for nonmembers. Advance registration is required. Seatings are at 11:00 AM , 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
Saturday is Bring Your Child to the Bookstore Day at Watchung Booksellers (54 Fairfield Street, Montclair). Join them for Saturday Morning Author/Illustrator Storytime at 10:30 AM. Hometown favorite, Daniel Kirk will be reading from his new picture book, the classic Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Also on Saturday at 8:00 PM, catch the classic holiday movie Home Alone as the score is performed by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra at NJPAC (1 Center Street, Newark). The movie centers on 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), who is left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation. Kevin fights off burglars in this heartwarming tale. Tickets start at $20 and are available online.
The West Hudson Arts & Theater Company (WHAT) will present Elf the Musical on Saturday at 1:30 PM and 7:30 PM. Performances are held at First Lutheran Church (65 Oakwood Avenue, Kearny). The original musical is based on the 2003 movie about Buddy, a young orphan who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag and is taken to the North Pole. He is raised as an elf, unaware he is human. This version of the show is 60-minutes and is tailored for a younger audience, as well as performed by young actors. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, seniors, and military.
On Sunday at 3:00 PM, NJPAC (1 Center Street, Newark) will present Romeo and Juliet, performed by The State Ballet Theatre of Russia. The full-length production of Shakespeare’s classic tale is set to music by Prokofiev and danced by 55 of Russia’s brightest ballet stars. Ticket prices range from $29 to $79 and are available online.
Also on Sunday, the American Repertory Ballet will perform Nutcracker at SOPAC (One SOPAC Way, South Orange) at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. Tchaikovsky’s score is brought to life with a beautifully costumed cast of 75 performers as they dance the story of young Clara who dreams of battling mice, enchanted forests and the exotic Land of Sweets. Tickets are $25 for children and $30 for adults. This show is recommended for all ages.
On Sunday at 4:00 PM, join Temple Ner Tamid (936 Broad Street, Bloomfield) for a Hanukkah Spectacular – A Gelt Trip: Candle With Care. This all-ages event will feature music, dance, comedy, candles and gelt.
All weekend long, Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders can get free access to 150 museums in 32 states and 98 cities. Some of the participating museums in New Jersey include Garden State Discovery Museum, Liberty Science Center, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Montclair Art Museum, Morris Museum, Aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art, Newark Museum and The Noyes Museum of Art of Stockton University. For more information on the Museums on Us program, go to https://museums.bankofamerica.com.
For more upcoming events, check out the family friendly events, showcased in green, on Baristanet Calendar.