Kwanzaa Celebration
Sunday, December 26, 2010
& Tuesday, December 28, 2010
1:00 PM
Celebrate Experience the symbols and principles of this important African American tradition, as Queen Nur lights up the stage with interactive storytelling and song in a joyous celebration! At the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill.

The Nutcracker
Saturday, December 18, 2010
1:00 PM
Join the Voorhees Ballet Theatre as they perform scenes from ‘The Nutcracker’ at the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill. Enjoy the classic holiday Christmas story with Clara and her Nutcracker Prince as they do battle with the Mouse King, visit the Land of the Snow and see the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Land of the Sweets!

The Garden State Discovery Museum also hosts its own Reindeer Games at 12 pm Dec 11, where Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Ellie the Elf pay a visit with some of their favorite songs and games from the North Pole to get everyone ready for Christmas.

Then, Santa will join in the fun for stories and milk & cookies! And friends from The Ritz Theatre Company in Haddon Township, NJ will be here to lead the fun getting everyone in the spirit.

Hurray for Hanukkah
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Drop-In Crafts: 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Concert: 3:00 PM
Two of our favorite friends return to work some holiday magic at the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill. Listen to Hanukkah stories, create holiday snacks and enjoy hands-on Hanukkah crafts with Rosie Hymerling. Then, top the afternoon off with a sing-along with Janet Sclaroff.

Spend time with family and friends at the Newark Museum for Holiday Family Fun Days:  Celebrate Light! Participate in hands-on workshops for families, enjoy tours of the Victorian Ballantine House decorated for Christmas, enjoy the strolling carolers and musicians and more.

This event, free with suggested museum admission, runs 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm Dec. 27-29.

Families can celebrate the upcoming holidays at the Holiday Open House at the Buttinger Nature Center in Pennington. On Dec. 4 from 12:30 pm to 3 pm, meet the staff and get a close look at the displays and animals. Music, refreshments, children’s crafts and a hike are included in this free event. Receive 20 percent off on your Nature Shop purchases..

Several special events to celebrate the holidays in Ocean City, including:

Breakfast with Santa - 8:30 am to 11:30 am on Saturdays an Sundays Dec. 4 to 19 at a different local restaurant. For more information call 609-398-4662.

Photos with Santa
Photos with Santa 12pm – 3pm on Saturdays an Sundays Dec. 4 to 19 at the Music Pier. For more information call 609-399-2629.

FREE Horse & Carriage Rides - noon – 3pm on Saturdays an Sundays Dec. 4 to 19, in front of City Hall, 9th & Asbury Ave.

Christmas Parade - December 4, 2010 - 10:30am, 6th – 11th St. on Asbury Ave. The parade includes bands, floats and costumed characters. Santa greets children following the Parade, poses for photos, gives them treats. For more information call 609-525-9300.

Ocean City Pops Holiday Concert - December 4, 2010 -  7:30PM, Ocean City High School Hughes Performing Arts Center. Ocean City Pops Presents: Joy to the World, A Sympyhonic and Choral Celebration. Featuring the Ocean City Pops Orchestra conducted by Artistic Director William Scheible featuring guest singers, The South Cape Chorale conducted by Scott Breiner and Narrator Richard Stanislaw. Concert Sponsor: Norman & Joanne Schaut. Tickets $15. Order by calling 609-525-9300 or visit www.ocnj.us.

Santa Paws - December 11, 2010 - Humane Society of Ocean City – Santa Paws 10am – 2pm at the Red Barn Building, 1 Shelter Rd.. Visitors are welcome to bring their pets to have their pictures taken with Santa. HSOC merchandise is available for sale. Cost of pictures is $10.00. For more information call 609-398-4200 or visit www.hsocnj.org

A Christmas Wonderland Ocean City's Holiday Spectacular - sponsored by Gillian's Wonderland Pier - December 17 and 18 at 7:30pm and December 19 at 2:00pm – The Ocean City Theatre Company presents a fully staged holiday revue featuring cast of professional singer/dancer/actors in a non-stop song and dance holiday spectacular. Full of seasonal favorites that are perfect for kids of all ages this show is our own Ocean City version of the famous Radio City show. Tickets are $10 for Kids under 12 and $12 for adults and can be purchased at ocnj.us or by calling 609-525-9300. All shows are at the Ocean City Music Pier.

First Night New Years Eve Celebration - December 31, 2010 -  A complete schedule of entertainment leading up to fireworks at midnight. For more information call 609-525-9300.

Santa's Missing List (Theatre for Young Audiences)
OC Repertory Theater , 810 Asbury Avenue
Fridays and Saturdays, December 3 through 18
7:00pm; $10 at the door One of Santa's elves has stolen the naughty and nice list because he doesn't feel children understand the true meaning of Christmas. The toys in Santa's workshop come to life to prove that he is wrong. Cookies and milk will be served following the performance.



We Wish You a Merry Christmas
OC Repertory Theater , 810 Asbury Avenue Friday and Saturday, December 17 and 18
8:00pm ; $10 at the door Adapted from the story by Charles Dickens, this classic has become a traditional holiday favorite in Ocean City. Join Ebenezer Scrooge, the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future, and of course, Tiny Tim in this wonderfully imaginative staged reading of Dickens' Christmas story. Join them for a dessert reception following the performance.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, A Live Radio Play

In a unique production as a live 40’s radio play
With man-made sound effects no longer done today
With old-style commercials and live music to set the scene
Perfect for young and old and everyone in between.

Show times:
Fri. Dec. 3, 2010 at 7:30pm
Sat. Dec. 4 at 2pm & 7:30pm
Sun. Dec. 5 at 2pm

Ticket prices are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for student/s children.

Performances of this Christmas Classic, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, will be at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and children.
Shows will be:
Fri. Dec. 10, 2010 at 7:30pm
Sat. Dec. 11 at 11am, 2pm & 4pm
Sun. Dec. 12 at 2pm & 4pm

Come see The Nutcracker at the Kelsey Theatre at Mercer Dec 17-19. The New Jersey Youth Ballet's Nutcracker is fully narrated and abridged, so children and adults of all ages will enjoy it.

The entire family will enjoy this traditional Christmas ballet set in 19th century Europe to a magical score by Tchaikovsky. Dolls and sweets come to life, mice and toy soldiers do battle and snowflakes dance in a beautiful snow covered forest. Furthermore, this Nutcracker is danced almost entirely by children and teens.

Tickets are $12 for all.

Shows are:
Friday Dec 17, 2010        7:30PM     
Saturday Dec 18, 2010        1PM     
Saturday Dec 18, 2010        4PM     
Sunday Dec 19, 2010        1PM     
Sunday Dec 19, 2010        4PM

In the morning of November 26, the Girl Scouts will decorate the Tree at The Gazebo, N. Union and Springfield Avenue in Cranford. In the afternoon there will be a Petting Zoo and Moonwalk for the children followed by the Tree Lighting at 6 pm and pictures with Santa for the children. This event is sponsored by the Cranford Chamber of Commerce.

Take a break from holiday preparations for the Jingle Bell Ride at Lord Stirling Stable in Basking Ridge. The ride will be 11 am to noon on December 12.

Registration will be Nov. 29 - Dec. 9 and the cost is $28 for Somerset County resident and $36 for non-residents.