Come visit the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo with your family and friends during our Holiday Lights Spectacular!  *A Frozen Princess Ball (5:30pm - 8:00pm) Featuring Elsa and Anna every night!
Come meet and greet some of your favorite Princess characters when you visit the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo during select nights of our Holiday Lights Spectacular. Featuring Elsa and Anna every night! Located at the Picnic Pavilion. Princesses sponsored by Perfect Princess Parties NJ (perfectprincesspartiesnj.com) Professional photos available for purchase.
*SANTA! at gazebo by Bear House. Come take a photo with Santa and drop off your letter in our North Pole mailbox. Professional photos available for purchase.
*Ice Sculpture on the amphitheater stage from approximately 5 - 6:30pm
*S\'mores station by Sea Lion Sound
*Face Painting in Touch Tank
*Warm up and see some animals in our indoor exhibits like the Reptile House or Touch Tank
*Donation Drop off is located in the parking lots before you enter Holiday Lights


Friday, Saturday, Sunday: November 18 – December 11
Every Night: December 12 – January 2, 2017
Closed: December 24 & 25
5pm to 9pm 
Free Admission
Take a winter stroll through the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo this holiday season under the sparkling lights of over 50 winter and animal characters. Celebrate the season of giving by bringing donations of non-perishable food items, new toys, and gently used coats. Different themed activities featured each December weekend makes visiting extra exciting!

Annual Tree Lighting & Arrival of Santa & Mrs. Claus 

December 1, Sunday, 5:30pm at the North Ave. Train Station  

The tree lighting is sponsored by Downtown Westfield Corporation, with hot chocolate, hot cider and entertainment by the Community Band of Westfield. Come greet Santa & Mrs. Claus as they arrive for the annual tree lighting on the fire truck at 5:30pm. 

Note: A collection box will be available at the Tree Lighting for the Girl Scouts Annual Mitten Tree Project. Franklin Junior Troop #645 will be collecting new mittens, gloves, hats, scarves and socks for needy families throughout New Jersey. Donations will be distributed as gifts during the holiday season to local charities.

There are many holiday events in New Jersey this season from  Santa train rides to holiday performances. Families also can enjoy some events while bringing holiday cheer to other families in need, so here are some of those charity events:

Atlantic County
On Dec. 7, Santa Claus will arrive by fire truck at the Atlantic City Aquarium at 11 am for a special story time. He will greet visitors and read The Night Before Christmas and then pass out candy canes and pose for photos. (Parents bring your cameras). Visitors will receive $2 off the admission price when they bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Aquarium's Toys for Tots box (one discount per toy). Story time will be followed by an Exotic Animal Show and children and parents can stay for feeding time at the Shark and Ray Touch Tank at noon.


The Aquarium is collecting new, unwrapped toys for the US Marine Corp Reserves Toys for Tots campaign.  Bring a new, unwrapped toy to the between now and Dec 12and get $1 off the regular admission price. The Aquarium also is collecting food donations for the Community Food Bank of NJ until Dec. 12. Seaweed the Sea Turtle, the Aquarium’s new mascot, will deliver the food to the Food Bank before Christmas.

Bergen County
NJ Operation Toy Train will be running a special train to collect new, unwrapped toy donations from the public for Toys for Tots on Dec 11 & 12 . Along the route, the train will stop at specific locations where members of the public can drop off toys, see Santa Claus and his helpers, experience a variety of working railroad equipment, and meet members of the Marine Corps and the Military Transport Association. The specific train schedule shows where the train stops to collect toys on each day. You also can go to the Toys for Tots website to find New Jersey drop-off locations or to donate online.

Cape May County
Pets are part of the family, too. The Humane Society of Ocean City is sponsoring Santa Paws 10am to 2pm on Dec. 11. 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.




Gloucester County
Elks Lodge 2708 in Deptford is sponsoring Breakfast with Santa from 10 am to noon on Dec. 18. Please bring an unwrapped gift or gift certificate for a child or teen. There is a wish list for the children on the bulletin board. Contact the lodge for more information at (856) 848-7373.

Hudson County
Get outdoors for the 2010 Jingle Bell Run/Walk on Dec. 12 in Jersey City to benefit the Arthritis Foundation.

Mercer County
Once again, Santa has scheduled a stop at the Princeton Airport on Dec. 24 at 11 am to distribute gifts for area children. If you wish to have your children participate in the event, please bring a wrapped gift for each child with the name in large print to the lobby of the airport. Gifts should be not larger than 12" to accommodate Santa. You must also bring an equal number of unwrapped gifts for needy children. In the lobby there will be two chimneys to receive the respective gifts. Get your gifts in early, as Santa dispenses them in the order they are dropped off. Collection starts Nov. 26 until Dec. 16.

Middlesex County
Enjoy Breakfast with Santa at East Brunswick Elks Lodge 2370 from 9:30 to 11 am on Dec. 12. The cost is $7 per person over 10; children 10 and under are free. Attendees are asked to bring a can of vegetables or a box of stuffing to donate to the lodge's Feed the Hungry Campaign. Call 732-821-9527 to reserve a spot.


If ice skating gives you chills, then try roller skating instead for The Nephcure Skate-A- Thon on Dec. 19 at South Amboy Roller Magic. This roller skating fundraiser is designed to raise money to further the Nephcure Foundation's missoin of "saving kidneys, saving lives."

Monmouth County
Take a tag from the Angel Tree found in the Neptune Library and buy a gift for a child. New, unwrapped presents are must be received by the library by Dec. 17.


Morris County
Santa is coming to Imagine That! Museum in Florham Park at 10 am Dec. 19. Kids can bring their wish-list, sit with Santa, take photos, enjoy a breakfast snack and stay and play all day. Santa has a present for each paid child. Admission is $13.99 for children and $10.99 for adults (price includes breakfast). To register, call (973) 966-8000. While attending this event, you could participate in the Toy Drive by bringing an unwrapped, new toy for a boy or a girl and in turn, you will receive a FREE return visit and a chance to win a FREE Birthday Party. If you can't make it that day, the Toy Drive is running until Dec. 20.


NJ Operation Toy Train will be running a special train to collect new, unwrapped toy donations from the public for Toys for Tots on Dec 11 & 12 . Along the route, the train will stop at specific locations where members of the public can drop off toys, see Santa Claus and his helpers, experience a variety of working railroad equipment, and meet members of the Marine Corps and the Military Transport Association. The specific train schedule shows where the train stops to collect toys on each day. You also can go to the Toys for Tots website to find New Jersey drop-off locations or to donate online.

Somerset County
Don't miss all the holiday activities in Somerville this season including the Stars and Promises Holiday Concert at 7:30 pm on Dec. 10. Tickets are $25 and the proceeds will be donated to United Reformed Church, Middle Earth and North Branch Reformed Church.


If your family is shopping at the Bridgewater Commons Mall in Bridgewater, why not stop at the Build-A-Bear store and have your child choose and stuff a bear for the Justin Charity Bear Fund? The Justin Charity Bear Fund, created by a New Jersey boy named Justin with his father's help, hopes to provide 1,000 bears to sick and needy children in local hospitals or family-assistance programs.

If you get to the Bridgewater Commons Mall at 1 pm or 5 pm, now until Dec. 24, don't miss the Magic Snow. And stop by an Angel Tree, filled with holiday wish cards from needy people. The program is run by the Salvation Army.

While checking out a holiday book at the Warren Library, stop by similar Salvation Army Angel Trees, with holiday wish cards from needy children. You simply choose a card, which features the child's name, sex, age, size and gift wishes. New, unwrapped donations must be brought to the library by Dec. 15.

Sussex County
As part of this years Home4dHolidays 2010-2011, the VernonsOwn Foundation will be teaming up with Church Street photo for "Pictures with Santa". The photo opts with the man himself, and dare say Mrs. Claus as well, will be held Dec. 12 and 19 between 11am and 3pm at the Nordic House in Vernon. It will be part of this year's Snowflakes Fundraising Drive along with the hoodies, stickers and more.


Other Family Charity Information:

• You can give to the Salvation Army Angel Tree program online.
• The Jersey Cares 2010 Coat Drive is accepting “gently used” winter coats to deliver to at-risk men, women, children and infants. Coats can be dropped off at public collection sites until Dec. 15. You can help your children be more involved in the donation process through the Note in the Coat program, where children bringing in donated coats write short notes to children who will be receiving those coats. The initiative was designed to increase the number of donated children’s coats and to personalize the experience for those involved.
• One Warm Coat is collecting coats for needy families through several local initiatives, including Cinnaminson Middle School until Dec 17; Marlboro High School until Dec. 14, and Mt Olive Township until Dec. 14.
  

47th Annual "Brunch with Santa"
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Notre Dame High School
601 Lawrence Road (Route 206)
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
2 Sessions: 9:30 — 11:15 a.m. or 12:00 — 1:45 p.m.

Sign up form here
Benefits the Children's Home Society of New Jersey

Any Questions: (609) 882-8189 or email: guzzoali@gmail.com

December 19, 2009 from 10am to 2pm at Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Springs Rd/GSP Exit 109, Lincroft, NJ, 07738
Website
Phone: 732-814-2882

On Saturday, A Worthy Cause (AWC) will host it's 2nd Annual Santa Fun Run/Community Day at Brookdale College!

Included in this remarkable, unusual event, is a 'race,' whereas participants walk/run a 1/2 mile course in a Santa Claus costume. The costumes will be given to all persons who collect $50 or more in 'sponsorship money', to benefit AWC + the several, local, 501[c]3 charities, that will be honored.

This event is open to the PUBLIC! Simply email us with your name, address + phone number, + pay the $35 deposit, + we will reserve you a suit. The {$35} deposit can be mailed to: A Worthy Cause, 1860 New York Ave, Whiting, NJ 08759, or paid via our 'Paypal Donate Button'. Click here for sponsor form.

If you have a Santa suit already, the deposit is only [$10], + the total minimum sponsorship money is only $25. Children can walk/run in the race, but for safety reasons, we don't supply them with suits/beards. Instead, they can run for a flat fee of $10, which includes a special edition Santa cap [as seen on our Home Page] for them to wear + keep. Adults + kids may sign up at ANY time, includ. 12/19, but we ask that you try + do so by 12/10.

On race day, the balance of the 'sponsorship money' is due [$15 minimum for all adults], and each runner/walker can decide which honored charities that they would like to donate their funds to.

One such group is 'American Recreational Military Services [A.R.M.S.], which provides 'wish-list toys' to boys + girls who will have a parent overseas in the military, for Christmas. Our other honored charities include Blossom, Int'l, Clean Ocean Action, The Monmouth County SPCA, The Best Day Foundation, Lunch Break [Red Bank Soup Kitchen], The Bridge of Books Foundation, Coastal Habitat for Humanity, + the local the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. AWC has worked with or for most of these groups in 2009, it's inaugeral year!

'Incentive awards,' including commemorative 'AWC Santa Fun Run' beanie winter caps, + jackets, are given to those who collect at least $75, and $100 [includ the $35 deposit], respectively, All runners/walkers will also be given a free, collectible 'Santa Bobblehead Photo Ornament'

Additionally, yours truly [dubbed 'Rob Robby'] will be the star of the 1st ever edition of 'Retro Game Show,' an over-the top, comical 'mock game show,' which incorporates elements of ALL of those classic gameshows [and gameshow hosts] of yesteryear, into one show! With my wig + smarmy, cheesy smile in place, I would love to ask YOU to 'Come on dowwwwn, + be the next contestant on Retroooooo....Gameshow!' You won't win any MAJOR prizes, but you or another in your group [including children 5+ yrs of age] may get the chance to win SOMETHING decent, + moreover, enjoy the feeling of BEING on a REAL gameshow!

Maybe best of all, we will have FUN activities + crafts set up at each charity's 'station,' for children to do These projects mimic the actual 'volunteer work' that AWC members did in 2009! We call this our'Passport to a Better World,' as we will be providing each child with a faux passport, which will be 'stamped' by a charity member, each time the child completes an 'assignment!'

Attendees even get to RACE HERMIT CRABS for FREE!

Admission for the entire event....including 'Retro Game Show,' and the 'Passport' project..is free for runners/walkers, $5 for adult spectators, $3 for chidlren 5-17 yrs of age, + free for kids under 5. .

Also included with admission is lunch + drinks, holiday movies, holiday music by 90.5 'The Night, + FREE photos for kids with 'the REAL' Santa!'
Doors of the Brookdale SLC open at 10am. The BIG RACE begins at 12pm, + raindate is 12/20! So sign up TODAY to attend or run in AWC's signature event

Adath Israel Congregation
Rte. 206 Lawrenceville, NJ
Sun, December 13, 9:30am – 12:30pm
Members and Non-Members welcome!
Hannukah Party
GUEST PERFORMER:  JEFF BLUM
MUSIC, GAMES, REFRESHMENTS and of course.........DREIDELS!!

November through December: We are collecting

*Unwrapped GAMES, TOYS, AND GIFT CARDS FOR YOUNGSTERS AND SENIORS IN NEED (until December 1st)
*KOSHER NON-PERISHABLE FOOD for the Kosher Food Pantry.
 (Containers in the foyer)

5k Race and One-Mile Fun Run/ Fitness Walk in Toms River on December 13.

* 1 Mile Fun Run/Fitness Walk - 3:00 pm  * 5k Race 3:30 pm
More info here