Don't miss New Brunswick's annual holiday celebration from 5 pm to 7 pm on December 2 at Monument Square Park, at the corner of Livingston Avenue and George Street. In addition to the Holiday Tree Lighting and a visit from Santa, there will be live entertainment, children's activities, exhibitors and the 4th Annual Chili Contest. Other holiday activities and events in New Brunswick include free horse-drawn carriage rides with a historian docent from 6 pm to 9 pm on Fridays (December 2, 9 and 16) and Saturdays (December 3, 10 and 17). Pick-up locations will be at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick and The Heldrich Hotel.

In addition to all the holiday performances, New Brunswick also will host a Santa Breakfast on December 3. From 9:30 am to 11:30 am, the New Brunswick Elks will offer a light breakfast, coloring, singing, crafting and a special visit from Santa. The cost is $3 per person. Seating is limited so reservations are required. For reservations, call New Brunswick City Market at (732) 545-4849.

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa at East Brunswick Elks Lodge 2370 from 9:30 am to 11 am on Dec. 11. The cost is $7 per person over 10 and 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.

Want a free photo with Santa? Then stop by Gold Coast Jewelry in New Brunswick between 10 am and 4 pm on December 4. Photos will be available for pick-up the following week.

The Middlesex County 4-H invites you to have Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 4 at the Middlesex County 4-H Center, 645 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick. Parents and children are invited to enjoy a pancake breakfast, meet Santa and participate in other fun activities for children. There are two seatings for breakfast and activities: 8:30 AM and 11 AM. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $5 for children (ages 9 & under), and $7 (ages 10 and up) and includes breakfast, 1 picture per family with Santa, petting zoo, and more! Reserve your place by calling the 4-H Office at 732-398-5261. All proceeds will benefit the 4-H program. 

Winter Wonder Lights at the Raritan Valley Planetarium
Saturday, December 3 (Dec 3 sold out)
Sunday, December 4
  Saturday, December 10 (Dec 10 sold out)
  Sunday, December 11 (Dec 11 sold out)
Saturday, December 17
Sunday, December 18
     show starts at  3:00 p.m.(Recommended for ages 6 - adult)
Listen to songs such as "Wizards in Winter," "Rockin' around the Christmas Tree," and "Jingle Bell Rock" while lasers dance on the dome overhead.

The Alien Who Stole Christmas at the Raritan Valley Planetarium
Saturdays & Sundays, December 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 17 & 18
2:00 p.m.

(Recommended for ages 6 - 10 accompanied by an adult)
Discover the stars visible in the winter sky.  Then follow Santa on a trip through the solar system when a friendly alien kidnaps.  The kids on the other planets need presents too, you know!

Friday, December 9th
Special Performance: Opera NJ - HolidayFare
Time: 7pm
Get in to the holiday spirit! We’ve created our own GFS tradition as Opera NJ, the Garden State’s premier company, returns to perform a free holiday concert to excite the senses of adults and children alike and fill you with the holiday spirit. A special dinner is available before the concert at The Peacock Café.
Price: Free with park admission.

Sunday, December 11
3-5 pm at the Moorestown Community House  

Once again this year, guests will be provided with an opportunity to support the Perkins Center for the Arts at A Winter's Tea while also carrying on a much enjoyed holiday tradition. Families will be provided with coffee, tea, light snacks and will enjoy creative activities, live musical performances, and a special appearance by TWO of Santa's Elves! Tickets are $35 per person, free admission for those ages 2 and under.

Allaire Village will be transformed for Christmas with holiday festivities, A Christmas Carol and Lantern Tours.

Saturday December 3 & Sunday December 4 • 12 PM – 3:30 PM
Admission $6 for Adults • $4 Children 5 - 14
Horse and Wagon Rides Additional $7.50 for Adults and $5 Children Under 12

Visit Christmas at Allaire, with carolers wandering the streets of the Historic Village, setting the proper holiday mood, while special programs at the Historic Christ Church will feature period music and more.

Other special programs throughout the weekend include Mummer Plays, Hearth Cooking, and Apple Drying and Stringing. A special feature of this event is the annual re-opening of the Allaire Station Post Office in the General Store Museum Gift Shoppe. Visitors may bring their stamped holiday cards for mailing. Each item mailed will be hand post-marked with the latest US Postal Service Allaire Christmas Cache Cancellation Stamp. Designed by Wall Twp. artist and Auxiliary member Janice Collinson, these stamps have become a holiday tradition for many families. While at the General Store feel free to browse the aisles where you can find that perfect Holiday Gift. Be sure to see the latest editions of our Christmas Collectible Ornaments while there.

Tickets are available at the gate, by mail or phone by calling (732) 919 - 3500. Due to the popularity of the events, all ticket sales are final.

On Dec. 9 and Dec.16 at 7:30 pm, Allaire Village ushers in the holiday season with a holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Tickets are $15 per person and advance ticket purchase is highly recommended.

Also at the Village, there will be Holiday Lantern Tours on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17 from 5 pm. to 8 pm. Admission is $10 per person. The 90-minute tours leave every 15 minutes and advance ticket purchases are recommended.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
December 10-18, 2011

In this hilarious holiday story, the two directors of the Christmas pageant at the local church are struggling with all the little complications of this annual production. But, this year, they have a new, and much bigger problem—finding parts in the pageant for the horrible Herdman kids—possibly the most creatively maniacal and totally dreadful group of siblings in history. These kids are a pack of lying, stealing, cussing, cigar smoking terrors…the boys, too! The last place anyone expected to see them was in church. But you will want to see them. And you won’t want to miss the mayhem--and the fun!—for there will be no silent night when the uncontrollable, unholy Herdmans drop like a ton of yule logs on the once peaceful story of Christmas!

General Admission - All tickets $10
Saturdays at 12NOON and 3:00PM, Sundays at 12NOON.
Reservations can be made via this web site under 'Tickets', 
e-mail boxoffice@villagerstheatre.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. Or call 732-873-2710
Group Rates available upon request.

Dec 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm:

The Raritan Valley Choral Society will present its annual holiday concert “A Season to Celebrate” at 7: 30PM on Dec. 9 at the Hillsborough Reformed Church at Millstone on Main Street and Amwell Road. . For information call 908-526-8769 or visit the RVCS website.

December 14, 15, 16 & 17
performances at 10:30 & 1:00

How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Off-Broadstreet Theater, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell

Performances are 10 am Wed-Fri and 10:30 am on Saturdays. Tickets are $4 per person (adults and children)

Geared for young audiences ages 2 1/2 to 7.

For Reservations Call, (609) 466-2766

Reservations cannot be made on-line

Friday, December 2nd
Special Performance: Westminster Bell Choir
Time: 7pm
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing! Grounds For Sculpture is pleased to present the renowned and wildly popular Westminster Bell Choir in its only community holiday performance of the season! Hailed for its virtuosity, the ensemble performs on the largest range of hand bells in the world–8 octaves–creating an astonishing array of harmonies sure to delight young and old alike. Please join us for a very special evening celebrating this spirited musical tradition.
Price: $10 Members; $13 non-Members. To purchase, call (609) 586-0616.