The Weekender: Ho Ho Holiday Fun!

Check out some of the events around the city and nearby.  Click the EVENTS tab on the home page to see all the possibilities.  Feel free to add your own in the comments section.  

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Belleville Public Library
WHEN:     Saturday   11am
WHY GO:   Come to the Library for Holiday Fun.

WHAT:
WHERE: Belleville Township High School 
WHEN:   Saturday   4pm – 10pm
WHY GO:   Indoor and outdoor vendor displays featuring holiday items and more!  Tree lighting festivities begin at 6PM and continue until closing.  The Flea Market will also be open on Sunday.

WHAT:  
WHERE:  Belleville Township High School
WHEN:     Saturday  6pm  
WHY GO:  Attendees will have the opportunity to have their pictures taken with Santa and will enjoy music by the fifth and sixth graders of School 8, as well as Victorian carolers and the Belleville High marching band.    There will also be train rides, a horse-drawn wagon, refreshments and a flea market.

WHAT:  
WHERE: Presbyterian Church on the Green, 147 Broad Street, Bloomfield
WHEN:  Friday   6pm to 10pm
WHY GO:  Holiday Shopping - Crafters, Vendors and more

WHAT:   
WHERE:   Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange
WHEN:     Friday, Saturday, Sunday
WHY GO:  Experience Turtle Back Zoo in the winter as 100,000 bulbs and 40 lit displays illuminate the zoo this holiday season!
COST:   Free.   Turtle Back Zoo will be collecting non-perishable food, winter coats and unwrapped new toys for the needy each evening of holiday lights.

WHAT:
WHERE: Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland
WHEN:  Saturday   11am
WHY GO:   "Gingerbread House Making Workshop" will be held for all contestants who need a little help or advice on their gingerbread creations. Stop by the Essex County Environmental Center and the staff will get you started. All gingerbread projects must be completed by 1 p.m. to be considered for the contest. Some materials will be provided, however participants are encouraged to bring their own items. Meet in Garibaldi Hall. This is a free program. For information, call 973-228-8776.

WHAT:  
WHERE:   Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:     Friday, Saturday, Sunday    12:00pm–5:00pm
WHY GO:   This historically accurate installation offers the opportunity to step back in time to learn about nineteenth-century life and traditions. From the Christmas tree (a German tradition) to the wooden shoes by the hearth (a Dutch tradition) to the stockings on the chimney and plum pudding in the dining room (English traditions), visitors can get a sense of how Christmas evolved into a home-based secular holiday in the nineteenth century, linked to but distinct from the religious commemoration that was celebrated in church.
COST:  Museum Admission: Adult $10; Children, Seniors & Students with Valid I.D.: $6; Members free

WHAT: 
WHERE:   Newark Museum, 49 Washington Street, Newark
WHEN:     Friday, Saturday, Sunday    12:00pm–5:00pm
WHY GO:   Season of Light (Limited run)   Saturdays & Sundays, 2 pm - Recommended for adults and children ages 6 and up    40 minutes
Trace the development of many of the world's endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season—from Yule logs and sparkling Christmas tree lights to the lighting of the Hanukkah Menorah. This show recounts the historical religious and cultural rituals practiced during the time of winter solstice—not only Christian and Jewish, but also Celtic, Nordic, Roman, Irish, Mexican and Hopi.
Seven Wonders    Fridays, 2 pm  Saturdays & Sundays, 2 & 4 pm - Recommended for adults and children ages 9 and up    40 minutes
Turn back the pages of time and witness the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World as they have not been seen for thousands of years. 
The Little Star that Could    Saturdays & Sundays, 1 & 3 pm - Recommended for adults and children ages 5 to 8   35 minutes
A little star is born all by himself.  Lonely for some friends, he embarks on a journey through the galaxy.  Along the way he meets different stars, learns about their lives, colors and temperatures.  At the end of his voyage he is introduced to a star cluster, the Milky Way and the planets in our Solar System.
COST:   Adults $15; children under 12, seniors, and college students $9 - includes Museum & Planetarium admission

WHAT:   
WHEN:    Friday & Saturday    12:00pm–4:00pm
WHY GO:  Visit Kip’s Castle during the month of December for a self-guided tour of the first floor and experience the holidays circa 1928.

WHAT: 
WHERE:  Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn, NJ
WHEN:    Nov 16 – Dec 24    (showtimes: http://www.papermill.org/whats-playing/season-at-a-glance/cat/cat_id/1.html)  
WHY GO:  Based on the beloved Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye film, this merry musical tells the tale of two famous song-and-dance men who stage a show in a scenic, snow-topped Vermont inn — and end up finding love with two singing sisters under the mistletoe.
COST:   $25 to $80