Log on for the useful tips; stay for the laughs! Join bestselling author and expert organizer Jamie Novak for this virtual program all about paring down and prepping for what matters most, especially these days.
Starting December 3, 2020
"Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall." - Larry Wilde, comedian, actor and motivational speaker
The choose-and-cut season here in the Christmas Tree Belt (that's Warren County, where the soils and climate make for the best Christmas trees) got off to a roaring start over the Thanksgiving weekend. You won't want to delay and miss out, so click here for Warren County members of the New Jersey Christmas Tree Growers Association and find a place to make family memories. Pictured here is Wyckoff's Tree Farm near Belvidere. Other holiday events are ahead in this week's Wanderings edition, including A Christmas Carol on stage in Hackettstown, with a special online performance this Sunday. Read on, then bundle up (and mask up!) and head out. Happy Wanderings!
Coming Up
Kick off the holiday season and let your imagination soar! Create a Christmas masterpiece with Flowerland's help. Design a centerpiece, door swag, mantle piece, wreath, you name it!
Although we are not able to gather as we normally would, we invite the community to drive by and wave to Santa at the Hackettstown Gazebo (corner of Main and Moore) as well as to see the Tree Lighting at approx 5:30pm.
Visit Brook Hollow Winery and Event Facility for live music Friday evening (Marty Koppel) and Rich Ortiz on Sunday afternoon.
Tree lighting in the Pocket Park at 6:30pm, and music by The Little Brass Band and DJ Mitch Hess.
Donaldson's Greenhouse & Nursery is your holiday headquarters! Enjoy some warm cider as you choose beautiful handmade holiday decor, seek out the perfect Christmas tree or take a horse drawn carriage ride down the farm lane with the family.
Christmas on the farm: custom grave blankets and wreaths; crafters and vendors offering Christmas items; refreshments; farm animals.
Sponsored by the NW 2021 Project Graduation Committee, sip wine while shopping more than 30 indoor and outdoor vendors and crafters in coordination with Bright Light Creations.
Experience an early California Christmas at the Villa. Luminarios will light the indoor cantina and outdoor pergola where traditional Mexican cookies - buñuelos - will be served with VMV holiday wines - Gracias, Feliz Navidad and Mi Carino.
Join Brook Hollow Winery and QCrew Catering for a delicious, socially distanced dinner in the heated 4000 sq. ft. event facility. Wine, winter wonderland, and warm food, complete with live music.
Menu:
• Marinated Tomato Bruschetta
Villa Milagro is thrilled to welcome Lehigh Valley's popular jazz vocalist, Corinne Mammana, to perform a selection of her unique arrangements of classic Christmas songs and carols. Her voice will thrill you. Her arrangements will delight you.
You may purchase access to the on-line LIVE STREAM of A Christmas Carol presented by Centenary Stage Company on Sunday, December 6 at 2pm. $10 per access link to stream.
Homemade Chili Dinner! Includes: A quart size choice of Beef or Vegetarian chili, corn bread and dessert. $10/dinner, takeout only. Pre orders are recommended; call 908-475-2036 to save your dinner. Please support this last Ladies Auxiliaries fundraiser of the year.
Experience an early California Christmas at the Villa. Luminarias will light the indoor cantina and outdoor pergola where traditional Mexican cookies, buñuelos, will be served with VMV holiday wines, Gracias, Feliz Navidad and Mi Carino.
Villa Milagro is thrilled to welcome Lehigh Valley's popular jazz vocalist, Corinne Mammana, to perform a selection of her unique arrangements of classic Christmas songs and carols. Her voice will thrill you. Her arrangements will delight you.
With a sophisticated and soothing style, Corinne Mammana is an emerging American jazz singer praised by Jazz Times for her "superb technique."
Tickets are $20. Wine available by the bottle only to enjoy during the concert and to take home.
Experience a little bit of Christmas South of the Border. Luminarias will light the indoor Cantina, where you will warm to traditional Mexican Christmas music.
Continuing
The Blairstown Enhancement Committee wants to serve as many small and local businesses as it can in this unusual time.
Community Corner
The Hackettstown Fire Department will be driving through town with Santa on their truck. While Santa would love to drive down EVERY street, he may not be able to do so. So please listen for the fire truck sirens which will announce Santa's Arrival to your area.
More Things to Do
This week's virtual Lawn Concert features traditional and contemporary bluegrass music from Mountain Heritage. The band - Tim Scheetz, guitar; Bruce Rupert, Mandolin; Matt Koch, bass; Mike Terris, banjo & dobro; and Marty Smith, fiddle - has played festivals, concerts, parties, square dances, churches, and shows on TV and radio featuring a wide range of all acoustic music. These virtual concerts are offered in lieu of the annual Lawn Concert Series that was sidelined in the COVID-19 pandemic. The Warren County Cultural and Heritage Division of the Department of Land Preservation, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, invites you to enjoy online concerts by the bands that were scheduled to perform. Find the performance by Mountain Heritage here.
Plan Ahead
This will be a FREE drive through light and decoration experience. Families will remain in their car to see Candy Cane Lane, created by the Hackettstown BID, the Hackettstown Recreation Department, and the GREAT businesses of the Hackettstown BID.
Gather the family for drive- thru light show at Hackettstown High School created by the Hackettstown BID, the BID businesses and local community organizations.