December 2
First Avenue Playhouse, Atlantic Highlands, presents A Partridge in a Palm Tree. It’s Christmas Eve and the Partridge family can’t wait to fly south for the holidays…that is until they find themselves snowed in at the airport. Poor Jenny Partridge is forced to endure more than the usual family
torture: a mother who can’t cook to save her life, an embarrassing dad who
thinks he’s James Bond, and an incredibly annoying little brother whose
sole goal in life is to drive people crazy. She discovers that Christmas isn’t about where you are; it’s about the people you’re with.
Fridays & Saturdays, Dec. 2 – Dec. 23 at 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 11 at 2:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 8 & 22 at 8:30 p.m.
Tickets $20/$15 for seniors on Thursday and Sunday. Dinner packages available
123 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands
(732) 291-7552. www.firstavenueplayhouse.com.
Celebrate the spirit of Christmas Past as the annual Holiday Lantern Tours of Shrewsbury’s Historic Four Corners, a National and State designated Historic District.
The historic buildings at the corners of Broad Street and Sycamore Avenue will be open to welcome the public. Tours begin at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and are by reservation only.
The tours will include four historic properties: Monmouth County Historical Association’s Allen House, which was built circa 1710; Christ Church (1769); the Presbyterian Church (1822); and Shrewsbury Friends Meeting House (1816). At the Allen House, which served the community as a tavern in the mid-18th century, visitors will be greeted by the tavern keeper and his family who will discuss tavern life and 18th century fare, followed by musical entertainment, cookies and cider, and general merriment.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $9.50 for seniors, and $8 for children 12 and under.
Call Renee Meislohn, (732) 915-5862 for information and reservations.
December 3
The Poricy Park Conservancy Holiday Shop offers a wide selection of hand-crafted items – original hand-made quilts and needlework, jewelry, homemade jams and jellys, stockings and ornaments, and much more. Everything sold at the Holiday Shop is made by master crafters and available at an affordable price.
Visitors may also shop at the Poricy Park Nature Center Gift Shop, where nature-inspired items and colonial-style gifts can be found year-round.
The Holiday Shop will be open for business 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. through Dec. 4 and Dec. 9 – 12.
345 Oak Hill Road, Middletown
(732) 842-5966 www.poricypark.org
Mother Teresa Regional School’s annual Christmas bazaar and breakfast with Santa is a fun-filled family event with activities for children, games, music and a visit from Santa Claus.
Breakfast with Santa begins at 9:30 a.m. in the St. Agnes Parish Center. Tickets are $5 for children and includes a photo with Santa. Adult tickets are also available. Order online at www.mtregional.com.
The Christmas bazaar runs from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., with more than 50 vendors selling gifts, toys and puppets, unique handcrafted jewelry, home decor, clothing items and more. Many of the Atlantic Highlands Farmers’ Market vendors will also be present.
Refreshments and a bake sale will be available all day with lunch beginning at 11 a.m.
103 Center Ave., Atlantic Highlands
(732) 291-1050 ext. 110 www.mtregional.com
The Presbyterian Church House in Shrewsbury will be transformed into a late 19th century Christmas wonderland.
The church’s Christmas bazaar, “A Currier & Ives Christmas,” will be held 9:30 a.m. – 2: 30 p.m. There will be traditional booths with Christmas Handcrafts, Trim-A-Tree decorations, ‘Nearly New’, recycled jewelry, books and toys (featuring Boyd’s Bears) as well as poinsettias, photos with Santa, wonderful baked goods and gourmet treats. Two new booths are the Furry and Feathered Emporium for pet lovers and those who cater to wild birds and The Village Gourmet with all sorts of savory treats for holiday entertaining. Boy Scouts will be selling wreaths and church deacons will serve up a delicious lunch in The Five and Six Pence Pub.
352 Sycamore Ave., Shrewsbury
(732) 747-3557 www.tpcas.org
Red Bank’s West Side rings in the holiday season with a festive tree lighting celebration from 4 to 5 p.m. There will by carols sung by local children, hot chocolate and refreshments for all, and Santa arrives by fire truck at 4:45 p.m.
Westside Park, Shrewsbury Ave. and Drs. James Parker Blvd., Red Bank
December 3 – 4
The Stone Church Players of All Saints’ Memorial Church will present a return engagement of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (short version) at 2 and 5 p.m.
This adaptation by Joe Landry of the original screenplay features a small ensemble of local actors performing multiple roles as if in a live radio studio of the 1940’s Golden Age of Radio, complete with live sound effects.
Tickets $5 for seniors and children under 12, and $10 for adults. Call the church office or email office@allsaintsnavesink.org for tickets.
202 Navesink Ave., Navesink
(732) 291-0214 www.allsaintsnavesink.org
December 10
The New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 800 from Bergen County and the Jewish War Veterans, Department of New Jersey, will host the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, Garden State Parkway exit 116, Holmdel.
The ceremony will include the lighting of the Christmas tree and Menorah, and readings about Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. The Brick Memorial High School Caroling Choir will lead the singing of patriotic and holiday songs. The festivities are open to the public at no charge, and hot chocolate and cookies will be offered.
Call (732) 335-0033 ext. 100 for additional information.
The Shrewsbury Chorale, conducted by Anthony LaGruth, presents “Family Holiday Traditions-Christmas Pops” at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, 818 Tinton Ave., Tinton Falls. Traditional favorites include”White Christmas,” “The Little Drummer Boy,” “Coventry Carol,” “Gesu Bambino” and “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” After the concert, there will be a reception with light. Tickets at the door are: $25 – General, $20 – Senior or Student and $10 for children under 12. For more information call (732) 513-8413 or visit www.shrewsburychorale.org.
The 50-voice Tower Hill Choir presents a program of lessons and carols in the sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church at Red Bank, beginning at 7 p.m.
This Christmas concert is a wide-ranging exploration of seasonal choral music and the sacred texts that inspired it. It includes classics—such as Michael Praetorius’ “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” and excerpts from Handel’s Messiah—as well as newer works such as Andre Thomas’ “African Noel” and the traditional “Comfort, Comfort Now My People,” in a contemporary arrangement by Chester Alwes.
Admission is free; an offering will be taken to defray expenses.
255 Harding Rd., Red Bank
(732) 747-1348 www.towerhillchurch.org
December 17
Celebrate the holidays with a joyous musical event. Colts Neck Community Church will present their annual Cantata, this year titled “The First Noel Born is the King.” Members of five churches from Monmouth County will come together for an evening of music beginning at 7 p.m.
Immediately following the music will be a dessert reception. Admission is free; childcare is available.
25 Merchants Way, Colts Neck
www.ourcncc.org
