Events to Check Out this Weekend – Dec 31st – Jan 4th

I can’t believe 2015 begins this week! Crazy! In addition to these events, be sure to check out my list of Winter Events & Festivals at the top of the site (with all other other links).

Skate for Wishes – Dec 31

On Wednesday, December 31st, the 7th annual Skate for Wishes event will be held at Flyers Skate Zone in Atlantic City with the hopes to raise over $5,000 for the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of New Jersey. Join us by ending 2014 with a day of skating for children suffering with life-threatening medical conditions!

Date: Wednesday, December 31st, 2014; 10am to 4pm
Address: Flyers Skate Zone, 501 N. Albany Ave., Atlantic City , NJ
Cost: $16 including a $5 donation to Make-A-Wish New Jersey
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Hogmanay Bonfire in the Great Meadow– Dec 31

Get your toss list ready for Lawrenceville’s Hogmanay Bonfire. Held on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, the Hogmanay Bonfire has been a Lawrence Historical Society tradition since 1997. The Mercer County bonfire began as a way to showcase the Brearley House while it was being renovated and proved to be so popular it has become an annual event. The first bonfire was suggested by Joe Logan, who remembered fires like this from his childhood in Savannah. In his hometown the fires marked the end of the holidays and they were a good way to get rid of the family Christmas tree. LHS took Logan’s suggestion and combined it with Hogmanay, another festival that often includes bonfires and a large community gathering.

Hogmanay is a Scottish New Year’s celebration that has it roots in Pagan tradition. To this day, Hogmanay is the main winter holiday and includes many Christmas-like features, such as gift giving. Create a list of all the bad things you want to forget about 2012 and bring it to the fire on New Year’s Eve. Toss it in the giant flames and watch it burn. Paper and pencils will also be available for you to write down all the bad things from the previous year that you wish to toss into the fire. You are also invited to prepare a list in advance and bring it to the fire. The most important aspect of any Hogmanay celebration is cleansing for the new year. Cleansing includes paying off old debts, washing the home, and banishing thoughts of bad happenings from the previous year.

Other traditions include the banging of pots at midnight to ward off dark spirits, banishing stray dogs to keep evil at bay, and first-footing – a tradition of visiting friends and relatives at midnight to bring them good cheer to start off the new year.

The Hogmanay Bonfire will take place in the Great Meadow behind the Brearley House. The ceremonial blaze will be lit at 6:00 pm by fire master, Joe Logan. Other activities during the event include a bagpiper, free refreshments, free parking and house tours. The refreshments in previous years included cake from Main Street Catering and apple cider from Terhune Orchards.

Date: Wednesday, December 31st, 2014; 6pm to 8pm
Address: The Brearley House; Meadow Rd, Trenton, NJ
Cost: Free
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New Year’s Eve Kids’ Kazoo Parade – Dec 31

Your children will love to be a part of the Annual New Year’s Eve Kids’ Kazoo Parade in Collingswood. Held on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, this New Year’s Eve event takes place from 4:15 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. The parade begins at 4:15 p.m. in front of The Pop Shop. There will be Mummers present from a local string band to join in the parade down Haddon Avenue. After the parade, there will be free cookies and a New Year’s Eve Countdown with confetti. The parade is outdoors, so be sure to dress for winter weather. You can enjoy dinner at The Pop Shop after the celebration. Reservations are suggested. The restaurant will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve.

Date: Wednesday, December 31stl 2014; 4:15 – 5:30pm
Address: Downtown Collingwood; The Pop Shop; 790 Haddon Avenue in Collingswood
Cost: Free
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Disney on Ice – Jan 1 – 4

Dates: January 1st – 4th, 2015
Address: IZOD Center; 50 State Route 120, East Rutherford, NJ
Cost: Tickets start at $25
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Sing-a-long Wizard of Oz – Jan 3

Join us and sing along to the classic 1939 film starring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley and Frank Morgan. Come dressed as your favorite character and be a part of the costume parade on the Basie stage. Enjoy an afternoon of fantasy and song on the big screen as we travel with Kansas farm girl Dorothy down the yellow brick road to the magical land of Oz. A fun event for the whole family.

Date: Saturday, January 3rd, 2015; 2pm
Address: Count Basie Theatre;
Cost: $15
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Sing-a-long Sound of Music – Jan 4

Date: Sunday, January 4th, 2015; 3pm
Address: Mayo Performing Arts Center; 100 South St., Morristown, NJ
Cost: $15 – $20

Check Out the Holiday Light Displays!

North Jersey
Denville Holiday Lights (Denville) (Free)
Christmas Ice Caverns (Fairfield)
Oakland Light Display (Oakland) (Free)

Central Jersey & Jersey Shore
Kloos Family Lights (East Brunswick) (Free)
Schaefer Farms Holiday Light Show(Flemington)
Martel’s Winter Wonderland (Hamilton)(Free)
Johnny’s Hazlet Holiday Light Extravaganza (Hazlet)(Free)
Holiday Lights Spectacular @ PNC Bank Arts Center (Holmdel)
Cook’s Christmas Lights (Jackson) (Free)
Dano Lights (Monroe) (Free)
Old Bridge Light Display (Old Bridge)(Free)
T & A Sprinkler Light Show (Old Bridge) (Free)
MacCary Christmas Light Display (Ocean)(Free)
Gress House Lights (Union Beach) (Free)

South Jersey
Sooy Lane Light Show (Absecon) (Free)
Burlington Lights (Burlington) (Free)
Christmas Light Show Hayrides (Medford)
Haggerty’s Christmas Lights (Pitman) (Free)
Historic Smithville Holiday Light Show (Smithville) (Free)
Turnersville Light Display (Turnersville) (Free)
Westhampton Light Display (West Hampton) (Free)