Morristown Green Christmas Festival kicks off Friday, Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 18
Dreaming of a White Christmas? You can start by going to the Green this weekend.
With no COVID-related restrictions for the first time since 2019, the Morristown Partnership will kick off the holiday season on Friday with its annual Christmas Festival at the Morristown Green. Originally scheduled for Nov. 27, it was postponed due to bad weather.
The town tradition, which dates back to 1913, is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. with a grand entrance by Santa Claus on a Morristown fire truck. Organizers said hundreds are expected to attend.
Visitors to the family-friendly event will also enjoy the first lighting of the Green's seasonal décor, which includes thousands of lights and extends to lamppost wreaths throughout downtown.
The festival continues on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18. Attractions include holiday music and crafts, an oversized rocking horse, ice-sculpture demonstrations and free rides around the Green on a miniature electric train. All activities are free with the exception of a $15 fee for photos with Old Saint Nick in the Santa House.
The event began early in the 20th century "with a small group of festive volunteers lighting a single star atop one tree on the Morristown Green," according to the Partnership's website. "Since that time, this tradition has spread holiday cheer to countless families with its addition of a Santa House, holiday music and crafts, a vintage-style oversized rocking horse, ice sculpture demonstrations and free rides around the Green on a miniature electric trail."
COVID interrupted the festival in 2020, when the Partnership improvised to place Santa inside a vacant storefront on North Park Place − redecorated as the North Pole − where children could interact with him remotely from outside through a window. Regular operations resumed last year, but adults were required to show proof of vaccination or wear a mask to enter the Santa House, said Morristown Partnership Executive Director Jennifer Waring.
"We also required hand-washing and modified some of our activities just to be more socially distant in that calendar year," Wehring said. "Obviously we still encourage anyone who is not feeling well to join us when they are feeling better."
Waring said on average, more than 150 families visit just the Santa House on a daily basis. But the festival's kickoff events can attract "thousands," she added.
More details on activities and an entertainment schedule are available on the Morristown Partnership website.
The festival is funded entirely though private donations and by sponsors including Atlantic Health System/Morristown Medical Center, Hyatt Regency Morristown, 40 North Restaurants, Lakeland Bank and The Education Association of Morris. New sponsors this year include Valley Bank, Morristown Airport, Picatinny Federal Credit Union and Primrose School of Morristown.
Chanukah on the Green on Dec 18
Sunday, Dec. 18, "Chanukah on the Green" returns to Morristown at 5 p.m. to mark the beginning of Judaism's festival of lights. Sponsored by the Rabbinical College of America and Chabad Young Professionals of Morristown, the free event will include the lighting of a giant menorah, a "Mad Science" show, doughnuts, hot drinks, holiday music, a raffle and the Great Chocolate Gelt drop from a Morristown fire engine.
More information is available at the Chabad website.
William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com
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This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Morristown Green Christmas Festival, Hannukah celebration set for 2022
