First Night® Maplewood South Orange will celebrate the New Year and its 17th anniversary
this year by presenting a spectacular program of arts and entertainment at Columbia High
School on December 31, 2007.

As in past years, there will be entertainment and events the whole family can enjoy beginning
at 3 p.m. Fireworks will take place at 7 p.m. in Memorial Park in Maplewood.

Buttons cost $10 before the events begin and $15 at the door. Children under 3 are free.
Buttons can be purchased in Maplewood at the Main Branch of the Maplewood Library, at
Kings, and at NetNomads. In South Orange, buttons can be purchased at the South Orange
Library and at the Prescription Counter.

5:00PM-5:45PM	Joe Fischer	Kid's Stuff	Unitarian Church Hall
5:00PM-5:45PM	Itty Biddies	Kid's Stuff	Unitarian Church Sanctuary
5:00PM-5:45PM	Montclair Children's Theater	Kid's Stuff	United Way
5:00PM-5:45PM	Leland Faulkner	Kid's Stuff	Montclair Art Museum
5:00PM-5:45PM	Madhatters	Kid's Stuff	Hillside School Gym
5:00PM-5:45PM	Spongebob Squarepants	Kid's Stuff	Hillside School Gym
5:00PM-5:45PM	Amy Shoremount-Obra, Opera Singer	Music	First Methodist Church
5:00PM-5:45PM	Ballroom Dancing with Continental Dance Club	Dance	499 Bloomfield Ave.
5:00PM-5:45PM	Glen Ridge Taekwon-do/Double Dutch	Special Events	YMCA Gym
6:05PM-6:50PM	Amy Shoremount-Obra, Opera Singer	Music	First Methodist Church
6:05PM-6:50PM	Leland Faulkner	Kid's Stuff	Montclair Art Museum
6:05PM-6:50PM	Glen Ridge Taekwon-do/Double Dutch	Special Events	YMCA Gym
6:05PM-6:50PM	Madhatters	Kid's Stuff	Hillside School Gym
6:05PM-6:50PM	Salsa	Dance	499 Bloomfield Ave.
6:05PM-6:50PM	Spongebob Squarepants	Kid's Stuff	Hillside School Gym
6:05PM-6:50PM	Joe Fischer	Kid's Stuff	Unitarian Church Hall
6:05PM-6:50PM	Itty Biddies	Kid's Stuff	Unitarian Church Sanctuary
6:05PM-6:50PM	Montclair Children's Theater	Kid's Stuff	United Way
6:05PM-6:50PM	Cirque Le Masque	Special Events	Hillside School Auditorium
7:00PM	Procession	Special Events	Church Street
7:45PM-8:30PM	Ballroom Dancing with Continental Dance Club	Dance	499 Bloomfield Ave.
7:45PM-8:30PM	Persuasions	Music	First Methodist Church
7:45PM-8:30PM	Lascivious Biddies	Music	Unitarian Church Sanctuary
7:45PM-8:30PM	Square Dancing	Dance	YMCA Gym
7:45PM-8:30PM	The Dogz	Music	United Way
7:45PM-8:30PM	Ice Sculpture	Kid's Stuff	Church Street
7:45PM-8:30PM	Cirque Le Masque	Special Events	Hillside School Auditorium
7:45PM-8:30PM	Mark Walsh	Music	Church Street Kitchen
7:45PM-8:30PM	Jen Slaw Juggler	Kid's Stuff	Hillside School Gym
7:45PM-8:30PM	NJ Ballet	Dance	Montclair Art Museum
7:45PM-8:30PM	Bradford Hayes -Saxophonist	Music	Evangelical Covenant Church
7:45PM-8:30PM	Serendipity Cafe	Music	Montclair Public Library
7:45PM-8:30PM	Brian Tiernan	Special Events	Unitarian Church Hall
8:50PM-9:35PM	The Dogz	Music	United Way
8:50PM-9:35PM	Mark Walsh	Music	Church Street Kitchen
8:50PM-9:35PM	Salsa	Dance	499 Bloomfield Ave.
8:50PM-9:35PM	Robin Spielberg	Music	Immaculate Conception Church
8:50PM-9:35PM	NJ Ballet	Dance	Montclair Art Museum
8:50PM-9:35PM	Serendipity Cafe	Music	Montclair Public Library
8:50PM-9:35PM	Brian Tiernan	Special Events	Unitarian Church Hall
8:50PM-9:35PM	Lascivious Biddies	Music	Unitarian Church Sanctuary
8:50PM-9:35PM	Jen Slaw Juggler	Kid's Stuff	Hillside School Gym
8:50PM-9:35PM	Cirque Le Masque	Special Events	Hillside School Auditorium
8:50PM-9:35PM	Bradford Hayes -Saxophonist	Music	Evangelical Covenant Church
8:50PM-9:35PM	Square Dancing	Dance	YMCA Gym
8:50PM-9:35PM	Fab Faux	Music	First Congregational Church
8:50PM-9:35PM	Ice Sculpture	Kid's Stuff	Church Street
8:50PM-9:35PM	Persuasions	Music	First Methodist Church
9:55PM-10:40PM	David Cedeño and his Orchestra	Dance	499 Bloomfield Ave.
9:55PM-10:40PM	PG & Love Gospel Choir	Music	First Methodist Church
9:55PM-10:40PM	Richie Byrne	Special Events	Unitarian Church Sanctuary
9:55PM-10:40PM	Mark Walsh	Music	Church Street Kitchen
9:55PM-10:40PM	All @ Once with Andy McKee	Music	Evangelical Covenant Church
9:55PM-10:40PM	Robin Spielberg	Music	Immaculate Conception Church
9:55PM-10:40PM	Mark Weinstein	Music	Unitarian Church Hall
9:55PM-10:40PM	Fab Faux	Music	First Congregational Church
9:55PM-10:40PM	Ice Sculpture	Kid's Stuff	Church Street
9:55PM-10:40PM	The Dogz	Music	United Way
9:55PM-10:40PM	Serendipity Cafe	Music	Montclair Public Library
11:00PM-11:45PM	Ice Sculpture	Kid's Stuff	Church Street
11:00PM-11:45PM	Serendipity Cafe	Music	Montclair Public Library
11:00PM-11:45PM	Mark Walsh	Music	Church Street Kitchen
11:00PM-11:45PM	Richie Byrne	Special Events	Unitarian Church Sanctuary
11:00PM-11:45PM	PG & Love Gospel Choir	Music	First Methodist Church
11:00PM-11:45PM	Mark Weinstein	Music	Unitarian Church Hall
11:00PM-11:45PM	All @ Once with Andy McKee	Music	Evangelical Covenant Church
11:00PM-11:45PM	David Cedeño and his Orchestra	Dance	499 Bloomfield Ave.
11:00PM-11:45PM	Fab Faux	Music	First Congregational Church
MIDNIGHT	Fireworks	Special Events	Hillside School Auditorium

First Night® Morris County, the largest of its kind in New Jersey, will celebrate its 16th anniversary ringing in the New Year on the Morristown Green this New Year’s Eve. More than 10,000 people typically attend the event.

A non-alcoholic celebration of the arts and culture, First Night® Morris County attracts families, seniors, singles and anyone who is looking for an inexpensive, fun way to ring in the New Year. First Night® Morris, in partnership with its artistic programmer, the Arts Council of the Morris Area, features more than 300 artists in more than 90 events that evening, ranging from dance, music, theatre, to visual arts, comedy and magic. The celebration begins at 7 p.m. and ends with fireworks at midnight to ring in the New Year. First Night® Morris County 2008 offers several features certain to make this New Year’s Eve a special one.

Main Street Mount Holly, a volunteer driven non-profit program certified by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street New Jersey, continues to work on projects that will help Mount Holly regain its historic status as well as become a vibrant business center and arts/entertainment district. Main Street Mount Holly leverages our natural, cultural and institutional assets to better serve a diverse mix of stakeholders. Our community is committed to maintaining an attractive, friendly, clean, and safe downtown.

Nov 30	Mt Holly Annual Holiday Tree Lighting	Visit with Santa, listen to carolers, take a carriage ride through Mill Race Village, taste freshly roasted chestnuts from vendors, and witness the lighting of our magnificent holiday tree! At the corner of High and Washington Streets. 6:30pm FREE!
Various	World's Largest Holiday Present	Win the World's Largest Holiday Present! The present will be on display at Friant's (21 High St, Mt Holly) with a retail value expected to exceed $3,000! Tickets will be available from Nov 30th-Dec 20th at participating shops (info to come). Shop downtown Mt Holly and Mill Race Village on Nov 30th to receive six tickets! The winning ticket will be drawn on Friday, December 21st at 6:30pm in the Grand Lobby of BCC Mt Holly Center. YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN! Good luck to all!
Dec 1	"100 for $100" Art Show and Sale	100 original paintings, photographs, glass and mixed media art pieces for only $100 each! Dec 1-30 at Home Fine Art Gallery. Opening reception: Saturday, Dec 1 5-8pm. 2 Church St, Mt Holly. FREE admission!
Dec 8	Battle of Iron Works Hill	Be a part of Mount Holly's history at the reinactment of the Battle of Iron Works Hill! Encampments, demonstrations and more! Camps at Mill Race Village and the Old Prison Museum. 10am-4pm FREE! Have lunch with the troops! Pick your side! $10, Noon Have tea with an American Girl! $15, 11am & 1pm "Hide the Cider" Pub Crawl! $25, 4:30pm & 5pm Space is limited! Call (609) 914-0811 or email events@mainstreetmountholly.com for more details.
Dec 31	First Night Burlington County	Celebrate the Year of the Rat in the county's only New Year's Eve celebration! Dancing, parades, music, chocolate and more! You can't miss RADIO DISNEY'S presentation of RATATOUILLE! Music, comedy, and fireworks! $10 admission. Call (609) 914-0811 or email events@mainstreetmountholly.com for more info.
Jan 28	Fire and Ice Festival	Watch professional and amateur ice carvers create works of art and then sample the best chili Mount Holly has to offer in our chili-cook-off! 10am Free!

First Night supports various local charities. These include scholarships for Ocean City High school students, the After Prom Committee that safeguards youngsters following the senior prom, the Ronald J. Moretti Foundation, the Hero Foundation that promotes the designated drivers' program and Waves of Caring that provides toys and clothes for needy children during the holidays. Thanks to the support of sponsors and volunteers, all extra funds raised by First Night Ocean City New Jersey are either donated to these worthy causes or re-invested to provide expanded entertainment for the next gala.

First Night Ocean City 2008 Entertainment Schedule.
Click here for a printable version (you must have Adobe Acrobat to view/print)

Don’t know what to do with the family New Years Eve Day? Bring them out to First Night Ocean County in Seaside Heights sponsored by the Lakewood BlueClaws. Bracelets are now on sale at two locations, the County Connection in the Ocean County Mall and the Claws Cove at the home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, www.lakewoodblueclaws.com and online at www.casinopiernj.com/store.

The First Night bracelet makes a great stocking stuffer or a gift for a neighbor or a friend For a cost of $5.00 per bracelet you and your entire family can enjoy a day filled with entertainment. Starting at 11am on Monday, December 31st there will be a musical variety show by Joe Paris, performances by the Give and Take Jugglers, and an illusion show with John Bundy & Morgan. There will be Children’s shows, face painters, balloonists, and caricature portrait drawings in each of the participating arcades along the boardwalk.

All attendees are required to purchase bracelets that entitle them to all entertainment, free carousel rides and entries into a drawing for two gift baskets one for children and one for adults that are valued at over $ 500.00 The winning passport will be drawn at 5:00 pm in the Casino Arcade and the winner does not have to be present in order to win. After the drawing the night will come to an end with a spectacular fireworks show at 5:30 pm located on the beach in-between the two amusement piers. The entertainment schedule is as follows from the North end of the Boardwalk to the South end.

Casino Arcade-Grant Ave. & Boardwalk
Joe Paris Musical Variety Show – 11am & 12:30pm
Lizard Guys Animal Show – 1:30pm & 2:30pm
Brenn Swanson Variety Show – 3:30pm & 4:30pm
Arts & Crafts with Jenkinson’s – 12noon to 4pm

Sonny & Rickey’s Arcade-Sumner Ave. & Boardwalk
Balloonist – 12 noon to 4pm
Strolling Magic – 1pm to 5pm

Coin Castle Arcade-Sumner Ave. & Boardwalk
Caricature Portraits – 12noon to 5pm
Face Painter – 11am to 3pm

Lucky Leo’s Arcade-Hamilton Ave. & Boardwalk
Caricature Portraits – 12noon to 4pm
Face Painter – 1pm to 5pm

Carousel Family Entertainment Center-DuPont Ave. & Boardwalk
Give & Take Jugglers – 12noon & 1pm
John Bundy & Morgan Illusion Show – 2:30pm & 4pm
Face Painter – 12noon to 4pm

Strolling Entertainment along Boardwalk
Buster from the Lakewood BlueClaws 12:00 noon until 4 :00 p.m.
Frosty – 12:30pm to 4:30pm
Balloonist – 1pm to 5pm

HHP Christmas 2007

Event Site: Hunterdon Hills Playhouse
Address: 88 Route 173 West, Hampton, NJ 08827
Phone#: (800) 447-7313
URL: www.hhplayhouse.com
Description: Our multitalented performers will fill you with cheer, with traditional carols, classic and contemporary Yuletide compositions, and holly-jolly dance numbers, in our original annual holiday song and dance fest.
Event Dates: 10/25/2007-12/22/2007

Sense of Place: Children's Book Illustrations by Catherine Stock

Event Site: Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum
Address: 71 Hamilton Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone#: (732) 932-7237
URL: www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu
Description: Selected art for two books illustrated by Catherine Stock, 'Gallimoto' and 'A Very Important Day', demonstrate how an artist attunes her approach to very different subject matter and locations. Hands-on activities are available for visitors in the gallery.
Event Dates: 11/01/2007-12/31/2007

Holiday Festival of Lights

Event Site: Camden Children's Garden
Address: 3 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
Phone#: (856) 365-8733
URL: www.camdenchildrensgarden.org
Description: Enjoy a magical holiday tradition on the Camden Waterfront. In the evening, stroll through the 4.5 acres of gardens that include over 100,000 beautiful holiday lights and animated light sculptures. See live butterflies in the Philadelphia Eagles Four Season Butterfly House. Meet Santa Claus, his elves and Garden Mascot Mum Bear. Enjoy Plaza de Aibonito, a heated Tropical Holiday exhibit and learn about the Hispanic tradition of Three Kings Day. Guests can ride the Commerce Carousel, Butterfly Spring Ride or the Arrow River Express Train Ride for an additional fee. Amuse yourself in an enchanted Wonderland with animated scenes and model trains.
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/08/2007

Holiday Train Display

Event Site: InfoAge Science/History Center
Address: 2201 Marconi Road, Wall, NJ 07719
Phone#: (732) 280-3000
URL: Infoage.org
Description: Operating Model Trains and Holiday displays in the Historic Marconi Hotel, Fri 7 to 10 PM, Sat & Sun Noon til 6 PM
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/23/2007

Belly Dancing

Event Site: Kairo Kafe
Address: 49 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Phone#: (732) 545-2476
URL: www.kairokafe.com
Description: Every Friday and Saturday you can catch the belly dancers at New Brunswick's Kairo Kafe. This ancient Middle Eastern entertainment is rarely seen in its authentic style in Central Jersey. Kairo Kafe is hosting performers who dance in the most traditional manner and in the most contemporary.
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/08/2007

Scrooge: The Musical

Event Site: The Historic Strand Theater
Address: 400 Clifton ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Phone#: (732) 367-7789
URL: www.strand.org
Description: Strand Theater Ensemble presents the 6th annual presentation of Scrooge: The Musical. Strand Cafe open!
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/09/2007

Gingerbread Wonderland

Event Site: Frelinghuysen Arboretum
Address: East Hanover Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07962
Phone#: (973) 326-7601
URL:
Description: Over 250 Gingerbread creations on exhibit, submitted by individuals and groups from throughout Morris County.
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/16/2007

34th Annual Festival of Trees

Event Site: Environmental Education Center
Address: 190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Phone#: (908) 766-2489
URL: www.somersetcountyparks.org
Description: Over 50 trees decorated by community groups and individuals. Presented in cooperation with the Somerset Hills YMCA. $4 per adult suggested donation/$1 per child or senior suggested donation Monday to Saturday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm; Sunday 11 am - 4:30 pm.
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/16/2007

Walk of Lights

Event Site: Dutch Neck Village
Address: 97 Trench Road, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Phone#: (856) 451-2188
URL: www.dutchneckvillage.com
Description: Christmas celebration, luminaries, live nativity, carolers, hot drinks, specials in all the shops. Free admission/! $2.00 parking fee
Event Dates: 12/07/2007-12/08/2007
 

Kelly Clarkson led the charge with performances by Maroon 5, Clay Aiken, Jesse McCartney and Keith Urban. Tickets were $25 per person just to get inside the grounds and the event played out like an ala-carte restaurant menu. $2 for a ride on the roller coaster, $2 for the ferris wheel, ticket cover charges for the performers, but the event ended up becoming a success with over 70,000 visitors attending the festival. The festival generated nearly $400,000 in revenue which was invested back into the township school district and other  community programs.

Work quickly began on Toms River Festival 2006. Top names like Hillary Duff, Rihanna, Live and even LeAnn Rimes were added to the concert roster. Joan Jett, Meat Loff, KC and the Sunshine Band and Rick Springfield were invited from whatever entertainment purgatory they had been waiting in. Hillary Duff's performance sold over 10,000 tickets.

The organizers boasted this year's Toms River Festival will have 100,000 visitors per day. Instead, attendance was only 45,000 over the entire 4 day festival, down 25,000 from the previous year. The township blamed the lackluster turnout on a heat wave that was passing through. The festival however was a political and community success as Dover Township used proceeds from the festivals to rebuild Castle Park, a wooden outdoor play structure that was deemed unsafe and demolished, only a few years after it was built. The new Castle Park is a playground showcase and one of , if not the best public outdoor playground in New Jersey.

Does Toms River need a multi-million dollar yearly festival when Ocean County's Fair at Miller Airport is already a well entrenched Ocean County tradition? I attended Toms River Festival 2005. I also frequently attend the Ocean County Fair. In my opinion, we have much more fun at the simplified Ocean County Fair. It's much more of a home town family atmosphere. To me, Toms River Festival seemed like a corporate sponsored event with the sole intent on pulling every last dollar out of the pockets of attendees. I chose not to attend Toms River Fest 2006 long before any reports of a heat wave.  It was not because the heat, but because of the less than enjoyable experience I had in 2005 with pay per attraction, bus shuttling, long lines and long waits, not to mention the  barricades blocking you from the best seats in the open air  concerts. 

Had it been 75 degrees and sunny those four days, I still would have preferred to take my family to the boardwalk in Seaside or even Great Adventure. Spending a lot of money to walk around a hot black-top parking lot and high school baseball fields turned dustbowls,  jam packed shoulder to shoulder, being forced to pay extra for each attraction once you're in just didn't seem like the fun I was expecting to have that weekend.

On paper, Toms River Fest is a win-win proposition for the Township and those who attend but this was not good enough for a 2007 event.  Planners wisely decided that after a pretty dismal 2006, they will pass on 2007.

Now we hear newly revived discussion about Toms River Festival 2008.  The organizers have now had nearly 2 years to think about what went wrong in 2005.  There's two seasons worth of brand new American Idol contestants out there.  Will we be seeing the again over-inflated festival with Carrie Underwood and Bo Bice or will we see a realistic festival with Laurie Berkner and Rebecca Frezza.  There are many great local bands out there that would love a chance to be part of something and not request tens of thousands of dollars to play.

At the end of the day, Toms River Fest is a great idea for the community of Toms River and Ocean County, but the organizers may just be stretching their boundaries a bit too far. A Toms River Fest on a more hometown scale would be just as successful, if not more than luring in national acts and national has-beens. You can build a pretty decent event just by bringing in talent from the New Jersey area, scaling down a little and focusing more on family entertainment and less on high end entertainment.