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Arts & Entertainment

Get Ready for a Lively Weekend

Live music, live animals, and live entertainment make this weekend, well, lively.

Live music, live animals, and live entertainment make this weekend, well, lively. There’s also enough Purim celebrations to make you plotz, hilarious family theater, two tea parties, two free drop-in crafts, story time, and loads more. We divvied up plans in close, closer and closest categories. The close activities are a few NYC picks, the closer activities are in nearby bustling Morristown, and the closest events are in your neighborhood or just down the street a bit. So decide how far you want to explore this weekend then check our list or add your own!

Close

—The Dirty Sock Funtime Band Purim Concert

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Where/When: The Jewish Museum 1109 Fifth Ave and 92nd Street, Sunday, March 19 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Why Go: The much loved, much energized kids’ band helps celebrate “Jewish Halloween” with their signature upbeat tunes even parents can’t resist bouncing to.

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Pricing: $16 with children under 13 only $11.

—Mischief at the New Victory Theater

Where/When: New Victory Theater, 209 W 42nd St., between 7th and 8th Avenues, Friday, March 18 at 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, March 19 and 20, at noon and 5 p.m.

Why Go: Described as “a whimsical and hugely inventive encounter with movement, music and mood” by the Herald, Scotland, this London import promises loads of fun, physical theater and engaging live music. Recommended for ages 4 to 8.

Pricing: $14–$38. For more information or to purchase tickets, go here.

Closer

—Matilda’s Bunny Brunch

Where/When: The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 E. Hanover Ave., Morristown, Saturday, March 19, at 1:30 p.m.

Why Go: Rabbit Breeder Susan Prisco from Triple Creek Rabbits will speak about rabbits both wild and domestic. Participants will also enjoy a tea party and make springtime garden crafts. After the tea party, be sure to take a jaunt around the historic, breathtaking grounds of the arboretum.

Pricing: $30, pre-registration required, 973-326-7601

—Popovich Comedy Pet Theater

Where/When: MAYO Community Theater, 100 South St., Morristown. Sunday, March 20, at 3 and 7 p.m.

Why Go: Jugglers, clowns, 15 house cats, 10 dogs, 4 geese, 8 white doves, and 2 parrots all converge for an entertaining romp of a show for the whole family. Want a sneak peek? Check out this video.

Pricing: $25. Go here to purchase tickets online or call 973-539-8088.

Closest

—Newark’s 76th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Where/When: The parade route will start at the Prudential Center and proceed north on Mulberry Street, past the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Center Street, and conclude at Washington Park. There will be reviewing stands located at Mulberry and Clinton streets as well as Central Avenue and Washington Street. The parade begins at 1 p.m., on Friday, March 18.

Why Go: Newark has the bragging rights of being the “First and Original” St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Jersey. See here for more information.

Pricing: Free.

—Celebrate St. Joseph’s Day

Where/When: Sonny’s on the Avenue, 624 Bloomfield Ave., Verona.  March 18, 19 and 20.

Why Go: Not a fan of corned beef and cabbage? Then kick it—or rather eat it—Italian style at Sonny’s with a weekend long Sicilian/Italian menu in honor of St. Joseph and the Lenten season, which is traditionally celebrated on March 19. The menu will be seafood-centered with St. Joseph’s Pastry (crème-filled pastry topped with cherries) as the featured dessert.

Pricing: For more information go here or call 973-239-1919.

—Very Hungry Caterpillar Day!

Where/When: Watchung Booksellers, 54 Fairfield Street, Montclair,  Saturday, March 19 at 10 a.m.

Why Go: Eric Carle’s beloved story The Very Hungry Caterpillar is the star event for Saturday story time—Meet the Caterpillar and make crafts too!

Pricing: Free.

—Drop-In Crafts and More

Where/When: Montclair Public Library, 99 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair, Saturday, March 19 at 2 p.m.

Why Go: Kids ages 4 and up can spend a chill afternoon listening to stories, singing and making a take-home craft.

Pricing: Free, no registration required!

—Drop-in Crafts at Bloomfield Public Library

Where/When: BPL, 90 Broad Street, Bloomfield, Saturday, March 19 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Why Go: Literally drop in anytime between 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and do some crafts.

Pricing: Free.

—Imagination Station at the 

Where/When: Montclair Art Museum, 3 South Mountain Ave., Montclair. Saturday, 1 to 2 p.m.

Why Go: MAM events always deliver, and Imagination Station is no exception. This very popular program focuses on a different artwork or theme each week—this week’s theme is Cozy Toes. Families will be engaged in active looking, lively discussion, interactive activities, and scavenger hunts, and have a unique opportunity to sketch in the galleries. Space is limited. This is also a great time to visit MAM’s Mapplethorpe and Warhol exhibits.

Pricing: Member adults free, nonmember adults $12, children $6.

—Purim Celebration

Where/When: Bnai Keshet, 99 S. Fullerton Ave., Montclair, Saturday, March 19, at 6 p.m.

Why Go: A come-in costume Purim celebration for the whole family. The evening breaks down like this: 6 p.m. Kids' Megilah reading; 6:30 p.m. Special Purim Havdalah and evening service; 7 p.m. Adults' multi-lingual Megilah reading and costume contest for all ages; 7:45 p.m. Shpiel—"The Book of Esther: Uncensored" under the direction of Rabbi Daniel Brenner, with a multigenerational cast of Purim characters.

Pricing: Free.

—Purimspiel at Temple Ner Tamid

Where/When: Temple Ner Tamid, 936 Broad St., Bloomfield, Saturday, March 19, at 6:30 p.m.

Why Go: Temple Ner Tamid presents A New Jersey Purimspiel: Pershey Boys! A New Jersey musical history lesson, from Sinatra to Bon Jovi, with stops along the way for Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, Tommy James and the Sondellis, and Bruce Springsteen. Starring Temple members of all ages, the Rabbi and Cantor as you've never seen them before, and kids acting out the Megillah.

Pricing: Free.

—Favorite Doll Tea        

Where/When: The Women’s Club of Glen Ridge, 219 Ridgewood Ave., Glen Ridge, Sunday, March 20, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Why Go: Girls, dolls and tea no doubt make for a charming afternoon. High tea, a complimentary doll hair salon and a shopping boutique complete this girl-licious event.

Pricing: Child or adult member $20, adult non-member $30. You can purchase tickets online here.

—Purim Carnival

Where/When: Bnai Keshet, 99 Fullerton Ave., Montclair, Sunday, March 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Why Go: The folks at Bnai Keshet have another fun Purim event planned with games, food, eco-friendly prizes, and opportunities for tzedakah (charity) and tikkun olam (social justice).

Pricing: Free.

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