NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 1/2/21 - 1/3/21

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, January 2 - Lower Township, Cape May County
Climb the Cape May Lighthouse
Family Friendly Site

The Cape May Lighthouse is an 1859 structure with 199 steps to the watch gallery for a panoramic view of the Jersey Cape and Atlantic Ocean. For those who choose not to climb, the Oil House contains a fully-accessible Visitors' Orientation Center and a Museum Shop stocked with maritime accessories and lighthouse memorabilia. Open 12:00 noon - 3:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Cape May Point State Park is located in Lower Township, NJ. Admission to the Visitors' Orientation Center and the ground floor of the lighthouse is free. Tower admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Children under 3 and active military are FREE. Sponsored by Cape May MAC. For more information, call 609-884-5404 or 800-275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/26/20 - 12/27/20

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, December 26

Celebrating Hogmanay with Scottish Music
Virtual Program

The Trent House Association presents The Practitioners of Musick in a performance honoring the Scottish heritage of William Trent and featuring music that George Washington and his family enjoyed. The program will begin at 1:00 pm on Saturday via Zoom at https://bit.ly/39mqPK9. Suggested donations of $10 can be made at www.willliamtrenthouse.org/donation.html.

 

Born in Inverness, Scotland, William Trent immigrated to Philadelphia and established himself as a very successful shipping merchant. In 1714 he acquired much of the land that now is the city of Trenton and in 1719 built his Georgian style mansion on his plantation there. It is likely that General Washington visited his Deputy Quartermaster General John Cox there and may have been entertained with music.

Washington’s family – his wife Martha, her two children, and her four grandchildren – all studied music. He himself was said to be especially fond of William Shield’s comic opera Rosina, which was performed in Philadelphia, the nation’s capital, during his Presidency. Some of the opera’s melodies drew on Scottish folk songs, a fact that led some to claim that Shield composed the music for “Auld Lang Syne.”

John Burkhalter and Donovan Klotzbeacher founded the Practitioners of Musick to the research and performance of the musical riches of 18th century Great Britain and the Colonial and Federal periods in America. They have performed and lectured at libraries, museums, and historic sites throughout the region and beyond.

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Join Durand-Hedden House & Garden for a beloved annual tradition: Gingerbread Houses - Deadline 1/2/2021

Join Durand-Hedden House & Garden for a beloved annual tradition: Gingerbread Houses

Deadline extended to January 2, 2021

2020 has been a difficult year, but Durand-Hedden’s Gingerbread House exhibit will go on!

There will be no in-person showings and no contest. Participants will simply submit a photo of their gingerbread creation and its title, as well as their name(s) and ages, to Durand-Hedden at the email below by Saturday, January 2.

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/19/20 - 12/20/20

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, December 19 - Whippany, Morris County

The Kringle Railway Adventure
Family Friendly

Morristown & Erie Railway and Whippany Railway Museum have teamed up together to bring Christmas cheer to the New Jersey area. The Kringle Railway Adventure is a round-trip Christmas train ride for all ages that is sure to put your family into the holiday spirit! It's the only one of its kind in North Jersey.

Reserve your seating pod in one of our uniquely themed train cars: Candy Cane Lane, Silent Night, Blizzard Car, A Very Country Christmas, Present Palace, and Ornament Express.

Listen to your favorite holiday songs and enjoy fun and games on your train adventure. Take a moment aboard to send a Christmas letter to Santa's personal email account. Be the first one in your party to find all the items on our train car scavenger hunt! Have you ever wanted to be an elf? Take our quiz to find out if you have what it takes to work for the big guy himself. Each game has been designed for maximum fun in a socially distant manner. You will not need to leave your pod to take part in the festivities.

Arrive early or stop by after your train ride to snap a socially-distant photo with Santa next to his personal locomotive.

The Kringle Railway platform is at The Whippany Train Station located at 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany, NJ. The adventure runs through Saturday December 19. Departure times are at 9:00 am, 10:20 am, 11:40 am, 1:00 pm, 2:20 pm, and 3:40 pm.

Reservations are required. Purchase tickets here. All guests, 2 and up, are required to wear a mask while attending the event. For more information, visit www.kringlerailwayadventure.com.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 12/18/20 - 12/20/20

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know!

Hosting an estate sale? Send me an e-mail to be featured in our weekly post!

Be the first to know about these sales on Facebook!

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Cape May MAC’s 47th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour - Virtual This Year

Cape May MAC’s 47th Annual Christmas Candlelight House Tour - Virtual This Year

Cape May MAC (Museums+Arts+Culture) announces its 2020 Cape May Christmas Candlelight House Tour is available for purchase to experience virtually this year.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols this year, Cape May MAC made the difficult decision that these annual holiday tours on three nights in December must be cancelled in 2020. Cape May's Christmas Candlelight House Tours have been a beloved annual tradition for nearly half a century. Cape May MAC launched this tour in 1973 and ever since it has been a highlight of the Christmas season in Cape May, America's only National Historic Landmark City. Thousands of people on three nights in December travel to more than a dozen homes, inns, B&Bs, churches and hotels, stepping across the thresholds to take in interiors beautifully decorated for the holidays. It is one of Cape May MAC’s largest fund-raisers.

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/12/20 - 12/13/20

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, December 12
Shakespeare's The Tempest: New Worlds & New Jersey
Virtual Program

The Tempest is Shakespeare’s most direct engagement with America. Journey to Jamestown Island to find archaeological evidence of the voyage that may have inspired Shakespeare’s play, walk with Gonzalo to consider the promise and pitfalls of planting a “commonwealth” in a new world, and return home to find a character from Shakespeare’s play on New Jersey’s own flag. The online discussion will premiere on Facebook at Wallace House & Old Dutch Parsonage State Historic Sites at 10:30 am on Saturday. Event information: https://www.facebook.com/events/3581104785337565.

We conclude our series reading along with author Ian Doescher’s Shakespeare 2020 Project. Join the online discussion and add your own comments and questions at www.facebook.com/WallaceDutch.

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Saturday - Sunday, December 12 - 13 - Camden, Camden County

Battleship New Jersey Fire Power Tour
Family Friendly

This self guided tour of the overall view of the Battleship New Jersey takes guests five levels up and two decks below. The Main Deck features an Exhibit Museum that encompasses the 48 years in and out of service. Guides are available for questions in the Captain's Quarters and CEC.

Active Military, World War II Veterans and former Crew Members of BB-62 are asked to stop at the Box Office in the Battleship NJ Visitor's Center. Proudly inform our Ticketing Staff of your service to our Great Nation and receive a complimentary ticket to board the "Big J".

* All guests will be screened in the Visitors Center before entering the Battleship’s Pier, must wear a face covering and practice social distancing.
* Please check your email after purchase for your ticket to either print or save to your mobile device and take with you for check-in in the Visitors Center.

Firepower tour tickets are available to use at any date and time we are open for tours. Admission: Adult are $24.95 and children ages 5-11, veterans, and seniors (62+) are $19.95. Tickets can be purchased online. Battleship New Jersey is located at 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ. For more information, call 856-966-1652 or visit www.battleshipnewjersey.org.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 12/11/20 - 12/13/20

NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know!

Hosting an estate sale? Send me an e-mail to be featured in our weekly post!

Be the first to know about these sales on Facebook!

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NJ Weekend Historical Happenings: 12/5/20 - 12/6/20

New Jersey Weekend Historical Happenings

A Weekly Feature on www.thehistorygirl.com

Want to submit an event? Use our event submission form.

Saturday, December 5 - Cape May, Cape May County
Wassail Day at Historic Cold Spring Village
Children Friendly

Historic Cold Spring Village opens its Homespun Holidays season with Wassail Day on Saturday from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. The Village paths come alive with the sounds and smells of wintertime! Admission for Wassail Day is $5.00 per adult, $3.00 for children, and FREE for HCSV Members.

Timed tickets are available by visiting www.hcsv.org and pressing the red BOOK NOW button. Ticket purchase is NON- REFUNDABLE. Rain or shine event. Select buildings will be open where guests can enjoy, military encampments, hot beverages, and holiday treats served by historically clothed interpreters. Visitors can meet Father Christmas in the Country Store. The Country Store will be open and stocked with unique holiday gift ideas including traditionally-processed wool, artisan crafts for the home, books, jewelry, toys, and old-fashioned candy.

Historic Cold Spring Village is located on Route 9, three miles north of Victorian Cape May and a mile and a half west of the southern end of the Garden State Parkway. For more information, call 609-898-2300, ext. 10 or visit the Village www.hcsv.org.

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NJ Weekend Estate Sales: 12/5/20 - 12/6/20

  NEW JERSEY WEEKEND ESTATE SALES

Click on each link for more information on the estate sale!

Find something neat at an estate sale? Let us know!

Hosting an estate sale? Send me an e-mail to be featured in our weekly post!

Be the first to know about these sales on Facebook!

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Holiday Scenes & Songs at Historic New Bridge Landing - 12/6/20

Holiday Scenes & Songs at Historic New Bridge Landing

The Bergen County Historical Society presents Holiday Scenes & Songs at Historic New Bridge Landing, a special outdoor holiday event on Sunday, December 6 from 4:00 - 5:30 pm. Historic New Bridge Landing is located at 1201 Main Street, River Edge, NJ.

Join historical balladeer Linda Russell as she takes you on a trip through the ages with songs and scenes to see how the holidays were celebrated.

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