All upcoming events
Every listing on the North Jersey Wave calendar, soonest first. For the month view, see the calendar.
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Hoboken Restaurant Week
Hoboken's first Restaurant Week: 46 restaurants, cafes, bakeries and bars with prix-fixe menus, discounts and specials. Each business sets its own days and terms; see the full list on the Hoboken Business Alliance site.
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Montclair Comedy Festival
Eight days of stand-up, improv, sketch and variety at DiRasa House of Diversified Arts, Montclair Brewery, RecRoom and The MC Hotel. Shows nightly, mostly at 7 or 7:30 p.m.; most tickets $25 plus fees, Festival Pass $100
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Summit Farmers Market
Weekly farmers market with produce, local goods and artisanal products, run by Summit Downtown, Inc. Sundays through December 20, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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The Last Waltz Celebration
The THE BAND Band and special guests mark the 50th anniversary of The Band's farewell concert.
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Joe D'Urso's Acoustic Excursion
An acoustic evening with Joe D'Urso in bergenPAC's Marquee Club Series.
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Mary Poppins at Paper Mill Playhouse
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, starring Kara Lindsay. Recommended for ages 4 and up; children under 4 are not admitted. Cast Q&A after the December 5 matinee; audio-described performances December 13 and 1
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Jodeci: 35th Anniversary Tour of Forever My Lady
The R&B group marks 35 years of its debut album at the newly restored Loew's Jersey Theatre. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m. Across from the Journal Square PATH station.
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The Karate Kid in 35mm
The original film screened on 35mm at the Union County Performing Arts Center.
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Ladies of Laughter
Stand-up from Carmen Lynch, Monique Latise, Sheba Mason and Ellen Feeney.
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Holiday Lights at Turtle Back Zoo
Free evening walk past more than 50 lit winter and animal characters, 5 to 9 p.m. Open November 20 to 22, November 27 to 29, and nightly December 4 to 31 (closed December 24 and 25). No reservations. Santa meet and greet
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Dog Man: The Musical
Dog Man: The Musical, a family show at bergenPAC.
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A Christmas Story: The Musical
The touring Broadway musical based on the 1983 film. Fri Nov 20 at 7:30 p.m.; Sat Nov 21 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sun Nov 22 at 1 p.m. Tickets from $52 including fees. Recommended for ages 5 and up.
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Back to Black: The Amy Winehouse Celebration
Remember Jones and a 12-piece band with five vocalists play Back to Black in full for its 20th anniversary. Limited tickets; call the box office at 973-313-2787.
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Billy Gardell
Stand-up comedy from Billy Gardell at the Union County Performing Arts Center.
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Pretenderrific: Family and Sensory-Friendly Improv
A family and sensory-friendly improv show hosted by Natty B, part of the Montclair Comedy Festival. $15 plus fees and tax.
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Bayonne Thanksgiving Ring Toss
The Recreation Division's annual Thanksgiving ring toss for boys and girls ages 5 to 13, in four age groups, with prizes for the top three in each. No pre-registration. Information: 201-858-6127.
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Blues Royalty: Shemekia Copeland and Jontavious Willis
A co-headline blues evening with Shemekia Copeland and Jontavious Willis.
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Montclair Comedy Festival: The BIG Show with Myq Kaplan
The festival's closing stand-up show, headlined by Myq Kaplan with festival favorites. $25 plus fees and tax.
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Big Santa at Garden State Plaza
Annual holiday kickoff hosted by Ryan Cabrera, with All-4-One, TKA, Spice Wannabe and Just Your Type, costume characters, stilt walkers and food trucks. Santa arrives by fire truck, the 42-foot Big Santa lights up, and a
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Pet Photos with Santa at Jersey Gardens
Bring your pet to meet Santa. Reserve a spot through the mall's Santa photo page.
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bergenPAC Centennial Birthday Celebration: John Pizzarelli Trio
The theater turns 100 on the night it opened as the Englewood Plaza in 1926. The John Pizzarelli Trio (with Mike Karn and Isaiah J. Thompson) plays a tribute to Tony Bennett, opened by students of the bergenPAC Performin
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Gordon Scooter Whiting Way Street Naming Ceremony
Hackensack dedicates a portion of Second Street to Gordon "Scooter" Whiting, who spent three decades at Hackensack High School as a student-athlete, head coach, educator and athletic director.
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Summit Community Thanksgiving Meal
Free catered Thanksgiving meal with open gym, a family movie, and arts and crafts. Open to all; no pre-registration. Rides for seniors and residents with disabilities: 908-277-2932.
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Bergen County Winter Wonderland
Open-air ice skating, Blitzen's Bumper Cars, carousel rides, live entertainment, food trucks and a beer and wine garden at Van Saun County Park, in its 11th season. Opening day November 27, noon to 9 p.m., with a ribbon
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Miracle on Elm Street
Free ice skating with skates provided (sessions every half hour), bonfires, hot drinks, cookie decorating and stage entertainment. Santa arrives with the Summit Fire Department; tree lighting at 5 p.m., photos with Santa
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Rahway Tree Lighting
Downtown holiday activities from 2 to 6 p.m., then a 6 p.m. parade and the lighting of the tree.
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Late Night Shopping with Santa in Downtown Metuchen
Evening shopping downtown with Santa. Free. Also December 11 and December 18, 6 to 8 p.m.
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Sensory Friendly Photos with Santa in Rahway
Free sensory-friendly photos with Santa. Registration required at cityofrahway.com/recreation.
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Westfield Small Business Saturday and Tree Lighting
Scratch and Save promotions at participating downtown businesses all day. Tree lighting 5 to 7 p.m. with Santa, a holiday DJ, ice sculpting, carolers, treats and the Jingle and Mingle Holiday Market of young entrepreneur
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NJ Ballet's The Nutcracker: Sensory Friendly Performance
A sensory-friendly performance of The Nutcracker by New Jersey Ballet.
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The Irish Tenors: A Family Christmas
Anthony Kearns, Ronan Tynan and Patrick Hyland mix Christmas classics with Irish songs. Tickets from $46.
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2 Pianos 4 Hands
Two performers play every character and two pianos in a comedy about chasing a concert career, with music from Bach to Billy Joel. Evenings at 7:30 p.m., matinees at 2 p.m.; opening night December 4. Tickets from $35.
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Elizabeth Avenue Partnership Tree Lighting
Annual tree lighting at Union Square, hosted by the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership.
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The Christmas Caper at HACPAC
Hackensack's holiday family show: Mrs. Claus, Jingles, Holly, Sparky and Santa's elves race to save Christmas. Performances December 4 at 7:30 p.m.; December 5 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; December 6 at 3 p.m. (sensory-friendly);
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Dickens Village in Maplewood
Miniature houses showing scenes from A Christmas Carol, open for viewing on the first three Saturdays of December (December 5, 12 and 19), with Santa visits and music by DJ Jimmy. Weather dependent; check the alliance's
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Gingerbread Day in Downtown Metuchen
Free holiday afternoon downtown, hosted by the Metuchen Downtown Alliance.
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Santa on the Square
Santa visits Union Square Plaza, hosted by the Elizabeth Avenue Partnership. Saturdays December 5, 12 and 19, noon to 3 p.m.
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Cranford 250 RevolutionNJ Final Celebration
Free. At 1 p.m., Chris Sands of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution presents a program on the Revolution in Cranford, Union County and New Jersey; at 2 p.m., the Cranford High School Madrigal Ch
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New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker at bergenPAC
New Jersey Ballet's Nutcracker, for ages 4 and up. Performances December 5 and 6 at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tickets $35 to $65.
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Bergen County Christmas Tree Lighting at Winter Wonderland
The county Christmas Tree Lighting and the Municipal Tree Decorating Contest winner announcement at 6 p.m. Winter Wonderland is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Caring Santa at Jersey Gardens
Sensory-friendly Santa visit for children with special needs and their families. Book an appointment through the Simon website.
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Winter Workshop at Turtle Back Zoo
A festive holiday craft workshop for families at the zoo, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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The Christmas Caper: Sensory-Friendly Performance
A performance adapted for audience members with sensory sensitivities, autism, or other learning, social or cognitive disabilities: gentle lighting, softer sound and a quiet zone in the gallery. Tickets $15.
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A Miracle on Winfield Scott
Elizabeth's holiday National Night Out: the city tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus, food trucks, music, giveaways and winter activities.
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Derek Hough: Dance for the Holidays
Derek Hough's holiday dance production at the restored Loew's Jersey Theatre in Journal Square. Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.
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Bergen County Menorah Lighting at Winter Wonderland
The county Menorah Lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Winter Wonderland is open 4 to 9 p.m.
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Unwrapped: An Acoustic Holiday
An acoustic holiday concert at the Loew's Jersey Theatre. Doors 6 p.m., show 7 p.m.
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Christmas with Chris Tomlin
Chris Tomlin's Christmas concert at the Loew's Jersey Theatre. Doors 5:30 p.m., show 7 p.m.
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Darlene Love: Love for the Holidays
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love's holiday show. Tickets $39 to $99.
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Holiday Doo Wop
Jay Siegel's Tokens, The Tymes, LaLa Brooks, The Vogues, Joey Dee and Accappella by Classic Sounds. Tickets $49 to $99.
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Chelsea Handler: The High and Mighty Tour
Stand-up from Chelsea Handler, two shows: doors 6 p.m. for the 7 p.m. show, doors 9 p.m. for the 9:30 p.m. show.
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An Ars Musica Holiday
Ars Musica Chorale's annual holiday concert, with Britten's A Ceremony of Carols and the New Jersey Children's Choir, plus works by Rutter, Willcocks, Brandau and Grieg, with organ, brass, harp and percussion. Tickets $3
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Two Nutcrackers: New Jersey Youth Symphony
New Jersey Youth Symphony holiday concert.
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Night Ranger at bergenPAC
Night Ranger in concert.
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The Nutcracker with American Repertory Ballet
More than 100 dancers with a live orchestra and choir. Thu Dec 17 and Fri Dec 18 at 7 p.m.; Sat Dec 19 at 2 and 7 p.m.; Sun Dec 20 at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets from $40.
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Downtown Caroling in Metuchen
Free caroling downtown, hosted by the Metuchen Downtown Alliance.
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Nimbus Dance: Jersey Nutcracker
Nimbus Dance stages its Jersey Nutcracker at the Loew's Jersey Theatre. Two performances: 11 a.m. (doors 10 a.m.) and 4 p.m. (doors 3 p.m.).
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EPD Escorts Santa Around Elizabeth
The Elizabeth Police Department escorts Santa through the city with motorcycle escorts. The route is posted by the department closer to the date.
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The Polar Express in 35mm
The holiday film screened on 35mm.
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Bergen County Kinara Lighting at Winter Wonderland
The county Kinara Lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Winter Wonderland is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert
Strauss waltzes, overtures and arias with the Strauss Symphony of America, soloists and dancers from the Budapest Ballet. Tickets from $51.
Listings come from organizers, venues, and public announcements. Dates, times, prices, and lineups can change or sell out, and events are sometimes canceled for weather: always confirm the details with the organizer before you make the trip. Spot an error? Tell us.
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