Check out the most popular events coming to town this season.
As the holiday season is fast approaching, there are plenty of activities to get Pinelands residents in the spirit. Gather friends and family to take part in annual traditions, such as the Dickens Festival, or give back to the community by donating to Toys for Tots. No matter how residents choose to get involved this season, there is a wealth of holiday cheer to go around.
Dickens Festival
This year marks the 29th annual Dickens Festival in downtown Medford, hosted by the Medford Sunrise Rotary Club. The festival will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Main Street in Medford will be transformed into a winter wonderland, with holiday festivities for parents and children alike, and an “old-timey flair.”
The festival typically attracts more than 10,000 people from Medford and many surrounding communities.
The festival begins with a parade as the town crier transports Santa, Mrs. Claus and an elf or two to the gazebo at 18 N. Main St. Grand Marshal Ron Murphy of Murphy’s Market will be the presenting sponsor of the festival, and the annual tree-lighting ceremony will follow, as town officials gather to turn the lights on at the township Christmas tree. Santa and Mrs. Claus will stay at the gazebo all evening long to greet children of all ages.
Throughout the evening, there will be food vendors, strolling carolers, musicians, entertainers, ice-sculpting and crafters with unique gifts suitable for everyone’s holiday gift list.
Stop by the Medford Sunrise Rotary table for an illuminated glass Christmas ornament and enjoy freebies and information from various local businesses. There will also be a live Nativity, a Victorian Best Dressed contest (categories: adult male/female, child male/female and pet), and kid-friendly activities like inflatables and pony rides.
The Medford Sunrise Rotary raises money for the festival through fundraisers, and tax-deductible donations to keep the tradition going may be made through a GoFundMe site for Rotary Dickens Festival at https://www.gofundme.com/ufd65h.
For more information on the festival, email medfordsunriserotary@gmail.com.
Main Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic during the event, from Route 70 to Chapel Avenue. Parts of Union and Bank Street will also be closed. For more information, visit www.MedfordPolice.org the week prior to the festival.
Tabernacle Tree Lighting
The fifth annual community tree lighting event in Tabernacle will take place on Dec. 7 on the grounds of the Town Hall beginning at 7 p.m. It has become a well-attended celebration of holiday spirit and goodwill that exemplifies the character of the small town.
The highlight of the evening will be the arrival of Santa Claus. He will light the tree, and then he and Mrs. Claus will be available for visits with children. There will also be a special red mailbox for letters to Santa. The mailbox will be inside the Town Hall from now through Dec. 24 during regular business hours. On the evening of the tree lighting, the mailbox will be located near the jolly man himself. No postage is needed. The letters will be sent to the North Pole after Christmas Eve, where Santa will review them before he makes his annual trip.
Entertainment will be provided as members of the Seneca High School band will play holiday music as the crowd gathers. A chorus of fourth graders from Tabernacle Elementary School will start the program, followed by the middle school hand chimes group. After Santa arrives and the tree is lit, the middle school chorus will take the stage followed by some adult singers representing area churches.
All portions of the program are outdoors with tents provided for the musicians and the refreshments. The festivities will go on rain, snow or shine, so residents are advised to dress for the weather. Cookies and other goodies will be provided along with coffee, cocoa and apple cider.
There will be displays featuring several civic organizations: Tabernacle Athletic Association, the Education Foundation of Tabernacle Township and Tabernacle Education Association. As a special treat, Girl Scouts will be on hand to help children create a holiday craft.
Parking will be available at the Holy Eucharist Church lot adjacent to Town Hall. Handicap parking will be in front of Town Hall, and there will be seating reserved for the elderly and those with special needs. Members of the Township CERT Team, Tabernacle Fire Company №1, Tabernacle Rescue Squad, the Office of Emergency Management and the Public Works Department will be on hand to ensure an enjoyable and safe evening for everyone.
The event is co-sponsored by the Recreation Committee, the Tabernacle Historical Society, Tabernacle Woman’s Association and Tabernacle Schools HSA. It is free and open to the public.
The Community Tree will be illuminated every night until early January. For further information, please contact Natalie Lewis at Town Hall by emailing nlewis@townshipoftabernacle-nj.gov or calling (609) 268–1220.
Shamong Light Contest
Who will win the title of best decorated house of 2018? Enter your home for the categories most elegant, most creative, best overall and “The Griswold” by Dec. 1, and have your home decorated by Dec. 8 for a chance at the title.
Judging will take place on Dec. 8 and 9, and the winners will be announced on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.
All entries will be included on the Shamong Holiday Lights tour map to be distributed in early December.
There is no fee to participate and all businesses and residents of Shamong are welcome to enter. The link to enter is https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084eacab23a20-1stannual
Tabernacle United Methodist Church 21st Annual Cookie Walk
The annual cookie walk is back for its 21st year at Tabernacle United Methodist Church located at 166 Carranza Road. Hosted by the Ladies Aid Society, there will be dozens of delicious homemade cookies and candies for sale. Upon entering, guests will be given a glove and a box to choose the cookies of their preference. Enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season without the trouble of baking.
The cookie walk will be held on Dec. 7 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon.
Shawnee Band Craft Fair
The Shawnee Band Parents Association is hosting its annual Holiday Craft and Gift Fair on Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shawnee High School located at 600 Tabernacle Road in Medford.
There is no admission fee for this event featuring more than 150 vendors, including approximately 30 first-time participants. Vendors will be offering unique crafts, gourmet treats, gifts and direct sales merchandise.
Refreshments will be on sale in the school cafeteria along with a gift basket raffle and bake sale with proceeds directly benefiting the SBPA Scholarship Fund.
For additional information, call (609) 975–9469, e-mail shscraftshow@fastmail.com, or check it out on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/shawneecraftfair.
Medford Leas Craft Fair
Medford Leas guarantees you’ll have a happy holiday season after stopping by the 12th annual Medford Leas Craft Fair, featuring a wide assortment of high quality, unique, crafted treasures for sale.
This year’s fair will provide a large variety of items, including arts and antiques, as well as an expanded array of holiday wreaths and greens. Since 2011, the fair has become a high quality craft fair, where all crafters must be approved by a jury of residents. The result is a high standard of craft that continues to attract crafters and shoppers back to the fair year after year.
Maggie Heineman, a Medford Leas resident of the Lumberton Campus and chair of the Craft Fair Committee, is excited for new and returning guests to see what residents have been working on this year.
“People are always amazed to see what our residents can make. Everything from small crafts to large wooden tables, it really is quite incredible,” Heineman said.
Items to be sold at the fair include woodwork, origami, decorations, needlework, handmade soaps, honey and more.
The event involves a tremendous show of volunteerism from Medford Leas residents and staff, including welcoming attendees and setting up the venue.
Shoppers are welcome on the Medford Campus in the Community Building, Holly and Gathering Rooms from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Toys for Tots
Interested in giving back this holiday season? Toys for Tots will be collecting new, unwrapped toys to give to less fortunate children in the area. Toys for Tots collection boxes can be found at the following locations in Medford: Just Children, 130 Medford-Mt Holly Road; Amoriello Hair Design, 560 Stokes Road Suite 23; Lenape High School National Honor Society, 235 Hartford Road; P J Whelihan’s Pub, 61 Stokes Road; Investor Bank, 415 Stokes Road; Columbia Bank, 133 Route 70; ERA Statewide Realty, 709 Stokes Road Suite 200 and 201; Johnson’s Corner Farm, 113 Church Road; Milton H. Allen Elementary School, 24 Allen Ave.; Hayes Run Apartments, 407B Hayes Run; Breakthru Fitness & Physical Therapy, 200 Tuckerton Road; Fond Memories, 200 Tuckerton Road Suite 7; Elite Insurance Co. (Allstate), 142 Route 70; AVM Salon, 13 Tomlinson Mill Road; Cornerstone Bank, 170 Himmelein Road; Medford Foot Specialist, 128 Route 70; NovaCare, 128 Route 70 Suite 2C; Rustic Grill, 519 Stokes Road; Medford Lakes Colony, 79 Tecumseh Trail; Image Beauty, 630 Stokes Road; and Mathnasium, 560 Stokes Road Suite 24.
Toy collection boxes in Shamong are located at A Child’s Place, 491 Oakshade Road; Education Station, 107 Indian Mills Road; and Pic A Lilli Inn, 866 Route 206.
Tabernacle also has a collection point located at Seneca High School, 110 Carranza Road.
Pinelands Library
The Pinelands Library, located at 39 Allen Ave. in Medford, will be hosting gift wrapping workshops to wrap up your holiday checklist. The workshops will take place on Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. and the library will provide wrapping paper, tape and ribbon. There is a limit of two items per person and registration is required.
They will also be providing children ages 3 to 12 the opportunity to make their own winter crafts with “Snowflake Make-n-Take” activities. Children are invited to stop by the library any time on Dec. 17 through Dec. 21 to make their own unique craft. Registration is not required for these activities.
Santa at One Room Schoolhouse
Santa is scheduled to make his annual appearance at the One Room Schoolhouse on Dec. 16 from noon to 4 p.m.
Families are encouraged to bring cameras and take as many pictures as they like of their children with him. There is no charge to visit Santa. He is donating his time on behalf of the children.
This year, Santa will be located at 55 Mill St. in Medford. This event is sponsored by the Medford Historical Society.
Holiday Concerts
The Medford Historical Society will be presenting “Songs of the Season” by Charlie Zahm on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Friends Meeting House in Medford. Zahm will fill the room with traditional holiday carols and other songs of the winter season. There is no cost to attend and refreshments will follow his performance.
The community is invited to the “Christmas Together with Paul Baloche and Friends” benefit concert at Fellowship Alliance Chapel in Medford on the night of Dec. 7.
The performance begins at 7 p.m. and the cost to attend is $20. The proceeds of the Paul Baloche concert will go directly and entirely to fund FASA. FASA is a ministry to at-risk children and youth in South Africa. Fellowship Alliance Chapel partners with local churches, public schools and South African organizations to provide relational, emotional and spiritual support for these young people.
School Concerts
Shawnee High School will be having its annual choral concert on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. and its instrumental music concert on Dec. 18 at 7 p.m.
Medford Memorial Middle School will be having its annual winter choral concert on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.
Olson Middle School will have its annual winter concert on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.
