Historic Holidays at Fosterfields
In the Farmhouse, where the Woods family lived, holiday preparation is underway. Become engulfed by the sights, smells, and sounds of the season. Discover what’s baking on the wood stove in the kitchen, and enjoy colorful Christmas decorations throughout the farmhouse. Visit The Willows, the 1854 Gothic Revival home of the Foster family. During the first-floor tour, view the festive holiday decorations and discover how the Foster’s would have celebrated Christmas and New Year’s Day.
There are farm chores still to be done before the holiday celebration. Venture outside and crack corn to feed the hungry chicken and collect their eggs. Don’t forget to reward yourself with a wagon ride around the farm and an up-close meeting with all the animals from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
The Visitors Center is home to the interactive Transportation Exhibit and Caroline Foster’s restored 1922 Model “T” Ford. Each day the Center holds different special holiday craft activities. Admission for Historic Holidays at Fosterfields is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children ages 4 to 16, and $2 for children ages 2 & 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
Civil War Christmas
On the home front, at the historic Vail House, re-enactors read actual letters from the Union troops to their loved ones. The home has been dressed for the holiday with simple, yet elegant decorations. Move from room to room and take-in the adornments of yesteryear. At the encampment, soldiers from the 2nd NJ Brigade prepare for a holiday away from home. Visit the soldiers and tour their authentically reproduced huts, as they cook a holiday meal over a camp fire.
Bring your dancing shoes because you’re invited to a Civil War era Officer’s Ball, recreated in the 1849 Carriage House with live fiddle music, and a room decorated with pine and ribbon. A period dance instructor teaches re-enactors and visitors how to properly dance these historical pieces. Officers are clad in their best uniforms ready to dance with fashionably dressed women of the period.
With traditional crafts, activities, dancing, and more, you’ll be sure to have a fun-filled day (or two!) at Civil War Christmas. Don’t miss a stop at the Speedwell Gift Shop for unique stocking stuffers and holiday decorations. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+), and $5 for children ages 4 to 16. For more information, please call 973.285.6550.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
Gingerbread Wonderland and Craft Show
More than 15,000 visitors attend annually to see this charming event as guests of all ages marvel at the creative works of art. The smell of ginger and sugar is mesmerizing, while the 200 edible creations create a scene of imagination.
Look no further for the special, homemade holiday gifts, the Holiday Craft Show, which is in its fourth year, offers a charming selection of unique products made by local crafters. The Holiday Craft Show is open on the weekend during Gingerbread Wonderland, December 7 and 8, 14 and 15, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Groups of ten or more must make reservations by calling 973-326-7601. Strollers are not permitted in the exhibit hall. Photographs may be taken by adults only. A $2 suggested donation, $1 for students and seniors, for the Gingerbread Wonderland and Craft Show supports the Horticultural Educational Department. To submit an entry to the exhibit, look for registration materials at www.aboretumfriends.org. For more information, please call, 973-326-7603 or visit www.morrisparks.net.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
Friday Night Skate with DJ Earl
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Looking for something fresh and exciting to do this Friday night? Then come to Mennen Sports Arena from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., and skate the night away! DJ Earl will be playing the newest hits and some of your favorite throw-backs under the psychedelic lights. Want to hear something special? Requests are always welcome.
Beginning Friday, October 25, gather your friends and meet at Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township every Friday night for ice skating, arcade games, and yummy treats from the snack bar. The cost is $7 for admission, and $3.50 for ice skate rentals.
According to Director of Recreation Reynold Fauci, ‘This program gives families and young teens a place to have fun and enjoy the sport of ice skating, with the added bonus of DJ entertainment and a party atmosphere.’
Mennen Sports Arena has three ice surfaces and offers one of the largest Learn-To-Skate programs in the nation, taught by former Olympians. Hockey and figure skating clinics, and summer camps are offered annually, along with public skate sessions throughout the year. For more information, please call, 973.326.7651.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
Beginning Friday, October 25, gather your friends and meet at Mennen Sports Arena in Morris Township every Friday night for ice skating, arcade games, and yummy treats from the snack bar. The cost is $7 for admission, and $3.50 for ice skate rentals.
According to Director of Recreation Reynold Fauci, ‘This program gives families and young teens a place to have fun and enjoy the sport of ice skating, with the added bonus of DJ entertainment and a party atmosphere.’
Mennen Sports Arena has three ice surfaces and offers one of the largest Learn-To-Skate programs in the nation, taught by former Olympians. Hockey and figure skating clinics, and summer camps are offered annually, along with public skate sessions throughout the year. For more information, please call, 973.326.7651.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
Apples, Apples, & More Apple Fun!
MORRISTOWN, NJ - Celebrate apples this fall by joining in the fun at these exciting autumn events. Take part in the cider making process, make scrumptious apple muffins, enjoy old-time apple head dolls, decorate apples, and so much more! Don’t forget to sample the delicious treats you helped make.
CELEBRATE APPLES
Assist with apple cider pressing as it was done in 1880s Milltown/Chester at the Cooper Gristmill in Chester Township. On Saturday, October 12 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., use a hand-cranked apple peeler, decorate an apple, and see a display of apple head dolls. For more information call the Gristmill at, 908.879.5463.
APPLE MUFFIN BAKING
Make apple muffins using flour that was freshly ground at the gristmill, and then tour the Cooper Gristmill in Chester Township. Decorate cloth bags to hold the muffins. All ages welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. Don’t miss the baking fun on Saturday, October 19, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Register early, space is limited, 908.879.5463.
APPLE CIDERING
Take part in the hands-on process at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham Township, by helping to prepare the apples, grinding them, turning the old-fashioned press, and collecting the cider. This engaging experience is topped off with a delicious sample of fresh, homemade cider! You will also learn some amazing facts about the apple’s place in history and in the natural world. Demonstrations take place at 2 p.m. on October 19 and 20 and November 9, 10, 23, and 24. For more information, call the Great Swamp, 973.635.6629.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
CELEBRATE APPLES
Assist with apple cider pressing as it was done in 1880s Milltown/Chester at the Cooper Gristmill in Chester Township. On Saturday, October 12 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., use a hand-cranked apple peeler, decorate an apple, and see a display of apple head dolls. For more information call the Gristmill at, 908.879.5463.
APPLE MUFFIN BAKING
Make apple muffins using flour that was freshly ground at the gristmill, and then tour the Cooper Gristmill in Chester Township. Decorate cloth bags to hold the muffins. All ages welcome, children must be accompanied by an adult. Don’t miss the baking fun on Saturday, October 19, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Register early, space is limited, 908.879.5463.
APPLE CIDERING
Take part in the hands-on process at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham Township, by helping to prepare the apples, grinding them, turning the old-fashioned press, and collecting the cider. This engaging experience is topped off with a delicious sample of fresh, homemade cider! You will also learn some amazing facts about the apple’s place in history and in the natural world. Demonstrations take place at 2 p.m. on October 19 and 20 and November 9, 10, 23, and 24. For more information, call the Great Swamp, 973.635.6629.
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
New Jersey Public Gardens and Arboreta To Receive Legislative Recognition on October 16, 2013
MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ: Garden State Gardens Consortium, a non-profit organization whose members include 22 New Jersey public gardens and arboreta will receive recognition from the New Jersey Senate and the New Jersey Assembly on the occasion of their 5th anniversary.
New Jersey Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, (R - Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer and Middlesex) who was selected as the “2013 Legislator of the Year” in the Senate by the Constitutional Officers Association of New Jersey, will present a joint Resolution from the New Jersey Senate and the New Jersey Assembly on Wednesday, October 16 at 10:30 a.m. to the members of the Garden State Gardens Consortium at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morris Township.
“The members of the Garden State Gardens Consortium deserve much credit for their commitment to sharing New Jersey’s beautiful public gardens and arboreta with the public,” said Senator Bateman. “The consortium’s success over these past five years is evidenced by the countless residents who have visited its members’ gardens and learned of their significant place in the state’s culture and identity.”
In Autumn, 2005 a small group of public garden and media professionals met to discuss how they could better promote the beautiful public gardens and arboreta of New Jersey. They were Jim Avens, Manager of Horticulture for the Somerset County Park Commission, Bruce Crawford, Director of the Rutgers Gardens at Rutgers University, Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education for the Morris County Park Commission and Tom Castronovo, Executive Editor and Publisher of the Gardener News.
Following up in the spring of 2006, Lesley Parness put out a statewide invitation to many of New Jersey’s public gardens and arboreta to attend a meeting at The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. This meeting was held on May 19, 2006 and the ideas generated there sparked the interest of the numerous attendees. The group continued to meet until the Garden State Gardens Consortium name was chosen and, with a seed grant from the New Jersey Committee of the Garden Club of America, incorporated on October 30, 2008. On February 17, 2009, the Garden State Gardens Consortium received their tax exempt status.
The organization, whose mission is to increase public awareness of and appreciation for New Jersey’s public gardens by promoting their horticultural, educational, historic and artistic value and to facilitate the collaboration of allied professionals in order to promote public garden visitation, stewardship and support, was incorporated in 2008.
Membership in Garden State Gardens has continued to grow. Currently 22 public gardens and arboreta are members. Membership criteria includes that the garden be open to the public; the garden functions as an aesthetic and/or educational display and/or for research purposes; the garden maintains plant records; the garden has at least one professional staff member (paid or unpaid); garden visitors can identify plants through labels, guide maps or other interpretive materials; that the organization is a non-profit entity and that horticulture is central to their mission.
Garden State Gardens members participate as a group at numerous garden shows, maintain a website (www.gardenstategardens.org) and a Facebook page. A 1 hour long PowerPoint presentation about the public gardens and arboreta of New Jersey can be scheduled for groups looking for an entertaining and informative talk by contacting the webmaster at the website.
We have accomplished a great deal in just 5 years,” said Lesley Parness, current President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. “And yet there is still far more to do. Over 1 million guests visited our member gardens in 2012. Whether for gardening ideas, a class, special event, or simply a quiet walk, New Jersey’s public gardens and arboreta are important cultural resources and valuable tourism attributes. We greatly appreciate this recognition by the New Jersey Senate and Assembly brought to us today by Senator Bateman.”
The following 22 public gardens and arboreta are currently members of the Garden State Gardens Consortium:
- Bamboo Brook Outdoor Education Center, Far Hills, NJ
- Barton Arboretum and Nature Preserve at Medford Leas, Medford, NJ
- Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ
- Leonard J. Buck Garden, Far Hills, NJ
- Sister Mary Grace Burns Arboretum at Georgian Court University, Lakewood, NJ
- Colonial Park Gardens, Somerset, NJ
- The Cross Estate Gardens, Bernardsville
- Richard W. DeKorte Park, Lyndhurst, NJ
- Deep Cut Gardens, Middletown, NJ
- Duke Farms, Hillsborough, NJ
- The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ
- Greater Newark Conservancy, Newark, NJ
- Greenwood Gardens, Short Hills, NJ
- Laurelwood Arboretum, Wayne, NJ
- Morven Museum and Garden, Princeton, New Jersey
- New Jersey State Botanical Garden, Ringwood, NJ
- Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Upper Montclair, NJ
- Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit, NJ
- Rutgers Gardens, New Brunswick, NJ
- Thielke Arboretum, Glen Rock NJ
- Van Vleck House and Garden, Montclair, NJ
- Willowwood Arboretum, Far Hills, NJ
Thanksgiving Harvest Home & Armistice Observance
MORRISTOWN, NJ – Step back in time and celebrate Thanksgiving and Armistice Day in 1918 at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morris Township on Sunday, November 10, from 12 Noon to 4 p.m. Experience first-hand the lifestyle of Charles Foster and his daughter Caroline, former residents of Fosterfields, as well as their employees, the Woods family, as they celebrated the holiday.
Begin at the Foster’s home, The Willows, by following the enticing aromas to the kitchen where their cook is preparing a Thanksgiving feast over a wood burning stove. In comparison to the Foster mansion, note the differences of holiday meal preparation at the Farmhouse where the farmer and his family resided. In recognition of local clubs that held annual Thanksgiving hunts during the time period, enjoy seeing a unique sidesaddle riding demonstration and meet the ladies wearing lovely period attire on their mounts. Take a fun and picturesque horse-drawn wagon ride around the farm.
While the harvest has been gathered, there is still much to do on the farm. Roll up your sleeves to help husk corn, saw the wood that is needed for winter heating and cooking, and make animal food with the one-cylinder gasoline engine operation. Mark Sutherland, Manager of Historic Sites states, “Kids love seeing the farm animals, such as the horses, pigs, cows, and chickens. They engage in farm activities, such as grinding the corn and feeding the chickens, gathering the chicken eggs, watering the garden, and much more.
The Armistice, or cease fire that officially stopped the carnage of WWI, went into effect in Europe on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. Over the years, Armistice Day, later named Veterans Day, has honored the men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces. On this Veterans Day, gather outside The Willows at 2 p.m. for a special tribute to veterans.
Admission for Thanksgiving-Harvest Home is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children ages 4 to 16, and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a valid membership card. Current military personnel and veterans are admitted FREE for this event. For more information, please call 973.326.7645
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
Begin at the Foster’s home, The Willows, by following the enticing aromas to the kitchen where their cook is preparing a Thanksgiving feast over a wood burning stove. In comparison to the Foster mansion, note the differences of holiday meal preparation at the Farmhouse where the farmer and his family resided. In recognition of local clubs that held annual Thanksgiving hunts during the time period, enjoy seeing a unique sidesaddle riding demonstration and meet the ladies wearing lovely period attire on their mounts. Take a fun and picturesque horse-drawn wagon ride around the farm.
While the harvest has been gathered, there is still much to do on the farm. Roll up your sleeves to help husk corn, saw the wood that is needed for winter heating and cooking, and make animal food with the one-cylinder gasoline engine operation. Mark Sutherland, Manager of Historic Sites states, “Kids love seeing the farm animals, such as the horses, pigs, cows, and chickens. They engage in farm activities, such as grinding the corn and feeding the chickens, gathering the chicken eggs, watering the garden, and much more.
The Armistice, or cease fire that officially stopped the carnage of WWI, went into effect in Europe on November 11, 1918, at 11 a.m. Over the years, Armistice Day, later named Veterans Day, has honored the men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces. On this Veterans Day, gather outside The Willows at 2 p.m. for a special tribute to veterans.
Admission for Thanksgiving-Harvest Home is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children ages 4 to 16, and $2 for children ages 2 and 3. FREE for children under age 2 and Friends members with a valid membership card. Current military personnel and veterans are admitted FREE for this event. For more information, please call 973.326.7645
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Morris County Park Commission, is one of the region’s best park systems in the state of New Jersey, currently protects and maintains 18,600 acres at 38 distinct sites and a year-round calendar of events and activities.
