Football, the Fat Man Arrives and Fa La La La Fun

Christmas, Hanukkah and Festivus are in the air (can't get "I made it out of clay" out of my head), and our weekend to-do list of activities reflects the holiday mood. Whether you are already immersed in shopping and Christmas balls and Hanukkah dreidels or whether you are more of an Ebenezer Scrooge, do not worry, there are events you will enjoy this weekend, including the seemingly impossible: a free lunch. Oh, and a certain Parsippany Hills High School football team makes the charge in an attempt to win its first state championship. Check our list twice; you'll find something nice. Get out of the house.

Where/When: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at, 20 Rita Drive, Parsippany
Why Go: To see the Parsippany Hills Players present a hilarious comedy.
Cost: Free with student ID, $5 without

Where/When: Thursday at 8:30 p.m. at Fred Astaire Dance, 2 Changebridge Road, Montville
Why Go: Make like J.R. Martinez and enjoy some social dancing and great music. Bring your friends, family and/or favorite dishes to share.
Cost: Free 

Where/When: Friday - Sunday, various times and venues
Why Go: Because you can ring in the holiday season, shop, eat and listen to great music all over Jefferson
Cost: Bring your wallet.

Old Fashioned Holiday Bazaar
Where/When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Trinity United Church, 118 King George Road, Warren.  
Why Go: Handmade Christmas gifts and decorations available, and the kids can see Santa (between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday). All proceeds benefit the church's building fund, helping to maintain the 100+ year old church.
Cost: Only what you spend.

Wagner Farm Arboretum Holiday Boutique
Where/When: Fridays and Saturdays 10 am. to 5 p.m., Sundays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to Dec. 18 at Wagner Farms Arboretum, 197 Mountain Ave., Warren.
Why Go: Jewelry, artwork and original crafts offered in fundraising project aimed at funding a new greenhouse for the Arboretum.
Cost: Admission is free.

Where/When: Friday at 11 a.m., Route 46 East and New Road, Parsippany
Why Go: To get the elusive free lunch: for three hours, the new 7-11 offers free coffee, Slurpee, Big Gulps, Big Bite hot dogs, Taquitos and baked goods and sandwiches.
Cost: Free

When/Where: 7 p.m. Friday at Hibiscus Restaurant, Morristown
Why Go: Because you enjoy smooth jazz with your Caribbean cuisine.
Cost: Free to attend, but you might look like a freeloader if you don't order a meal.

When/Where: Friday and Saturday 8 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. at the .
Why Go: It’s Dickens’ holiday classic.
Cost: $17 adults; $15 seniors and students.

Manhattan Comedy Night
When/Where: 8 p.m. Friday at Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Why Go: Because you want a taste of city yuks.
Cost: $25

When/Where: Saturday 8:30 a.m., 31 N. Passaic St., Chatham
Why Go: It's the holidays! Why not donate blood?
Cost: Free

Where/When: Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at 52 Minnehaha Blvd., Parsippany
Why Go: Bargains in Lake Hiawatha, baby!
Cost: Whatever you opt to spend 

Where/When: Saturday at 9 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Parsippany, 903 S. Beverwyck Rd., Parsippany.
Why Go: Because you want to protect your privacy. And, being ecologically responsible, it's important to you that 100 percent of your shredded paper gets recycled.
Cost: $6 per box of letter or legal size paper.

Breakfast With Frosty
Where/When: Saturday at 9 a.m. at JFK Primary School in Raritan
Why Go: To take pictures with Frosty the Snowman and take part in arts and crafts and other activities.
Cost: $5 per person

Christmas at the Morristown Green
When/Where: Saturday, Sunday, various times in Morristown
Why Go: Because Santa will be there! And, other fun holiday stuff.
Cost: Free

When/Where: Saturday at 8 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. at Why Go: The kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus while also having a breakfast buffet. You’ll need reservations for either sitting, which can be made by calling Mark Brownlie at 908-431-0527.
Cost: $9 per person

2011 Gift Expo
When/Where: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at College of St. Elizabeth
Why Go: You're looking for some unique holiday gift ideas, or just want to browse.
Cost: $5

When/Where: Saturday 9:30 a.m. at the Why Go: Why pass up a chance to be served pancakes, bacon, sausage, juice, milk, coffee and tea by Santa’s elves (members of Madison and Chatham High School Key Clubs)? More info on the Web or at 973-635-4810..
Cost: $5 for children age 5 and under; all others $7

Where/When: Saturday at 10 a.m. at Kean University Stadium, 1000 Morris Ave., Union
Why Go: To cheer for your Par Hills Vikings as they make a run for the state championship
Cost: $5.50 adults; $2 students and seniors

When/Where: Saturday, 10 a.m., , Chatham
Why go: Find something unique for everyone on your list.
Cost: Bring your wallet.


Where/When: At the  from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Why Go: Because Hopatcong's parent-funded golf program needs your support. And you need a Christmas tree.
Cost: $35

When/Where: Saturday 11 a.m. at the .
Why Go: Children and parents can hear the history of America through folk music, as well as learning the history behind favorite folk songs.
Cost: Free

When/Where: Saturday noon-4 p.m. at .
Why Go: Free chair massages, opportunities to win free massages, snacks, a silent auction and a fundraiser for the Somerset Home for Temporarily Displaced Children.  .  .Need we say more?
Cost: Admission is free, but bring your wallet for donations and for the auction.

Where/When: Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., Condit House, Route 46 & North Beverwyck Road, Parsippany
Why Go: So your wee ones can have their photo taken in an authentic Victorian holiday setting with the jolly old elf.
Cost: The first photo is $5, and additional shots are additional $4 each. All proceeds go to the Parsippany Historical and Preservation Society. 

Where/When: Saturday and Sunday 1-5 p.m. through Dec. 18; , 91 S. Beverwyck Road, Parsippany
Why Go: To make sure no child goes without a present for the holidays.
Cost: An unwrapped new toy

The Nutcracker
Where/When: Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Bridgewater Senior Center on Somerville Road
Why Go: To watch the members of the New Jersey Youth Ballet, with the Dance Connection in Hillsborough, perform the classic Christmas ballet for seniors in Bridgewater.
Cost: $1

When/Where: Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. at the , MadisonWhy Go: To discover how a sheet of paper can be more than just something to write on and have your kids bring home toys they made themselves. Children’s workshop is Saturday; adults' workshop is Sunday. Pre-registration required, call 973-377-2982 x14 to register. 
Cost: $7 for non-members; $5 for members

Bloomingdale Cornet Band Christmas Concert
Where/When: Saturday at 8 p.m. at First Reformed Church, 529 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains
Why Go: To hear Christmas classic songs and some new music from the Bloomingdale Cornet Band.
Cost: Free

Where/When: Sunday from 8 a.m. 'til noon at the , 650 Edwards Rd, Parsippany
Why Go: To enjoy delicious pancakes and hang with Santa Claus
Cost: $6 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under

Rock My World Geology Hike
Where/When: Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pyramid Mountain
Why Go: To learn about some of the oldest rocks in New Jersey while getting some exercise.
Cost: $1

Where/When: Sunday at 3:30 p.m., Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Espanong Rd., Lake Hopatcong.
Why Go: To listen to beautiful holiday music.
Cost: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $5 for children.

When/Where: Sunday, 4:30 p.m., 
Why go: Watch Santa parade down Green Village Road, light the Christmas tree and still have time to hear what you want for Christmas this year.
Cost: Free 

Where/When: Sunday at 5 p.m., , 1001 Parsippany Blvd.
Why Go: Um, why wouldn't you want to welcome the man with all the toys? If you have kids, this is a great opportunity to take pics of them with jolly old St. Nick. And really, the big guy can't light the trees without you.
Cost: Free.

'Art @ the 'Bu'
When/Where: 6 p.m. Sunday at Zebu Forno, Morristown
Why Go: You want to get all artistic and stuff.
Cost: $10 includes two slices of pizza, drink and three hours with model.