West Orange's Holiday Celebration Arrives, Warm Weather Aside

The tune “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” seems a bit out of place these days with temperatures hovering in the upper 60s. Yet, December is almost upon us, bringing with it a full schedule of events and activities to celebrate the season.

In West Orange, our community holiday celebration begins this Friday, Dec. 2, with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Town Hall from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed on Saturday, Dec. 3, with a steady stream of family-friendly festivities throughout the day. 

There’s “Reading in a Winter Wonderland” at the library, crafts at the Valley Community Police Center, photos with Santa at Supreme Bakery, and Trolley Tours led by town officials.

The event that jumpstarts the day is “Breakfast with Santa,” 9-10:30 a.m. at , One Eagle Rock Avenue. A joyful experience for the young and young-at-heart, the breakfast features a plentiful array of hot and cold items (including bagels donated by Northfield Bagels & Deli) to fortify residents for the day ahead. Also, children can make a craft and enjoy story time with Mrs. Claus.  Youngsters then welcome Santa and get a chance to sit on his lap, discuss their wish lists, and have their picture taken for posterity. 

The event is sponsored by Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy, and school parents, faculty and students will be positioned throughout the hall serving food and helping guests have a jolly time.  In addition, the “Old Fashioned Dickens Carolers” will be stationed outside the church 10-11 a.m. serenading departing guests and all who happen by.

The cost for breakfast is $10 for adults, $8 for children (12 and under) in advance, and $12 for adults and $10 for children at the door. 

For many years, Breakfast with Santa was a memorable part of the community holiday tradition, hosted by the Parent-Teacher Guild of Our Lady of Lourdes School.  When it closed in 2006 and Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy became the new school co-sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Joseph’s Parishes, the event disappeared for a time.

But in 2009, the parent leadership team at Blessed Pope John (of which I was a part) approached Recreation Department Head Bill Kehoe about bringing the event back to West Orange. With the help and support of Bill, Denise Esposito, director of the Downtown West Orange Alliance (a major sponsor and funder of these events), and Msgr. Joseph Petrillo and his staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, we hosted a total of 160 West Orange children and their parents at a very successful event – despite a snowstorm that canceled some of the activities that day and postponed the tree lighting. 

Then-Councilman Robert Parisi stopped by and thanked us for putting Breakfast with Santa back on the town’s holiday program. He reminisced about bringing his children to the event years before and said he’d never imagined seeing the hall once again filled with so many happy faces eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa.

Last year, with more accommodating weather, 200 people from all over West Orange — including newly elected Mayor Parisi — joined Santa for breakfast.  The excitement and merriment which filled the room was enough to warm the coldest heart. 

The forecast for this Saturday is sunny with seasonable temperatures in the mid-40s – perfect weather to get out and make merry with neighbors.  I encourage you and your family to participate in any or all of the activities the town has to offer, and I hope to see you at Breakfast with Santa. (I’ll be wearing a red hat serving eggs and sausage.)

By then it’s sure to be “looking a lot like Christmas!”

For information on all the West Orange Holiday Festivities, visit the Town Website.  For tickets and further information on Breakfast with Santa, please contact Nicole Ray-Clark at 973-731-5012 or nicolerayclark@gmail.com. You can also purchase tickets at , 8 St. Cloud Place, West Orange.

Clare Silvestri Krakoviak is the past co-president of the Blessed Pope John XXIII Academy Home School Association.