Mark your calendar for these upcoming events…

By Laurie Pellichero

OCTOBER 26

Annual Hometown Halloween Parade
Downtown Princeton; 5:45pm
www.palmersquare.com

Dress up in your best costume and join the Arts Council of Princeton for the Annual Hometown Halloween Parade. The parade will leave the Palmer Square Green promptly at 5:45pm, head through downtown Princeton, and end at the Princeton YMCA. The festivities continue at the YMCA with live music, a bounce house, trunk or treat, food and drink, crafts, and family-friendly activities.

NOVEMBER 2

Mary Chapin Carpenter
McCarter Theatre Center
91 University Place, Princeton; 8pm
www.mccarter.org

Singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter celebrates her upcoming album, Sometimes Just the Sky, which revisits her most well-loved songs, many of which have become part of the American songbook. Includes an opening performance by Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards. McCarter also hosts Triangle Show: Night of the Laughing Dead on November 9-11; Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussian, and Edgar Meyer on November 12; Jessica Lange Dance on November 16; The New Chinese Acrobats on November 17; and Cecile McLorin Salvant on November 18.

NOVEMBER 2 (Ongoing)

Disney’s Beauty and The Beast
Kelsey Theatre
200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor; Various times
www.kelseyatmccc.org

The Yardley Players bring one of Disney’s best family films to life in this adaption of the classic romantic fairytale. It tells the story of a cold-hearted prince who has been magically transformed into an unsightly creature who must earn the love of a young woman in order to revert back to human form (through November 11).

NOVEMBER 3

Cider Making
Howell Living History Farm
70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville: 10am-4pm
www.howellfarm.org

Since the 1730s, just about every type of farming has occurred at the Howell Farm site. Today, as part of the Mercer Park Commission, it provides a living example of farming as it was practiced in New Jersey in the period 1890-1910. It is also a fun, family-friendly, and educational place where one can find the remnants of over 250 years of farming practice and life. Other events include Bacon, Sausage, and Scrapple Making on November 10; Logging and Firewood Cutting on November 17; and Thanksgiving hayrides and a wreath and sleigh bell sale on November 24.

NOVEMBER 4

Princeton Pro Musica: To Music, To Joy
Richardson Auditorium, Princeton University; 4pm
www.princetonpromusica.org

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Princeton Pro Musica opens its 2018-19 season with a concert featuring Vaughan Williams’ “Serenade to Music,” Johannes Brahms’ “Nanie” and “Alto Rhapsody,” Claude Debussy’s “Sirenes,” and Ludwig von Beethoven’s celebratory “Ode to Joy” from his Symphony No. 9. Soloists Lily Arbisser, soprano; Sarah Nelson Craft, mezzo-soprano; Christopher Hochstuhl, tenor; and Dashon Burton, bass-baritone join Princeton Pro Musica’s 100-plus member chorus and orchestra and Maestro Ryan James Brandau for this special event.

NOVEMBER 8

Princeton Farmers Market
Hinds Plaza, Downtown Princeton; 10am-3pm
www.princetonfarmersmarket.com

Seasonal and organic produce from local farmers, flowers, crafts, and a variety of edibles including free-range beef, poultry, pork, eggs, cheese, pickles, honey, and baked goods are featured. Live music from 12:30-2:30pm (also on November 15).

NOVEMBER 9

Tina & Friends Open Mic Night
Unionville Vineyards
9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes; 6:30-10pm
www.unionvillevineyards.com

Join Tina and her band of merrymakers for their monthly open mic in the tasting room at Unionville Vineyards. The vineyard serves wine by the glass or bottle and encourages guests to bring small bites to enjoy while the music plays. No cover charge; performers should arrive at the beginning of the evening to guarantee stage time.

NOVEMBER 15

A Celebration of Poetry
Princeton Public Library
65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton; 7-9pm
www.princetonlibrary.org

Princeton Public Library presents an evening of poetry readings and refreshments in the library’s community room as it wraps up its series of fall poetry programs with Dara-Lyn Shrager, the library’s first poet-in-residence. Shrager will read from her works and sign copies of her poetry collection, Whiskey, X-Ray, Yankee. Three additional poets — Timothy Liu, Peter Covino and Martha Rhodes — will be featured readers at this event and sign copies of their books.

NOVEMBER 16 (Ongoing)

A Christmas Story, The Musical
Kelsey Theatre
1200 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor; Various times
www.kelseyatmccc.org

M&M Stage Productions’ musical adaptation of the 1983 film comedy follows the childhood dreams and schemes of little Ralphie, whose heart is set on getting one thing and one thing only for Christmas – the official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle. With its timeless scenes, quirky innocence, and nostalgic warmth, this musical is sure to leave the whole family bright-eyed and buoyant (through December 2).

NOVEMBER 18

Annual Friendsgiving
Hopewell Valley Vineyards
46 Yard Road, Pennington; 2-5pm
www.hopewellvalleyvineyards.com

The holidays are an exciting yet a hectic time of year. Have friends to catch up with? Maybe family you won’t get to see on Thanksgiving? Or just want enjoy delicious vintner-cooked meal? Then go to the annual Friendsgiving, enjoy a seasonally delicious meal, and leave all the cooking and cleaning to them.

NOVEMBER 19

Ghost in the Shell
Princeton Garden Theatre
160 Nassau Street, Princeton; 7:30pm
www.thegardentheatre.com

Based on the internationally-renowned cyberpunk manga, Ghost in the Shell is a staple of anime film. In the year 2029, a police officer and her partner are on the hunt for a cybercriminal who hacks into the minds of cyborgs and humans alike. This animated film is a complex exploration of the human condition and has been very influential among anime creators. Selected and presented in-person by Princeton University Professor of English Anne Cheng.

NOVEMBER 21 (Ongoing)

Annual Festival of Trees
Morven Museum & Garden
55 Stockton Street, Princeton: Wednesday through Sunday, 10am-4pm
www.morven.org

Morven’s annual Festival of Trees is a Princeton holiday tradition. Visitors will enjoy the museum’s elegant galleries, hallways, and porches artfully decorated for the holidays by local businesses, garden clubs, and nonprofits (through January 6).

NOVEMBER 23

Princeton Tree Lighting Ceremony
The Green at Palmer Square, Princeton; 5-6pm
www.palmersquare.com

Palmer Square’s 65-foot Norwegian spruce tree, decorated with more than 32,000 lights, will be lit at this annual ceremony. There will also be musical performances and a special appearance by Santa Claus.

NOVEMBER 23-25

Holiday Wine Trail Weekend
Terhune Orchards Vineyard & Winery
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton; 10am-5pm
www.terhuneorchards.com

Kick off the holidays with special treats and holiday pairings at Terhune Orchards. Sample the wines and ingredients in their holiday gift boxes and baskets. Place your holiday orders for friends, family, and corporate gifts.

NOVEMBER 23-25

The Nutcracker
McCarter Theatre Center
91 University Place, Princeton; Various times
www.mccarter.org

American Repertory Ballet brings the beloved classic Nutcracker to the stage with Tchaikovsky’s score, thrilling choreography, and a cast of more than 100. A holiday tradition for more than 50 years (1964), American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker is one of the longest, continuously running Nutcracker productions in the U.S.

NOVEMBER 24

The Goonies and Mamma Mia!
Hopewell Theater
5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell
www.hopewelltheater.com

Enjoy a family Saturday matinee of The Goonies at 4:30pm. That evening, Hopewell Theater’s From Stage to Screen series presents a Mamma Mia! Sing-Along at 7pm.

Event dates and times subject to change. See websites for full details.