Weekend Events at the Jersey Shore

Here are some of the festive happenings this weekend, Dec. 6 - 8, 2013:

The weather is looking iffy for part of the weekend, so be sure and check for rain dates to any outdoor events for Friday night or Sunday.

-- Christmas Events at Allaire Village: 1) "A Christmas Carol" brought to you by the Traveling Literary Theater. It's Dickens' one hour edited, interactive version in the Allaire Chapel! Friday nights, Dec. 6th and 13th, 7:30 - 9 pm. Call for tickets. 732-919-3500 or purchase online at www.allairevillage.com/tickets. 2) Christmas Lantern Tours Saturday evenings, Dec. 7th, 14th, and 21st. 90 minute tours leave every 15 minutes. Experience 19th century holiday music in the Chapel, caroling and gingerbread baking in the Village, and beautiful Holiday festivities in the Allaire Mansion! Call or go online for tickets. 3) Christmas at Allaire, Sundays, Dec. 8th and 15th, 11 am - 4 pm: Celebrate a 19th century Christmas with the Villagers! Activities include music and dancing, holiday ornament making, visits from St. Nicholas, hearth cooking, caroling and more! $7 per adult, $5 per child. Advanced purchases HIGHLY recommended for all of these events!And one more thing...while you're there, you can get your holiday card stamped with a postmark from the General Store Post Office! Allaire Village is located inside Allaire State Park off Atlantic Avenue in Farmingdale.

-- The Christmas Express Train Ride with Santa: Also on the grounds of Allaire State Park, but separate from Allaire Village, is the Christmas train ride with Santa...a big hit for little kids and their parents...but you must show up at the train depot on premises to get tickets at the ticket station....and they go quickly! Santa rides the train and stops to talk and take pictures with each child! The trains leave every half hour from 11 am - 4 pm, and again from 6 pm - 8:30 pm on Dec. 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st and 22nd.

-- Holiday Parade in Lakewood: Santa and his elves parade through downtown Lakewood....the centerpiece of the town's holiday parade. The elves from the Lakewood High School PALS club will have gifts for the first 2,000 children up to age 10! Also in the parade are township firefighters, first-aiders, police, the high school marching band and the Wonderland Trio.

-- Peter Pan: The touring production. So much fun for children to see Neverland, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell! the show runs about an hour, recommended for grades 1 through 5 at Pollak Theater on the grounds of Monmouth University in West Long Branch on Sunday, 2 pm. Fee: $10-$12.

-- Children's Holiday Party: activities for the kids to enjoy including music, face painting, a play in the theater, refreshments, and gifts for all in the festively decorated Arts Center. Each child will also have a chance to meet and take their picture with Santa! Kids $8, Adults $2, at Jersey Shore Arts Center in Ocean Grove Saturday, Noon - 3 pm.

-- Kid's Breakfast: Freehold Raceway Mall, with host Liz Jeressi from 94.3 The Point's Morning Show. Saturday morning, 9 - 10:30 am in the Food Court. Free carousel rides, free prizes for all kids (recommended ages 1 - 9), winter-themed crafts, and a visit from Santa! THIS IS A FREE EVENT!!!!! There's also a giant kid's play area and some breakfast goodies.

-- Live Nativity and Tree Lighting: Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, followed by the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in Auditorium Square Park Saturday, 5 - 7:30 pm. FREE.

-- Polar Express Movie Night at The Atlantic Club in Manasquan AND Breakfast with Santa...no membership necessary but space is limited so call to reserve a spot for your child...For the Polar Express night it's dinner, a special gift, hot cholocate, and the movie on a giant screen! The movie is Saturday night, and for the Breakfast with Santa coming up, reservations are a must! Click here for all of the details!

-- Christmas Tree Lightings: Belmar and Manasquan's tree lightings have been rescheduled for Friday Dec. 13th. Wall's, scheduled for tonight, may be rescheduled as well. Brielle's tree lighting is this Sunday but check since the weather forecast doesn't look good for that one, either.