Sleigh bells are ringing, ornaments are filling the streets, and holiday music fills the air. Winter is coming in full stride, and despite the rapidly approaching finals, you should take the time to enjoy the festive season. In December, there’s a large variety of fun cultural and artistic events to enjoy in Stevens, Hoboken, and NYC!
Starting off, Hoboken’s Holiday Market Series is held at 1401 Adams St. under the 14th Street Viaduct. It features vendors for jewelry, fashion, home decor, and more! It’s hosted from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the weekends from December 8 to December 22. For more holiday fun, each Sunday has a unique event. December 8 presents a community concert with organizations like the Hudson School Jazz Band & Choir and Cantigas Women’s Choir. Meanwhile, December 15 will display live ice sculpting from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Finally, December 22 showcases a holiday DJ dance party with black magic DJs and carousel rides. Hoboken’s Christmas Tree Lighting will be next week on December 11 at 5 p.m. at 11th and Washington Streets. The celebration will feature live performances and free hot chocolate from local businesses. If you are still in town at the end of the month, the Hoboken menorah lighting is scheduled for Sunday, December 29 at City Hall with pending additional details. The last local event is the Hoboken Holiday Market is tomorrow, December 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at at 605 Jackson Street featuring crafters, vendors, food trucks, and a beer garden.
Moreover, Stevens offers a plethora of student performances. The concert band performance is tomorrow, December 7. Additionally, the jazz band presents on December 13 while the choir finishes off the winter season on December 14. Admission is free, with each event beginning at 8 p.m. in the DeBaun Auditorium. So, go out and support your fellow students!
If you are looking for something to do in NYC, the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) is decorated to the brim and is an excellent opportunity to learn 5,000 years of art. New Jersey students can purchase pay-what-you-wish tickets in person with a valid student ID. Within the museum’s Medieval Sculpture Hall lies a 20-foot tall Christmas tree. It’s designed to describe an eighteenth-century Neapolitan Nativity with angels hovering above. Another stop on your trip is the Eastern European silver Menorah, one of the largest-known Hanukkah lamps. It stands over three feet tall, and at its center, a great eagle poses, ready to take flight. Rounding off, the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School will sing acapella versions of holiday songs on December 12 from 2 to 2:30 p.m.
For something more pricey, the New York Ballet is showcasing the Nutcracker from November 29 to January 4. For two hours, it features an elaborate set and stunning choreography all set to Tschaikovsky’s music. A famous example of the stage elements is the Christmas tree growing from a height of 12 feet to 41 feet.
These events provide an opportunity to learn and have fun during December. These are only a small list of possible events, so go out, explore, and enjoy the holiday spirit!
