The Weekender: Purim Carnivals, Music and Band Competition

Verona and Cedar Grove

Verona Live: Cards & Games
Friday, 1 p.m.
Verona Community Center Annex,
880 Bloomfield Ave., Verona
FREE

Drop in on Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to play or to socialize at the Community Center Annex. No registration required.

Tot Shabbat at Temple Sholom of West Essex
Friday, 5:30 p.m.
Temple Sholom of West Essex
760 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove

Join Rabbi Groffman and Cantor Epstein for a brief Tot Shabbat service with dinner to follow for children in grade 1 and below (siblings welcomed) and their familes. Please RSVP to the temple office.

A Purim Carnival @ Temple Sholom of West Essex
Sunday, 10:30 a.m.
Temple Sholom of West Essex
760 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove
$10 

Celebrate Purim with a Children's Megillah Reading at 10:30am and a Purim Carnival from 11am - 1pm.  Come dressed in costume and enjoy live music, balloon artistry, magic show games and prizes.  Tickets are $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door and include all carnival offerings and food.  Call the temple office to reserve your ticket.

Around the County

Nutley Old Guard Meeting
Friday, 9 a.m.
44 Park Ave., Nutley
FREE

The Old Guard meets weekly at the Frank A. Cocchiola Parks Building. New members always welcomed. Stop in at any Friday meeting.

Film Fest: Dreamgirls
Friday, 12 p.m.
The Newark Public Library
5 Washington St., Newark
FREE

Based on the Broadway musical, the story of a trio of black female soul singers in the early 1960s. Starring Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé, and Jennifer Hudson.

Belleville Senior Citizens Friday Club
Friday, 12:30 p.m.
Franklin Avenue and Mill Street
Belleville
FREE

Carnaval
Friday, Tomorrow 8 p.m.
Luna Stage
555 Valley Road, West Orange
$25

Luna Stage hosts this production starring Anton Floyd, Jaime Lincoln Smith and Terrell Wheeler.

Bowfire
Friday, 8 p.m.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
1 Center St., Newark
$20

If you think you’ve seen everything people can do with a fiddle, then you haven’t seen Bowfire. Take an ensemble of crack violinists (prize-winners all) plus an assortment of accompanying musicians, and the result is nothing short of a total violin experience. “Crossover” doesn’t begin to explain this white-hot fusion of every style of fiddle music imaginable, from classical, rock and bluegrass, to gypsy, jazz and Celtic. The result: a label-defying evening of musical firepower, replete with step and tap dancing, plus dazzling sets, lighting and costumes. Think Riverdance – but with violins!

All-State Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Women's Choir
Friday, 3 p.m.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
1 Center St., Newark
$10

This performance features a collective of some of the most outstanding young singers and instrumentalists from throughout New Jersey.

James and the Giant Peach
Saturday, Sunday 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
Studio Players
14 Alvin Place, Upper Montclair
$8

Studio Players is presenting “James and the Giant Peach" a production fully produced by our junior members.  Performances are at 1:30 and 3:30 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, Feb. 23 and 24.

BHS USBands Indoor Percussion and Color Guard Competition
Saturday, 3 p.m.
Bloomfield Middle School
60 Huck Road, Bloomfield
$10.00 

Bloomfield High School hosts a USBands Indoor Percussion and Color Guard Competition on Saturday, Feb. 23 starting at 3 p.m. at Bloomfield Middle School.  Twenty groups from North, South and Central New Jersey and as far away as Stamford, CT are scheduled to take the floor for a dynamic display of percussion and flag spinning skills with BHS students performing their own on "home turf!"

Dancing With Our Community Stars
Saturday, 7 p.m.
James Caldwell High School
245 Westville Ave., West Caldwell
Fundraiser for Caldwell-West Caldwell Education Foundation. 14 members of community dancing to raise money for local schools. 

"Timeless Melodies" Jazz concert
Union Congregational Church
176 Cooper Ave. Montclair
$10

Pianist Eric Olsen has transformed timeless melodies into beautiful new arrangements for jazz quartet.  These melodies were written by some of the most beloved classical composers, including Chopin, Fauré, Grieg, Sibelius, Satie, Messiaen, Puccini, Bach, and many others.

JCSS Purim Carnival & Sunday School Open House!
Sunday, 10 a.m.
JCC of West Orange
760 Northfield Ave.
West Orange
FREE

Join the Jewish Cultural School & Society (JCSS)--a “secular synagogue” serving Essex, Union, Passaic and Bergen counties--for a Purim Carnival and Sunday School Open House! Share in songs and stories, play games (and win prizes!), get your nosh on--and learn about our weekly Sunday school program for students in grades 3 to 8, monthly adult education series, and holiday and cultural events throughout the year! Families and friends of any faith (or none) are welcome.

Congregation Agudath Israel Purim Carnival
Sunday, 11 a.m.
Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex
20 Academy Road, Caldwell
$20.00

Join us as we celebrate Purim with our Annual Carnival!  Festivities include:  Costume Parade, Bouncy House, Bouncy Obstacle Course and Sports Games, plus numerous carnival style games!!  Cost is $20 for an all you can bounce wrist band or $1/game ticket.  Lunch items for sale.

Essex Special Skaters Learn to Skate practice
Sunday, 3:45 p.m.
Richard J. Codey Arena at South Mountain
560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
FREE 

Essex Special Skaters is a free volunteer program which helps developmentally delayed athletes of all ages master the sport of ice skating. Many of our skaters compete in the Special Olympics Winter Games figure and speed skating events. There is a registration fee of $10 per year. Skate rentals, ice time and volunteer instuction are free of charge.