Holiday Lights, Festivals And Celebrations Fill The Berkeley Calendar

BERKELEY, NJ — With Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa festivities filling the December calendar, the problem may be deciding which events in Berkeley to attend.

Outside these religious and cultural celebrations, there are plenty of holiday light shows, parades, fairs and festivals to attend in and around Berkeley. Here are some to consider:

• The 5th Annual Ugly Sweater Karaoke Contest and Dinner Buffet is held at the Mathis House in Toms River Dec. 5.
• A Winter Craft Fest will be held Dec. 6 at the Recreation Center. Learn more here.
• Christmas in Island Heights House Tour and Craft Fair is Dec. 6.
• Shop Lacey's Holiday Vendor Fair on Dec. 6.
• Berkeley's Christmas Tree Lighting is set for Dec. 6, see the details here.
• Lacey Township's 40th Annual Christmas Parade will be held Dec. 7.
• Kids in need can get new pajamas, new socks and a book at Pajama Club Presents Storytime & Cookies with Santa in Ocean Gate Dec. 12.
• Shop the Winter Frenzy Vendor Fair in Bayville on Dec. 14.

As you plan your calendar, here are some key dates to consider:

• Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods, begins at sundown on Dec. 14 and continues until sundown on Dec. 22. The dates vary every year.

• Christmas, of course, is always Dec. 25.

• Kwanzaa, a weeklong celebration primarily held in the United States to honor African heritage and African-American culture, is observed from Dec. 26-Jan. 1, culminating with gift-giving and a lavish feast. The dates of this holiday do not change.