Compiled by Kevin Coughlin and Katrina Langer
The third annual Gran Fondo New Jersey rolls from Morristown on Sunday. Photo: GranFondoNJ.com
Climb into the bombardier’s seat of a Flying Fortress.
Enjoy some guitar artistry, or an evening of song. Explore the bonds between humans and animals.
Rediscover the joy of cycling (and the meaning of Gran Fondo).
It’s all here in Greater Morristown this weekend.
And don’t forget to check our handy calendar for even more entertainment options!
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5, 2013:
STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT: The Wings of Freedom Tour has brought three vintage World War II warplanes to Morristown Airport. Don't dawdle; by lunchtime on Friday they will be gone. Writer Scott Culver poses with B-17 Flying Fortress. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Anyone remember the old United Airlines ads exhorting passengers to “Fly the Friendly Skies”? Well, try flying the unfriendly skies. Time travel to World War II on a B-17 Flying Fortress, B24 Liberator or P-51 Mustang. These vintage warbirds are on display at Morristown Airport through lunchtime on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. Tours are $12 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under, and free for WWII veterans. Thirty minutes in the air on either bomber is $425, while the Mustang is $2,200 for a half hour and $3,200 for a full hour. Proceeds help the Collings Foundation, sponsor of the Wings of Freedom Tour, keep our living history aloft. Call 800-568-8924 for reservations and more details. Here is our video preview, Flying Fortress Over Morristown:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 6:
Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo perform at 8 pm at The Minstrel
The Minstrel presents gypsy jazz guitarist Frank Vignola, a favorite at the folk venue since his dazzling 2010 performance there. He is joined by fellow guitarist Vinny Raniolo, a showman in his own right. Their eclectic show is influenced by everyone from Ringo Starr to Beethoven. Show opener Sleeping Bee features Andy Goessling and Lindsey Horner, accompanied by Timothy Hill and Randy Crafton. Admission is $8; ages 12 and under are free. At the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road in Morris Township.
Here is Frank Vignola performing with Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Laub and Gene Bertoncini at last month’s Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival:
SATURDAY, SEPT. 7:
The 18th annual Community Health Day runs from 9 am to 1 pm at Headquarters Plaza, at Speedwell Avenue and Spring Street in Morristown. The town’s health division, joining a bevy of healthcare agencies, will offer free lead screening for children and pregnant women. Have pets? The town’s Animal Control office will offer information about vaccination and spay/ neuter programs. Call 796-1975 with any questions.
Why should grownups have all the fun? The Mayor’s Kid Fondo, a precursor to Sunday’s Gran Fondo New Jersey, will offer biking fun for the younger set, from 10 am to noon at the Vail Mansion at 20 South St. in Morristown. Mayor Tim Dougherty will welcome Jamis Pro Riders, and TransOptions will offer biking safety tips. Bicycle decorating, a kids’ ride and free food round out the fun. The Kid Fondo is free, but participants are asked to register in advance online.
Bike and Walk Morristown hosts an hour-long walk, starting at 10 am from the Running Company at 31 South St. You provide the strides, the Running Company provides the snacks.
Liturgical Dance Day is back for its second year on the Morristown Green, at 4 pm. The hour long celebration is sponsored by the United Church of God in Christ for All Saints of Morristown. Call 973-993-5508 for more.
Seven-time Grammy nominee Paula Cole will perform hits such as Where Have All the Cowboys Gone and I Don’t Want to Wait (the theme to Dawson’s Creek) at the Sanctuary series, at the Presbyterian Church in Chatham. Singer/songwriter Jesse Terry opens the show. Admission is $25, the show starts at 8 pm. At 240 Southern Boulevard. Call 973-376-4946 for more information.
Paula Cole performs at the Sanctuary series on Sept. 7, 2013.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 8:
At the crack of dawn, Morristown will become a cycling mecca as the third annual Gran Fondo New Jersey rolls from Headquarters Plaza. Some 2,000 bikers are anticipated to pedal one of four loops, ranging from 18- to 107 miles. Timed hill climbs will challenge competitive cyclists; everyone else simply can enjoy the stunning scenery in three counties, along with great rest stops and plenty of camaraderie. Back at HQ Plaza, the Lords of Liechtenstein and the Original Music School will supply live music as hungry riders chow down after their rides. Recycling and composting arrangements by Sustainable Morristown promise to make the event environmentally friendly, too. Registration is closed, but you can cheer for the riders and draw inspiration for next year!
Speedwell Avenue will be a sea of cyclists for the third annual Gran Fondo NJ. These bikers rode the 2011 Fondo. Photo by Berit Ollestad
The Morristown Farmers Market runs every Sunday through Nov. 24 from 8:30 am to 2 pm. It’s in municipal parking lot 10, behind the post office, and is operated by the Morristown Partnership.
“Animal Connections,” a free interactive exhibit about the bonds between humans and animals, comes to the 1920s Country Fair and Harvest Festival at the Fosterfields Living Historical Farm, at 73 Kahdena Road in Morris Township. The fair runs from noon to 5 pm. While the exhibit, which is touring the country in an 18-wheel truck, is free, the Country Fair costs $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (65+), $6 for children ages 4 – 16, and $4 for children ages 2 and 3. Free for children under age 2 and for Friends members, with a current membership card. Call 973-326-7645 for details.
'Animal Connections' is coming to Fosterfields on Sept. 8, 2013.
The Morris County 9/11 Memorial in Parsippany. Photo by Kevin Coughlin
Greater Morristown comes together to remember the 12th anniversary of 9/11 at 7 pm at the Morris County September 11th Memorial, on West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany. The observance will include a reading of the names of each Morris County victim, as well as keynote remarks from the director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, Edward Dickson. Seating is limited, but all are welcome. Lawn chairs are recommended for the outdoor observance. Parking will be available at the Morris County Department of Human Services at 340 West Hanover Ave., Morris Township. Shuttle buses will transport those who need it. Call 973-631-5139 for more information.