Melanoma 5K, Highlands Festival, 'Master Class' Opens

Looking for something to do by yourself, or with friends and family this weekend? Here's what The Weekender has in store for the region.

Put up your pinkies: Neighbors and Newcomers of Morristown hosts an Open House Tea to introduce the social, cultural and charitable club to current and new residents of Motown and surrounding communities. The afternoon, at The Artist Baker, 16 Cattano Ave., will offer tea and delicacies starting Friday at 2 p.m. Reservations are limited and mandatory; send email with a phone number for confirmation purposes to nfnmorristown@gmail.com.

Gary's Wine & Marketplace at in Madison and Wayne raise one for the ladies this weekend. On Friday from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday from noon-4 p.m., the wine retailer presentsWomen and Wine, a celebration of, as Gary's puts it, "eight extraordinary women" from the Napa Valley Vintners Association. The event will allow attendees to meet the notable female vintners, learn about their wines and hear the stories of how they found their successes. The Madison Gary's is at 121 Main St. The Wayne branch is at 1308 Route 23 North.


It's the 21st season opener at the Parsippany Playhouse: The Women's Theater Company takes to the boards with Terrance McNally’s Tony-Award winning play "Master Class." The play, directed by Barbara Krajkowski, runs weekends from Sept. 20-Oct 6. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m.  Tickets are $25 and $20 for seniors; to purchase, go to www.womenstheater.org, call 973-316-3033 or email info@womenstheater.org.  The playhouse is at 1130 Knoll Road in Lake Hiawatha.


Enjoy a full weekend of art talks, workshops, live mural painting, and art walks during Boonton Main Street's Weekend of Art 2013. The free weekend kicks off on Friday with an Art Walk from 5-9 p.m., featuring gallery artist displays and live music. Saturday features a day-long Art Fest with workshops, meet the artist events, talks and more. Sunday is the grand finale, and features awards and an art sale. For more information, visit www.boontonmainstreet.org. 


Autumn is here, and that means it's time for theHopatcong Community Emergency Response Team's seasonal Flea Market and Craft Show. Whether you're a bargain hunter, someone with treasures to sell or both, this will be a great opportunity to get out into the crisp fall air, see your neighbors and enjoy local crafts.  The event takes place Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Park and Ride at Hopatchung Road and Durban Avenue. If you want to reserve a table to sell crafts or goods, call 973-580-9411. Proceeds go to support the work of these emergency volunteers.

The Bach to Rock Music School, which makes mini-musicians out of kids age 3 and up, is opening its doors in Wayne. The musical academy's Open House will offer live entertainment and tours Saturday morning to help people see first hand what the school is about. There will also be demo classes: at 10 a.m. and noon for kids 3-5 and a Kids 'N Keys class at 10. a.m. and noon for kids 5-7. The school is located at 226 Sugartown Rd. in the Devon Square Shopping Center in Wayne.  For more information, visit the Back to Rock website or call 610-989-7625.


The New Jersey Highlands Coalition presents the Highlands Festival Saturday and Sunday at historic Waterloo Village in Byram. The Garden State's natural resources are the event's focus, as is evident from its theme: “Celebration of All Things Local.” This first annual festival will showcase New Jersey musicians, chefs, crafters, fair trade and green living vendors. The festival starts both days at 10 a.m.  To purchase tickets or get more information about the festival, visit http://HighlandsFestivalAtWaterloo.org.


The popular Rizzo's Reptiles Family Program comes to Chester Saturday. The wildlife presentation introduces nature and the wildlife kingdom in a program that brings you up close and personal with animals. Check out the mammals, lizards, snakes, frogs, turtles and insects.  Register online atchesterlib.org. The show starts at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Chester Library, 250 W Main St.


Morris County author S.W. Hubbard discusses her most recent mystery novel, "Another Man’s Treasure," in Chatham Saturday afternoon. Set in the fictional town of Palmyrton, N.J. (which is based on Morristown), the novel features a plucky heroine who stumbles into murder and political intrigue in the course of her work as an estate sale organizer. To read the first chapter of any of Hubbard's novels, visit http://www.swhubbard.net. The reading takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday at The Library of the Chathams, 214 Main St.


It's party time in Washington Township: The municipality celebrates its 275th anniversary with a Fireworks Festival and Parade Saturday. Starting at 4 p.m. is the parade, which travels from the intersection of Old Farmers Road and East Mill Road all the way through downtown Long Valley and ends at the Middle School on West Mill Road. The Fireworks Festival goes from 5 to 9 p.m. with the grand finale set for 8:30 p.m. The event is rain or shine and will feature dozens of vendors and fun for all ages.


Have a wild night with the Wildcats. The Hopatcong Wildcats host their annual Casino Night Saturday at 6 p.m. at St. Jude's Church, 40 Maxim Drive in Hopatcong. The event features professional dealers on professional tables offering blackjack, poker, roulette and a money wheel, and there will be a Tricky Tray too. For $35 you receive $100 in play money, beer, wine, soda, finger foods, desserts, coffee and tea. You must be over 21 years of age to attend.  For tickets call 973-229-6201.   


Roller derby is back. The Jerzey Derby Brigade returns from its summer break to pit its Corporal Punishers against the Atlantic Coast Roller Girls in Morristown. Doors open Saturday at 6:15 p.m. and first whistle is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 if bought online (head to www.brownpapertickets and search for Corporal Punishers) and $12 at the door. Admission is free for children under 12. For more info, head to www.jerzeyderby.com.


The fourth season of Mountain Ledge Music and Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship's Riverside Rhythm and Rhyme Singer/Songwriter Series and Open Mic begins in Hackettstown Saturday. The monthly series starts with a performance by multigenre singer-songwriter John Beacher of New Hope, Pa. Registration for the open mic is at 6:30 p.m., the amateur performers take the stage from 7-8 p.m., and Beacher follows. Skylands Fellowship is at 1811 Route 57. Admission is a donation at the door. For more info, call 908-684-4040.


Take a walk to fight cancer: The seventh annual Miles for Melanoma 5K Run/Walk steps off Sunday morning to raise funds to save lives. The event offers a 5K run or  one-mile walk that will allow participants to support research, education and advocacy for melanoma. The charity event takes place at Ginty Field at 50 Woodland Ave. in Morris Township. Check-in and registration begin at 7:30 a.m., the run kicks off at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 9:10 a.m. 


Montville is the place for a "Musical Sunday Afternoon in the Pio Costa." North Jersey classic rock-pop-soul trio The Kootz performs starting at 2 p.m.  The show takes place at the Montville Township Library, 90 Horseneck Road. Admission is free, but it is suggested that you register to attend.  Call the library at 973-402-0900.