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Holiday celebrations continue in Asbury Park with everything from a tree and menorah lighting to the launch of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce Annual decorating contest.

The Annual Downtown Tree Lighting celebration kicks off at 5:30 pm Saturday in Press Plaza [Cookman Avenue and Emory Street], with Santa expected to arrive at 6 pm.

This year’s tree is courtesy of The Fir Farm of Colts Neck, and was installed by Central Jersey Trucking, organizers said. The day features a live broadcast by WRAT 95.9 radio, photos with Santa, hot chocolate from DJ’s Delights, and carolers from Alphabets Preschool, and The Premier Theatre Company Cast of Scrooge. Sponsored in part by JCP&L, there’s also an unwrapped toy and new/gently used winter coat drive in support of the Asbury Park Toy Drive and The Community Affairs and Resource Center.

On Sunday the Third Annual Downtown Menorah Lighting will be held 6 pm at Kennedy Park [104 Grand Ave]. Sponsored by Sackman Enterprises, Rabbi Yaakov Greenberg of Chabad of the Shore will be officiating. Refreshments and dreidels will be provided.

Along the waterfront, the Annual Holiday Bazaar continues from 11 am to 6 pm Saturday and Sunday inside Convention Hall and the Grand Arcade [1300 Ocean Ave].

Saturday features the following:

11 am – 6 pm: Holiday Photos with Little Detour Photo Booth (Hall)

12 pm: Kids Pop Up Art Class with Riverside Arts Studio (Hall)

12 pm: Holiday Wreath Workshop (Hall)1 – 4 pm: Music by Natasha Wright Trio (Hall)

3 pm: Holiday Ornament Workshop (Hall)

And Sunday’s roster includes:

11 am – 6 pm: Holiday Photos with Little Detour Photo Booth (Hall)

12 – 3 pm: Photos with Santa (Arcade)

12 pm: Sunken City Sax Quartet (Hall)

12 pm: Kids Pop Up Art Class with Riverside Arts Studio (Hall)

12 – 1 pm: Holiday Wreath Workshop (Hall)

3 – 4 pm: Sacred Jewelry Workshop (Hall)

In Ocean Township, the Township of Ocean Historical Museum’s 34th Annual Holiday Weekend kicks off with the opening of Deal Test Site: 100 Years of History exhibit.

The mini-exhibit features the story behind the township’s most historically significant site – the 208 acre Joe Palaia Park. Bounded by Deal Road, Whalepond Road, and Dow Avenue, the area once served as the test site for the internationally renowned Bell Labs research facility.

The exhibit traces the history from prehistoric times to today, with a focus on the 100 years since AT&T chose it for its wireless communications experiments.

The Holiday Weekend celebration runs from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday and Sunday at the Eden Woolley House, located at 703 Deal Road.

The event also features homemade goodies and handcrafted gifts inside the Hearth and Home Gallery. Living history interpreters will entertain visitors with holiday songs and traditions and children can hunt for hidden sleds. The Garden Club will sells wreaths on the porch and a handmade quilt raffle drawing will be held at at 3pm Sunday prior to 4:30 pm Annual Tree Lighting ceremony.

The Ocean Township Menorah lighting ceremony will be held 6 pm Sunday at town hall, located at 399 Monmouth Rd.

Back in Asbury Park, the Annual Chamber of Commerce Holiday Window Decorating contests gets underway. While the business category is now closed, residents have until Dec 7 to register participation.

Windows will be judged for the best festive holiday mood, on creativity, and overall design, with prizes awarded for the best exterior home design, condo/apartment decoration, and window/terrace decorations.

To register, call 732-775-7676 or email contact name, address, and phone number to info@asburyparkchamber.com. Judging begins Dec 10, with winners announced Dec 30.

In related news, the Chamber announced Friday that their annual holiday party will be held at the historic Asbury Park Armory – home of the Harold Daley VFW Post 1333, located at 701 Lake Ave.

“The Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce would like to express our deepest gratitude to the members of the Harold Daley VFW Post 1333 for their never ending support of this community,” Executive Director Sylvia Sylvia-Cioffi said in a written statement. “We’re so proud to have this opportunity to raise our glasses and toast our very own American heroes as they move to their new location at the end in January of 2019.”

Jimmy Shoez and the Magooz will headline the 6:30 to 9:30 pm holiday celebration, which features a full buffet. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door, available here.

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