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Santa Breakfast
10 am on December 17 at the First United Methodist Church
Bring your camera to get a photo with Santa
donation of $6; pre-register at 908-233-4211
part of Welcome Home to Westfield Holiday Events with lots of different activities and events

For information on the holiday events in Westfield, go here:

The Westfield Area Y is hosting Lunch with Santa from 12:30 pm to 2 pm on December 11. Enjoy lunch, sing Christmas Carols and have your photo taken with Santa.The cost is $8 per person in advance, $10 per person at the door. Children under 2 are free. Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended because this event often sells out. Proceeds will benefit the Y Strong Kids Campaign. Call the Welcome Center at the Main Y Facility at (908) 233-2700 for more information.

Elks Lodge 2356 in Sparta is hosting Breakfast with Santa from 8 am to 11 am on December 11. The cost is $6 per adult and $3 for kids 4 to 12 years old. Children 3 and under are free. Come get your picture taken with Santa and enjoy breakfast. Call the lodge for tickets or further information (973) 534-6872.

Families can enjoy Breakfast with Santa and the Grinch at Kidgits at the Livingston Mall on December 11. There also will be fun activities with lots of free give-a-ways. Each member of the family attending the event must purchase a ticket, including parents and children (except kids under 2 don't need a ticket) and they must be purchased in advance. Tickets are $5 for Kidgits® Members and $10 each for non- Kidgits® members. Ticket proceeds go toward the Simon Youth Foundation.

There are several holiday festivities to choose from in Ocean City.

Kids can enjoy Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at a different downtown restaurant on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. For more information, call 609-398-4662.

There will be photos with Santa from 12 pm to 3 pm at the Music Pier on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18. There will be free horse and carriage rides in front of city hall from 12 pm to 3 pm on December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18.

The Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill will host several holiday celebrations in December. Kids can enjoy a buffet-style Breakfast with Santa and songs and stories from 10 am to 12:30 pm on December 10. Pre-registration is required and the cost is $8 for members and $15 for non-members (plus tax). Space is limited. Other events at the museum include:

• Hurray for Hanukkah, on December 18, where kids can listen to Hanukkah stories, create holiday snacks and enjoy hands-on Hanukkah crafts with Rosie Hymerling. Drop in for crafts between 1 pm and 3 pm and enjoy a sing-along concert with Janet Sclaroff at 3 pm.

• the Feast of the Seven Fishes on December 24 with crafts, games, stories and snacks with a marine-life theme to celebrate this traditional Italian holiday.

• The Kwanzaa Celebration, starting at 1 pm on December 26 and December 28 and children can learn about this African-American tradition as Queen Nur lights up the stage with interactive storytelling and songs.

Historic Smithville has some holiday fun for families including the Holiday Light Show, an orchestrated show of lights and music played out across the lake 5:30 - 8 pm, running until Jan. 2.

Each weekend in December, Smithville also offers a Christmas Train ride to see the decorated village, a Magical Talking Tree and a free story time with Mrs. Claus in her Christmas Cottage from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

On December 10 and 17, families can go to Fred and Ethel's Lantern Light Tavern for a buffet breakfast with Santa. There also will be a chance for a picture with Santa. For more information, call 609-652-0544.

Liberty Hall Museum also will be host to the Whoville Feast and Breakfast with Santa. Families can sample Roastbeast on a Bun, Seuss Spuds and Cindy Lou Cider from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on December 11. Admission is $20 per child and $25 per adult.

And children ages 7 to 12 can have Breakfast with Santa from 10 am to noon on December 18. Admission of $20 per child and $25 per adult includes a hot breakfast and a photo with Santa in his sleigh. Reservations are required for both events.

There are several holiday events in Cranford this year. Have a pancake breakfast with Santa at Trinity Episcopal Church in Cranford, from 8:30 am to noon on December 3. Have your picture taken with Santa, enjoy face painting, a gift basket raffle and more. The cost for the breakfast is $5 per person and a photo with Santa is $7. If you miss breakfast, Santa also can be found at the Cranford Community Center between 9 am and noon on December 3.

Kids have another chance for photos with Santa and free trolley rides with Santa on December 17. Santa Photos will be at Centennial Village from 10 am to noon. Santa will be at the Gazebo and there will be free trolley rides from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Don't miss New Brunswick's annual holiday celebration from 5 pm to 7 pm on December 2 at Monument Square Park, at the corner of Livingston Avenue and George Street. In addition to the Holiday Tree Lighting and a visit from Santa, there will be live entertainment, children's activities, exhibitors and the 4th Annual Chili Contest. Other holiday activities and events in New Brunswick include free horse-drawn carriage rides with a historian docent from 6 pm to 9 pm on Fridays (December 2, 9 and 16) and Saturdays (December 3, 10 and 17). Pick-up locations will be at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick and The Heldrich Hotel.

In addition to all the holiday performances, New Brunswick also will host a Santa Breakfast on December 3. From 9:30 am to 11:30 am, the New Brunswick Elks will offer a light breakfast, coloring, singing, crafting and a special visit from Santa. The cost is $3 per person. Seating is limited so reservations are required. For reservations, call New Brunswick City Market at (732) 545-4849.

Enjoy Breakfast with Santa at East Brunswick Elks Lodge 2370 from 9:30 am to 11 am on Dec. 11. The cost is $7 per person over 10 and children 10 and under are free. Attendees are asked to bring a can of vegetables or a box of stuffing to donate to the lodge's Feed the Hungry Campaign. Call 732-821-9527 to reserve a spot.

Want a free photo with Santa? Then stop by Gold Coast Jewelry in New Brunswick between 10 am and 4 pm on December 4. Photos will be available for pick-up the following week.

The Middlesex County 4-H invites you to have Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 4 at the Middlesex County 4-H Center, 645 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick. Parents and children are invited to enjoy a pancake breakfast, meet Santa and participate in other fun activities for children. There are two seatings for breakfast and activities: 8:30 AM and 11 AM. Admission prices are $7 for adults, $5 for children (ages 9 & under), and $7 (ages 10 and up) and includes breakfast, 1 picture per family with Santa, petting zoo, and more! Reserve your place by calling the 4-H Office at 732-398-5261. All proceeds will benefit the 4-H program.