Holiday Arts Festival Has 'Most Exciting Schedule Yet'

The seventh annual Madison Arts and Culture Alliance (MACA) Holiday Arts Festival returns to Madison from noon to 9 p.m. Friday with the "most exciting schedule yet," the arts organization has announced.

The festival draws hundreds of residents, artists, musicians, dancers and singers to Madison's central business district for a creative and fun-filled day of live performances, art exhibits, and interactive events in non-traditional spaces, such as some of Madison's most popular storefronts, restaurants, galleries and businesses.

This year's lineup of extraordinary performers and events—detailed below—include the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey; harpist Merynda Adams; jazz pianist Jerry Vezza; Studio Allegro Ballet School, caricaturist Andrew Pungot, singer/songwriter Rachel Marie, and many others.

This year, MACA has expanded the scope of the event by adding a visual arts component to the day-long festival.  A pop up gallery featuring original art work will be installed at Rose City Framemakers located on the 2nd floor at 20 Waverly Place. The art work will be for sale and a portion of the proceeds will benefit MACA.

All the exciting activities are planned around the popular Santa Parade at 5:30 p.m. Following the parade and tree-lighting ceremony on Waverly Place, the evening will continue with performances at Grace Episcopal Church featuring renowned musicians from Zephyrs Winds and Simply Brass with a world premiere by award-winning Florida composer Stephen P. Brown, as well as other holiday favorites. There will also be an opportunity for the public to meet some of the artists and performers at a reception hosted by Coccia Realty on Main Street at 6:30 p.m., serenaded by Harmonium Choral Society carolers.

"This is our most exciting schedule yet," said Artist Coordinator Dr. Anne Matlack of Grace Church, Madison. "We encourage people to spend the whole afternoon in Madison, whether you are young, old, or in between. There are events for kids, classical music lovers, coffee-house type performances and two dance companies. The venues are close together and intimate, such as pianist Paul Zeigler's 'house concert' of Liszt, or classical guitarist Darren O'Neill serenading you by the fire in On a Roll, or a Celtic harpist and teen guys a capella in the lovely acoustics of the Museum of Early Trades & Crafts. You can listen, eat, shop, wander, and be in place for the parade. It is a fantastic way to support Madison’s artistic and business communities!”

The Holiday Arts Festival is presented at no charge to the public by The Madison Arts & Culture Alliance (MACA), a coalition of arts organizations, cultural institutions, historic societies, colleagues and friends, dedicated to encouraging collaborations among the wide ranging cultural offerings in Madison.

This event is made possible in part by the support of the Arts Council for the Morris Area, Union Center National Bank and Hilltop Community Bank.  Additional donations and support for this event are appreciated. For more information email info@madisonartsnj.org or visit www.madisonartsnj.org

SCHEDULED PERFORMANCES (by venue)

Bento Grill
12:00 noon-1:00 pm “Bach’s Lunch”: Musicians from the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey
3:00-3:30 Patty Doyle
3:30-4:30 Christine DeLeon

The Blue Purl
1:30-2:30 Andrew Pungot, caricaturist
2-:00-4:00  Madison Music Association student musicians

Drip Coffeehouse
1:45-2:30  Donna Ward
2:30-3:30 Val Schusler and Chris Bias
3:30-4:30 Rosewood
4:30-5:15 Kings Road

Grace Episcopal Church
3:15-4:00 pm    Merynda Adams and Virginia Schulze Johnson, flute and harp
4:00-4:30 pm John Pivarnik, piano
4:45-5:15 pm Eric Stroud, organ
7:30-9:00 pm (after parade) Zephyrs Winds and Simply Brass

Investors Bank
2:45-3:15 and 3:30-4:00 Story time with Madison Children’s Librarian

James Bldg  3rd Floor  (not handicap accessible)
2:00-2:30 & 3:00-3:30 Paul Zeigler & students, piano, intimate All-Liszt house recital (25 people)
3:45-4:30 Dance Innovations
4:30-5:15 Theater Games with Najah Johnson of Playwrights Theatre

Museum of Early Trades & Crafts
1:30-2:00 The Gargoyles of Grace (teen guy a capella)
2:00-2:30 & 2:30-3:00 Sharlys Dugan harp and whistle  
3:15-3:45 Spoken Word Performance by actor Jamil Mangan
4:00-4:30 Elise Figa, Carlos Cuestas, soprano and classical guitar

On A Roll
 2:30-3:00 & 3:15-3:45 Darren O’Neill, Classical Guitar

Presbyterian Church
4:45-5:00 Madison High School Marching Dodgers

The Provident Bank
3:00-6 :00 “warming station” holiday cookies and hot cider.
4:30-5:00 Harmonium Carol Quartet

Rose City Framemakers 2nd floor (not handicap accessible)
12 noon-5:00 Pop-Up gallery and warming station
1:00-1:30 Abi Raymaker and friends
2:15-2:45 Rachel Marie singer/songwriter

Studio Allegro (Elmer St. location)
1:00-2:00 Meet the Nutcracker, ballet demo for kids

Studio Allegro (Waverly Place location 2nd floor not handicap accessible)
4:15-5 Nutcracker mini-performances

Shanghai Jazz
5-6 Jerry Vezza, jazz pianist Happy Hour

Coccia Realty
6:30-7:30 Meet the Artists reception
6:30 Harmonium carolers

All artists and performance venues are subject to change.