Verona, New Jersey: An annual Essex County holiday tradition will return to Greater Newark this week. The Seventh Annual Essex County Historic Holiday House Tour will be sponsored by the Essex County Park System, and will be held on Saturday, December 5th and Sunday, December 6th. The tour weekend is an opportunity to visit a variety of Essex County attractions, mostly for free. Most properties have been decorated for the holidays. The participating locations are below:
Free Admission:
Kip's Castle
22 Crestmont Road in Verona
12:00pm to 4:00pm
-Take a rare look inside the first floor of a historic mansion, which is now owned by Essex County. There are views of Essex County and New York from the property.
Walther House at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
474 Upper Mountain Avenue in Upper Montclair
10:00am to 5:00pm
-The house is a Victorian home that was purchased by Essex County in 2009.
Canfield-Morgan House and Museum
903 Pompton Avenue/Route 23 in Cedar Grove
1:00pm to 4:00pm
-The house is located at the former Morgan Farm, and features exhibits regarding the history of the Cedar Grove area.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart
89 Ridge Street in Newark's North Ward
7:30am to 7:30pm
-This cathedral in Newark is one of the best known in New Jersey, and overlooks Branch Brook Park.
Force Homestead and Museum
366 South Livingston Avenue in Livingston
2:00pm to 4:00pm on Sunday Only
-This museum of Livingston history is run by the Livingston Historical Society.
Grover Cleveland’s Birthplace
207 Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell
10:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday and 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Sunday
-President Grover Cleveland, the only United States president born in New Jersey, was born here at the Caldwell Presbyterian Church Manse.
Kingsland Manor
3 Kingsland Street in Nutley
1:00pm to 4:00pm
-This house dates to 1750, making it one of the oldest historic house museums in New Jersey.
Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center
240 Belleville Avenue in Bloomfield
12:00pm to 3:00pm on Saturday Only
-Once a home, this house in the Brookdale section of Bloomfield is now a community center.
Zenas Crane Homestead
289 Westville Avenue in West Caldwell
12:00pm to 4:00pm
-The museum of the West Caldwell Historical Society features exhibits with the history of the West Essex area.
Admission Fee Charged/Recommended:
Crane House and Historic YWCA
110 Orange Road in Montclair
1:00pm to 4:00pm
$5 (Recommended)
Evergreens (The Charles Shultz House)
30 North Mountain Avenue in Montclair
1:00pm to 4:00pm
$5 (Recommended)
Glenmont at Thomas Edison National Historical Park
Must purchase tickets at 211 Main Street in West Orange
11:00am to 3:00pm (By Tour Only)
$7
Ballantine House at Newark Museum
49 Washington Street in Newark
12:00pm to 5:00pm
$12 (Free for Newarkers)
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Like us on Facebook - Essex County Place
Click here to advertise on PlaceNJ.com, starting at just $49.