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Searching for “holiday events near me?” You’ve come to the right place! Each year, Raritan Valley Community College offers numerous ways to celebrate the season for students and community members of all ages. Check out our festive array of affordable, family-friendly holiday happenings. We can’t wait to celebrate with you on campus!

Theatre Show 

• Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
  Friday, December 9 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Tickets $45, $50, $60
  Location: Nash Theatre, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ 

This holiday season, RVCC is thrilled to host the Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet. The acclaimed holiday tradition is live in theaters for the 30th Anniversary tour. Gather friends and family to relive your fondest childhood dreams, overflowing with larger-than-life puppets, breathtaking acrobatics, and dazzling costumes. Share in the message of peace and harmony and experience the exquisite artistry of the international cast, featuring stars of Ukraine ballet, performing at the highest level of classical technique.

Get tickets here.

Planetarium Shows

Looking for fun things to do with kids this holiday season in the Somerset County or Hunterdon County area? The RVCC Planetarium lets visitors journey into outer space with a state-of-the-art, all-dome experience that’s open to the public. For the 2022 holiday season, families can enjoy three different festive shows:

• The Alien Who Stole Christmas
  Saturdays, December 10 and 17 at 3 p.m., Tickets $10 per person for one show, $18 per person for two shows back-to-back
  Discover the stars visible in the winter sky. Then follow Santa on a trip through the solar system when a friendly alien kidnaps him. The kids on the other planets need presents too, you know! (Recommended for ages 6-10)
• Winter Wonder Lights
  Saturdays, December 10 and 17 at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., Tickets $10 per person for one show, $18 per person for two shows back-to-back
  Listen to holiday hits such as “Wizards in Winter,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Dominic the Donkey” while lasers dance on the dome overhead. (Recommended for ages 6-adult)  
• The Christmas Star
  Saturdays, December 10 and 17 at 7 p.m., Tickets $10 per person for one show, $18 per person for two shows back-to-back
  Over the years, many people have tried to explain the appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, as described in the Bible. Was it an exploding star, a comet, or some other natural event in the sky? Potential natural explanations for the Star of Bethlehem and common modern-day misconceptions are discussed. The program includes a brief tour of the current night sky. (Recommended for ages 8 to adult)

All tickets are sold at the door on the day of the show, but reservations are recommended. Call 908-231-8805, email planet@raritanval.edu, or click here for more information.

Student Performances

Students in RVCC’s Arts & Design Department have been hard at work preparing for this year’s holiday programs and performances. All performances are $12 for general admission and $8 for students, faculty, staff, and seniors. For tickets, call the RVCC Theatre Box Office at 908-725-3420.

• Music Student Recital
  Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1 at 7 p.m., Welpe Theatre
• RVCC Chorale Holiday Concert
  Sunday, December 4 at 3 p.m., Welpe Theatre
• RVCC Dance Works (Student & Faculty Choreography)
  Wednesday, December 7 and Thursday, December 8 at 7 p.m., Nash Theatre
• RVCC Jazz Band Concert 
  Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m., Welpe Theatre

Holiday Art Show and Sale

Each holiday season, our Arts & Design Department presents an exhibition and sale featuring the best work of RVCC’s ceramics students, instructors, and several alumni. Offering an opportunity to buy unique, handmade holiday gifts, this year’s event will be held December 5-9 from noon - 8 p.m. (Monday – Thursday) and noon - 6 p.m. (Friday). Admission is free. For more information, contact Ann Tsubota at 908-526-1200, ext. 8373.

About RVCC

RVCC is ranked #1 among community colleges in New Jersey by WalletHub.com and Niche.com. Conveniently located for students in the Somerset County and Hunterdon County area, The College offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs, from academics to professional certifications in a variety of fields. Join us for an upcoming Information Session or visit www.raritanval.edu for more information.