Ballet Atlantic and their Family Favorite, the “Nutcracker” performed in Downtown New Rochelle

For the first time, Ballet Atlantic’s annual family favorite, the “Nutcracker Ballet” will be performed downtown this holiday season on Friday, December 10th at 8:30 PM and Saturday, December 11th at 11:00 AM at 306 Huguenot Street, thanks to the generosity of downtown property owners Gary Garafola and Susan Friedman. This is Ballet Atlantic’s 36th year producing the Nutcracker based on the story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffman with music by Tchaikovsky.

An accomplished ballet troupe and popular dance academy, Ballet Atlantic has taken up full-time residence in downtown New Rochelle at the BID’s Artist Studios (Rental information: 914-960-1460) at 81 Center Avenue, in 10,000 square feet of newly renovated space for artists and art businesses directly opposite Talner Jewelry Store.

Celebrate the Holidays Downtown with Lights, the Nutcracker, Crafts, Music and Family Events

Start this special month with Father Francis Maurice, Rabbi Amiel Wohl and Reverend Allen Weaver welcoming Christmas, Chanukah and Kwanza with benedictions and song at the always popular Holiday Lighting at Memorial Plaza. Santa Claus will make a special guest appearance and then move to New Roc City on weekends where Santa will hear children’s holiday wishes and for family photos.

Don’t let your children miss the Downtown performances of Ballet Atlantic’s 36th Annual Nutcracker Ballet. Older holiday revelers can join New Rochelle’s renown jazz musician Brian Carter and his Trio at an open Holiday Jazz Jam at McKiernan’s Lawton Street Tavern.

The Chamber of Commerce of New Rochelle in cooperation with the City of New Rochelle and the BID is happy to sponsor the Holiday Lighting ceremony at Main Street and Memorial Highway. The event will start at 5:30 PM at Memorial Plaza.

Santa has agreed to fly down from the North Pole for our lighting ceremony so bring the kids!

In addition the Chamber of Commerce of New Rochelle will be having a Holiday Party at the Radisson Hotel following the Lighting Cermony and everyone is invited.

Price is $25.00 pp (includes food; cash bar at Happy Hour prices). Please respond to Eli Gordon.

Join us for a wonderful holiday celebration and networking.

Holiday Lighting Poster courtesy of Brad Spear.

Thanksgiving found many of us joining together with family and friends to celebrate and give thanks for what we have. In stark contrast to the comfort of our celebrating together, approximately 150,000 men and women currently serving in Afghanistan and Iraq will spend this Holiday season some 7,000 miles from home and separated from loved ones.

YOU can bring a little slice of home to those who serve just by helping out Jennie McFarland and the good folks over at "Operation Support Our Troops". With very little effort on your part, you can help make a connection with home and let the troops know we care. Keep in mind, we may call them the "troops", but they really are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts, uncles and friends. Don't let their distance come between home and heart.