NJ woman winner of national Project Home Improved honors
Susanna Tardi, of Springfield, New Jersey, is one of three national winners of Project Home Improved, Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
With Christmas and Hanukkah just behind us, and Kwanzaa beginning, North Jersey still has plenty of non-holiday entertainment and events before we ring in the new year. For instance, you can see the New York Jets one last time at home this season or help defend the Tenafly Nature Center from invasive plants.
If you want music, there’s an acoustic concert by Stephen Kellogg, a Grateful Dead tribute and classic rock in Mahwah, rock and roll by the Kootz in Wanaque. And if you’re still in the Christmas spirit, the Soul Gospel Praise Ground Choir has a concert in Hackensack.
See below for the details and the weather forecast for the last weekend of 2025!
Weather forecast for Dec. 25-28
According to the National Weather Service:
Dec. 25: Mostly cloudy all day with light wind, a high in the low 40s and a low in the mid-20s.
Dec. 26: Mostly cloudy with a chance of afternoon snow and a high in the low 30s. Snow is likely at night with low in the mid-20s.
Dec. 27: Cloudy with a chance of snow in the morning and early afternoon, and a high in the mid-30s. Cloudy at night, with a slight chance of rain and a low around 30.
Dec. 28: Mostly cloudy with rain likely all day, a high in the low 40s and a low in the upper 20s.
Down-home entertainment with Stephen Kellogg’s Old Friends Tour
For more than two decades, Kellogg – a Grammy nominee, Armed Forces Entertainer of the Year, TEDx speaker, stand-up comic, author and troubadour – has been entertaining audiences with a mix of music, humor and storytelling that covers the spectrum of human emotions. He’ll perform as part of the Troubadour Acoustic Concert Series on Dec. 26 at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. On each night of his Old Friends Tour, he shares the stage with different musical friends from his 25-year touring career, swapping songs, sharing personal anecdotes, and sharing humor and wisdom. Here, Kellogg will perform with his daughters, the Kellogg Sisters.
Opening the show will be Sydney Leigh Carlson, a singer-songwriter whose compositions are filled with confessional and insightful lyrics of her times, plus personal stories of pain, loss, love and growth. Inspired by Joni Mitchell, Warren Zevon, Phoebe Bridges and Julian Baker, Leigh’s songs explore the human experience and speak of hidden truths and passionate expressions.
Go: Stephen Kellogg at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, 21 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26. $20; $15 for Folk Project members; free for children ages 12 and under. 201-650-6928, folkproject.org.
One Man Gathers plays Dead and classic rock in Mahwah
OMG will pay tribute to the Grateful Dead and perform a variety of classic rock at the Mason Jar on Dec. 26.
Go: One Man Gathers at the Mason Jar, 219 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah. 8 to 11 p.m. Dec. 26. 201-529-2302facebook.com/gratefuldeadtribute.
Christmas concert by Soul Gospel Praise Ground Choir in Hackensack
The “Merry & Happy Concert” will be a soulful celebration of Christmas on Dec. 27 at Hackensack Performing Arts Center. The show will include “Joy to the World,” “Feliz Navidad” and “O Holy Night,” along with gospel songs such as “Oh Happy Day,” “Center of My Joy” and “Total Praise.” Through gospel music, the choir creates a joyful space of worship and celebration in an uplifting night of soul, joy and praise.
Go: “Merry & Happy Concert” by Soul Gospel Praise Ground Choir at HacPAC, 102 State St., Hackensack. 7:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 27. $16.82. hacpac.org
The Kootz play rock ‘n roll in Wanaque
It may be the end of 2025, but the Kootz will party like it’s 1999 with classic pop, rock, R&B and blues on Dec. 27 at the Celtic Knot in Haskell.
Go: The Kootz at the Celtic Knot, 72 Haskell Ave., Haskell. 8 to 11 p.m. Dec. 27, thekootz.com, 973-831-2417.
Be a forest defender at Tenafly Nature Center
The TNC Preserve is under siege by invasive plant species and help is needed. These aggressive plants are choking out native species, damaging ecosystems and threatening the forest’s natural balance. Twice a month, the Forest Defenders team gathers to clear out these invaders and restore the health of the woodlands. On Dec. 28, learn how to identify invasive species and work side-by-side with TNC’s expert land manager using safe and effective removal techniques. It’s a fun, hands-on way to make a difference in local conservation.
Forest Defenders is free and open to adults, teenagers and families. Kids ages 15 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. Hours spent are eligible for school volunteer requirements. Projects will be held entirely outdoors, so dress appropriately. In case of inclement weather, the session will be postponed.
Go: Forest Defenders at the Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly. 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 28. Free, with advance registration. tenaflynaturecenter.org, 201-568-6093.
Jets vs. Patriots in East Rutherford
In the penultimate week of the regular NFL season, the New York Jets will host the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium on Dec. 28.
Go: Jets vs. Patriots at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. 1 p.m. Dec. 28. Parking lots open at 8 a.m., gates open at 11. $89.70 to $974.75. metlifestadium.com
Country Comfort in West Milford
Playing country hits from the top male and female artists, Country Comfort will be at J&S Roadhouse on Dec. 28.
Go: Country Comfort at J&S Roadhouse, 17 Wooley Road, West Milford. 3 to 7 p.m. Dec. 28. jsroadhouse.com facebook.com/NJCountryComfort/
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Write to Daniel Galioto at [email protected].
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.northjersey.com ’
