Happy New Year to all the SNJ Today readers! I hope all of your holiday celebrations were absolutely the best! I’m wishing you a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.

Already, 2023 is shaping up to be filled with many events and you may want to save the dates. Of course, Third Friday Art Walks will be held every Third Friday of each month at the galleries on High Street. We promote them as “open from 6 to 9 p.m.” In addition to those times, the galleries open from 10 or 11 a.m. and stay open until 8 or 9 p.m. So, if you have other evening plans, come out during the afternoon to take a look and perhaps purchase a new piece of art for yourself or as a very thoughtful gift.

We’re planning to bring back the Artists’ Studio Tour in April tentatively scheduled for April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A full list of participating studios will be published online and in a brochure. This is a great way for you to meet a wide variety of artists, talk with them about their work, and even buy a piece if you are so inclined. There is no admission fee.

May 10 will bring you the annual Spring Jazz Concert by musician Jody Janetta and his band. This year the theme is “Celebrating Adelante” from 1995 to the present. This is a free event at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, 22 N. High Street from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Details will be released later.

We’re planning a major expansion of our Farm Market that runs from June to September. It will be hosted at the Village on High, 501 N. High Street, twice a month on particular Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Live music is always included. We plan to add artisan made crafts and foods to the fresh market and hopefully to include live demonstrations from featured chefs. If you are an artisan and interested in learning more, please contact me by email at [email protected].

The Art Creates Excellence (ACE) summer youth art camp will be held from July 10 to August 4, at the Riverfront Renaissance Center and Rowan College SJ (Clay College). Registrations will begin in April for ages 7 to 9, 10 to 12, and 13 to 18. All instructors are artists, and the curriculum changes each week.

Out of all the projects and events we have done since 2000, ACE is the most successful and impactful project that we created. Over the years, we have made some changes to the program’s structure and content. The young people who are your children, grandchildren, or family friends’ kids are loved by them and their families. For those who think seriously about having an art career of their own, this is a great way to become immersed in the visual arts.

If your kids prefer the performing arts, the Levoy Theatre has a fantastic youth summer camp, too. We are very fortunate to have our neighbor, Hands Up Silent Theatre, that has classes in the performing arts for deaf and hard of hearing youts. They put on performances that will be loved by hearing and non-hearing people.

This journey brings us to just beyond the halfway point in our calendar. Throughout the months ahead I will update you with more details and with events in our neighboring communities. There truly is a lot going on for your enjoyment. Please use our website and those of other organizations that you enjoy and visit us soon.