Central Jersey Twelfth Night Boar's Head Festival

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Central Jersey Twelfth Night Boar's Head Festival

United Reformed Church hosts the Central Jersey Twelfth Night-Boar’s Head Festival, which takes place every year in January.

The next performance will be on Sunday, January 11, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. This is a free event that we offer to the community.

12/17/2025

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances, we will have to cancel the Twelfth Night Festival on Jan 11, 2026, but we will be back in 2027 with a spectacular show!

10/22/2025

If you missed last year's production, make sure to add this date to your calendar...

If you were with us...IYKYK

The Boar’s Head is probably the oldest festival of the Christmas season. The festival, as we know it today, originated at Queen’s College, Oxford, England, in 1340. We offer this celebration as a witness of our faith in Christ, whose birth brings hope to the world. It is not merely a story of music and customs of times past and gone. It is presented as a living story, told by modern day minstrels and echoed in all of us.

You will witness through pageantry and song a cast of more than130 celebrating the twelve days of Christmas as once done in the Elizabethan Era. The festival ends with a breathtaking Nativity.

✔️

01/14/2025

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our 12th Annual Central Jersey Twelfth Night Boar's Head Festival on Sunday...it was a magnificent performance as you can all attest!

Many thanks to Linda Hayes and Justine Langman for all their hard work!

We hope to see you next year...mark your calendars now for Sunday, January 11, 2026! Wassail!

01/10/2025

With a great instrumental/choral practice in the books last night, and a full-dress rehearsal scheduled for tomorrow, our awesome crew started transforming the sanctuary into an English manor. Candelabras, banners, trees, and crest abound.

Be sure to be here on Sunday, Jan. 12th as the Lord and Layde of the manor will welcome guests to share in the festive celebration and the story of the Nativity.

Doors open at 3:15 p.m. with pre-show music provided by strings and harps. The show begins at 4:00 pm.

As our gift to the community there is no charge for admission and is open to the public, however a freewill offering is appreciated. Scan the QR code 👉 for more information.

Wassail!

01/09/2025

Have you ever seen Jesters "jest", Fencers "fence", Bagpipers "pipe", or Irish Step Dancers "step"...in person? Well, now's your chance!!

Come join us at URC this Sunday, January 12th at 4:00 pm for Central Jersey Twelfth Night Boar's Head Festival. All are welcome to come and revel in the celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas, as they did in Elizabethan times.

A cast of 125 actors will celebrate the story of Christmas as perhaps once done in an Elizabethan Manor. The church sanctuary will be transformed into an English manor with candlelight, banners, trees, and crests. The Lord and Layde of the manor will welcome guests to share in the festive celebration and the story of the Nativity.

As our gift to the community there is no charge for admission and is open to the public, however a freewill offering is appreciated. Scan the QR Code for more information.

Wassail!

01/07/2025

Meet Linda Hayes (L) and Justine Langman (R), our dedicated and talented Co-Directors of the Central Jersey Twelfth Night Boar’s Head Festival.

Linda has been involved with the production since 2011 when her 3 children and husband were asked to join the cast…and she fell in love with the show! In 2016 she was asked to become Co-Director, and the festival has become her passion.

Justine, who is also URC’s Director of Music, started Co-Directing Twelfth Night for the first time in 2024…this was also her first time witnessing the production. It was then that she “got it” and this year she has crafted the show in her own voice. More music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque eras, more languages, more chamber-style singing and playing!

We’re happy to have members of the Bound Brook Presbyterian Choir, Rutgers Preparatory Lower School Choir, and Rutgers University Choir with us this year.

THIS IS A SHOW NOT TO BE MISSED. ADMISSION IS FREE…FREEWILL DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Doors open on Sunday, January 12th at 3:15 pm, the show begins at 4:00 pm in the Sanctuary at United Reformed Church (100 W. Main Street, Somerville, NJ).

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Wassail!

03/19/2024

The Twelfth Night Boar’s Head Festival production comes to life due to the hard work, dedication and support of the Twelfth Night Committee throughout the entire year. The group of amazing people on this committee give so much to enhance the show each year. And the show wouldn’t be a reality without the incredible performers, singers, musicians, and volunteers whose contributions are immeasurable. Last, and certainly not least we were so lucky to have our Co-Director’s, Linda Hayes and Justine Langman who worked tirelessly to pull the program all together.

Mark your calendar for next year’s production…January 12, 2025…you won’t want to miss it!

03/18/2024

The shepherds go to Bethlehem and kneel before the Christ Child after the Angels announce the birth of Jesus. To complete the Nativity scene, the Wise men enter and follow the Star of the East to the manger where they offer their gifts to the Christ Child. The candle sprite then re-enters the hall and exits with the Christ Candle spreading the Light and Love of Christ throughout the world.

03/16/2024

After scripture readings and during song, The Angel Gabriel enters and with solemn voice, heralds the coming of the light. Young Mary is overwhelmed by the Angels annunciation.
Mary and Joseph take their places at the manager with the newborn child.

03/15/2024

After having celebrated good health, material wealth, and the love of family and friends, the mood becomes reverent with the arrival of the Rector and his entourage. With the reading of the scriptures and singing of songs, a recreation of the long ago miracle in Bethlehem is presented. The Candle Sprite enters with a lighted candle. The candle symbolizes the coming of the Christ child into the unenlightened world. The light is given to the Church not only to preserve, but to extend it throughout the Earth.

03/14/2024

The woodsmen and his family enter bearing the Yule log. The children ride on the log, merrily ringing bells. Members of the manor household hang clusters of pinecones and holly boughs to complete the decoration of the hall during the singing of an old-time favorite Christmas Carol.

Address

100 W. Main Street
Somerville, NJ
08876

Telephone

+19087254545

Website

http://urcsomerville.org/index.php/news-and-events/twelfth-night-boar-s-head-festival

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