November offers a chance to reset, enjoy a little downtime, and appreciate the people and places close to home. That’s the idea behind Close to Home with Ryan, my new monthly newsletter and blog series about life here in Morris County.
Each month, I’ll share local events, businesses worth getting to know, ideas for spending time with family, and a straightforward real estate update. This November, we’re exploring seasonal outings, a Denville bookstore, an afternoon at Morris Museum, and Santa’s arrival at the Morristown Green. I hope you find something that inspires you to slow down and enjoy what’s right around you.
November Events Around Morris County
Little History Explorers at Historic Speedwell
Thursday, November 5 | 9:30–10:30 AM | Morristown
Enjoy a Thanksgiving-themed story, snack, and hands-on craft with your little one at Historic Speedwell. Designed for children ages 2–5 with an adult, this program offers a simple way to spend a morning together.
Location: 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown
Cost: $10 per child
View details and register
Duck and Goose Storytime at Fosterfields
Friday, November 6 | 1:30–2:30 PM | Morristown
Visit the birds at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm and follow Duck and Goose on their search for a pumpkin. Children can pick a pumpkin to take home. This program is for ages 2½–5 with an adult.
Location: 73 Kahdena Road, Morristown
Cost: $10 per child
View details and register
Apple Cidering at the Great Swamp
Saturday, November 7 | 2–3 PM | Chatham Township
Get a closer look at how apples become cider, try the grinder and press, and finish with a taste test. This hands-on program is for ages 6 and up and runs rain or shine. Additional sessions are listed for November 8, 21, 22, 28, and 29.
Location: Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township
Cost: $8 per person
View details and register
Holiday Ornament Decorating at Morris County Library
Beginning Monday, November 16 | 9 AM–5 PM | Whippany
Help decorate for the season by making an ornament for the Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Festival of the Trees. Decorating stations will be in the library’s first-floor atrium. All ages are welcome, with additional dates available through November 28.
Location: 30 East Hanover Avenue, Whippany
Cost: Free
See participating dates and details
Trees with Holes at the Great Swamp
Sunday, November 22 | 10–11 AM | Chatham Township
Why do trees have holes, and what makes those spaces so useful? Learn about tree cavities, then head out on a scavenger hunt to find them along the trails. This program is for ages 4 and up with an adult.
Location: Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, 247 Southern Boulevard, Chatham Township
Cost: $8 per person
View details and register
Santa Arrives at the Morristown Green
Saturday, November 28 | Beginning at 5 PM | Morristown
Welcome Santa on East Park Place and watch the Morristown Green light up for the holiday season. Santa’s arrival and the lighting take place from 5–5:30 PM, followed by seasonal programming. Visits and photos with Santa are scheduled for 5:45–8 PM.
Location: Morristown Green and East Park Place
Cost: Santa visits are free; photos are $15. Visits are first come, first served.
View the Christmas Festival schedule
All times are Eastern. Check organizer pages for registration, availability, and weather updates before heading out.
Local Business Spotlight: The Book Barn in Denville
A historic dairy barn filled with books sounds like a fitting place to spend part of a November afternoon. At The Book Barn, donated books share space with puzzles, games, records, and other finds. Because the inventory changes daily, each visit offers something different to explore.
For a simple family outing, let everyone choose a book to bring home, then set aside an evening to read together.
The Book Barn is located at 18 Pocono Road in Denville. Regular hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 10 AM–5 PM and Saturday from 9 AM–1 PM. It will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 26, and reopen Saturday, November 28.
Learn more about The Book Barn
A Family Afternoon at Morris Museum
When the weather calls for an indoor plan, consider an afternoon at Morris Museum. Explore the Mega Model Train Gallery, discover the mechanical music and automata in the Guinness Collection, and leave time for hands-on activities at Spark!Lab.
The museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown and is generally open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM–5 PM. Spark!Lab is listed Wednesday through Sunday from noon–4 PM.
General admission is $12, admission for ages 3–17 is $8, and children ages 2 and under are free. The museum is closed on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day, so check the schedule before visiting.
Plan your visit to Morris Museum
Morris County Real Estate Update
As we head toward the end of the year, the latest verified county report gives us a look at September 2026 single-family home activity:
- Median sale price: $737,500, up 2.1% from September 2025.
- Closed sales: 306, down 7.8% from a year earlier.
- Homes for sale: 757, up 14.2% year over year.
- Months of inventory: 2.5, compared with 2.2 a year earlier.
My takeaway: buyers have more homes to consider than they did a year ago, while the county’s median single-family sale price remains higher. For sellers, recent comparable sales are an important starting point for pricing. For buyers, the opportunity depends on the individual home, its condition, and the competition around it.
Countywide figures provide context, but your town, neighborhood, and property deserve a closer look. If you’re thinking about a move—or simply wondering where your home stands—I’m happy to talk through the details.
Source: New Jersey REALTORS® Morris County Local Market Update for September 2026, current as of October 9, 2026. Figures above cover single-family homes only. October statistics were not yet available when this post was prepared on November 2.
Read the Morris County market report
Stay Close to Home
I look forward to sharing more of Morris County with you each month. If there’s a local business, event, or family activity you think should be featured, send it my way.
Wishing you and your family a happy Thanksgiving and a November with a little room to recharge.
Ryan Dougherty
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
The Dougherty Group at Compass
Mobile: 973-309-6178 | Office: 973-315-8180
[email protected]
Connect with Ryan
Event and visitor information checked November 2, 2026. Schedules, prices, and availability may change. Equal Housing Opportunity.
