The Ridgewood Weekend: Ridgewood's Got Talent!

After the hosted their most recent , some members of the chamber noticed that there were a lot of local children and teens with real talent, according to executive director of the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce Joan Groome.

“They’re so professional and some of them are knock your socks off, and we said we have so much talent here in Ridgewood,” said Groome.

So, after the Chamber of Commerce noticed how talented the children of Ridgewood are, they decided to put together the first “Ridgewood’s Got Talent,” a competition where dancers, musicians, singers, bands, and other talented children and teens can compete.

There are three categories: third through fifth grade, sixth through eighth grade, and ninth through twelfth grade.

“So far, everybody is singing,” said Groome. “We did say you could dance, act, or be a band, but right now everybody is going to sing.”

The first round of Ridgewood’s Got Talent will be held this weekend, on Saturday, March 5 at the Arthur Murray Dance Studios from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The semifinals will be help on April 9 and the finals on May 21.

“The grand prize is to be the star of Downtown for the Holidays,” said Groome.

This event is free.

More events in Ridgewood this weekend:

Friday,  March 4

• The 66th Annual Antiques Show and Sale will be held on Friday and Saturday this weekend at from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• The Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra will be playing a memorial concert for Tyler Clementi from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at . The Assistant Concertmaster’s chair will be named for Clementi, a former member of the orchestra. Tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students, if purchased in advance from the orchestra’s website. If purchased at the door, all ticket prices will increase by $3.
• will feature New York-based party band The Unionn at 9 p.m.

Saturday, March 5

• Desperate for some Girl Scout Cookies? Stop by the from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Franklin Ave. and support troops 4713 and 4444 by picking up a few boxes.

• The 66th Annual Antiques Show and Sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at .

• The 18th Annual “Bach n’ Buddies Bash” will feature seven hours of music and besides the vocal recital by the students of Jefferson Township High School at 3:30 p.m., the rest of the pieces will be performed on the organ. Eight organists will perform in total, from various churches and schools, including James Wynne, the organist of the , where the event will be held starting at 11 a.m. Admission is $5.

• Antonio Starita will share four generations worth of pizza-making wisdom at at both 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. for $10 per person. With the admission fee comes a lunch or dinner to follow Starita’s presentation. Starita’s family owns one of Naples’ oldest pizzerias. Reservations are required at 201-493-2000.
• Ridgewood CREW will have 64 athletes docked at Van Neste Square from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with 20 rowing machines to show spectators how it's done. The group, a self-sufficient high school club with national recognition, travels to Philadelphia most weekends to row. They'll have baked goods for sale in the park.
• Wedding veterans The Rhythm Shop will rock the house on Saturday at Blend beginning at 9 p.m.
• will be holding a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. through 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. till 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 6

• The youth group will be grabbing some pizza and soft drinks then heading out for some golf in Paramus beginning at 11:30 a.m. Parents can pick children up at 2 p.m. The suggested donation is $10.

• The CantaLyrica chamber chorus will perform arias, art songs, folk music, and pieces from Broadway musicals from 6 to 10 p.m. at the . There will also be an auction and refreshments at the event. $25 per person or $40 for a pair.