With Lunar New Year kicking off on February 1 and Chinese New Year in full effect from January 21 and February 20 each year, we have rounded up some of the events happening near Essex County to ring in the Year of the Tiger!
Lunar New Year at Hudson Yards
January 24th – February 13th
Beginning January 24th, The Shops at Hudson Yards and Edge will have red lantern displays and traditional performances in partnership with New York Chinese Cultural Center. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year Celebration by New York Chinese Cultural Center
January 29th | 2 – 5PM
This 30-minute program at the New York Chinese Cultural Center includes a Kung Fu demonstration/interactive segment, as well as some beloved Chinese folk dance pieces. Learn more here.
Chinese New Year Family Festival at the China Institute
January 29th | 10PM
China Institute is hosting a free online festival with an interactive cartooning workshop, read-aloud storytime, and a New Year art exercise. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music
January 29th | 2-4PM
Join BKCM for an afternoon of traditional and contemporary Chinese music, a performance of the lion dance, crafts, calligraphy, and more. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year Special at Sla Thai
(Photo credit: @slathai_)
Up until the first week of February, Sla Thai (596 Valley Rd, Montclair) will be serving a “Crying Tiger” dish. Learn more here.
Chinese New Year at Branch Paramus Public Library
February 1st -3rd | 3:30 – 4:30PM
The library is celebrating on February 1- 3 from 3:30 – 4:30PM. This activity is for Pre-K – grade 8 with a limit of 25 participants each day. Register by emailing [email protected]. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year Bonbons at Vesta Chocolate
Grab a 6-year aged Korean miso caramel Lunar New Year bonbon at Vesta Chocolate, both online and in-store, for a limited time only. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year Celebration Hosted By Honeymoonjc
February 5th | 12 – 10PM
This event will take place at Veterans of Foreign Wars in Seacaucus. There will be art, music, dance floor, food, dessert, and drinks. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year with the New York Philharmonic
February 8th | 7:30 – 10:30PM
This gala evening includes a pre-concert reception and a post-concert seated dinner with the artists. The Gala is a fundraising event for the New York Philharmonic. Learn more here.
Lunar New Year Family Fun Day at Liberty Hall Museum
February 12th | 1:00 – 2:30PM
Liberty Hall is celebrating by making crafts from dragon puppets to “porcelain” plates, and more. Learn more here.
Essex County Holiday House Tour: 2024 Event Details
The holiday season brings many things to Essex County: tree lightings, holiday pop-up markets + bars, festive decorations, the list goes on. One holiday event locals should add to their calendars is the annual Essex County Holiday House Tour — a festive tour of 12 historical homes and sites all decked out for the holidays. This year's tour will take place on Saturday, December 7th, and Sunday, December 8th in various Essex County towns including Montclair, Cedar Grove, Nutley, Bloomfield, Verona, and beyond. Read on for the details about the 2024 Essex County Holiday House Tour in New Jersey this December.
The Details
For one weekend each year, Essex County opens up its most historically important homes, sites, and structures to the public. Families attend with their children, societies meet up to share information with the public, and locals come together to celebrate the season and peek into beloved locations. This is the Essex County Holiday House Tour that locals know and love.
Read More: Renovations for The Bellevue Theatre in Montclair Underway
Residents and visitors can take part in this year's holiday house tour on Saturday, December 7th, and Sunday, December 8th — times vary by location. Twelve different spots around Essex County will be dressed for the holiday season, providing entertainment, refreshments, and educational opportunities. The tour is hosted by the Essex County Division of Cultural + Historic Affairs and Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr.
The towns included in this year's tour include Montclair, Cedar Grove, Nutley, Bloomfield, Verona, Upper Montclair, Livingston, West Orange, Caldwell, Newark, and South Orange. See below for details about each stop on the tour and when you can visit each.
The Gypsy Farmhouse | 106 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
Open 1PM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
Kingsland Manor | 3 Kingsland Street, Nutley
Open 1PM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
Van Tassel Funeral Home | 337 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield
Open 12PM-4PM on 12/8.
Canfield-Morgan House + Museum | 903 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
Open 1PM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
Montclair Historical Society Property, Historic YWCA | 110 Orange Road, Montclair
Open 12PM-3PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
Essex County Kip’s Castle Park | 22 Crestmont Road, Verona
Open 12PM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens | 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair
Open 12PM-3PM on 12/8.
The Livingston Historical Society, The Old Force Homestead | 366 South Livingston Avenue, Livingston
Open 2PM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
Glenmont at Thomas Edison National Historical Park | 211 Main Street, West Orange
The Laboratory Visitor Center will be open from 10AM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
The Grover House | 333 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Open 12PM-4PM on 12/7 and 12/8.
The Ballantine House | 49 Washington Street, Newark
Open 11AM-5PM on 12/7 and 12/8; Thursday to Sunday until the end of December.
The Blanchard Estate | 100 Blanchard Road, South Orange
Open 12PM-4PM on 12/7 and 1PM-5PM on 12/8.
Specific details about visiting each house or site and ticket information for certain stops on the tour can be found on the Essex County Parks website. Some sites are free to enter, while others require a small fee.
"The County of Essex is rich in history and architecture. Take a break from the hustle and bustle this December and visit historic homes that have decked the halls in holiday extravagance for one spectacular weekend. Tour historic Essex with your friends and family and delight in the elegance of the season," Executive DiVincenzo said in the 2024 event brochure.
See More: 10 Holiday Markets Happening This Weekend in Hoboken + Jersey City
To stay in the know with all of the local news, follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram and TikTok, and sign up for our newsletter that shares the top stories in your inbox here.
