Whether you’re heading out or staying in, this week’s Montclair, Bloomfield, and beyond events guide has you covered with kid-friendly activities, performances, farmers’ markets, and much more happening locally in the neighborhood. Check out this list of all the virtual and in-person events happening in Montclair, Bloomfield, and beyond this weekend (August 25th – September 1st).
Disclaimer: Events are subject to change and some may be weather dependent. For the most up-to-date info, please contact the host directly.
Local Montclair (+ Beyond) Events
Memoir Writing
Wednesday, August 25th | 7PM-8PM
Lisa Sisler from Kean University leads this Memoir Writing Workshop to help you get started on writing stories from your life. Please register to get the link. Learn more here.
Teen Social: Indoor Bouldering
Wednesday, August 25th | 6PM-8PM
Join Out Montclair for indoor rock climbing and bouldering at the brand new Gravity Vault at 8 Seymour Street in Downtown Montclair. This is a great opportunity to meet and build community with other local LGBTQ+ youth and allies (ages 12-17) while learning some new skills and having fun. No climbing experience is required, and participants will receive a bouldering orientation with instruction in a positive, welcoming environment. Pizza and drinks will be provided in a separate room from the climbing wall. Learn more here.
South Orange Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, August 25th | 2PM-7PM
Check out the South Orange Farmers Market every Wednesday in the Sloan St. Lot from 2PM-7PM. Please remember to bring your reusable shopping bags with you. Learn more here.
Summer Concert Series at Riverfront Park
Wednesday, August 25th | 7PM | Recurring
Stop by Riverfront Park on Wednesday, August 25th to see Latin Splendor take the stage. Learn more here.
Fall Cornhole league First Meet at Montclair Brewery
Wednesday, August 25th | 7PM | Every Wednesday
Join the first meet of the second season of Montclair’s own cornhole league hosted at Montclair Brewery, Wednesday nights 7-8PM. Learn more here.
Zoo-vies + Family Nights at Essex County’s Turtleback Zoo
Wednesday, August 25th + Thursday, August 26th
Essex County offers free activities this month on Wednesdays and Thursdays, including movies at Turtle Back Zoo. Films start at dusk. The zoo hours will be extended to 8:30PM with the last admission being at 8PM. Learn more here.
Newark Downtown District Market
Thursday, August 26th | 11AM-3PM
The NDD Downtown Market is a newly imagined version of the NDD Common Greens Farmers Market and will be back at the PSE&G Plaza on Thursdays through September 30th. Learn more here.
Goffle Brook Park: A Wellspring of Creativity
Thursday, August 26th | 11AM-4PM
View Goffle Brook Park: A Wellspring of Creativity, Journeys by Michael Gabriel, and Watercolors by Christine Calandra. These exhibits are currently on view through September 5th at the Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House. Learn more here.
Meditation Workshop
Thursday, August 26th | 11:30AM
Join Bindu Bhatt for a virtual meditation session. No experience necessary. Bindu has practiced meditation for over 30 years and would like to share her insight with you. Learn more here.
Beginners Flow Yoga
Thursday, August 26th | 6PM
This class will lead you through the foundations of yoga postures, body awareness and alignment, relaxation of the mind and a connection with the breath. You will learn how to improve muscle strength, promote flexibility, and build your own yoga program specific for your mind and body. Learn more here.
Out at Night Hosted by Out Montclair
Thursday, August 26th | 7PM-9:30PM
Join Out Montclair for music, local beer, and games at the Out at Night event hosted at Montclair Brewery. Your first round is free! Please RSVP, as space is limited. Learn more here.
Open Mic @ Montclair Brewery
Thursday, August 26th | 7:30PM-9:30PM
Music, comedy, poetry, and drama! Come share your talent at Montclair Brewery’s open mic night.
Family-friendly and all ages are welcome. Learn more here.
Essex County Summer Concert Series at Brookdale Park
Thursday, August 26th + Friday, August 27th | 7:30PM | Recurring
Essex County is hosting a Summer Concert Series every week. On Thursday, August 26th, The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will perform and Friday, August 27th, The Cameos takes the stage. Learn more here.
Classes in Mixed-Media Abstract Art
Friday, August 27th | 1PM
Every Friday, Award-winning Roseland artist Evan Stuart Marshall will teach a class on mixed-media abstract art beginning in mid-July 2021. The topics covered include design and composition, classic abstract layouts, working with shapes, intuitive painting, and more. Learn more here.
Dog Days of Summer Exhibit & Music on Main
Friday, August 27th | Every Friday
There are over 120 dog and cat sculptures exhibited up and down the entire length of Main Street, Boonton. Learn more here.
Dinner Under the Stars in Bloomfield Center
Friday, August 27th | 6PM-10PM
The Bloomfield Center Alliance invites you to come out for al fresco dining and live entertainment on Washington Street in Bloomfield Center every Friday through October 8th. Learn more here.
All Points West Distillery Tour + Tasting
Friday, August 27th + Saturday, August 28th | 5PM-9PM
Join All Points West every Friday and Saturday for a 20-minute tour with spirit samples and a house cocktail. A 10% discount on bottles and additional cocktails are included with the ticket. Learn more here.
Live Music at Montclair Brewery
Friday, August 27th + Saturday, August 28th, + Sunday, August 29th | 7PM-9:30PM
Head over to Montclair Brewery for live music every Friday, Saturday + Sunday provided by local artists. Learn more here.
Montclair Farmers Market
Saturday, August 28th | 8AM-2PM
Stop by the Montclair Farmers Market every Saturday at the Walnut Street Train Station in Montclair. It features local farmers and food artisans, offering fresh fruits & vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, cheeses, prepared foods, baked goods, and so much more. Learn more here.
College Women’s Club of Montclair Used Book Sale
Saturday, August 28th | 9:30AM | Every Saturday through September
College Women’s Club of Montclair is hosting a used book sale every Saturday through September. Learn more here.
Saturday Skate Sesh with Boardroom Skate
Saturday, August 28th | 10AM-12PM | Every Saturday
Join Boardroom Skate for a skate session every Saturday at Rand Courts. Beginners are welcome. Learn more here.
Butterfly Tent Safari at Essex County’s Turtleback Zoo
Saturday, August 28th | Now-Labor Day | 12PM-3PM
The public is invited to experience the “Butterfly Tent Safari” at the Essex County Environmental Center. It’s an interactive display where visitors can observe hundreds of butterflies while walking through a tent. The exhibit will be available until Labor Day. Learn more here.
PBNJ Block Party: A Celebration of Club Music Culture
Saturday, August 28th + Sunday, August 29th | 1PM-4PM
Stop by the PBNJ Block Party: A Celebration of Club Music Culture. Learn more here.
MAPSO Funk Fest
Saturday, August 28th | 1PM-7PM
MAPSO Funk Fest is a carefully curated funk, house & soul music event that fosters community, bringing people together while spotlighting and supporting local restaurants, wellness businesses, artisans, and other creative talent. There will be live music, DJs, and local entrepreneurs of many kinds as vendors. There will also be a kids zone, a beer garden hosted exclusively by Montclair Brewery, as well as mini workshops and activities. Learn more here.
“Music Under the Olmsted Oak” in Anderson Park
Saturday, August 28th | 7PM-8:30PM
Stop by this free outdoor concert in Anderson Park on Aug. 28th, at 7PM. Bring a picnic and a blanket and enjoy the Chamber Music Society of North Jersey. Program features Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s Quintet in F Sharp Minor for Clarinet and Strings. Families welcome. Learn more here.
Music at the Mansion: Susan Knight & Tony Carlin
Saturday, August 28th | Every Saturday | 7PM-9:30PM
Join Broadway + TV stars Susan Knight, Tony Carlin for a live performance presented by Nicori Studios and Productions. Performances occur every Saturday. Learn more here.
Family Roller Skating at Branch Brook Park
Saturday, August 28th | Multiple Times Available | Every Saturday
Head over to Branch Brook Park for family roller skating every week. It’s open to all ages. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Sign up here.
Summer Block Party Hosted by Hunt for Strength
Sunday, August 29th | 12PM-3PM
Stop by a Summer Block Party hosted by Hunt for Strength. There will be inflatables for kids and face painting. This is open to members and the public. Come meet members and coaches from training facility. Learn more here.
Back to School Covid-19 Vaccination event
Sunday, August 29th | 12PM-4PM
Essex County is providing a Mobile Vaccination Site at Wally Choice Community Center located at 45 Maple Avenue in Montclair on August 29th from 12PM-4PM. Please sign up if you or your child (ages 12 and up) would like to receive the first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine, first dose of the Moderna Vaccine or the single-dose Johnson & Johnson Vaccine (only for adults ages 18 and up). The first 50 people who register to be vaccinated at the event will be eligible to receive $100 with proof of full vaccination. Learn more here.
APEM Creamery Customer Playlist Contest
Now-Sunday, August 29th
Motown Sunday Brunch at Sweet Southern Eatery
Sunday, August 29th
Head over to Sweet Southern Eatery every Sunday for live music during brunch. Learn more here.
Essex County to Administer Covid-19 Booster Shots
Ongoing
Essex County announced that it will administer booster shots to those who are immunocompromised by appointment only at its vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark. According to the CDC and FDA, people are considered to have a compromised immune system if they are fighting a disease, undergoing medical treatments or have received an organ transplant. Appointments can be made at EssexCOVID.org or 973-877-8456. Learn more here.
Montclair Film’s Virtual Cinema
Ongoing
Montclair Film’s Virtual Cinema is the best way to watch the latest movies from home while supporting the non-profit organization. Films in the Virtual Cinema are new, independent releases, available for rent at home before they show up on other platforms, featuring new indies, documentaries, foreign films, and restored classics, with new selections available every Friday. Learn more here.
Point of Action: New Art Installation at Crane Park
Ongoing
Montclair residents and artists Nina Cooke John and Charlie Spademan bring this installation to Montclair at no cost to the township for about four to six weeks. Crane Park is located at 1-9 Greenwood Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Tour Van Vleck House and Gardens
Open daily | 9AM-6PM
Take a free tour of Van Vleck House and Gardens, a center for horticulture, education, music, and art. The gardens are open to the public and the house is available to non-profits for meetings and events. Learn more here.
Kid-Focused Events
Music with Michaela: Outdoor Music Class for Little Ones
Saturday, August 28th | 11:15PM- 12PM | Every Saturday
Little ones will learn seasonal songs, play instruments, move their bodies, and have fun with Michaela. The event will take place in the grassy area on the corner of Essex Street + Chestnut Street in Montclair. Register here.
Crayon Workshop
Now-August 26th | 12PM-5PM
The Jewish Children’s Museum is inviting children and “children at heart” to travel through the colorful journey of crayon making. Participants will be able to collect carnauba wax, beeswax, and cacao butter from the fields, and watch as the wax melts into crayons. Register here.
Upcoming Weekday Events
Telephonic Veterans’ Claims Clinic
Monday, August 30th | 9AM-5PM
A Telephonic Veterans’ Claims Clinic is taking place on Monday, August 30th, 9AM-5PM. A representative from the VA Newark Regional Office will be available by telephone to help veterans and their families file new claims, check status of existing claims, and answer questions about veterans benefits. This event is open to veterans, active service members, reservists, and family members with claims or are interested in learning more about benefits. Pre-registration is required. Reservation times are first-come-first-serve. The deadline to register is Thursday, August 26th. Learn more here.
Montclair Brewery at Maplewood Farmer’s Market
Monday, August 30th | 2PM-7PM
Catch Montclair Brewery at Maplewood Farmer’s Market on Monday, August 30th. Learn more here.
Essex County Summer Concert Series
Monday, August 30th | 7PM | Recurring
Essex County is hosting a Summer Concert Series every week. On Monday, August 30th, head over to Cedar Grove Park to watch a performance. Learn more here.
Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival
Every Tuesday in August
The Sweet Sounds Downtown Music Festival will take place every Tuesday night during July and August, from 7PM-9PM. This is the 24th year of the series and will be featuring three bands in three locations throughout Westfield. Learn more here.
South Orange Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, September 1st | 2PM-7PM | Every Wednesday
Check out the South Orange Farmers Market every Wednesday in the Sloan St. Lot from 2PM-7PM. Please remember to bring your reusable shopping bags with you. Learn more here.
Free Community Knitting Virtual Class
Wednesday, September 1st | 7PM-9PM | Every Wednesday
Join a free community knitting virtual class every Wednesday. All fiber crafts are welcome. Register here.
Ways to Give Back Locally
Human Needs Food Pantry | 9 Label Street, Montclair
Opportunities to give back to the community are always available here. As a necessary component to the operation of the food pantry, volunteers are needed to do tasks from packaging fruits and vegetables to sorting donated clothes. For those who would like to interact with the community, the opportunity to deliver food to homebound clients is available. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity here.
LGBT Rain Foundation Essex County | 168 N Park Street, East Orange
The mission of LGBT Rain Foundation of Essex County has a mission of getting 18-26 persons experiencing homelessness on the path from transitional housing to permanent housing. A variety of tasks are needed to run this foundation. Volunteers are asking to make a 6-month commitment at a time to allow for relationship building with the residents. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity here.
Teen Volunteer Opportunities at the Montclair Public Library | 50 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
During the pandemic volunteer opportunities have been difficult to come by, especially for teens in search of projects to fulfill school requirements or to simply have something to do after school hours. The Montclair Public Library saw this concern and created new opportunities. For those looking for virtual volunteer opportunities, sign up to be a Reading Buddy from now until May. For those comfortable with in-person volunteering, opportunities to be involved with the Summer Reading Program are now available. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity here.
