Happy August! 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, 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 4th – August 11th).
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
South Orange Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, August 4th | 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.
Out Montclair’s Teen Social
Wednesday, August 4th | 6PM-8PM
It’s Out Montlcair’s second Teen Social, and this time at Doin’ Dishes on Church St.
LGBTQ youth and allies ages 12-17 can dish with new and old friends and get busy creating.
Fill up on music, snack and drinks provided. Learn more here.
Zoo-vies + Family Nights at Essex County’s Turtleback Zoo
Wednesday, August 4th + Thursday, August 5th
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 5th | 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 5th | 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.
NiCori Teen Performance Ensemble of Seussical the Musical
Thursday, August 5th, Friday, August 6th + Saturday, August 7th | 7PM-9PM
Nicori Studios and Productions presents the NiCori Teen Performance Ensemble of Seussical the Musical. Learn more here.
interACT Theatre Sings: Come Alive
Friday, August 6th + Saturday, August 7th | 6:30PM
interACT Theatre Sings presents Come Alive: A Musical Gala celebrating re-emergence + new beginnings. Learn more here.
Classes in Mixed-Media Abstract Art
Friday, August 6th | 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 6th | 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 6th | 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 6th + Saturday, August 7th | 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 6th + Saturday, August 7th, + Sunday, August 8th | 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 7th | 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 7th | 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 7th | 10AM-12PM | Every Saturday
Join Boardroom Skate for a skate session every Saturday at Rand Courts. Beginners are welcome. Learn more here.
Arts in the Garden: Peter and the Wolf Family Concert
Saturday, August 7th | 10AM
Experience Prokofiev’s classic tale about an adventurous boy and a hapless wolf. Instruments portray the duck, bird, cat, wolf, hunters, Peter, and his Grandfather, making an introduction to the orchestra. Learn more here.
Buzzfest @ the Essex County Environmental Center
Saturday, August 7th | 10AM-2PM
Come join the local beekeeper at the Essex County Environmental Center and see a real hive. You’ll even get a sample taste. Learn about bees, their current challenges, and how we can all help. Take home a bee-themed craft. Learn more here.
Caribbean Summer Open Mic
Saturday, August 7th | 12PM-7PM
Stop by the Caribbean Summer Open Mic for live performances, a raffle, good food, and a great time. Learn more here.
Butterfly Tent Safari at Essex County’s Turtleback Zoo
Saturday, August 7th | 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.
The Whyte Cadillacs at Ghost Hawk Brewing Co.
Saturday, August 7th | 2PM-5PM
Head over to Ghost Hawk Brewing Co. on Saturday, August 7th to see The Whyte Cadillacs perform. Learn more here.
Montclair Jazz Festival: Lackawanna Block Parties
Saturday, August 7th | 1PM-9PM | Through September
World-renowned trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, the Kelly Green Trio, Lee Hogans & Pursuance will perform. Learn more here.
Family Roller Skating at Branch Brook Park
Saturday, August 7th | 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.
Motown Sunday Brunch at Sweet Southern Eatery
Sunday, August 8th
Head over to Sweet Southern Eatery every Sunday for live music during brunch. Learn more here.
Auditions: Cabaret Night
Now-Monday, August 9th
Studio Players is holding auditions for Cabaret Night: Welcome Home. It will be a night of joyful, uplifting, and happy musical theatre songs. This is an audition based cabaret. You will know either way if you have been cast in the cabaret or not. Submissions on the form below are due by Monday, August 9th. Please use a track or accompanist if possible. 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 7th | 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.
Bloomfield Public Library’s Summer Reading Program
Now-August 14th | 4PM
Join the Bloomfield Public Library for children’s activities all week long including stories + snacks, Spanish storytimes, and takeaway crafts. 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
Essex County Summer Concert Series
Monday, August 9th | 7PM | Recurring
Essex County is hosting a Summer Concert Series every week. On Monday, August 9th, head over to Yanticaw Park to see Jersey Sound perform. Learn more here.
Farm to Vase Event
Wednesday, August 11th | 5:30PM
Head over to this fun, annual workshop at Morgan’s Farm in Cedar Grove. It will be held on Wednesday, August 11th at 5:30PM. There will be hiking to the flower beds and harvesting blooms to use for a flower arranging workshop to follow. Learn more here.
South Orange Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, August 11th | 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, August 11th | 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
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.
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.
