We are just two weeks away from August and everyone is out and about while enjoying the warm temperatures and sunshine in the Essex County area. This week’s local Montclair + North Jersey area events guide has you covered with a Margarita Cocktail Class at Village Hall, Halsey Festival in Downtown Newark, a Tina Turner Tribute by Gail Campbell at Montclair Brewery, and more. Check out the list of all the events + things to do in North Jersey this weekend, July 20th – July 23rd, 2023.
Disclaimer: These events are included editorially as a community resource, and The Montclair Girl is not affiliated with hosting unless explicitly stated. For the most up-to-date and accurate info including inclement weather cancellations, please contact the host directly.
The Lane Team is a family-run Montclair Real Estate business that offers a customized real estate experience. You can schedule an appointment and start your home search in the Montclair and/or North Jersey area here.
Montclair JamFest at Wellmont Arts Plaza
Saturday, July 22nd at 6:00PM | LEARN MORE
Montclair JamFest is happening this Saturday, July 22nd at 6:00PM at the Wellmont Arts Plaza, on Seymour Street in Montclair. The event is free to the public and the evening will be filled with incredible live performances by Waterbury Road and special guest Joe Lorge, as well as fun outdoor games, delicious hot dogs + handcrafted cocktails, and more. Not to mention, there will also be a food drive to benefit Toni’s Kitchen, a local organization dedicated to combating food insecurity — so make sure you bring some non-perishable food items to the event including breakfast items, pasta sauce, rice, tuna, soup, nuts, peanut butter, dried fruit and canned beans).
Click here to learn more about Montclair JamFest at Wellmont Arts Plaza.
The Local Girl Real Estate Listings
Live Now | BROWSE THE DIRECTORY
To make home hunting that much simpler, our parent brand The Local Girl has launched a Real Estate Listings Directory. The directory is an ever-growing, curated list of real estate properties throughout New Jersey, from Montclair + Essex County to the Jersey Shore. Whether you’re looking for a new house, condo, rental, or you’re looking to list your property as a realtor or owner, we’re here to help you find your way home.
Click here to browse The Local Girl’s real estate listings directory and click here to learn more about how it works.
3 Voyages While Standing Still at 73 See Gallery + Design Studio
Ongoing until September 7th
Browse Carol J Cohn’s exhibit, 3 Voyages While Standing Still. This event will be held at 33 Plymouth Street, 1st Floor in Montclair. Learn more here.
Yappy Hour at Montclair Brewery
Thursday, July 20th | 5PM – 7:30PM
Bring your best four-legged friend for a brew outside on the Montclair Brewery’s outdoor patio. This event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Sugarhill Gang at Chambers Plaza Hosted by NJPAC
Thursday, July 20th | 6PM
This free outdoor concert series will feature Sugarhill Gang. This event will be held at Chambers Plaza on NJPAC grounds in Newark. Learn more here.
Margarita Cocktail Class at Village Hall
Thursday, July 20th | 6PM – 8PM
Work alongside a mixologist and learn how to craft 3 different margaritas, all while snacking on a variety of lite bites. This event will be held at 101 South Orange Avenue in South Orange. Learn more here.
Terra/Sol3 Interstellar Portraits Artist Reception at Tiny Gallery
Thursday, July 20th | 6:30PM – 8:30PM
This artist reception celebrates the collection of interstellar portraits by Bloomfield artist Joan Park. This event will be held at 8 Stanford Place in Montclair. Learn more here.
Sip + Sing Karaoke at Montclair Brewery
Thursday, July 26th | 7:30PM – 9:30PM
This event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Thursday Trivia Night at Pineapple Express BBQ
Thursday, July 20th | 8PM
Win prizes and enjoy food and drink specials at 1 Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair. Learn more here.
Hannah Berner at NJPAC
Thursday, July 20th + Friday, July 21st | 8PM
This comedian will be performing at 1 Center Street in Newark. Learn more here.
NF at Prudential Center
Thursday, July 20th | 8PM
NF is bringing his Hope Tour to the Prudential Center. This event will be held at 25 Lafayette Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Showings at The Clairidge
Friday, July 21st | Various times
Films like Barbie, Asteroid City, and more are playing this weekend. These events will be held at 486 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Rapid Ride with Matthew at Ride It Fitness
Friday, July 21st | 9:30AM – 10AM
This workout class will be held at 50 Upper Montclair Plaza in Montclair. Learn more here.
Cornerstone Café at Montclair Art Museum
Friday, July 21st | 10AM – 4PM
Explore the MAM’s in-house coffee shop at 3 South Mountain Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Live Music: Ruby Bones at Montclair Brewery
Friday, July 21st | 7:30PM – 9:30PM
This musical performance will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Live Music: Trouble Ahead at Shillelagh Pub
Friday, July 21st | 8PM
This musical event will be held at 648 Prospect Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Public Skating Sessions + Family Stick + Puck
Saturday, July 22nd | Various times
These events will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Spiral Q: The Parade at Grounds For Sculpture
Ongoing
This exhibit will be on display at 80 Sculptors Way in Hamilton. Learn more here.
A Gentleman’s Guide to Love + Murder at SOPAC
Saturday, July 22nd + Sunday, July 23rd | Various times
This Tony Award-winning operetta will be performing at One SOPAC Way in South Orange. Learn more here.
Montclair Farmers’ Market at the Walnut Street Train Station
Saturday, July 22nd | 8AM – 2PM
The Montclair Farmers’ Market brings together an array of local farmers and food artisans, offering fresh fruits + vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, cheeses, prepared foods, baked goods, condiments, honey, flowers, wine, pickles, and much more. This event will be held at 86 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Outdoor Yoga Class Series with D at Orange Park
Saturday, July 22nd | 10AM
An all-level vinyasa flow that works on breathwork, focusing on safety points, and more. This class will be held at Oakland Avenue in Orange. Learn more here.
Halsey Festival in Downtown Newark
Saturday, July 22nd | 12PM
Newark’s annual highly popular celebration is back with music, food, and more. This event will be held in Downtown Newark. Learn more here.
Sea Glass + Resin Frame Making with The Eclectic Chic Boutique
Saturday, July 22nd | 2PM – 3:30PM
In this class, you will learn how to create a unique frame using sea glass, resin, and other embellishments. This event will be held virtually and in-person at 547 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Tina Turner Tribute by Gail Campbell at Montclair Brewery
Saturday, July 22nd | 2:30PM – 5:30PM
This musical event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
AEW Collision at Prudential Center
Saturday, July 22nd | 6PM
This wrestling event will be held at 25 Lafayette Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Live Music: Andy Lackow’s at Mess Around Shillelagh Pub
Saturday, July 22nd | 8PM
This musical event will be held at 648 Prospect Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Local Voices: Memories, Stories, + Portraits Exhibit at Grounds For Sculpture
Ongoing
This exhibit will be on display at 80 Sculptors Way in Hamilton. Learn more here.
Codey Arena Public Skating Sessions + Family Stick + Puck
Sunday, July 23rd | Various times
These events will be held at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
The North Jersey Blues + Brews Society at Montclair Brewery
Sunday, July 23rd | 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Montclair Brewery is teaming up with the North Jersey Blues Society to bring blues to Montclair, with special guest Vin Mott. There’s a $10 cover charge and this event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Animal Kingdom Exhibit at Newark Museum of Art
Ongoing
This exhibit explores a series of immersive and interactive experiences featuring art, animal specimen, and hands-on activities for all ages. This event will take place at 49 Washington Street in Newark. Learn more here.
Let’s Get Growing: Soil Critters at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Wednesday, July 26th | 9:30AM – 11:30AM
Children will become nature detectives to discover the wonderful world of soil critters that slither, crawl, chomp, and chew. This event will be held at 165 Hobart Avenue in Summit. Learn more here.
This dog-friendly events section is brought to you by Doggie Road Trippin’. Follow on Instagram here.
- HDSID Farmers Market — Jersey City | July 20th; Learn more here.
- Hackensack Brewing Vinyl Thursdays — Hackensack | July 20th; Learn more here.
- Union Farmer’s Market — Union | July 20th; Learn more here.
- Parsippany Farmers Market — Parsippany | July 21st; Learn more here.
- Yappy Hour at Wonder Bar — Asbury Park | July 22nd + July 23rd; Learn more here.
- Van Vorst Farmers Market — Jersey City | July 22nd; Learn more here.
- Hoboken Uptown Farmers Market — Hoboken | July 22nd; Learn more here.
- Bedminster Farmers Market — Bedminster | July 22nd; Learn more here.
- Wayne Farmers Market — Wayne | July 22nd; Learn more here.
- Clinton Community Farmers Market — Clinton | July 23rd; Learn more here.
- West End Farmers Market — Hackettstown | July 23rd; Learn more here.
- NB Pack Walks at South 40 Brewing Company — Edison | July 23rd; Learn more here.
- NJ Wiener Meetup in Hamilton Park — Jersey City | July 23rd; Learn more here.
- Summit Farmers Market — Summit | July 23rd; Learn more here.
- Garden State Plaza Farmers Market Hosted by Mega Bite — Paramus | July 23rd; Learn more here.
- Farmers Market at Church Square Park — Hoboken | July 25th; Learn more here.
Family Summer Movies at CityPlex 12
Tuesday, July 25th + Wednesday, July 26th | 10AM
Families are welcome at CityPlex 12 for their free summer movies series where different movies will be shown each week. This event will be held at 360-394 Springfield Avenue in Newark. Learn more here.
Work Wind Down Wednesdays at Casa de Flora Bar
Wednesday, July 26th | 10AM – 5PM
Enjoy pizza, pasta, and wine at 75 Washington Street in Bloomfield. Learn more here.
Montclair Brewery Cornhole League Summer Tournament
Wednesday, July 26th | 6:45PM – 9PM
Montclair’s own cornhole league meets at Montclair Brewery on Wednesday — players + spectators are encouraged to join the fun. This event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Blues People at Floods Hill in Meadowlands Park Hosted by SOPAC
Wednesday, July 26th | 7:30PM
This musical group will be performing at 100 North Ridgewood Road in South Orange. Learn more here.
Taproom Trivia with DJ No Requests at Montclair Brewery
Wednesday, July 26th | 7:30PM – 9:30PM
This event will be held at 101 Walnut Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Zoo-vies at Turtle Back Zoo
Wednesday, July 26th | 8PM – 10PM
Enjoy a screening of Godzilla vs. Kong at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
First Seventh-Day Adventist Church Soup Kitchen | 15 Elmwood Avenue, Montclair
Every Sunday from 12PM-2:30PM, the soup kitchen at the First Seventh-Day Adventist Church is available to those in need in the community. Join as a volunteer in this ministry that has been in and of service for over a decade. Volunteers are needed to prepare + serve food. Learn more here.
LGBT Rain Foundation Essex County | 168 N Park Street, East Orange
The mission of LGBT Rain Foundation of Essex County is to get 18-26 LGBTQ+ people 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 six-month commitment at a time to allow for relationship-building with the residents. Learn more here.
Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation | 228 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Recreation, community, + education are essential to childhood development. Through various programs, the Montclair Neighborhood Development Corporation is able to provide a positive environment for children in the community. The year-long program, Project Oasis, is broken up into two seasons + focuses on closing the achievement gap among African American youth. These services are only made possible by the support of volunteers, mentors, + donors. Learn more here.
Where to Enjoy Happy Hour in Montclair + Beyond
A Day Trip to Cold Spring, NY: A Hudson River Village
A Trip to Le French Dad Boulangerie in Montclair
Have an event you’d like included in our guide? Email it to [email protected] by Tuesday at 12PM each week. You can also email advertising@themontclairgirl.
Follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram and TikTok to keep up with all the fun happening around the area.
Have a great weekend, xo
Date Ideas for Dry January in Northern New Jersey
After the indulgence of the holiday season, many people choose to participate in Dry January as a way to start the year on a cleaner note. Luckily, cutting out alcohol doesn’t mean sacrificing your dating life, as there are plenty of great date activities in the Montclair area that can be enjoyed booze-free. Whether you’re participating in Dry January or are just looking to spice up date night sans alcohol, we have you covered with options that are unique, fun, and either get you moving or get your creative juices flowing. Read on for our list of date night ideas in Northern New Jersey for Dry January + beyond.
Candle + Fragrance Making at Alchemy Scent Bar | 30 Church Street, Montclair
Playing with scent is one way to cozy up, and Alchemy Scent Bar is the perfect place to do it. This scent shop provides the unique experience of creating custom candles and fragrances. Guests start by choosing their favorite scents from the candle wall, then head to the fragrance bar where one of the alchemists will help craft a custom-scented creation. In addition to being a great bonding activity, guests also get to take a memento home with them — to be burned or spritzed later in remembrance of the shared experience.
Read More: A Cozy Winter Activity: Candle Making in New Jersey
Coffee + Browsing the Montclair Art Museum | 3 South Mountain Avenue, Montclair
The Montclair Art Museum is an amazing piece of history and culture, and with the opening of its Cornerstone Café, this is an all-in-one date option for a Friday afternoon. Open only on Fridays, the cafe serves coffee from Java Love Roasting Co along with other drinks and snacks. The museum itself features rotating exhibitions in addition to its permanent collection, which keeps things fresh for frequent museum-goers. For those who are feeling extra artsy, the museum has classes and workshops for adults such as collaging, painting, and pottery.
Gaming at Hometown Arcade | 85 Washington Street, Bloomfield
Hometown Arcade is a family-friendly spot in Bloomfield where guests can play all sorts of games, including retro ones like Donkey Kong, Frogger, Asteroids, and Pac-Man. The arcade also partners with local food businesses like Six Points Pizza for patrons to enjoy a bite.
Get a Couple’s Head Massage at Aura Head Spa | 28 South Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
Aura Head Spa in Montclair specializes in Japanese-style head massages. At this spa, visitors can choose from multiple massages, all of which can be done with a partner. The Classic Head Spa treatment can be for 50 or 75 minutes and comes with a face cleanse, scalp exfoliation, scalp massage, shampoo cleanse, aura shampoo massage, and more. The Head Spa with Mini Facial + Jelly Mask package comes with face exfoliation, gua sha, scalp exfoliation + massage, neck + shoulder massage, and more.
Indoor Rock Climbing at Gravity Vault | 8 Seymour Street, Montclair
A climbing gym is the perfect backdrop for mixing up your dating game, especially for the sporty types. Gravity Vault Montclair is a bouldering-only climbing gym (a form of rock climbing that is done on shorter walls that are scaled without ropes or harnesses) that caters to all abilities and experience levels. Navigate through countless climbing patterns (clearly labeled with the difficulty level) for a fun and challenging experience (plus a killer workout). Day passes are $28 for adults.
Live Music Shows at Cedar Bean’s Coffee Joint | 575 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove
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It’s all about community at Cedar Bean’s, giving the patrons of Essex County a taste of small-town charm that feels reminiscent of Stars Hollow in Gilmore Girls. This quaint local coffee shop welcomes patrons in for live music performances. Cedar Bean’s has an extensive menu of both caffeinated and decaffeinated beverages (even non-alcoholic beer), with many seasonal options.
Mystic Pizza at Paper Mill Playhouse | 22 Brookside Drive, Millburn
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Paper Mill Playhouse is one of the leading theater destinations of the tri-state area, and is widely recognized for its showings of world-class musical theater. The production that we’re eying for January is Mystic Pizza, a musical adaptation of the beloved 1988 rom-com that starred Julia Roberts. The show is playing from January 29th to February 23rd. See more information about tickets here.
Partake in a Craft Class at The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
The Eclectic Chic Boutique is a collective of different local artists, makers, and small businesses. Guests can shop for handmade, original products — and there is even a chance to make some yourself. The Eclectic Chic Boutique hosts different craft classes and workshops like crocheting, candle making, or creating a collage. The boutique updates its events frequently on its website here.
Play Darts at DartsGood Social House | 293 Glenwood Avenue, Bloomfield
This dart arena in Bloomfield can make for a great date, especially for competitive couples. While guests are welcome to bring their own darts, the business provides them. DartsGood has games such as 501, 301, cricket, Around the Clock, High Score, and more.
Play a Round at Montclair Indoor Golf Club | 369 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced golf connoisseur, Montclair Indoor Golf Club is home to two virtual golf bays for members to use. The courses are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days per year. This indoor golf simulator brings the outdoor setting of an actual golf course indoors — without having to bear with the January weather.
Pottery Class at Mud Clay Studio | 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, 409 Main Street, Boonton + 6 Main Street, Madison
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Look no further than Mud Clay Studio if you want to make your date a “claydate”. With locations in Montclair, Boonton, and Madison, and a robust programming schedule of Creative Clay Nights, Couples Nights, and more, Mud Clay Studio has an array of options for taking your date to the wheel. Classes begin with a quick introduction to hand-building with clay, then move to the potter’s wheel for the creation phase, and end with folks picking their glaze colors for the final product.
See More: Alcohol-Free Activities in Hoboken + Jersey City
Test Your Skills at Amazing Escape Room | 281 Liberty Street, Bloomfield
The Amazing Escape Room is home to several themed rooms that each have interactive puzzles and riddles to solve. Couples can make it a group date-night kind of situation, to make the escape room experience more lively. Adrenaline will be at an all-time high but once customers complete the escape room, photo ops with signs are available to show off your win.
