Whether you’re heading out or staying in — this week’s Montclair + beyond events guide has got you covered with an Easter cookie decorating workshop, a virtual cinema series, performances, and much more happening. Check out this list of all the virtual and in-person events happening in Montclair, Bloomfield, and beyond this weekend {March 24th – March 30th}.
Disclaimer: Events are subject to change. For the most up-to-date info, please contact the host directly.
Virtual Events
Women, Power & Promise: A Covening Hosted by The Newark Museum of Art
Thursday, March 25th | 3:00PM-5:00PM
Join The Newark Museum of Art for a virtual event: Women, Power, & Promise: A Covening. Hear from fearless thought leaders about the continuing battle for true equality for all women, including Bobbi Brown, Founder and CEO of Beauty Evolution, owner of The George in Montclair, who shares her perspective and addresses issues and opportunities for women. Sign up here.
UNMUTE: We Don’t Need to Keep Silent About our Mental Health Virtual Workshop
Thursday, March 25th | 7:00PM
The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) is excited to partner with The Jed Foundation and Jared’s Fund to bring JED High School, a comprehensive mental health initiative designed specifically for teens, to Montclair High School. March 25th will be an evening of storytelling and information sharing that highlights the urgency and hope for mental health support at Montclair High School. It will be hosted by and feature MHS students, talking about their ongoing efforts to destigmatize mental health issues. In addition, attendees will learn about the new initiative from MHS administrators and representatives from JED. This virtual event is open to students, caregivers and community members interested in learning more. Sign up here.
Jazz & Justice: A Performance and Panel on Artists and Activism Hosted by NJPAC
Thursday, March 25th | 7:00PM
Join NJPAC — and its partner organizations Congregation Ahavas Sholom and the Rutgers-Newark Institute for Jazz Studies — for the premiere performance of The Jazz and Justice Suite, a new work celebrating the activism and artistry of both communities. Sign up here.
Free Candle Making Basics Virtual Workshop
Thursday, March 25th | 7:00PM
Join a free, virtual candle-making workshop! Learn how to make your own scented soy wax candles in 3 forms – wood wick candle, tea light candles, and a set of wax melts. You will also learn about the best candle-making practices and safety. All you will need is access to a microwave or a double boiler and a kitchen thermometer. Classes include a DYI Kit that can be shipped or picked up from the Montclair shop. Sign up here.
Baby’s First Foods Workshop Hosted By Montclair Baby
Thursday, March 25th | 8:00PM
This virtual course is perfect for parents who want to take the next step after mastering the first few months of feeding their child breastmilk or formula. Register here.
Women with Voices: Fempreneurship Roundtable
Friday, March 26th | 8:00PM
Women with Voices presents, the Femprenuership virtual event to celebrate female entrepreneurs everywhere. The event is sponsored by the Women With Voices founder Cloé Luv and will consist of 4 amazing Fempreneurs that will give you insight on their journey and helpful advice to bring value to your business. At the end of the event, they will provide details about their $10,000 in grants, which are exclusive to attendees only. Register here.
MLK and Beyond: Performances to Celebrate the Dream Hosted by NJPAC
Saturday, March 27th | 12:00PM
Celebrate the inspiring words and the enduring legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr through this collection of moving responses to his message in the song, in dance, and inverse. Dr. King’s own speeches, and reflections on how his words can guide us today, are included in this free, virtual panorama of performances that both echo and grow from King’s teachings on justice, equality, and love. Vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, the Forces of Nature Dance Company, Innervisions Theater Arts Center, the 105 Voice of History HBCU Concert Choir, and Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Professor of Race, History and Public Policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School, are among those featured in this hour-long, multidisciplinary piece honoring Dr. King’s lasting vision of America as a “beloved community” where “brotherhood is a reality.” Sign up here.
Morgan’s Farm’s Earth Day Kits + Support Monarch Butterflies
Pick-ups in March + April
Stop by Morgan’s Farm to purchase some Earth Day Seed Kits, and support local efforts to help monarch butterflies, important pollinators whose population is endangered. Choose from a variety of kits including Sunflower, herbs and Milkweed which come with pots, potting soil and more. The kits range from $10 to $20. Morgan’s Farm is located at 903 Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove. Learn more here.
Holistic Lamaze Course Hosted By Montclair Baby
Registration Now Open | Sunday, March 28th | 1:30PM-5:30PM
This virtual course, Holistic Childbirth Education, is inspired by the book, Birthing from Within and based on The Six Care Practices that Support Normal Birth. Register here.
Easter Cookie Decorating Virtual Workshop
Sunday, March 28th | 2:00PM
Join a virtual Easter cookie decorating workshop! Learn how to decorate cookies like a professional. Taught by Stephanie of StyledBlu. Perfect for individuals, couples, and families. $75 per family. DIY Kit provided. Register in advance to reserve your materials for shipping or local curbside pick up. Sign up here.
Montclair Mutual Aid’s 1 Year Anniversary Online Art Auction
Now-Sunday, March 28th
Montclair Mutual Aid is hosting a First Anniversary Art Auction online now through March 28th. The online art auction celebrates Montclair Mutual Aid’s one year of work in the community — and proceeds will help keep that work going. Both emerging and established artists from the Montclair Area and beyond have donated prints, paintings, ceramics, sculpture, photographs, and textile arts to help support Montclair Mutual Aid’s projects and work in the community. Montclair Mutual Aid was founded at the end of March 2020 to address the ways that COVID-19 would exacerbate existing issues that affect the lives of our neighbors in Montclair. Learn more here.
Force of Beauty: a Newark Family Memoir Hosted by NJPAC
Tickets Available Now | Tuesday, March 30th | 7:00PM
Join NJPAC for an online book talk with Women@NJPAC Trustee and ESSENCE editor Mikki Taylor, author of the new Audible Original Force of Beauty: A Newark Family Memoir. This incredible memoir will introduce you to three generations of women whose style and power left an indelible imprint on Newark and the world. Hosted by CBS News national correspondent and CBS This Morning co-host Michelle Miller, they’ll also be joined by Force of Beauty co-author Deborah Riley Draper. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will provide an opening introduction. Sign up here.
The Real James Bond: Ian Fleming, Ornithology and Conservation in the Caribbean Hosted by Montclair Film
Tickets Available Now | Event: Wednesday, March 31st | 1:00PM
Join Montclair Film and The Nature Conservancy for their free webinar on Wednesday, March 31st at 1:00PM about the larger-than-life and times of the world’s most fascinating ornithologist, James Bond. Jim Wright, TNC council member in New Jersey and author of The Real James Bond, will discuss how Bond’s landmark book, Birds of the West Indies, set in motion events that would link him to the most iconic spy in the Western world, and turn his life upside down in the process. Sign up here.
Ralph Pucci 5th Annual Jazz Set Livestream Broadcast
Tickets Available Now | Event: Wednesday, March 31st | 8:00PM-10:30PM
The Jazz Set reunites two of the most omnipresent figures and cultural ambassadors of our time: virtuosic bassist, composer and Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival, Christian McBride with trumpeter, composer and Managing and Artistic Director of Jazz At Lincoln Center, Wynton Marsalis. Sign up here.
Ruth – Justice Ginsburg In Her Own Words: Virtual Cinema Hosted by Montclair Film
Now-Wednesday, March 31st
Join Montclair Film for their virtual cinema series honoring Women’s History Month featuring the film: Ruth – Justice Ginsburg In Her Own Words. The improbable story of how Ruth Bader Ginsburg — who couldn’t get a job despite graduating first in her law school class in a tie and making Law Review at Harvard and Columbia Law Schools — became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Revealing both the public and private sides of a resilient, resourceful woman who has survived the hostility of the profoundly male universe of government and law to become a revered Justice and icon for gender equality and women’s rights. Tickets are $10. Learn more here.
2021 Shamrocks & Shenanigans Virtual 4 Mile Run Walk
Now-Wednesday, March 31st
Leprechaun costumes, traditional Irish food, and running, of course, there’s no better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than completing the Shamrocks & Shenanigans Virtual 4 miler event. Celebrate your race and the “Luck of the Irish” with runners from all 50 states and around the world. Complete each distance one at a time or if you’re feeling lucky complete all 4 miles. Either way, we encourage you to wear your finest St. Patrick’s Day attire and have fun! Your virtual event can be completed any time from March 1st, 2021 until March 31st, 2021. Sign up here.
Virtual Cinema Series Hosted by Montclair Film
Now-Thursday, April 1st
Join Montclair Film for their virtual cinema series honoring Women’s History Month and much more with over 15 titles to choose from. Tickets range from $8 for members to $12 for non-members. Learn more here.
Wojnarowicz: Virtual Cinema Film Hosted by Montclair Film
Now-Thursday, April 1st
Join Montclair Film for their virtual cinema series featuring the film: WOJNAROWICZ , also known by its full, and for some, controversial title, WOJNAROWICZ: F**K YOU F*GGOT F**KER, is a fiery and urgent documentary portrait of downtown New York City artist, writer, photographer, and activist David Wojnarowicz. As New York City became the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Wojnarowicz weaponized his work and waged war against the establishment’s indifference to the plague until his death from it in 1992 at the age of 37. Exclusive access to his breathtaking body of work – including paintings, journals, and films – reveals how Wojnarowicz emptied his life into his art and activism. Rediscovered answering machine tape recordings and intimate recollections from Fran Lebowitz, Gracie Mansion, Peter Hujar, and other friends and family help present a stirring portrait of this fiercely political, unapologetically queer artist. Tickets are $10. Learn more here.
A Conversation About Art and Healing with Maggie Meiners and Renee Folzenlogen Hosted by Montclair Art Museum
Tickets available now | Event: Thursday, April 1st | 6:00PM
Join MAM for their 5th Annual Gaelen Family Artist Lecture: A Conversation About Art and Healing with Maggie Meiners and Renee Folzenlogen. Maggie Meiners will reflect on her personal journey with mental health and creativity in conversation with art therapist Renee Folzenlogen. Meiners will discuss her artistic practice throughout her career, including works on view in the exhibition, Fragile Freedoms: Maggie Meiners Revisits Rockwell. This event is free. Register here.
Richard Thompson & Elvis Costello ‘Words & Music’ Hosted by Montclair Literary Festival
Tickets available now | Event: Tuesday, April 6th | 8:00PM
The Montclair Literary Festival’s event series continues with a live conversation between two music legends. Join legendary U.K. singer and guitarist, Richard Thompson, for the launch of his memoir Beeswing: Losing My Voice and Finding My Way 1967-1975 with iconic singer-songwriter, Elvis Costello on Tuesday, April 6th at 8:00PM. Tickets cost $30 and include a copy of the book {value of $28}. The first 100 people to register will receive a signed copy of the book. The event will be held on Crowdcast and a sign-up link will be sent after ticket purchase. Books can be picked up at Festival partner Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, or shipped to your home address {additional cost, select option when selecting ticket; shipping available within the US only}. Register here.
American Heart Association + CPR Certification Course Hosted By Montclair Baby
Registration Now Open | Saturday, April 10th | 2:00PM-5:00PM
Each workshop participant will receive a two-year CPR certification card from the American Heart Association and special focus will be provided on Pediatric and Infant CPR. First Aid Basics will be discussed, our instructor will focus on First Aid Emergencies specific to Pediatric Patients and Infants. The instructor will encourage participants to provide situational emergencies and provide discussion on an appropriate response. Please note this class is limited to 5 couples. Covid safety protocols will be strictly followed including all attendees must wear face coverings. Register here.
American Sign Language Course Hosted By Montclair Baby
Now-Sunday, April 14th | 11:30AM-12:30PM
Jumpstart communication with basic American Sign Language through a fun combination of music, books, and engaging activities for baby. Caregivers will learn to help babies express their needs before they are able to convey them verbally. This program will teach signs for both daily routine and fun things that motivate the baby to communicate. Sign language accelerates verbal development, strengthens cognitive skills, reduces frustration and tantrums, increases self-esteem, and enhances child-caregiver bonding. Get ready to learn, have fun, and make new friends. Register here.
Volunteer + Donate to The Act Now Foundation
Ongoing
The Act Now Foundation is always looking for volunteers + donations. By partnering with Act Now Foundation on it’s mission, you as an individual or your company, can have a profound impact on the movement to end Alzheimer’s and improve the quality of life for Alzheimer’s patients and their families. You can stand up as a leader in the battle against this disease and demonstrate to your community that you are making an active effort to ease their burden. Donate + learn more here.
Free Community Knitting Virtual Class
Every Wednesday | 7:00PM-9:00PM
Join a free community knitting virtual class every Wednesday from 7:00PM to 9:00PM. All fiber crafts are welcome. Register here.
Register for a Free Dance Class
Available online
Classes are available online every day and include Salsa, West African, Hip-Hop, and more. Classes are hosted by Alvin Ailey Studio. Register here.
In-Person Events
Essex County Emergency Food Distribution Event
Thursday, March 25th | 9:00AM
Essex County will host an emergency food distribution event on Thursday, March 25th at 9:00AM at Essex County Hendricks Field Golf Course. The event will be held rain or shine. Essex County Hendricks Field Golf Course is located at 220 Franklin Avenue in Belleville. Learn more here.
Point of Action: New Art Installation at Crane Park
Starting Thursday, March 25th
Head over to Crane Park for a new art installation! Montclair residents and artists Nina Cooke John and Charlie Spademan are bringing the installation to Montclair at no cost to the township for about four to six weeks. The installation consists of nine aluminum-framed pavilions on six-foot concrete circles — illustrating the social distancing we have been adhering to — with ropes that are intertwined and part to allow people to step into the frame. In the center, a “spotlight” illuminates the person and creates a safe connection to others inside other frames, as well as passersby. Cooke John is the designer, while Spademan will be installing Point of Action. During the holidays, the public art installation was at the Flatiron Public Plaza on 23rd Street in New York. Point of Action addresses connectivity and community building. Crane Park is located at 1-9 Greenwood Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
Spring Pop-Up Market at Morgan’s Farm
Saturday, March 27th | 9:00AM-1:00PM
Stop by Morgan’s Farm for a Spring Pop-Up Market on Saturday, March 27th from 9AM-1PM. Organic Ground Coffees, Organic Nut Butters, Organic Olive Oil, Spring bulb flowers {daffodils, hyacinths and tulips}, Earth Day Seed Kits-Herbs and Sunflowers will be available for purchase + much more. Morgan’s Farm is located at 903 Pompton Avenue in Cedar Grove. Learn more here.
Meet UFC’s Dustin Poirier at Robert Graham in The Mall at Short Hills
Saturday, March 27th | 1:00PM-3:30PM
Meet the UFC’s #1 Lightweight ranking fighter Dustin Poirier at Robert Graham at The Mall at Short Hills on Saturday, March 27th from 1PM to 3PM. Shop special Dustin Poririer limited styles and have yours autographed with your purchase. The Mall at Short Hills is located at 1200 Morris Turnpike in
Short Hills. Register here.
Virtual/In House Tap Room Trivia at Montclair Brewery
Tickets Available Now | Event: Wednesday, March 31st | 6:00PM-7:30PM
Join Montclair Brewery for their trivia night virtually or in-house! Register here.
Family Meal Program
Every Wednesday | 2:30PM-3:30PM
If you or someone you know is in need of food, The Family Meal program is available every Wednesday from 2:30PM-3:30PM. The event is located at the Geyer Family Y Parking Lot at 159 Glenridge Avenue in Montclair. Learn more here.
The Montclair Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday | 8:00AM-1:00PM
The market takes place every Saturday at the Walnut Street Train Station located at 86 Walnut Street in Montclair. The Montclair Farmers’ Market brings you an array of local farmers and food artisans offering fresh fruits & vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, cheeses, gluten-free baked goods, prepared foods, condiments, honey, flowers, wine, pickles, and so much more. Learn more here.
Visit the Montclair Art Museum
Virtually + in-person
The Montclair Art Museum has officially reopened its doors with over 3 new exhibitions including Fragile Freedoms. MAM was founded in 1914 and was the first museum in New Jersey to grant access to the public + focus only on art. It has preserved American and Native American Art since its inception and contains over 12,000 pieces of artwork including sculptures, ceramics, artifacts, and more. Dream Act by Maggie Meiners is on display now until June 13th. Tickets to the museum must be reserved prior to entering and Fridays from 11AM to 12PM are reserved for immunocompromised persons as well as seniors. MAM’s artwork can be enjoyed virtually on the website as well. Learn more here.
Tour Van Vleck House and Gardens
Open daily | 9:00AM-6:00PM
Take a free tour of Van Vleck House and Gardens which is a beautiful oasis in the heart of Montclair. A center for horticulture, education, music, art, and quiet contemplation, the gardens are open to the public for their enjoyment and the house is available to non-profits for meetings and events. The grounds are open every day from 9:00AM to 6:00PM. Virtual tours are also available online. Van Vleck House and Gardens is located at 21 Van Vleck Street in Montclair. Learn more here.
Attend an Exclusive Viewing Dinner of Hell’s Kitchen Season 19
Every Thursday | 7:30PM
Attend an exclusive viewing dinner of the new season of Hell’s Kitchen at MC Hotel’s Allegory in Montclair, located at 690 Bloomfield Avenue. Show participants and chefs will be in attendance. The viewing dinners will be offered until both chefs are eliminated, or crowned victorious. Space is limited. To book, call Allegory at 973-329-5600. Learn more here.
Take a Hike at Eagle Rock Reservation
Open daily | 9:00AM-9:00PM
Take a hike at Eagle Rock Reservation which has more than 400 acres along the Watchung Mountains ridgeline located between West Orange, Montclair, and Verona. The 40 mile Lenape Trail {yellow blazes} skirts the eastern edge of the park. The hiking trails and footpaths that crisscross the woodland {and sometimes boggy} areas of the park are friendly for hikers of all ages and abilities. The Eagle Rock Reservation is located at Eagle Rock Avenue and Prospect Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Kid-Focused Events
SummerART Camp Open House Hosted by Montclair Art Museum
Thursday, March 25th | 6:00PM- 7:00PM
Join MAM for their SummerART Camp Open House and meet their team + find out more about their kids’ art camps and teen classes in this online information session. Hear about the fun activities they have planned and the safety procedures they have put in place. MAM will share their new schedule, take you on a guided virtual tour, answer all your questions, and help you decide on the best camp or class for your creative kid. Register here.
Illustration for Teens Hosted by Montclair Art Museum
Registration is now open | Classes Every Wednesday: April 14th-June 2nd | 4:30PM- 6:00PM
Join MAM for their Illustration for Teens classes every Wednesday starting April 14th-June 2nd. Students explore visual strategies for communicating concepts and individual expression with a professional illustrator. In addition to technique-based instruction, there will be a variety of assignments reflective of the range of approaches and possibilities in the field of illustration. Students must provide their own materials. Register here.
Take and Make Saturdays
Every Saturday | Now-June 12th | 11:00AM-4:00PM
Register for a craft project each week, pick it up on Saturday during the library’s Public Browsing Hours, and do it at home! While supplies last. One kit per child. For all ages. Sign up here.
Dungeons and Dragons Club at West Orange Library
Every Friday | Now-June 18th | 3:15PM-5:15PM
Join an epic quest awaiting teens who join the DnD club. DnD features role-playing, storytelling, strategic thinking, math skills, problem-solving, and teamwork all rolled into one. The event is open to teens living in West Orange. Sign up here.
Visit the Turtleback Zoo
Open daily | 10:00AM-3:00PM
Take a trip to the Turtleback Zoo to catch their incredible Sea Turtle Recovery exhibit, Sea Lion Sound, and much more. Virtual tours are also available through the website. The Turtleback Zoo is located at 560 Northfield Avenue in West Orange. Learn more here.
Ways to Give Back Locally
Toni’s Kitchen {73 S Fullerton Avenue}
2020 provided a challenge for many, especially when it came to hunger and food insecurity. Toni’s Kitchen, an organization that has provided the community in need with food resources, shifted its response to accommodate those rising numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Toni’s Kitchen now provides 20,000 meals every week which is an increase of 4,300 pounds per week since 2019. Because of the support of generous donors and volunteers, 800+ families are no longer worrying about the next meal. Learn how to get involved here.
Human Needs Food Pantry {9 Label Street}
The COVID-19 pandemic brought on the highest rates of hunger in the United States ever. In New Jersey alone, over 1.1 million people are food insecure. The Human Needs Pantry has been able to add over 1,000 additional homes to service during this time of need. Through the help of generous donors and volunteers’ residents in need in Montclair and neighboring Essex County towns are able to pick up food or have a home delivery grocery service. Close to 3,000 groceries are donated weekly through the area. Learn more here on how to get involved.
Jazz House Kids {347 Bloomfield Avenue}
Founder Melissa Walker was prepped to be a lawyer before opportunities in music kept showing up all around her. She attributes her ability to follow her heart and be a jazz artist to great mentors in her life. Now, through Jazz House Kids, Melissa is providing students the opportunities she had by mentoring them. Jazz House Kids combines music, mentoring, education, and leadership to help serve students in the community who may face a financial gap to being involved with music. Her program opens opportunities to learn and grow with music. Support from donors is needed to keep her “little wishes” going. Learn more here on how to get involved.
Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris {33 South Fullerton Avenue}
Mental health is often highly stigmatized in society and the media. Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris is working to reverse this stigma and provide support to those living with mental illness as well as the caregivers. Through advocacy, education, prevention, early intervention, treatment, and services, the organization is working to achieve its mission. Case management services, suicide prevention work, and housing opportunities are just a small sample of the community work of this organization. Learn more here on how to get involved.
Montclair Fund for Women {41 Watchung Plaza}
Originally known as the Young Colored Women’s Christian Association, this organization was founded by African American women who came to Montclair in search of education, employment, and opportunity. As time passed, the organization not only changed its name, it joined forces with women of all backgrounds and became a prominent force in the community. Since its inception, the Montclair Fund for Women has given over $800,000 in grants to provide opportunities to women. Learn more here on how to get involved.
Pound Animal Welfare Society {PAWS}
Hundreds of animals need adoption across the state of New Jersey. For over 41 years, the Pound Animal Welfare Society has been helping place homeless animals. PAWS does not have a facility to house animals in need, but the support of generous volunteers makes the work possible. In addition to fostering animals, supplies are needed. Learn more here on how to get involved.
Covenant House New Jersey
Covenant House began more than 40 years ago when six young runaways were given shelter from a snowstorm, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In 1989, Covenant House began its work in New Jersey by providing basic services to homeless youth on the streets of Newark and Atlantic City. Outreach staff travel in vans to these areas offering food, clothing, counseling, and referrals for shelter. All of the services are free. There is no cost and people do not need insurance. Covenant House New Jersey is there for young people for as long as they need help, which includes even when they are living completely on their own. Learn more here.
Junior League of Montclair-Newark
The Junior League of Montclair-Newark {JLMN} is a volunteer organization of women committed to Promoting Volunteerism, Developing the potential of women, and Improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Their purpose is exclusively educational and charitable. The JLMN is a nonprofit organization of trained volunteers. Through hands-on projects and partnerships, members build a better community by promoting education, health and wellness, literacy, and the arts for children at risk each year. Learn more here.
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, is the leading anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization in the state. What started as a modest enterprise in the back of our founder Kathleen DiChiara’s station wagon in downtown Newark in 1975, became an incorporated non-profit in 1982 and has grown to two warehouse facilities in Hillside and Egg Harbor Township, the combined size of five football fields. These locations serve area programs and community partners- over 1,000 in 15 of 21 New Jersey counties- within which 760,000 food-insecure neighbors in need reside. Learn more here.
