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 in the neighborhood. Check out this list of all the virtual and in-person events happening in Montclair, Bloomfield, and beyond this weekend (October 13th-17th).
Disclaimer: Events are subject to change and some may be weather dependent. For the most up-to-date info, please contact the host directly.
Featured Event
Our 7th Annual Fall Photo Contest #FallinLoveWithHoboken | 10/1 – 10/31
Sweater weather is finally here, and you know what that means if you’re a fall lover: pumpkin picking, apple pie, PSL, and best of all: seeing the leaves go through the seasonal color transformation. To commemorate the season’s beauty and living locally, Hoboken Girl is excited to announce our 7th Annual Fall Instagram PhotoContest, #FallinLovewithHoboken running until October 31st. This is your month to enter and win amazing prizes from 12 local businesses by posting your favorite things about Hoboken and Jersey City in the fall on Instagram.
Click here to read all about our fall photo contest, how to enter, and some past inspo to #FallinLoveWithHoboken.
Local Montclair (+ Beyond) Events
South Orange Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, October 13th | 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.
Fall Cornhole League at Montclair Brewery
Wednesday, October 13th | 7PM-8PM | Every Wednesday
Join the second season of Montclair’s own cornhole league hosted at Montclair Brewery, Wednesday nights 7-8PM. Learn more here.
Watchung Booksellers Presents Evening with Authors
Wednesday, October 13th | 7:30PM
Join author and owner of Montclair Bread Company, Rachel Wyman, at Watchung Booksellers to discuss her her cookbook: Will Run for Doughnuts. Learn more here.
Out at Night 50+ with OUT Montclair
Wednesday, October 13th | 7PM-9:30PM
Join OUT Montclair for the inaugural Out at Night 50+. The event will take place Outside and will have live music, bingo with @hsunbeam, the warmth of heat lamps and glow of good company. Learn more here.
“The Book of Magic” Presented by The Montclair Public Library
Thursday, October 14th | 7PM
Novelist Alice Hoffman returns to Montclair to discuss “The Book of Magic,” the finale to her bestselling Practical Magic quartet, with Elisabeth Egan of The New York Times Book Review. Learn more here.
Meditation Workshop
Thursday, October 14th | 11:30AM | Every Thursday
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 insights with you. Learn more here.
Beginners Flow Yoga
Thursday, October 14th | 6PM | Every Thursday
This class, hosted by the Union Public Library, 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.
Diwali Festival (Festival of the Lights) at Montclair Brewery
Thursday, October 14th | 5PM-10PM
Stop by Montclair Brewery for Diwali Festival which takes place each year after the conclusion of harvest and to coincide with the new moon between mid-October and mid-November. It generally symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance”. It is also widely associated with the Goddess Lakshmi, who symbolizes three virtues: wealth and prosperity, fertility, and abundant crops, as well as good fortune. Learn more here.
Tiny House Workshop in the Catskills
Friday, October 15th-Sunday, October 17th
Stay, eat, rest, cook, sleep, and live in a tiny house while learning how to design, move, and oversee-the-building of your own. Learn more here.
Third Year Anniversary Weekend at Montclair Brewery
Friday, October 15th-Sunday, October 17th | All Day
Head over to Montclair Brewery to celebrate the 3rd anniversary with new beers, and African, Caribbean, and American-style live music all weekend. Learn more here.
Classes in Mixed-Media Abstract Art
Friday, October 15th | 1PM
Every Friday, award-winning Roseland artist Evan Stuart Marshall will teach a class on mixed-media abstract art. The topics covered include design and composition, classic abstract layouts, working with shapes, intuitive painting, and more. Learn more here.
Storytime on the Green at Watchung Booksellers
Friday, October 15th | 4PM
Join author Anne Appert for Storytime on the Green to discuss her picture book “Blob,” a story about embracing who we are and the many things we can be. Learn more here.
Friday on the Farm
Friday, October 15th | 5PM -7:30PM
Join Montclair Community Farms for some fun games, local food by @ruthiesbbq, pumpkin painting, chickens, music @schoolofrockmontclair, raffles from @earth_andvine and @lisa_guillard_photo and so much more. Bring a blanket, drinks, and some friends to hang. Learn more here.
All Points West Distillery Tour + Tasting
Friday, October 15th + Saturday, October 16th | 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.
Dinner Under the Stars in Bloomfield Center
Friday, October 15th | 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. Learn more here.
Benny the Butcher at The Wellmont Theater
Friday, October 15th | 7PM
Benny the Butcher will be at The Wellmont Theater on Oct. 15th. Learn more here.
Live Music at Montclair Brewery
Friday, October 15th + Saturday, October 16th, + Sunday, October 17th | 7PM-9:30PM
Head over to Montclair Brewery for live music every weekend provided by local artists. Learn more here.
Saturday Skate Sesh with Boardroom Skate
Saturday, October 16th | 10AM-12PM | Every Saturday
Join Boardroom Skate for a skate session every Saturday at Rand Courts. Beginners are welcome. Learn more here.
Chinese Cooking Classes with Chef Gilley
Saturday, October 16th | 5PM | Recurring
Enjoy an authentic Chinese culinary experience led by Chef Gilley. In these live online cooking classes, you’ll experience training from Chef Gilley as you prepare a variety of classic Chinese recipes completely from scratch. Learn more here.
The Frontera Project at Luna Stage
Now-Saturday, October 16th | 7PM
The Frontera Project brings Mexican and US artists together in a unique, bi-lingual, interactive performance experience. Fusing theater, movement, music, and play, this dynamic piece engages the audience in a compassionate, often joyous conversation about the Border that lifts up the kinds of human stories that too often get lost in the noise of partisan agendas and media bubbles. Learn more here.
Family Roller Skating at Branch Brook Park
Saturday, October 16th | 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, October 17th
Head over to Sweet Southern Eatery every Sunday for live music during brunch. Learn more here.
West Essex Trail Cleanup
Sunday, October 17th | 9:30AM
Join the Sustainable Verona team with a cleanup along the Verona portion of the West Essex Trail Sunday, October 17th at 9:30AM. Please meet in the Verona High School Parking lot. Bring your own water. Disposable gloves, garbage bags and grabbers will be available. Learn more here.
Montclair’s Newest Public Art: Reverberations of Reawakenings
Ongoing
Local Artists Lauren Vroegindewey, Marguerite Kaufer, and Nicole Nuzzolo are pleased to present Reverberations of Reawakenings, a 35-by-8-ft. painted mural in partnership with Montclair Diner currently on view at 613 Valley Road.
Hispanic Heritage Month 5K
Now-October 17th
Sign up for the Hispanic Heritage Month 5K. Log solo miles at a time and date you choose between September 15th-October 17th. Latinos Run is teaming up with Fleet Feet and On Footwear to bring you a hybrid 5K with virtual and in-person fun run options. Learn more here.
Girls in Gear Assistant Coach
Now-Nov. 14th
The Dream Project is a non-profit funding organization committed to helping young girls through service and cycling. The cycling trips span thousands of miles across the country and help those in need along the way. The group is e looking for an assistant coach to help on Sundays for six weeks. The coach must be at least 16 years of age, have a bike and helmet, be able to commit to six Sundays in a row starting on Oct 10th, and be ready to help empower young girls looking to grow as community leaders. Learn more here.
Transitional Energy Exhibit at SOPAC
On View Now-Nov. 21st
Transitional Energy: Form, Shape, Color by Curtis Grayson, III is SOPAC’s newest exhibit for the fall season. Learn more here.
Tech/Know/Future/ From Slang to Structure Exhibition Now Open at Montclair State University Galleries
On View Now-December 11th
The Montclair State University Galleries will present the exhibition Tech/Know/Future/ From Slang to Structure from September 14 through December 11, 2021. The new exhibition is the Galleries’ first in-person offering in nearly two years due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tech/Know/Future/ From Slang to Structure is a critical response to technological systems within art addressing the issues of identity, history and abstraction, placing the viewer at the intersection of the past, present and future. Learn more here.
MAM Premieres New Exhibits
Ongoing
Head over to Montclair Art Museum for the opening event of four exhibits including Color Riot! How Color Changed Navajo Textiles. With Diné perspectives and the technical mastery of weavers at the heart of Color Riot!, this exhibition, featuring 70 bold artworks from 1860–1930 and the present, celebrates the courage and vision to experiment. 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 the 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 becoming available 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/Teen Focused Events
Listen on the Lawn
Tuesday, October 19th | 11AM | Every Tuesday
Join The Montclair Public Library for an in-person storytime on the lawn at the Bellevue Avenue Branch. Rain dates are scheduled for Thursdays at the same time. Social distancing required. Registration is not required but is recommended for scheduling updates. Learn more here.
Cuentitos: Bilingual Spanish Storytime (ages 2-5)
Tuesday, October 19th | 4PM
Join The Montclair Public Library for a fun, bilingual Spanish story time session with live music. Children’s books will be read in Spanish and English along with an acoustic guitar and songs in Spanish. Spanish speakers and non-Spanish speakers are invited to join. Learn more here.
Upcoming Weekday Events
Bloomfield Farmer’s Market
Tuesday, October 19th | 3:30PM-6:30PM | Every Tuesday
Stop by the Bloomfield Farmers Market every Tuesday in front of the Bloomfield Public Library, 90 Broad Street, from 3:30PM-6:30PM. Learn more here.
South Orange Downtown Farmer’s Market
Wednesday, October 20th | 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, October 20th | 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
Catholic Charities of Newark | 976 Broad Street, Newark
A variety of options are available to support the community. Please contact Sharon Reilly-Tobin via email at [email protected] to learn about the greatest needs. Learn more about this opportunity here.
Communities Promoting Animal Welfare in NJ | 41 Watchung Plaza, Montclair
An opportunity for even the busiest volunteer. With options to help from home, at school, in-person, and virtually, the entire community can help save animals in the area. Volunteers are needed to help educate the community on animal welfare, help organize events, transport animals to and from doctor’s visits, and more. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity here.
Cultural Academic Student Exchange | 211 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
Become a host family for the Cultural Academic Student Exchange (CASE) and house a student studying abroad. The CASE program is always in need of families of all backgrounds to help immerse international students into the culture of the area and to help navigate everyday life during their stay. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity here.
Articles to Help You Plan Your Weekend
North Jersey Home of Abandoned Hospitals + Spooky Asylums
A Guide to the Best NJ Spots for Festive Fall Foliage
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Events in NJ
