Summer is here, and with it comes Summer-time weather and an endless choice of events and festivals that will keep you busy thru the whole summer. This time of year is the most popular time of the season in the Northeast and a great time to enjoy some of the local festivals and special summer events.
Northeast New Jersey is full of summer festivals and events. Most take place outdoors, so you can enjoy the outdoor temperatures. In addition, you are able to enjoy music and dance, arts and crafts, outdoor concerts, an array of festive foods and much more.
Here is your holiday round-up, a guide to local summer festivals and events that are sure to keep you having fun:
1. NJPAC – Sounds of the City, Thursday, July 5 – Thursday, August 30th
NJPAC has a diversified combination of performers and entertainers in Sounds of the City. NJPAC has family attractions, Latin music, American song, comedy, spoken word, opera, classical, film, dance, rhythm and blues, gospel and world music. So there is a little something for everyone.
NJPAC’s outdoor music event has a diversified line of music and celebrities. The artist for this local summer time event is as follow: Felix Hernandez, The Wailers, Ray Mantilla Space Station, Kevin Lyttle and New Kingston Band, Big Daddy Kane, Kindred the Family Soul, Rakim, Larry Harlow and the Latin Legends Band and Kerwin Dubois and New Kingston Band. Performance begins at approximately 5:00pm and ends at 10:00pm.
In addition, NJPAC also has a new summer event, which is an outdoor concert held on Friday nights. The concert is presented as “Friday Night Live,” it is a series of four free evening outdoor concerts. The events are on July 6, July 20, August 3 and August 17. The concert begins at approximately 5:00pm and ends at 8:00pm.
NJPAC offers a special parking rate of $7 at parking lots B and C, and in the Military Park garage. Tickets: Buy 3 events, save up to $5 per ticket
Buy 4 events, save up to $7 per ticket
Buy 5 or more and save up to $10 per ticket
Single tickets are now on sale
2. Nutley’s Fathers’ Day Street Fair & Craft Show, Sunday, June 17
This is a family-oriented community- summer time festival that emphasizes on community togetherness. The Fathers’ Day Street Fair & Craft Show is held yearly, transforming Franklin Avenue to an open air pedestrian marketplace with continuous entertainment. This event has variety of family activities, such as sand art, games, face painting, rides & climbing wall, temporary tattoos and much more fun. Also, crafts, vendors, festive foods, live on stage entertainment. Sunday, June 17, 2012, starting at 10am (please confirm time and admission fees) and will be held on Franklin Ave., Nutley, NJ.
Generally, these types of festivals have free admission.
3. Summer 2012: Newark Black Film Festival, June 20, 2012 – August 1, 2012
The Newark Black Film Festival is in its 38th season. The NBFF inception came together in 1974. It is the longest running festival in the United States. The NBFF provides a showcase for emerging writers, directors, producers, performers and films that targets those who enjoy African American and African Diaspora Cinema as well as an outlet for films about the African-American experiences from earlier times.
The festival also features the Paul Robeson awards, a biennial competition which was held in 2012 and also, again in 2014.
The festival is a six-week festival is free to the public administered by the Newark Museum and planned by the NBFF.
Newark Black Film Festival Schedule:
All screening begins at 7 p.m. at the museum
June 20: “Fold, Crumple, Crush: The Art of El Anatsui”
June 27: “Boomerang” (1992)
July 11: “The Contradictions of Fair Hope”
July 18: “The First Grader”
July 25 at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT): “CAUTION! Heartache Ahead”
Aug. 1 at CityPlex 12 Newark: Paul Robeson Awards screening
Newark Black Film Festival Youth Cinema Schedule:
Youth Cinema screenings will be held Mondays at the Newark Public Library and at 10:30 a.m. and at the Newark Museum Wednesdays at 1 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
July 9, 11: “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears”
July 16, 18: “Lemonade for Sale”
July 23, 25: “Shrinking Violet”
July 30, Aug. 1: “Cinderella”
Aug. 8: “Duck for President”
Aug. 15: “Einstein: Light to the Power of 2”
Adult Cinema: Wednesdays, June 20 – August 1, 2012, 7 PM
Youth Cinema: Wednesdays, July 11 – August 15, 2012, 1 PM
Cost: free
Location: Newark Museum
4. 7th Annual Lincoln Park Music Festival, Friday 7/27/2012 – 7/29/2012
This local Summer time music festival is a free three-day community event being held outdoors at the historic Lincoln Park, Newark NJ. There is a wide range of music which includes, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Jazz, House and other outstanding musical performances. Surprise guests entertainers will be performing throughout the time of the Festival.
There are also festive games, golf, basketball and skateboarding clinics, storytelling. Also, there are activities for seniors and children. The Festival has a multitude of family fun activities.
There will be also a pavilion with free health screening, massages, yoga, information about the affordable health and wellness programs, available green lifestyle options, and fresh organic produce from the community.
Surprise guests entertainers will be performing throughout the time of the festival. In addition, there are dance performances, open mic. battles, break dancers, and graffiti artists.
Times: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Free: Admission & Parking
5. 2012 Essex County Free Summer Music Concert Series, June 16 – September 9
The 2012 SummerMusic Concert Series begins Saturday, June 16 and ends Sunday, September 9. The free event brings diversified musicians and entertainers to perform at locations throughout Essex County Parks. The concert gives the community an evening of leisure activity to enjoy the in parks.
The musical line up consists of classical, rocks and roll, jazz, big band, Latin, reggae and much more. There will be two spectacular concert and fireworks this summer.
The 2012 concert series schedule is as follows:
June 16 2 – 5pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Gospel Festival
June 23 12-8pm, Weequahic Park, Newark: House Music Festival (rain date: June 30)
June 26, 7pm, Veterans Memorial Park, Newark: Gordon James
June 27, 7 pm, Irvington Park, Irvington: Layonne Holmes Quintet
June 28, 7 pm, Independence Park, Newark: Jose Chavarria Quintet
June 29, 7:30 pm, Branch Brook Park, Newark: Concert by the New Jersey Symphony
Orchestra and Fireworks Spectacular
July 2, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Concert by The Duprees and
Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Fireworks Spectacular
July 6, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Happenings & Kenny Vance
and The Planotones
July 10, 7 pm, Vailsburg Park, Newark: Bradford Hayes
July 11, 7 pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Denise Hamilton
July 13, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: A Tribute to Journey & The
Four Tops featuring Separate Ways and Standing in the Shadows
July 17, 7 pm, Riverbank Park, Newark: Son 9 Quintet
July 18, 7 pm, West Side Park, Newark: Cross Culture Club
July 20, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Jazz Under the Stars featuring
the Muzzy Mercado Group and Ken Navarro
July 24, 7 pm, Kip’s Castle Park, Montclair/Verona: Broadway Extravaganza
July 25, 7 pm, Yanticaw Park, Nutley: The Dalton Gang
July 27, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Springsteen Tribute with the B
Street Band and The Infernos
July 31, 7 pm, Watsessing Park, Bloomfield/East Orange: Carrie Jackson
August 1, 7 pm, Grover Cleveland Park, Caldwell/Essex Fells: The 70’s Project
August 3, 7:30 pm, Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Hitmen
August 7, 7 pm, Ivy Hill Park, Newark: Jazz by Gradie Stone
August 8, 7 pm, Weequahic Park, Newark: Lonnie Youngblood
August 10, 7:30 pm, Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange: The Garden State Concert Band
August 12, 11am-8pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Spanish Festival
September 8, 11am-7pm, Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Caribbean Festival
September 9, 11am-8pm, South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: South Orange
International Blues Festival
Admission: free
As you can see, this Summer Music Concert runs through out the whole summer.
