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The Weekend Ahead: A Carousel Opening in Military Park, the NJ Symphony's Season Opener and Fall Festivals in Fairfield and Verona
Newark opens the Military Park carousel, the New Jersey Symphony and Itzhak Perlman play NJPAC, Fairfield and Verona hold fall festivals, and the Montclair Film Festival wraps up.
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Good morning, Essex County. Newark Parks opens the carousel in Military Park this afternoon, and the park fills up again Saturday for a free fall festival. The New Jersey Symphony opens its season at NJPAC, Itzhak Perlman plays there Sunday, and Fairfield and Verona both throw their fall festivals on Saturday morning. It is also the final weekend of the Montclair Film Festival. Here is what is worth your time.
Friday
- Military Park Carousel Opening, Newark. Newark City Parks opens the carousel at Military Park, 51 Park Place, 2 p.m.
- Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue with Mavis Staples, Newark. New Orleans brass and a gospel-soul legend on one bill at NJPAC, 8 p.m.
- Haunted Funhouse at Montclair Book Center, Montclair. The bookstore at 221 Glenridge Ave. turns spooky for the season, 7 p.m.
- Cooking Together: "Plátanos Are Love!", Newark Public Library, 5 Washington St., 3:30 p.m.
- Teen Lock-In, Millburn Free Public Library, 6 p.m.
Saturday
- Fall Festival and Touch-A-Truck, Fairfield. Live music, refreshments, a petting farm, face painting and community, utility and rescue vehicles to climb into, at the Fairfield Free Public Library, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Fall-O-Ween Festival, Verona. The library's annual festival brings pumpkin painting, crafts, a touch-a-truck, a petting zoo, a dance party and treats to the Verona Civic Center, 600 Bloomfield Ave., 11 a.m.
- Western Fall Festival, Newark. Newark Alliance hosts an afternoon of activities, food and live music in Military Park, noon.
- New Jersey Symphony: Opening Weekend, Newark. Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto and Schubert's "Great" Symphony open the orchestra's season at NJPAC's Prudential Hall, 7:30 p.m.
- Book sales in Montclair and Nutley. The Montclair Public Library Book Sale wraps up with a bag sale day, and the Friends of the Nutley library hold the Dolores Capalbo Book Sale, both from 10 a.m.
- Cuentitos: A Storytime with the National Museum of the American Latino, Montclair, 60 S. Fullerton Ave., noon.
- Spooktacular Treats with Chef Lamont, Newark Public Library, 2 p.m.
- Making Waves in Mainstream Media, Millburn Free Public Library. Three writers talk about their work across the page, the screen and the stage, 2 p.m.
- Admission Possible: Applying to College, Bloomfield Public Library, 2 p.m. Useful for families in the middle of application season.
Sunday
- Itzhak Perlman, Newark. The violinist plays NJPAC, 3 p.m.
- Makers Market: Makers Masquerade, Newark. Local makers at Newark Makerhoods, 145 Court St., 11 a.m.
- Krueger-Scott Mansion Tour, Newark. A look inside the landmark at 145 Court St., 1 p.m.
- Live Jazz at Bleu Coffee, Montclair, 8 Erie St., 1 p.m.
- The Tara Weiss Band at Montclair Brewery, 101 Walnut St., 5:30 p.m.
All weekend
- Montclair Film Festival, Montclair. Final weekend of ten days of independent films, panels and events; the festival closes Sunday, Oct. 25.
- Pipeline at Vanguard Theater, Montclair, closes Sunday, Oct. 25.
- Kill Goofy from Apricot Sky Productions at the Grove Street Theatre, Montclair, closes Sunday, Oct. 25.
- POTUS at Studio Playhouse, Montclair, final performance Saturday, Oct. 24.
- At the Wellmont. The Wellmont Theater in Montclair has The Living Tombstone on Friday, AJ McLean's Better Man Tour on Saturday and The Musical Box, the Genesis tribute, on Sunday, all at 8 p.m.
Around the county
- Nutley's farmers market gets two more weekends. After rainouts, the Nutley Farmers Market is extending its 2026 season. More in the news.
- A ride to the polls in West Orange. West Orange is offering seniors free rides to vote in the Nov. 3 election. Details in the politics section.
- Tax bills running late in Belleville. The township's delayed budget has backed up the mailing of tax bills. More here.
- Leaf season in Livingston. Livingston's 2026 leaf collection program begins Nov. 1. Schedule details.
- Coming to Bloomfield. A new gaming destination, The Treasured Realm, is planned for Bloomfield in 2027. More in business.
Find more on the Essex County events calendar, and see what your town council decided this week on the government page. Have a great weekend.