With summer’s end in sight and fall’s cooler temperatures and colorful landscapes just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to take in all the recreational fun on in Union County. From live events and picturesque parks to charming local shops and fine dining, Union County has plenty to keep families and couples busy.
Liberty Hall Museum in Union will be one of several places offering free tours, demonstrations and other events during ‘Four Centuries in a Weekend,’ Oct. 21 and 22.
Summer’s not quite over yet, however and there are still several summer events to check out.
David Bowie fans can listen to the iconic singer’s most popular hits with Ray Anderson’s Bowie & Beyond concert at Oak Ridge Park in Clark on Aug 16. On Aug. 23, visitors can enjoy the vibrant rhythms of Afro-Caribbean music with Afro Dominicano at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth.
Both shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with a free Yoga session beforehand at 6:30 p.m. (https://ucnj.org/summer23/).
In Westfield, visitors can check out the Sweet Sounds Downtown music festival, which began in July and continues every Tuesday through Aug. 29.
“This is a great community event bringing folks downtown for the evening,” said Gene Jannotti, CEO of the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
From 7 to 9.m., downtown Westfield (Central Avenue, Quimby Street and South Avenue West) is transformed into a celebration of music and food. Each of the three locations feature a live band, as well as food stalls overflowing with dishes prepared by local chefs. Admission is free for all.
Speaking of food … “In addition to the Summer Arts Festival, there’s great outdoor dining,” said Jennifer Costa, executive director of the Greater Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce.
In Elizabeth, for instance, the new Del Porto Ristorante offers authentic Italian cuisine in a location that fans of “The Sopranos” will hold dear. The restaurant, at the time called Manolo’s appears in the very first episode of the show.
Elizabeth will also offer its annual Taste of Elizabeth festival on Oct. 16 at the Union County Golf Course. More than 30 restaurants, eateries and bars will be represented.
Watchung Reservation is the largest nature reserve in Union County. Within its 2,000-plus acres, visitors will find miles of hiking trails, a beautiful lake and even a deserted village. Photo courtesy of County of Union
Garwood also has a new eatery, A Cozy Corner Cuban Bistro, which celebrates the culture, vibrant atmosphere, and the essence of the Cuban people. The menu has everything from tapas to sandwiches and full entrées.
In Westfield, Wonder, previously a roving food truck-based food delivery service, has set up shop on South Avenue West for dining in, take out, and delivery. Diners can order from more than a dozen different menus, each from a different restaurant. Options range from Alanza (Italian) and Bobby Flay Steak (American) to Chai Pani (Indian) and Maydan (Middle Eastern).
While it’s not new, La Griglia Seafood Grill & Wine Bar in Kenilworth became one of just a handful of restaurants around the world to earn a Best of Award of Excellence in Wine Spectator’s 2023 Restaurant Awards.
Late summer is also back to school shopping time and there’s plenty to be had in Union County.
“A lot of families are starting back to school shopping, and we (Elizabeth) were voted one of America’s top five shopping destinations,” Costa said. “Great back-to-school sales are being prepared now for August and September at the Mills at Jersey Gardens.”
New stores at the mall, which is the largest indoor outlet mall in New Jersey, include Primark and Pottery Barn.
For families with kids that can never have enough toys, the family-owned independent toy retailer Toy Division opened its second storefront shop in Summit on Union Place. The store showcases a variety of toys catering to kids of all ages including games, puzzles, educational toys and more.
In downtown Cranford, the local Yarnstormers knitting group has opened a small shop and community knitting spot on Alden Street where shoppers can find a variety of yarns, yarn dying kits, and knitting accessories, with classes for kids and adults planned for the future.
As summer turns into fall, it’s time for festival season starting with the 49th Annual St. Barts/UNICO Italian Festival, celebrated every year over Labor Day weekend. A Scotch Plains tradition since 1974, the annual Italian Festival features live music, amusement park rides and games, and a feast of pizza, pasta, calzone, zeppoles and seafood. There’s also a 50/50 raffle, which last year went for more than $63,000. The festival runs Thursday through Sunday, 4:30 to 10:30 p.m., and on Labor Day from 3 to 8 p.m. (https://sbuitalianfestival.com/).
Just a few days later, on Sept. 7 (6 to 10 p.m.) the 46th annual Greek Festival at St. Demetrios in Union kicks off. Admission is $2 and visitors will enjoy amusement park rides, Greek folk dancing, and Greek specialties including souvlaki and gyros. The festival runs through Sept. 10, from 5 p.m. to midnight on Sept. 8; noon to midnight on Sept. 9; and noon to 7 p.m. on Sept. 10.
In Summit, families can check out the Arts & Cars: Downtown Art Festival & Classic Car Show on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival offers up a juried art show with plenty of art and wares for sale, while the classic car show is perfect for all car lovers. There’s also live music all day long, as well as children’s activities including balloon artistry, henna art, spin art and more. And what’s a festival without food trucks? There will be eight food trucks from CAS Polish Foods and Angry Archies to Puras Paletas and Pizza Vita. (www.summitdowntown.org/events/).
Early fall is also great for outdoor fun and Union County has plenty to offer with 36 parks encompassing more than 6,200 acres.
Watchung Reservation is the largest nature reserve in Union County. Within its 2,000-plus acres, visitors will find miles of hiking trails, a beautiful lake, and even a deserted village. And for kids, the Trailside Nature & Science Center offers a variety of educational programs. There’s even a Sensory Friendly Trail — the most extensive trail of its kind in the country — designed to be accessible to all visitors with features that enable persons with disabilities and special needs to experience all of the natural surroundings. (ucnj.org/trailside).
Bikers can make the most of the cooler weather on the Lenape Park section of the 2,900-mile East Coast Greenway, which passes through parts of Cranford, Kenilworth, Springfield and Union.
Water lovers will find plenty to do as well. Options include boating and fishing at Echo Lake Park, as well as canoeing on the Raritan River with the Cranford Canoe Club.
Fall is also hayride season and there are a couple of options in Union County for families to take advantage of.
On Sept. 16 and 30, hayrides are available at Warinanco Park from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Hayrides are also available at Trailside Nature & Science Center in Mountainside on Oct. 7 and 14 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. and on Oct. 2 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Cost is $6 for Union County residents and $12 for non-residents. (Tickets must be purchased ahead of time – https://ucnj.org/hayrides-campfires/)
Finally, families interested in exploring history with their kids should check out “Four Centuries in a Weekend” on Oct. 21 and 22 from noon until 5 p.m. when more than 30 historic sites across Union County will be open to the public for free. Among the attractions offering free tours, demonstrations and other special events will be Liberty Hall Museum (Union), Miller-Cry House Museum (Westfield), the Nathaniel Bonnell Homestead & Belcher-Ogden Mansion (Elizabeth) and Reeves-Reed Arboretum (Summit).
— Dori Saltzman
