Mindowaskin Park

<h2>Westfield, meet Compass SchoolHouse's PlayFest in the Park!</h2>
We're bringing our play-based philosophy OUT of the preschool classroom and into the most beloved park in Westfield for a morning the whole community can enjoy together! Especially geared toward kiddos ages 0-6+!
On Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 10AM–12PM, we're taking over Mindowaskin Park for a morning of pure, joyful, screen-free play — and every family in Union County is invited.&nbsp;The best part? It's completely FREE. We just ask that you grab your family's spot before they're gone. 👇HERE'S WHAT'S WAITING FOR YOU:
🎵 Live Music — Ramblin' Dan's Freewheelin' Band plays all morning. 
🗺️ Spring Scavenger Hunt — Pick up your map at check-in, walk the Mindowaskin path, find themed items, cross the finish line, and earn 2 FREE craft tickets to use at any of the activity stations. It's a whole adventure.
🫧 Giant Bubble Show — A large-scale interactive bubble installation your toddler will talk about for weeks.
🌱 Activity Stations — Spring cookie decorating, paint-a-mini-birdhouse, dirt cup making, and a planting station. 
🎨 Face Painting — Because what's a festival without a butterfly or tiger on your face?
🚚 Food Trucks — Good Mood Food (burgers + fries), Waffles &amp; Dreams (brunch + coffee), The Baked Bear (ice cream sandwiches).
🍋 Kindergarten Lemonade Stand — $1 lemonade sale run by actual Compass kindergarteners. Bring a dollar. It'll be the best one you spend all day.
🌺 America 250 Community Garden — Families build patriotic flowers together for a shared display celebrating America's 250th.
This event is brought to you by Compass SchoolHouse — a nonprofit preschool in Westfield, NJ, where we believe play isn't a break from learning. Play IS learning.

Questions? Email us at playfest@compassschoolhouse.com
Follow us: @compassschoolhouse | #PlayFestWestfieldThank you to our awesome local sponsors, who have made this event possible! Make sure to check them out and give them some love!!
Face Painting sponsored by Tutu School Westfield
Bubble Show sponsored by SwimQuest Westfield
Cookie Decorating sponsored by Kirshenbaum Baking Co. Westfield
Planting Station sponsored by Francis Henri
Bird House Decorating sponsored by Art Cafe
Dirt Cup Making sponsored by The Sprinkle Experiment at Sweet N Fancy Emporium
Fun Fan Sponsors - Kids Music Round with Ms. Sheila, BOLD Arts, The Baked Bear, Creative Kids, Speech &amp; Hearing Associates Westfield
Special Thanks to STAR Painting &amp; Contracting, our 🎵Rockstar Sponsor🎵!!

Local Event: PlayFest in the Park 2026

Union County

Westfield

New Jersey

PlayFest in the Park 2026

Westfield, meet Compass SchoolHouse's PlayFest in the Park!
We're bringing our play-based philosophy OUT of the preschool...

Heather Spencer

New York City Metropolitan Area

New Providence-Berkeley Heights

Cranford

Scotch Plains-Fanwood

Clark-Garwood

Springfield

Summit

Essex County

Millburn-Short Hills

Somerset County

Watchung-Green Brook

Morris County

Chatham

Maplewood

This event, sponsored by the Long Hill Chamber of Commerce, will be held along Main Avenue between Mercer &amp; Somerset Streets from 10 am to 5 pm, rain or shine.&nbsp;The street will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event and will be transformed into a giant block party.&nbsp;
SHOPPING If you like shopping, then this is the place to be. We have quality exhibitors selling a selection of assorted items, a special arts &amp; crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie rides &amp; games, great festival foods &amp; food trucks,&nbsp;and so much more.&nbsp;Don’t miss stopping by the many local merchants &amp; civic organizations to see what goodies they are passing out between Union &amp; Essex Streets.
FOODIES As you stroll along, stop to have a bite to eat and sit at tables in our live music area. See the show we have planned with live music, dancing, karate demonstrations, and more.&nbsp;So come hungry and enjoy carnival favorites like sausage &amp; pepper sandwiches, cheesesteaks, kettle corn, chicken fingers, ice cream, zeppole, shish kabobs, gyros, fresh-cut fries, fresh-squeezed lemonade, Italian ice, and many other great gourmet foods from the food trucks. 
KIDS We also have “2” Kids Zones dedicated to children with kiddie bounce rides, slides, and interactive blow-ups, face painters, sand art &amp; kids’ games, just to name a few things. Kids, make sure to visit “Gina the Balloon Lady” for your FREE balloon character or head ware…compliments of the Long Hill Chamber of Commerce. Her booth is located by the Kids’ zone on Union Street.&nbsp;MUSIC Here is the line up of entertainment. Essex St. Stage : Sounds of Richie G &amp; <a href="https://www.facebook.com/craigsailerproject/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Craig Sailer Project</a> Union St. Stage: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@njrandos" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Randos Band</a> &amp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/elkslodgeheroes?igsh=MW80Nzg1bWdsbTJhbw==" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"> Elks Lodge Heros</a>
Take the train to the fair! You can take the NJ Transit Train to the Stirling Station, and you will be at the street fair. If coming by car, the detour route is Passaic Ave. and Somerset Street.&nbsp;Parking is available at the Train Station lot and on the side streets.&nbsp;Enter the area from Valley Road, Warren Ave., or Passaic Ave. We hope that you’ll consider joining us, and we look forward to seeing you.

Local Event: Stirling's Community Street Fair & Food Truck Fest

Long Hill

Stirling's Community Street Fair & Food Truck Fest

This event, sponsored by the Long Hill Chamber of Commerce, will be held along Main Avenue between Mercer & Somerset Streets...

Fairview Cemetery & Arboretum

Fairview Cemetery and Arboretum will host a spring arboretum walking tour on April 26&nbsp;at 2 pm, highlighting some of the numerous catalogued species of trees which reside within the Cemetery grounds. The walking tour will be led by Dr. Tom Ombrello, Professor of Biology at Union College, and will provide commentary on specific trees and various historical details. Fairview Cemetery is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and is accredited as a level 2 arboretum. 
Those interested are asked to register online at friendsoffairview1.org. Participants should enter through the rear gates on Gallows Hill Road15 minutes prior to the start of the event. Space is limited and registration is on a first come first serve basis. Fairview Cemetery is located at 1100 East Broad Street, Westfield and is open from dawn until dusk. On-premises parking is available.

Local Event: Fairview Cemetery & Arboretum Walking Tour

Fairview Cemetery & Arboretum Walking Tour

Fairview Cemetery and Arboretum will host a spring arboretum walking tour on April 26 at 2 pm, highlighting some of the...

Roosevelt Park Skating Pavillion - 151 Parsonage Road, Edison, New Jersey, 08837, USA

Time: 4:00 - 6:00pm
Join Hackensack Meridian Health's Certified Health Educator at the Healthier Middlesex Healthy Kids Day event and learn how to prevent Diabetes in children through proper nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Look for the Your Health on the Move Hackensack Meridian Health Community Wellness van by the Skating Pavillion to learn more! No registration required! 
<a href="https://events.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/c/calendar/5add99e2-c1d9-462e-b53b-40d71d775290?utm_source=HMH-CVENT&amp;utm_medium=Digital&amp;utm_campaign=PatchWestfieldApril" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Click here to see a list of upcoming events in your area!</a>

Local Event: Healthy Kids Day - Diabetes Education

Healthy Kids Day - Diabetes Education

Time: 4:00 - 6:00pm
Join Hackensack Meridian Health's Certified Health Educator at the Healthier Middlesex Healthy Kids Day...

The Presbyterian Church in Westfield

Choral Art Society of New Jersey is busy preparing the second concert of its 2025–2026 season. The concert, The Mestre: History’s Classical Bridge from Rio to Vienna, explores musical connections between the familiar Austrian composers, Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791), and the lesser-known Brazilian composer, José Maurício Nunes Garcia (1767–1830). The concert will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield (140 Mountain Avenue, Westfield, NJ).&nbsp;
The concert repertoire includes Nunes Garcia’s Requiem, Haydn’s Kleine Orgelmesse (Little Organ Mass), and excerpts from two of Mozart’s operas, Così fan tutte and Die Zauberflöte.&nbsp;
Nunes Garcia, born in Rio de Janeiro to Afro-Brazilian parents, studied music from an early age. He was ordained a priest in 1792 and served as organist, conductor, composer, and music teacher at the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral. In 1816, he composed Requiem for the funeral of the Portuguese Queen Maria I, who died in Brazil after fleeing the Napoleonic invasion of her country. The composition is regarded as the most prominent requiem from the Americas and, while greatly influenced by Mozart’s Requiem, it is innovative and prolific in its own right.
Haydn’s Kleine Orgelmesse, composed circa 1775, is an intimate setting of the Mass, evoking the small chapel in Eisenstadt, Austria, where Haydn worked at the time. The chapel could only accommodate a small organ, a few string players, and a small chorus. The composition is also short in length, bowing to the desire of the nobility to spend less time in church. To ensure all parts of the Mass were covered, some movements require the chorus to sing different words simultaneously, a technique known as “telescoping.”
Mozart’s Così fan tutte, a comic opera composed with librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, premiered in 1790 in Vienna. The title translates to “So Do They All” but is sometimes referred to as “Women Are Like That.” The music, characteristic of Mozart’s later style, is complex and has great depth of feeling. Die Zauberflöte, or The Magic Flute, composed with librettist Emanuel Schikaneder, premiered in 1791 shortly before Mozart’s death. Inspired by the folk music of the time, the score expertly reflects the personalities of the opera’s main characters.&nbsp;
The May concert will be conducted by Choral Art Society of NJ’s music director, Seth Velez, and will feature the group’s accompanist, Carol Walker. The soprano soloist will be Choral Art Society of NJ’s own Linda Jo Smargiassi. She will be joined by mezzo soprano Mary Pat Finucane, tenor Kevin Ray, and bass George Baolin. A full orchestra will accompany the performance.
General Admission tickets are $35. A discounted ticket price of $30 is offered to seniors (65 and older) and students (18 and older) if purchased in advance of concert day. Youth under 18, Families First cardholders, and WIC recipients are admitted free. To purchase advance tickets for the May 3rd concert, visit <a href="https://www.casofnj.org/ticket" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.casofnj.org/ticket</a>.
Choral Art Society of New Jersey originated as The Suburban Symphony Chorus in 1962. Dedicated to the study and performance of the great choral masterpieces, the chorus performs works spanning many centuries and styles. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose members, with a variety of training and experience levels, share a common joy in singing and community. Visit <a href="https://www.casofnj.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.casofnj.org</a> for more information about the group or to donate.
This concert is made possible in part by funds from the Union County Office of Cultural &amp; Heritage Affairs, a partner of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

Local Event: Choral Art Society Concert - The Mestre: History's Classical Bridge from Rio to Vienna

Choral Art Society Concert - The Mestre:...

Choral Art Society of New Jersey is busy preparing the second concert of its 2025–2026 season. The concert, The Mestre:...

Choral Art Society Concert - The Mestre: History's Classical Bridge from Rio to Vienna

Step inside Westfield’s most storied homes and celebrate 250 years of American history with A Tour of Notable Homes. In partnership with the Westfield Historic Preservation Commission, this special anniversary edition invites you to explore four beautifully preserved residences, each with its own unique charm and character. Enjoy live music, light refreshments, and delightful surprises along the way as you wander at your own pace through this one-of-a-kind community tradition.

Local Event: A Tour of Notable Homes

A Tour of Notable Homes

Step inside Westfield’s most storied homes and celebrate 250 years of American history with A Tour of Notable Homes. In...

Galeria The Art Venue, 111 Quimby St, Westfield, NJ, 07090

We are pleased to invite you to the opening of&nbsp;Phoenix Rising – From silence, a new voice, a solo exhibition by Darío Scholis on May 9.
Darío is a distinctive artist who transforms everyday life into vivid and poetic visual narratives, expressed with remarkable sensitivity and depth. This exhibition brings together a refined selection of works that reflect more than 25 years of sustained creative practice and artistic exploration.
The evening will include light appetizers, good music, and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, an ideal space to gather, connect, and celebrate artistic talent together.
We would be delighted to welcome you.

Local Event: You're Invited! Opening Reception for the Art of Darío Scholis

You're Invited! Opening Reception for the Art...

We are pleased to invite you to the opening of Phoenix Rising – From silence, a new voice, a solo exhibition by Darío Scholis...

You're Invited! Opening Reception for the Art of Darío Scholis

The Madison Hotel Morristown, NJ

Join the Center for Hope Hospice &amp; Palliative Care for their 3rd annual Monte Carlo Casino Night!&nbsp; We have an exciting night planned...but it won't be the same without you there!&nbsp; All proceeds benefit the patients and families of the Center for Hope!&nbsp; Join us for delicious food, an open bar, your favorite casino games, and some amazing prizes!

Local Event: Monte Carlo Casino Night

Monte Carlo Casino Night

Join the Center for Hope Hospice & Palliative Care for their 3rd annual Monte Carlo Casino Night!  We have an exciting night...

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