Summer Fun Around Union County

Compiled by Barbara J. Goldstein

Have you decided yet where to go, what to do, and what to see this summer? Is the thought of filling up your gas tank for a long road trip to the shore or the mountains making you cringe? You don’t have to spend a lot or travel far from home this summer to be entertained. The following activities are just a sample of the many summer programs being offered throughout the county that won’t break your budget. This year, why not enjoy the summer to its fullest and have fun in Union County?

BERKELEY HEIGHTS
July 10 to 15, Mt. Carmel Society runs its Festival at Mt. Carmel Field, Springfield Ave. Enjoy rides, great food vendors and games. The fun culminates with a wonderful fireworks display on the last night, July 15 at 11 p.m. There is a $7 admission fee on the last night only. This annual event is fun for the entire family.
Festival hours are Mon.- Sat., 6-11 p.m. Friday is family night for kids. One entry price includes unlimited rides and a small fireworks show.

Family Fun Day is slated for June 17, Columbia Park, located behind Columbia Middle School off Plainfield Ave., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include magic tricks, giant
slide, moon walk, pony rides, dunk tank, food vendors, games, crafts, petting zoo, DJ music and much more. Admission is free.

Free Summer Concert Series: Wednesdays, 7:30-9 p.m., Memorial Park, corner of Plainfield & Park Aves.

Free Movies & Popcorn in Memorial Park on July 6 and 20 at dusk. Bring blankets or chairs. Movies start at 8:30 p.m.

CLARK
July 3, Brewer Recreation Center, 430 Westfield Ave., 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Rides for young children and food vendors available followed by fireworks display at dusk in
A.L. Johnson High School field. Rain date July 5.

CRANFORD
Free July 4th Fireworks, Nomahegan Park, So. Springfield Ave, just opposite Union Co. College campus. Free parking in college lots. Fireworks begin at dusk. Bring
chairs or blankets. Rain date July 5.

July 4th Firecraker Run. The One Mile Fun Run starts at 9 a.m. and the Four Mile Run starts at 9:30 a.m. Sponsored by Cranford Jaycees. Different age categories
and prizes for all winners. For more information call 908-709-8012 (evenings only) or www.jayceesracedirector@yahoo.com.

Free Movies Under The Stars at Hanson Park, So. Springfield Ave., July 12 and 19, with rain dates July 16 and 23 respectively. Movies start at 7:30 p.m. Bring blankets or chairs. Sponsored by Spencer Savings Bank. For more details contact www.cranford.com/downtown.

Restaurant Week, Aug. 19 to 26. participating downtown restaurants will have special dinner menus with a fixed price of $20.06. Bring the family and enjoy some of Cranford’s best cuisine at an affordable price.

ELIZABETH
RECREATION DEPT. PROGRAMS
Seventeen playgrounds throughout the city operate Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting July 5 through Aug. 24. Various games and tournaments are held. A free lunch program is provided for children up to 18 years of age, as well as an afternoon snack at each playground. For more information about the programs, call 908-820-4226.

Five-day camps throughout the city run Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There are two four-week sessions: July 5 through July 28 and July 31 through
Aug. 24. Free lunches/snacks provided. Registration starts June 27, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FANWOOD
Free Movies at LaGrande Park on Tuesdays, June 27 to Aug. 25. Popcorn and refreshments will be available. Movies begin at 8 p.m.

Sports Squirts! Sponsored by US Sports Institute to introduce young children to variety of sports in a safe, fun environment. Camp runs July 31 through Aug. 4, from
4 to 5:30 p.m. at LaGrande Park. Fee is $85. To register, call 908-889-2080.

HILLSIDE
Summer Day Camps and Leagues for arts & crafts, tennis, soccer, handball and basketball at various venues around town, ages 6 to 14. For registration and
information call the Recreation Dept. at 973-926-2219.

LINDEN
Summer Concert Series on The Promenade, 405 No. Wood Ave. Tuesdays.

Free Movie Night on Friday nights on The Promenade, July 21, Aug. 11 and Aug. 24. Movies start at 8:30 p.m.

RECREATION DEPT. PROGRAMS
2006 Summer Day Camp Program at various parks around town. Pre-K, grades 1 - 3 and 4 - 6. Camps run June through August. Late registration may still be available. Register in person at Recreation Dept., 605 So. Wood Ave. or call 908-474-8600 for more information.

MOUNTAINSIDE
July 4th Fireworks at Deerfield School & Our Lady of Lords Church, Central Ave. at dusk. Sponsored by Police Athletic League. Free ice cream for kids. Bring blankets or chairs. Rain date July 5.

NEW PROVIDENCE
Free Under the Stars Summer Concerts at The Pavilion, Centennial Park, Springfield Ave. & Academy St., Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. children’s programs, concerts 7:30-9:30 p.m. Rain or shine.

Free July 3rd Independence Day Celebration at New Providence High School field, Pioneer Ave., 7 p.m. till dusk. At 8:15 p.m. “The Infernos” will perform followed
by fireworks display.

PLAINFIELD
Free Art Festival on July 15, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Library Park sponsored by Plainfield Public Library in celebration of library’s 125th anniversary. Call 908-352-0900.

City Carnival July 3 to 8, at Plainfield High School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 11 p.m. Rides, games, bingo and food vendors.

Free Movies in the Parks. July 16, Hannah Atkins Playground; July 21, Rushmore Playground; Aug. 4, Seidler’s Field. Movies start at 9 p.m.

RAHWAY
Walter E. Ulrich Memorial Pool, Rahway River Park, St. Georges Ave. is open to the public on a daily basis June 24 to Sept. 4. Free admission, no membership necessary.

ROSELLE
Warinanco Park, St. Georges Ave. rents rowboats and pedal boats on an hourly basis you can take out onto the lake April through Sept.

ROSELLE PARK
Free Roselle Summer Jams in the Zone. Fridays, June 9 through Aug. 18, Borough Hall Parking Lot, 6 p.m.

SCOTCH PLAINS
Multi-Sports Camps. Experience over 15 sports in one week. Program run by US Sports Institute July 31 to Aug. 4 at Kramer Manor Park. Campers receive technical instruction and experience realistic game situations in hockey, soccer, volleyball and more. Limited to 60 children. Register at Recreation Office, Room 113. For more information about fees, call 908-322-6700 ext. 223.

SPRINGFIELD
Recreation Dept. Summer Playground Program at the Chrishom Community Center, June 26 through Aug. 18. This eight-week session is available for kids ages 5-13. Activities include games, arts and crafts, sports, morning trips to town pool and more. Registration fee $150 per child for entire program, which includes T-shirt. To register, call Springfield Rec. Dept. 973-912-2226.

SUMMIT
59th Annual July 4th Celebration at Soldier’s Memorial Field (off Ashland Rd.) 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., rides, games, music and bike decorating parade for children, followed by the Classic Softball Game between Summit First Aid Squad members vs. police/fire department members. Concert and min-fireworks display at 8 p.m. Followed by grand fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.

New Jersey Center for Visual Arts (NJCVA) offers classes and workshops for children, teens and adults in a variety of media and at all experience levels in nine state-of-the-art renovated studios. Call 908-273-9121 or log onto www.njcva.org.

UNION
July 4th Celebration at Biertuempfel Memorial Park, Winslow Ave. Free concert by The Party Dolls 7:30-9p.m. followed by a spectacular display of fireworks at dusk. Bring lawn chairs or blankets. Rain date July 5.

Free 2006 Summer Concert Series on Thursdays at Biertuempfel Park.

Free Union Municipal Band Concerts: July 10, Erhart Gardens, 1120 Commerce Ave., Frances Court; July 17, Vauxhall Library, Hilton Ave., (outdoors); July 24,
Putnam Manor Civic Assoc., Duquesne Terrace and Plymouth Rd. (outdoors). All concerts start at 7:45 p.m. Refreshments will be available.

WESTFIELD
10th Annual “Sweet Sounds Downtown” on Tuesday nights. July 4 through Sept. 5, free jazz bands performing on various street corners. Come shop and enjoy
great music. Sponsored by Downtown Westfield Corporation (DWC). Rain date Wednesday nights.

Westfield Community Band Concert Series. Thursday nights, June 22 through July 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the gazebo, Mindowaskin Park, East Broad Street.

5th Annual Downtown 5K Pizza Extravaganza - July 26 at 7 p.m. Starts on Elm & Quimbly Streets. Applications to register available at www.practicehard.com.

Sidewalk Sale Days. July 13 to 16 at participating stores around town.

COUNTY SPONSORED EVENTS
Free Summer Arts Festival Concert Series on Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., Echo Lake Park, Mountainside.

Family Flix Night - Warinanco Park, Elizabeth. July 11, Madagascar; July18, Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory; July 25, Goonies, Unami Park, Garwood; Aug. 1 Charlotte’s Web; Aug. 15, Charade. All movies begin at 9 p.m. No rain dates.

Kids Kingdom Traveling Jubilee features rides, jesters, stage shows, musical performances, crafts, games, petting zoo and pony rides. July 9, Warinanco Park,
Roselle; Aug.13, Nomahegan Park, Cranford; and with MusicFest Sept. 16, Echo Lake Park, Mountainside. For more information, call 908-527-4200.

Trailside Museum Nature & Science Center, Watchung Reservation, Mountainside. Contains 2,060 acres of forests, three ponds, swamps, and color-coded hiking trails. Family programs, summer camps and workshops offered during July and August.

Call 908-789-3670 for more information about all programs.

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