Events in Union County, NJ

Celebrate the 2026 Scarecrow Stroll in Downtown Cranford with a sweet outing for little ones. The Little Ghouls Candy Stroll is tailored for children ages 5 and under. Each child ticket includes a tote bag with a map showing which shops are handing out Halloween treats, along with a $5 Downtown Cranford gift card. Adults may accompany their child on the stroll without purchasing a ticket.

At Westfield Memorial Library, a functional medicine round-table Q&A features a brief presentation and open conversation guided by Cheryl Schmid. The discussion focuses on gut health and also explores the gut brain connection, food sensitivities, autoimmune conditions, osteoporosis, vitamins, interpreting lab work, IBS, and other health concerns. Cheryl Schmid, founder of The Well Chat, is an AFMC Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner and a licensed speech language pathologist who approaches wellness by considering the whole body through a functional medicine lens. The gathering is held in the library’s local history room on the second floor.

Downtown Cranford sets the scene for Witches Night Out, an evening of mingling, shopping, and themed fun presented by the Cranford Woman’s Club and Downtown Cranford. Tickets are offered in two options. The Broomstick ticket, priced at $20, includes retailer and restaurant specials, drink specials, a hat decorating contest, two tricky tray tickets, a scavenger hunt, a pass to the new Witchful Walking Tour, and self-care items. The Cauldron ticket, priced at $40, includes all of those perks plus five tricky tray tickets and one 10 minute appointment with a tarot reader. Participants will be contacted with their time slot and location. This event is made possible with support from Home Got Owned.

A Chamber Happy Hour hosted by Chisel & Loom offers an evening of networking, conversation, and community in the Chisel & Loom showroom. Attendees can explore the company’s modern wood surfaces, crafted with care using advanced finishing methods, meticulous craftsmanship, and thoughtful attention to detail to bring a sense of quiet luxury to the spaces people call home. Learn more and register through the event page.

Presented by the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum, this lantern-lit walk through Rahway Cemetery explores the darker side of local history. Escorted by a Spirit Guide, participants hear thirteen true accounts of murder, tragic deaths, and unexplained occurrences connected to the 300-year-old grounds. Tours last about an hour and require a reservation. Tickets cost $30 per person. After the walk, guests return to the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum for hot mulled apple cider and refreshments.

Sharyn Rothstein’s By the Water follows the Murphy family as they work to rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Their Staten Island house is only part of the restoration, as past conflicts reemerge and loyalties are stretched. Each family member must choose what to hold onto and what to let go, while the play blends humor and heart to explore family ties, community, and the idea of home. Directed by Karen Thornton and produced by Sam Nissen and Pam Heller, with stage management by Claire Thornton and Emma Thornton. The cast includes David Romankow as Marty Murphy, Gloria Lamoureux as Mary Murphy, Gabriel Aprea as Sal Murphy, Justin Montanaro as Brian Murphy, Charles Grayson as Philip Carter, Sharon Garry as Andrea Carter, and Marie Correa as Emily Mancini. Tickets are $25 for adults, and $20 for seniors 65 and older and students with valid ID.

Enjoy a Halloween themed 5K in Downtown Linden that welcomes both runners and walkers. The route passes through two parks and over a new bridge, offering views of the Buffalo River. Registration is $35, and same day sign ups are available. Those who pre-register and pay by the stated deadline can receive a free T-shirt, with pre-registration handled via Venmo to DDC5678 and a note including 5K and shirt size. No shirts are available after the deadline. Donations are welcome for anyone not attending. Costumes are encouraged, and all proceeds benefit Diamond Dance Company Elite.

The Township of Union is hosting a community cleanup inviting residents, students, and local organizations to help keep public spaces looking their best or earn community service hours. The Department of Public Works will provide all necessary supplies, including rubber gloves and litter grabbers, so participants just need sturdy boots and plenty of energy. Check-in takes place at the DPW to receive gear and an assignment, then teams head out to spruce up locations around the township. The effort concludes with a celebration at Rabkin Park featuring pizza, a DJ, inflatables, and additional food.

Young makers take on a two-day, Halloween-themed engineering competition to create a custom 3D-printed jack o lantern. Participants collaborate in teams to brainstorm, sketch ideas, build CAD models, and prepare files for printing during the first session. Designs are printed between sessions, then teams return to assemble, test, troubleshoot, and present their finished creations. Each group pulls a surprise pairing of a spooky theme and an engineering constraint, such as Zombie with moving parts, Alien with a shadow-making feature, or Haunted House with a hidden compartment. Every component must fit within a single 3D printer build plate, and an unexpected rule change keeps problem solving front and center. Open to ages 7 to 18. Cost is $40 per child for the full program. No prior Gamify U experience is required. Space is limited.

Experience the tastes of Northern Italy in a hands-on cooking class for adults and couples, led by Chef Daniel Rosati. Prepare a menu that may include wild mushroom crostata, risotto Milanese, turkey polpettine with brown butter sage sauce, braised peas with pancetta, and a ganache glazed chocolate olive oil cake. Menu items may change. The cost is $135 per person, and each ticket covers one adult. Refunds are not available.

This yearly procession celebrates Halloween in Linden. It offers a festive way to mark the season.

Spend an evening connecting with investors, lenders, and other real estate professionals during three hours of focused networking. This gathering is geared toward active investors as well as anyone looking to grow their contacts in the real estate field, with time set aside to build relationships and discover potential opportunities. The event is hosted by Jasey Capital Group, a private lending partner that provides DSCR rental loans. For questions, call or text 201-341-2810.

Give kids a lively introduction to the past with a hands-on tour at Liberty Hall. Young visitors explore everyday life from the 1700s through the 1990s through interactive stops and a history-themed scavenger hunt that turns learning into a quest. The experience is designed for children in grades 1 through 5. Advance reservations are encouraged, and walk-ins are welcome.

On the first Monday of each month, kids ages 8 and up can take part in a special LEGO session designed for older builders. Let your imagination guide your build and see what you can create. No registration is required.

A welcoming breastfeeding support group for anyone at any stage of their journey, offering a comfortable space to meet other mothers and get breastfeeding questions answered. The sessions are led by Carli Fernandez, BSN, IBCLC, and Alisse Montgomery, BSN, IBCLC, of LatchEd New Jersey. To register, email info@latchednj.com.

This tricky tray auction fundraiser raises funds for YMCA Financial Assistance.

The 27th Annual Liberty H.O.G. Toy Run brings riders together for a police-escorted ride benefiting the Children’s Hospital at RWJUH. The goal is to deliver smiles to kids during the holiday season while uniting the Harley-Davidson community in a meaningful way. Participants can contribute by bringing a new, unwrapped toy appropriate for ages newborn through 21, with stuffed animals not accepted. Entry is 25 dollars for riders and 15 dollars for passengers. Ride T-shirts will be available for purchase.

A dine out fundraiser at Master Pizza supports the Hannah Caldwell PTA, with proceeds benefiting students, teachers, and families at Hannah Caldwell. To ensure an order is credited to the fundraiser, show the flyer on a mobile device or tell the cashier that the purchase supports the Hannah Caldwell PTA. Families, friends, and grandparents can share a Dolphin dinner night together, and greater participation helps raise more for the school.

Table Talks offers a lively, interactive networking experience for local business professionals, presented in partnership with the Gateway Chamber of Commerce. The program begins with open networking that allows participants to mingle and introduce themselves. It then moves to small table groups where each person has two minutes to share who they are, describe their business, and explain what they do. After several rounds, attendees rotate to new tables to meet additional professionals. This format encourages concise introductions, meaningful conversations, and connections with people you might not normally meet. Arrive prepared with a brief introduction to make the most of the experience. Tickets can be secured in advance.

FinFe$t returns with a focus on AI and access, inviting people to explore what the future could look like for everyone. Over two days at Kean University, the program offers conversations, tools, resources, and practical insight on money, careers, business, and wellness, along with how AI is already shaping everyday life and work. There is no cost to attend and it is open to all. Whether someone is curious about AI, planning their financial future, growing a business, preparing for the next step in a career, or seeking to understand how these topics apply personally, there will be options to fit different goals. Participants can learn, ask questions, gain access, and begin building what comes next. Powered by Prudential and RWJBarnabas Health, with support from KreditVerse, Kean University, NJAI Hub, and other partners supporting expanded access to financial wellness, technology, education, and opportunity.

Linda & The LoveTones take the stage at The Bull n Bear Brewery with a set of pop and rock covers. Craft beer is available and the staff is welcoming. Admission is $10, and guests may bring their own food.

Next Stop Comedy brings stand-up to Untied Brewing Company in New Providence with a new mix of comedians at every show. The lineup features performers with television and podcast credits, creating a fresh experience each time at the brewery.

Explore Liberty Hall with a focused tour that centers the lives of the people who were enslaved at this historic home and its grounds. The tour draws on letters, census records, manumission contracts, and grave sites in Elizabeth to share accounts of Abbe, Belle, Lambert, Henry, Sarah, Peter, and others. It also highlights ongoing research by Liberty Hall and Kean University to restore voice and narrative to individuals once enslaved at this site. Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome.

Kids ages 7 to 12 can take part in a drop-off class led by instructor Diane Marino. The menu may include sloppy joe dogs, Cape May fries, smash burgers, shore pizza, ice cream waffles, and frozen lemonade, and is subject to change. The cost is $75 per child, and each ticket admits one child in the listed age range. An early bird discount is available with the coupon code EarlyBird. All sales are final with no refunds.

Comedian and actor Billy Gardell brings his stand-up to UCPAC’s historic Main Stage. Known as the lead of the CBS comedy Bob Hearts Abishola from creator Chuck Lorre, he portrays a Detroit compression sock businessman who falls for his cardiac nurse, a Nigerian immigrant. He previously starred as Officer Mike Biggs on the long-running hit Mike & Molly, played Col. Tom Parker in Sun Records, and appeared on Young Sheldon, Lucky, Yes Dear, Judging Amy, My Name is Earl, The Practice, Monk, and Gary the Rat. On the big screen, his debut came in Avenging Angelo with Anthony Quinn and Sylvester Stallone, followed by a scene with Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa and an appearance in You, Me & Dupree. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2016 for hosting Monopoly Millionaires Club, and his specials include Halftime on Comedy Central and Billy Gardell Presents Road Dogs on Showtime. Expect an energetic, down-to-earth set with stories from his tough childhood, rowdy teen years, and family life, delivered with the polish of a seasoned pro. Tickets range from $51 to $97 with all-in pricing.

Hosted by the New Jersey Cavalry and Armor Association, this final Support Our Troops Casino Night brings people together to support the soldiers and families of the 1-102nd Cavalry. The evening focuses on connection and camaraderie with games, laughter, and plenty of good food. Returning guests know the spirit of the night, and newcomers can look forward to playing, meeting others, and sharing a memorable time with friends.

Experience Liberty Hall through the stories of the women who shaped its legacy. Learn about Susan Livingston, daughter of Governor Livingston, whose bold actions kept the home out of British hands during the Revolutionary War, Abbe, an enslaved woman who sought her freedom, and Mary Alice Barney Kean, whose dedication to preservation protected important historic buildings. This themed tour spotlights the women who lived and worked at this historic home and reflects on their impact locally and across the nation.

This parent and child cooking class for ages 7 and up focuses on Italian favorites with instructor Diane Marino. The menu features roasted cherry tomato and mozzarella bruschetta, a Caesar dip, homemade pasta with Bolognese sauce, Italian muffins, Bobolini Italian donuts, and Italian soda. The menu is subject to change. The price is $150 for one parent and one child, and $80 for each additional adult or child. An Early Bird discount of $10 is available with coupon code EarlyBird. A child must attend with an adult. All sales are final.

The chamber’s annual holiday party brings together members, local businesses, and friends for a festive evening of conversation and networking. Attendees can connect, unwind, and reflect on the year while celebrating the accomplishments of the business community and getting into the holiday spirit. Everyone is welcome. The dress code is cocktail attire. Tickets can be secured in advance.

Trolley Rides & Sing Along with Santa is back, bringing festive trolley rides paired with a sing-along with Santa. Departures are from the Gazebo, and there is a firm cutoff for the line. Sponsored by longtime Chamber member Benner's Auto Body and the Cranford Area Chamber of Commerce.

Enjoy a dinner and a movie experience with a single ticket that includes a meal at Garlic Rose Bistro, then a screening of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation at Cranford Theater.

Summit Chorale brings a Baroque-inspired holiday program to Christ Church Summit NJ in Summit. The chorus will present selections from Bach’s Mass in B Minor, alongside excerpts from the first part of Handel’s Messiah. The Mass in B Minor is slated for a complete performance with orchestra at the ensemble’s spring concert. The program may also feature beloved repertoire from past seasons, including Randall Thompson’s Frostiana and Ken Darby and Harry Simeone’s Twas the Night Before Christmas. Attendees can take part in a 50/50 raffle for a chance to add a little extra to holiday gifting. Advance online tickets are $25 plus fees and include access to a post-concert video for at-home viewing. Tickets at the door are $30, and students with ID can purchase at-the-door tickets for $15. For more information, call +1 201-255-7815.