The best arts & culture spots in Union

19 arts & culture spots we’ve checked and stand behind — with the story on each one. Not a ranking; a record.

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Arts & Culture · 19 places · showing the latest additions first

Durand-Hedden House & Garden is that rare local museum where exhibits like Slavery in New Jersey, Women’s Suffrage, and The History of Tea…

523 Ridgewood Rd (Maplewood)

Durand-Hedden House & Garden is that rare local museum where exhibits like Slavery in New Jersey, Women’s Suffrage, and The History of Tea sit alongside herb garden tours and lively community programs. The new season kicks off September 27 with Seeds of Revolution, a talk on 18th century plants.

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Arts World

Arts & Culture

NJ Art's World is the low key spot locals lean on for custom picture framing in every style and size, plus original and limited edition…

1925 Vauxhall Rd

NJ Art's World is the low key spot locals lean on for custom picture framing in every style and size, plus original and limited edition pieces. Expect standout African imports like silk thread art from Ghana and music themed framed art, curated by folks who've kept Union walls interesting for over 20 years.

From the Union newsletter, September 22, 2026

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Art Meets LLC.

Arts & Culture

Art Meets LLC. turns your weeknights into a canvas with Sip N' Paint packages, curated gallery packages, and build-your-event options that…

1291 Stuyvesant Ave. 4th FL

Art Meets LLC. turns your weeknights into a canvas with Sip N' Paint packages, curated gallery packages, and build-your-event options that make get-togethers actually fun. You can also shop original art and drop into Art Meets Gallery happenings...

From the Union newsletter, September 16, 2026

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Caldwell Parsonage

Arts & Culture

Caldwell Parsonage packs Union’s Revolutionary past into a four-room time capsule, complete with lively first-person interpreters of Rev.…

909 Caldwell Ave

Caldwell Parsonage packs Union’s Revolutionary past into a four-room time capsule, complete with lively first-person interpreters of Rev. James and Hannah Caldwell. Peek into the carriage house for quirky gems like an Edison gramophone and 1950s TVs, then leave feeling smug about finally exploring your own backyard.

From the Union newsletter, September 18, 2026

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India Square

Arts & Culture

India Square is that lively stretch a quick hop from Union City where Indian restaurants and grocers pile on the color, aromas, and…

800 Newark Ave (Jersey City)

India Square is that lively stretch a quick hop from Union City where Indian restaurants and grocers pile on the color, aromas, and options. Swing by to grab dinner, restock pantry staples, and, if you time it right, catch the community’s Navratri celebration with dance and music.

From the Union City newsletter, August 31, 2026

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Memorial Park

Arts & Culture

Grassy park featuring a sports field, a tennis court & a playground, plus picnic facilities.

580 Valley St (Maplewood)

Grassy park featuring a sports field, a tennis court & a playground, plus picnic facilities.

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New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) keeps Newark buzzing with world-class shows, free festivals around town, and programs that…

1 Center St (Newark)

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) keeps Newark buzzing with world-class shows, free festivals around town, and programs that actually nurture local talent. This week, catch Music, Movement and Movies or the people’s open mic: youth edition, then get hyped for Chris Tucker coming soon.

From the Bridgewater newsletter, August 24, 2026

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Curious about how your people got here? This week, Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration turns artifacts, oral histories, and arrival…

Ellis Is (Jersey City)

Curious about how your people got here? This week, Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration turns artifacts, oral histories, and arrival records into a powerful, personal experience where you can search for family names and spot them on the American Immigrant Wall of Honor.

From the Brooklyn newsletter, August 21, 2026

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New Jersey Historical Society lines up exhibitions like Ebb and Flow: New Jersey and Its Rivers, Send the Word: New Jersey During the Great…

52 Park Pl (Newark)

New Jersey Historical Society lines up exhibitions like Ebb and Flow: New Jersey and Its Rivers, Send the Word: New Jersey During the Great War, and The Long March Home. Family programs and walking tours keep it engaging, making it an easy history fix this week without feeling like homework.

From the Newark newsletter, September 21, 2026

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Liberty Hall Museum

Arts & Culture

Liberty Hall Museum keeps local history feeling alive with thoughtful programs like Bearing Witness, which explores the lives of enslaved…

1003 Morris Ave

Liberty Hall Museum keeps local history feeling alive with thoughtful programs like Bearing Witness, which explores the lives of enslaved people connected to the estate, plus hands-on Maker Mondays and a Revolutionary Lives exhibit. If you need a quick culture reset close to home, put it on your week’s list.

From the Elizabeth newsletter, August 19, 2026

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Just across the Hoboken border in Jersey City, Kobra's "Ziggy Stardust" Mural turns an 18-story facade into a 55-meter burst of…

837 Jersey Ave (Jersey City)

Just across the Hoboken border in Jersey City, Kobra's "Ziggy Stardust" Mural turns an 18-story facade into a 55-meter burst of kaleidoscopic Bowie, the kind of street art that resets your day. Swing by when you need a quick creativity jolt and a reason to look up.

From the Irvington newsletter, September 4, 2026

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Dreyfuss Planetarium

Arts & Culture

Skip the scrolling and let Dreyfuss Planetarium turn the ceiling into the cosmos with vivid, immersive shows that make astronomy feel close…

49 Washington St Dreyfuss Planetarium (Newark)

Skip the scrolling and let Dreyfuss Planetarium turn the ceiling into the cosmos with vivid, immersive shows that make astronomy feel close to home. Housed at The Newark Museum of Art, its interactive theater tackles big questions from the Big Bang to Mars... perfect for curious minds needing a midweek reset.

From the Newark newsletter, September 18, 2026

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Mana Contemporary

Arts & Culture

Mana Contemporary is a sprawling hub of galleries and working studios where artists across disciplines show what they’re up to. Wander, get…

888 Newark Ave (Jersey City)

Mana Contemporary is a sprawling hub of galleries and working studios where artists across disciplines show what they’re up to. Wander, get delightfully lost, and leave with a new favorite artist, or at least a head full of inspiration for that blank wall at home.

From the Hoboken newsletter, August 26, 2026

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World Cup Corner: Mural and Art Activation turns a once-feared Newark intersection into a living canvas, mixing murals, music, and sport to…

620 Market St (Newark)

World Cup Corner: Mural and Art Activation turns a once-feared Newark intersection into a living canvas, mixing murals, music, and sport to celebrate rebirth and unity. Expect raw street art nods to Jersey Club’s approved historical marker and NJ’s film roots, all sparked by FIFA 2026 energy… worth the quick trip.

From the Union City newsletter, September 8, 2026

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Liberty Science Center packs interactive exhibits you can actually play with, a jaw-dropping planetarium, and a 3D theater, plus Dino Dig…

222 Jersey City Blvd (Jersey City)

Liberty Science Center packs interactive exhibits you can actually play with, a jaw-dropping planetarium, and a 3D theater, plus Dino Dig Adventure and up-close animal meetups. Swing by for a Space Talk or an LSC After Dark night and give your brain some local fun.

From the Bayonne newsletter, August 17, 2026

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If your camera roll needs a little hometown boost, the Greetings from Jersey City Mural nails that vintage postcard vibe, originally…

200 12th St (Jersey City)

If your camera roll needs a little hometown boost, the Greetings from Jersey City Mural nails that vintage postcard vibe, originally painted in 2015 and refreshed in 2019 with Bergen Arches imagery. Swing by on your next JC run and send a digital postcard to the group chat.

From the Kearny newsletter, August 28, 2026

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bunkr.

Arts & Culture

Central Jersey DJs, meet bunkr., a creative studio built for DJs, with bookable practice time on premier Pioneer gear, video recording and…

25 Halsey St Lower Level (Newark)

, a creative studio built for DJs, with bookable practice time on premier Pioneer gear, video recording and livestreaming, plus content creation, equipment rentals, and a CDJ Crash Course. They also host monthly Open Decks and private or corporate events, so you can network, test mixes, and level up.

From the East Brunswick newsletter, September 1, 2026

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From boundary-pushing shows like Risham Syed: Destiny Fractured and Liberty & Legacy to The Ballantine House, plus a legit planetarium and…

49 Washington St (Newark)

From boundary-pushing shows like Risham Syed: Destiny Fractured and Liberty & Legacy to The Ballantine House, plus a legit planetarium and an interactive nature exhibit, The Newark Museum of Art keeps weekends interesting. Stick around for Art After Dark and community days that actually feel like Newark.

From the Newark newsletter, September 14, 2026

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