15 Events For A Fun Weekend

Before the Fourth of July festivities take center stage, these festivals, performances and community get-togethers are worth adding to your calendar.

The countdown to the Fourth is officially on, and Bergen County is kicking off the celebration a little early. While we love fireworks, parades and everything red, white and blue, there are plenty of other reasons to get out and about this weekend.

From outdoor festivals and live music to family-friendly fun and community gatherings, the days ahead are packed with ways to enjoy summer. Whether you’re browsing craft vendors, sampling festival treats, dancing to a local band or simply looking for something new to do, you’ll find plenty happening across the county. For example:

June 26

• Celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community at the first-ever combined Mahwah-Ramsey Pride Celebration. The festivities take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bill Bradley Center on Ramapo College’s Mahwah campus. There will be live music, a family entertainment area and more than 50 merchant and informational tables.
• Swifties of all ages can enjoy their pop and country music star at Fearless: The Taylor Swift Experience. The tribute act will be staged at the Wyckoff Family YMCA and will feature the musician’s biggest chart-toppers and deep cuts. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 7:30. Purchase tickets online.
• Bring your family, friends, blankets and lawn chairs to the bandshell at Closter’s Memorial Park, where The Kootz will perform at 7:30 p.m. The free show, part of Closter’s Steven Potterton Memorial Summer Concert Series, will feature The Kootz’s renditions of popular songs from the 1960s through ’90s.
• Rock out to SoulShine: An Allman Brothers Experience at the Barrymore Film Center in Fort Lee. The New York-based band will perform a selection of the Allman Brothers’ signature jams and singalongs. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets online.
• Dance the night away with the Westwood Community Band, which performs in Veterans Park at 8 p.m. The volunteer musicians of varied age and experience will entertain the audience with popular songs, standards, Broadway hits and more. The concert is free, and attendees should bring their own chairs and blankets.

June 27

• Join the Township of Wyckoff as it celebrates its Centennial Day with an all-day street festival. Stroll Main Street from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy live music, a beer garden, food, rides, games and dozens of vendors and exhibitors. At 6 p.m., head to Memorial Field for the evening program, with live music, snacks and a fireworks display.
• Catch FIFA World Cup fever at the Summer Soccer Series, a family-friendly festival happening at City Place in Edgewater. From 2 to 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy youth soccer clinics, interactive games and activities, music, face painting, crafts, giveaways and more.
• Montclair Pickleball’s Saturday Showdown is an all-afternoon singles tournament, featuring round robin play with playoffs. The action takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. at Montclair Pickleball in Fair Lawn. Register for the showdown online.
• Embrace your Irish side at A Taste of Ireland, a music and dance presentation staged at the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood. Performed by the Taste of Ireland Company, the show includes revamped Irish songs and dances. Tickets are available online, and the curtain goes up at 7:30 p.m.
• Head to the Teaneck Creek Conservancy for a festival of bats. Bat-Tastic will be led by New Jersey’s bat man, Joseph D’Angeli, who will take visitors on a guided walk and use ultrasonic bat detectors to seek out the cool flying mammals. The one-hour program starts at 8 p.m. and is intended for ages 7 and older. Online registration is required. The event is free, but donations at encouraged.

June 28

• Embrace nature at the Lorrimer Sanctuary in Franklin Lakes, which holds its latest Summer Sundays program: Fantastic Frogs. Families can drop by starting at 10:30 a.m. for the free session.
• The Borough of Oakland will hold its Pride Festival from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Oakland Elks Lodge. Swing by the music, arts and crafts, family-friendly activities and more. The event is free, but attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable items that will be donated to Ponds Food Pantry.
• Bergen Town Center in Paramus gets into the soccer action with a FIFA World Cup Watch Party from 2 to 6 p.m. Stop by to watch all the games while food trucks, a beer garden and games offer more fun and entertainment. Reservations are required and can be completed online.
• Fair Lawn resumes its Summer Concert Series with an 8 p.m. performance by Two Flights Up. The popular cover band will have the audience dancing all night with its renditions of classic rock favorites. Visitors should bring their own lawn chairs and set up in the Memorial Park parking lot.
• Experience the wonder and beauty of nature during Firefly Night at the Glen Rock Thielke Arboretum. Hosted by Girl Scout Troop 98399, the event is open to all ages and will help visitors search for fireflies while teaching them about conservation. The fun begins at 8 p.m.

Do you have fun plans this weekend? Share your favorite photos with us on Instagram @bergenmagnj.