Celebrate September Your Way

Whether you’re craving fall or hoping to extend summer, our counties have you covered.

September is a tricky time of year. The weather is warm enough that the sun worshippers are still outside, but the pumpkin spice latte lovers are eager for cooler days. Shops are showing off Halloween décor, but you’re still reaching for the sun block on some afternoons. Maybe you’re eager for a leaf-peeping getaway; maybe you want one more taste of summer.

Here’s the good news—Morris and Essex can handle both of those cravings. Whether you’re longing for a seasonal festival and apple cider donuts or some glorious sunshine, you’ll find events that hit the spot. Follow your seasonal bliss and be sure to check out:

Extend summer.

• Saturdays through Oct. 3. Maplewood’s Late Summer Music Series keeps the summer vibes going for many weeks yet. Stop by the pedestrian plaza on Maplewood Ave between Highland Ave and Inwood Place for live music from great local acts, dining, extended shopping hours at local shops and lots of fun. The music starts 5:30.
• Sept. 14. Tee off for a great cause with the Mike Conley Memorial “Fore The Kids” Golf Tournament at West Orange’s Crestmont Country Club. Enjoy a breakfast spread, a shotgun start for 18 holes, and then a cocktail hour, dinner, awards, live and silent auctions afterwards. This event benefits Spectrum360, which provides services to people with autism and other disabilities. Check in starts at 9 a.m.; tickets and registration online.
• Sept. 19. Grow it Green Morristown, a nonprofit that focuses on agriculture and food access hosts Alfresco at the Farm in Morristown. Starting at 3 p.m., families can explore educational stations around the farm and interact with plants, flowers, bees and fresh veggies. There will also be live music, food trucks, face painting and a Best Gazpacho contest to discover the person summer bite.
• Sept. 19. The Oskar Schindler Performing Arts Center in West Orange comes alive with swinging rhythms and brass with the West Orange Jazz Festival, which also celebrates the re-opening of the arts center after extensive renovations. Enjoy world-class jazz from near and far, food vendors, a beer and wine garden and great vibes. The music starts at 1 p.m.
• Sept. 19-20. Get out and enjoy the great weather at the Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center in Chatham. Take part in the Great Swamp Partners Scavenger Hunt, which will have you answering questions to complete your scavenger hunt booklet for a chance to win prizes. You can start hunting each day at 10 a.m., and winners will be announced Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
• Sept. 19 & 20. Beautiful weather, great rides and an even better cause—the Celebrity Classic Car Show in Mendham has everything. Stop by for two days of vintage and exotic cars, luxury vehicles and modern classics, plus supercars. This event benefits Calling All Kids Storytime Network at Morristown Medical Center. Gates are at 10 a.m. each day.

Welcome fall.

• Sept. 19. Want something truly spooky? In Morristown, you can try to catch a glimpse of a ghost at Paranormal Evenings: The Frelinghuysen Mansion. You’ll explore different rooms of this historic building (built in 1891) and use different techniques to reach out to the other side. The hauntings start at 7 p.m.
• Sept. 20. Over at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland, you can take part in the 21st Annual Fall Family Festival. Welcome to equinox with including hands-on nature games and crafts, naturalist-led walks, live butterflies, live animals, canoeing, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, great food and much more. The fun starts at 11 a.m., and is free.
• Sept. 20. After a very successful first year, Denville’s Fall Festival is back again! Stop by for vendors, seasonal bites, kids activities, family fun, shopping deals and lots of ambiance. Everything kicks off at 11 a.m.
• Sept. 25-27. To celebrate the American Revolution, Morristown is hosting a Living History Weekend. The Morristown Green will be transformed by costume reenactors who will take it back in time so you can see how a war camp looked, sounded and functioned. The week will also feature walking tours, trivia nights and more. Capping it off on Sept. 27 is the famous Festival on the Green, considered one of the best of its kind in New Jersey. Times vary; see the website for more.
• Sept. 26. Part music festival, part seasonal fundraiser and all fun—Rocktoberfest in Millburn is the perfect way to spend a cool September day. Stop by for great music from over a dozen acts ranging from rock to Bollywood to indie pop, lots of vendors, kids’ activities and community. This event raises money for the Millburn Education Foundation, and it starts at noon.
• Sept. 26. The Montclair History Center brings its popular Fall Fest back for another year! At this history center and community farm, you can walk through gardens filled with native plants (and maybe the start of some fall color) and enjoy hands-on crafts, hearth cooking demonstrations, meet-and-greets with farm animals, great bites—and that’s just the start. This event begins at 11 a.m.

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