County Events
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Municipal and Local Events
Events below are provided to Union County, and may be subject to change.
July 2 – Concert in the Park – Great American Music (Westfield)
- July 2nd 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm
- Mindowaskin Park, East Broad St
- Free
Westfield Community Concert Band’s 114th Summer Concert Series in the Park features great American music in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary, including the music of Disney, Rogers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, John Philip Sousa, Frank Sinatra, Stephen Foster, Aaron Copland and others.
This special Independence Day program features vocalist Kerry Stubbs and presentations by “George Washington” and Westfield’s very own “Towne Crier.” Bring a chair or blanket.
The park is accessible for all persons, with level, paved pathways leading to the band/gazebo area.
July 3 – Cranford Celebrates America’s 250 Birthday (Cranford)
- July 3rd 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm
- Hanson Park
- Free
As part of the many activities planned to celebrate our Country’s semiquincentennial, the Cranford Township 250 RevolutionNJ Committee will be holding an AMERICA 250 Birthday Celebration on Friday, July 3, 2026.
The free event will run from 1. p.m. until 6 p.m. and will be held at Hanson Park in Cranford, located off of Springfield Avenue (if inclement weather it will be held indoors at the Cranford Recreation Center at 375 Centennial Avenue, Cranford).
This Birthday Celebration will include demonstrations, displays, games, crafts, food trucks, music, giveaways, photo booth, face painting, and entertainment. The Committee is working with local historic houses and community groups to highlight Colonial Times, the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War in New Jersey.
Sponsored activities include Quill Pen writing (Merchants and Drovers Tavern), Tin Punching (Miller-Corey House), and Colonial Games and Toys (Boxwood Hall). Some of the many local groups participating will be the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, Girl and Boy Scouts, Cranford86, and the Cranford Historical Society.
Click link cranfordnj.org/2781/2026-Upcoming-Events for a detailed schedule of the day.
This program is made possible in part by a 2026 HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners. The Cranford 250 Committee invites additional groups or individuals to sponsor this event. Visit the website at cranfordnj.org/Cranford250RevNJ for more information.
July 11 – Colonial Olympic Games & Ice Cream Social (Union Twp)
- July 11th 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
- Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave Union, NJ 07083
- Free
Who doesn’t enjoy a good old-fashioned family fun day? Join us for our Colonial Olympic Games and Ice Cream Social Day! Colonial Games were widely enjoyed by children and inspired some of the toys and games we play today. Explore and learn about what children played with, and enjoy a family-friendly competition in the lovely gardens of Liberty Hall. Afterward, to celebrate your victory, join us for a yummy good time at our Ice Cream Social! I scream, you scream…we all scream for Ice Cream!
Recommended for all ages! No experience necessary.
August 7 – Music in the Garden (Union Twp)
- August 7th 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave Union, NJ 07083
The Livingstons and Keans have always had musicians in their families, and music has been an integral part of society since the late 1700s. Join Liberty Hall as we listen to a live band perform music from sheet music in the museum’s collection, featuring a mix of modern favorites. This special concert will take place in our beautiful gardens, so sit back, relax, and enjoy a themed cocktail with some light refreshments as you listen.
Light refreshments will be served. Reservations required.
October 10 – Colonial Beer Making Class (Union Twp)
- October 10th 10am to 5pm
- Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Ave Union, NJ 07083
- Free
“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” said Benjamin Franklin. Join Liberty Hall to discover if Mr. Franklin was right! This classroom-style event offers an in-depth look at how colonists made beer. Included are a colonial-style boxed lunch, a chance to play colonial games, a tour of Liberty Hall’s first floor, and a take-home beer-making kit!
Reservations are required. Space is limited.
October 22nd – New Jersey Militia in the Revolutionary War (New Providence)
- October 22nd, 7pm to 8pm
- New Providence Library
- Free
Learn about the role that the New Jersey Militia played in the Revolutionary War: what they wore, what they carried, how they fought, what they ate, what they were paid, and what they did to support Washington’s Army. You’ll get to see and touch items carried and used by the NJ Militia, too. This presentation is by military historian John Dwyer, a retired US Army Colonel.
November 10th – The American Revolution in Elizabeth and Vicinity (New Providence)
- November 10, 7pm to 8pm
- New Providence Memorial Library
- Free
John Prescott, the History Programs Coordinator for the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, will give a presentation focusing on the events, people and places in this area that made a difference in the War of Independence, and in the following years during the birth of our new nation.
Local History
Battles
Welcome from Vice Chair Williams
On behalf of the Union County Board of County Commissioners, I am proud to welcome you to the County of Union’s commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution.
Union County holds a unique and meaningful place in our nation’s founding. From pivotal Revolutionary War encampments and battle sites to the everyday courage of residents who shaped history, our communities were instrumental in the fight for independence and the ideals that continue to define our democracy.
As Vice Chair of the Board of County Commissioners and Chair of the Union County America 250 Committee, I am honored to help lead this once-in-a-generation opportunity to reflect on our past while engaging residents of all ages in meaningful ways. Through educational programming, cultural events, historical preservation, and community partnerships, our America 250 initiatives are designed not only to remember history—but to bring it to life.
This commemoration is about more than milestones and dates. It is about honoring the values of freedom, service, resilience, and civic participation that continue to shape Union County today. We invite you to explore, participate, and celebrate alongside us as we commemorate our shared history and look ahead to the future we are building together.
Thank you for joining us in honoring 250 years of American history—rooted right here in Union County. Stay tuned for all of our wonderful events throughout the year!
Rebecca Williams
Vice Chair, Union County Board of County Commissioners
Chair, Union County America 250 Committee
The 250th
Across the country, the United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, marking the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of the nation.
This historic milestone—formally known as the Semiquincentennial—commemorates 250 years of American history, much like the Bicentennial celebration in 1976.
