Union County Parks Winter Events
The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders invite you to Celebrate the Season at Warinanco Sports Center on Sunday December 8th! Bring your family and enjoy holiday carols, kids crafts, and face painting. You can sit by the fire and dine in the café.
Skate with Santa and his elves from 11am-6pm! (The event is held in 3 sessions)
Tickets include entry to the event, skate rental, hot chocolate & cookies.
Tickets are limited to 325 people per session. NO TICKETS AVAILABLE ON EVENT DAY
All guests need a ticket, even if they are not skating. These tickets sold out fast last year so don’t delay!
Session Times:
- 11:00am – 1:00pm
- 1:30pm – 3:30pm
- 4:00pm – 6:00pm
Tickets available only thru pre-sale. Click here.
Model Railroad Club 2019 Annual Holiday Sound and Light Show
The annual Holiday Sound and Light Show hosted by The Model Railroad Club is back for another season at the A. Paul Mallery Model Railroad Center in Union Township. The centerpiece of the festivities is the club’s sprawling, meticulously detailed HO scale layout.
The Model Railroad Center is located in a mixed-use area of Union County’s Lenape Park, off Route 22 East behind the Home Depot at 930 South Springfield Road.
“We work hard year round to provide a wonderful experience for our visitors,” said Railroad Club President Tim McCollum. “For this show our HO scale layout is transformed into a theatre where the trains are the star of the show.”
This year, the Holiday Sound and Light show opens at noon Friday, November 29. It will run every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until December 15.
Help with Senior Services
Find upcoming local events to learn about senior services. Click here.
Upcoming events from the Office of LGBTQ Affairs
Fostering Hope Together presented in partnership with the Division of Families and Children, Embrella, CASA of Union County and Kemper Sports Saturday, December 7 Warinanco Sports Center Children in foster care and their families are invited to enjoy a morning of holiday cheer to include skating (ages 5+), photos with Santa, hot chocolate, cookies and more… Free Admission Registration Required online at ucnj.org/fostering-hope-together POSTPONED Open for Business – Open for Everyone Inclusion and Diversity Symposium for Business Owners, Managers and Entrepreneurs New Date TBD Hamilton Stage (Fazioli Room) Business owners, managers and entrepreneurs to participate in the first Open for Business – Open for Everyone: Inclusion and Diversity Symposium. The free full-day symposium will focus on internal policies and practices to create an inclusive working environment for employees, LGBTQ+ 101 cultural competency training, understanding New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination (LAD), and best practices for being open for business to serve all people. The scheduled panelists and speakers represent New Jersey government, corporate sector, small business, and workplace diversity. Guests will have an opportunity to engage in important discussions with experts in their respective fields to foster a diverse, inclusive, accepting, welcoming space for employees and customers. Cultural Competency Training Presented in partnership with the Division of Purchasing Friday, November 15 Registration/Check-In begins at 9:30 AM UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage The LGBTQ Cultural Competency course aims to increase knowledge and skills to improve the attendee’s ability to effectively and respectfully interact with LGBTQ colleagues, vendor clients and people in general. The training will offer an understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and highlight challenges individuals face on a daily basis in a heteronormative environment through a conversation about intersectionality. Registration Required
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
1 Park Drive, Roselle/Elizabeth NJ
360 Hamilton Street, Rahway
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
360 Hamilton Street, Rahway
Cultural Events Calendar
Dec. 12 The Memory Café The Memory Café provides an opportunity for individuals with memory loss and their care takers to socialize and enjoy music in a warm welcoming environment. A free lunch will be provided. FREE Jewish Family Service of Central NJ Dec. 14 Concord Singers: “My Soul Still Sings” Concord Singers holiday concert, “My Soul Still Sings” captures the spirit of the season with wonderful pieces of traditional, contemporary, and sacred music by composers and arrangers. $15 for adults l $10 Children 12 & under Calvary Episcopal Church Dec. 15 Rewind: Woodstock 50th Anniversary Tribute Revive memories and emotions with songs of Woodstock, the one-of-a-kind festival that featured Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker and other legendary musicians. The band features John Delgiodice on guitar and vocals, Ken Cohen on drums and vocals, and Rich Loughlin on bass and vocals. Free Summit Public Library Dec. 17 Memory Café The Memory Café provides an opportunity for individuals with memory loss and their care takers to socialize and enjoy music in a warm welcoming environment. A free lunch will be provided. FREE Lavy House Dec. 31 Singin’ and Dancin’ with the Stars Ring in the New Year with New Jersey Festival Orchestra. Dancers from Dance Theatre of Harlem and Broadway vocalists swing to America’s Songbook. $42 $56 $70 Under 21 $15 Westfield High School Auditorium 908-232-9400
12 pm
CONCERT
655 Westfield Avenue, Elizabeth
www.jfscentralnj.org
7 PM
31 Woodland Ave. Summit
https://concordsingers.org
2 pm
CONCERT
75 Maple St., Summit
908-273-0350
www.summitlibrary.org
12 pm
CONCERT
748 East Broad St., Westfield
908-352-8375
www.jfscentralnj.org
7 pm
PERFORMANCE
550 Dorian Rd., Westfield
www.njfestivalorchestra.org
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities and Community Events
The Office of Community Engagement & Diversity of the County of Union is located within the Department of Economic Development. If you have any questions regarding requesting volunteer services or partnering up with our Office for events, please contact Nathalie Hernandez at 908-527-4880 nahernandez@ucnj.org
Friday, November 29th Singing, Tree Decorating, Hot Chocolate, & Pictures with Santa Friday, November 29th For Questions Contact: Anthony Deige- 732-669-3602 Friday, November 29th Come watch Santa arrive in town with a parade led by the NPHS Pioneer Band and the NPFD. The fun begins at 4:30pm and Santa arrives at 6:00pm. Sunday, December 1st Monday, December 2nd Monday, December 2nd Tuesday, December 3rd Wagon Rides, Entertainment, Santa Claus, & Santa’s Mailbox Wednesday, December 4th Entire family invited for an evening of caroling and fun! Thursday, December 5th A night of holiday celebration with special visits from the Elizabeth Fire Department.
Cranford Christmas Tree Lighting-Gazebo
N. Union & Springfield Avenue, Cranford
11:00am-6:00pm
Winter Wonderland-Downtown Rahway
Main Street, Rahway
1:00pm-7:00pm
Holiday Festival
65 South Street, New Providence- Provident Bank
4:00pm-8:00pm
Downtown Westfield Tree Lighting
301 North Avenue, Westfield- North Avenue Train Station
4:00pm-7:00pm
Roselle Winter Wonderland
210 Chestnut Street, Roselle
6:00pm-9:00pm
Elizabeth 2nd Ward Tree Lighting
420 Washington Ave, Elizabeth-Washington Park
6:00pm-7:00pm
The EAP’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting
800 First Avenue, Elizabeth-Union Square Plaza
5:00pm-7:00pm
Elizabeth 5th Ward Tree Lighting
Woodruff Lane, Elizabeth- Woodruff Park
6:00pm-7:00pm
Elizabeth Historic Midtown Tree Lighting Ceremony
W. Grand Street, Elizabeth- Pedestrian Plaza at the Train Station
5:30pm-7:00pm