Montclair, New Jersey, is widely recognized as the cultural hub of Essex County. Nowhere is this more evident than in its packed calendar of annual street fairs and community festivals. From early spring through late fall, the township regularly transforms its bustling downtown streets and historic local parks into vibrant, open-air celebrations.
Whether you are searching for the best “things to do in Montclair” this weekend or planning a trip for premier regional events, our town offers something for everyone. Montclair’s event season features everything from the globally recognized Montclair Jazz Festival and the star-studded Montclair Film Festival, to the massive Montclair Pride celebration and seasonal food truck and craft fairs.
Because the community hosts so many world-class events—complete with live music, local artisans, and artisanal food vendors—keeping track of the dates, locations, and inevitable street closures can be a challenge.
That is why we built this comprehensive, up-to-date calendar. We’ve done the logistical work so you don’t have to. Bookmark this guide, share it with your neighborhood group chats, and use it to navigate the very best arts, culture, and entertainment that Montclair has to offer all year long.
Top Annual Events and Festivals in Montclair, NJ
Montclair Earth Fest
- Date: Annually in Late April (April 26, 2026)
- Location: South Park Street (Between Bloomfield Ave & Church St), Montclair, NJ
- Description: Kicking off our spring festival season is Earth Fest, and let us tell you, it’s the perfect family-friendly excuse to get outside after a long winter! We love grabbing an iced coffee and strolling down South Park Street to check out all the amazing eco-friendly vendors. Hosted by the Township and the Montclair Center BID, it’s such a fun, low-key vibe with live entertainment, cool educational games for the kids, and local businesses showing off their green initiatives. Definitely take a peek at the Electric Vehicle showcase while you’re there—it always makes us want to trade in our cars!
- Website: montclairnjusa.org
Walnut Street Fair
- Date: Annually in Spring/Fall (Typically May or September)
- Location: Walnut Street (From Forest St to Grove St), Montclair, NJ
- Description: The Walnut Street Fair is basically a massive New Jersey neighborhood block party, and we are absolutely here for it. They transform one of our favorite foodie corridors in town into an all-day hangout spot. With nearly 300 local vendors, we usually spend hours just eating our way through the food trucks and browsing the artisan crafts. Grab a drink at the beer garden, listen to some fantastic local bands, and let the kids run wild in the Erie Park fun zone. It’s Montclair community spirit at its absolute best!
- Website: jlmn.org
AAPI Montclair Lantern Festival for Justice and Unity
- Date: Annually in Mid-May
- Location: Edgemont Memorial Park (Valley Road), Montclair, NJ
- Description: There is truly nothing quite as magical as standing in Edgemont Park as the sun goes down and seeing thousands of lanterns light up the water. It gives us goosebumps every single time. Hosted by AAPI New Jersey, this cultural festival is deeply moving and incredibly beautiful. We love packing a picnic blanket, grabbing a bite from the food trucks, and listening to the inspiring speakers and live musical performances. It’s a joyful, powerful night of solidarity that you absolutely have to experience for yourself.
- Website: aapinewjersey.org
Montclair African-American Heritage Parade and Festival
- Date: Annually on the First Saturday in June
- Location: Parade on Bloomfield Ave & Elm St; Festival at Nishuane Park / South End
- Description: If you haven’t been to Nishuane Park on the first Saturday in June, you are seriously missing out on one of the top summer events in Essex County! The energy at the African-American Heritage Parade and Festival is absolutely infectious. We always start the morning cheering on the incredible floats and dance troupes along Bloomfield Ave, and then follow the crowd down to the South End. The afternoon festival is legendary—think mouth-watering soul food, incredible local merchandise, and a Battle of the Bands that will have you dancing on the grass all afternoon.
- Website: maahf.org
Montclair Pride Festival
- Date: Annually in Mid-June
- Location: Downtown Montclair (Bloomfield Ave & surrounding streets)
- Description: Our team at the Pod looks forward to Montclair Pride all year long! Hosted by Out Montclair, it has quickly become one of the biggest, brightest, and most joyous LGBTQ+ Pride events in New Jersey. They literally shut down the downtown streets for a massive celebration of love and inclusion that draws tens of thousands of people. We spend the whole day stage-hopping to catch Broadway stars and local drag royalty, grabbing drinks at the bustling beer gardens, and running into seemingly everyone we know. Make sure you stick around for the epic evening street dance party!
- Website: outmontclair.org
Montclair Jazz Festival (Downtown Jamboree)
- Date: Annually in Late Summer (Downtown Jamboree in August/September)
- Location: Lackawanna Plaza and Downtown Montclair
- Description: You guys, they literally shut down the center of town for this, and it is epic. Produced by our brilliant friends at JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, this is officially the biggest single one-day live music event in Montclair. We love bringing our folding chairs to Lackawanna Plaza and settling in for 8 straight hours of world-class, mind-blowing live jazz. Seeing internationally renowned musicians share the stage with insanely talented local students is just so special. Between the Rao’s Homemade Marketplace and the massive funk & soul dance party at the end of the night, we always leave exhausted in the best way possible.
- Website: montclairjazzfestival.org
Montclair Film Festival
- Date: Annually in Mid-to-Late October
- Location: Various Venues (Including The Clairidge, Wellmont Theater, Cinema505), Montclair, NJ
- Description: Whether you’re a hardcore cinephile or just hoping to spot Stephen Colbert grabbing popcorn at The Clairidge, the Montclair Film Festival brings a real touch of Hollywood magic right to our backyard! For ten days every fall, the town is buzzing with filmmakers, actors, and movie lovers. We always try to catch a few indie documentaries and grab tickets to the celebrity Q&As—they are always so intimate and fascinating. It’s the perfect excuse to plan a date night in Downtown Montclair and catch an independent film you won’t see anywhere else.
- Website: montclairfilm.org
Which Montclair festival is your absolute favorite? Did we miss a local Essex County block party that deserves a shoutout? Let us know by emailing us at hello@montclairpod.com, or tag us in your New Jersey festival photos on Instagram!
