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 brand-new Uptown Sound Music Festival and the beloved Montclair Pride celebration, as well as a walkable neighborhood music crawl, one of New Jersey’s finest literary gatherings, and seasonal food truck 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
Montclair Literary Festival
- Date: Annually in Early May (May 2–11, 2026)
- Location: Downtown Montclair and Montclair State University
- Description: If you love books, clear your calendar for the first two weeks of May—because the Montclair Literary Festival is exactly the kind of event that makes you proud to live here. Now in its tenth year, this is a genuinely world-class gathering that just happens to take place in our backyard. Spanning 10 days, the festival features more than 60 authors across 30-plus events, with the majority free for all attendees, and proceeds benefiting Succeed2gether, a Montclair-based nonprofit that provides free tutoring to underserved children in Essex County. Since its 2017 debut—a sold-out event featuring Trevor Noah—the festival has drawn guests including Patti Smith, Joyce Carol Oates, Malcolm Gladwell, Salman Rushdie, and Isabel Allende. Two big Festival Days anchor the schedule: one in downtown Montclair, one at Montclair State University, with author talks, workshops, and special events sprinkled throughout the week. Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just looking for something to do on a Saturday morning, this one is not to miss. Read our coverage of Montclair’s arts and culture scene.
- Website: succeed2gether.org
Walnut Street Fair
- Date: Annually in Spring (May 3, 2026)
- 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 over 200 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 fun zone. It’s Montclair community spirit at its absolute best!
- Website: jlmn.org
Montclair Porchfest
- Date: Annually in Mid-May (May 16, 2026)
- Location: Porches and front lawns across Montclair; finale at Lackawanna Station
- Description: This one is exactly what it sounds like, and it is absolutely as fun as you’re imagining. Montclair Porchfest is a free, walkable music festival where local bands and musicians perform on front porches and lawns throughout town, transforming neighborhoods into personal stages. It launched in 2025 as Montclair’s first-ever Porchfest, with over 300 bands in its inaugural year, and returns in 2026 with over 220 performers and a special finale at Lackawanna Station featuring Grammy-winning artists from the Recording Academy’s New York and Philadelphia chapters. The best way to experience it is to just start walking. Use the Downtown Montclair app for an interactive map of performers and locations—and bring a folding chair, because you’re going to want to stay a while. More on Montclair’s music scene and what makes Porchfest tick.
- Website: montclairporchfest.org
AAPI Montclair Lantern Festival for Justice and Unity
- Date: Annually in Late May (May 30, 2026; Rain date: June 7)
- 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 steps off from Glenfield Middle School (Maple Ave), proceeds along Bloomfield Ave to Elm St and Cedar Ave; Festival at Nishuane Park
- 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 summer or fall—2026 date: October 11 (National Coming Out Day)
- Location: Lackawanna Station, 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair, NJ (2026); traditionally Downtown Montclair
- Description: Montclair Pride is one of the most joyful, energizing days on our entire calendar, and the fifth anniversary edition has a story worth knowing. The 2026 festival was postponed twice—first from its original June 13 date, then from August 1—as Out Montclair navigated rising production costs and a significant decline in corporate sponsorship, challenges hitting Pride organizations across the country. Organizers aligned the new date with National Coming Out Day and are working with community partners, sponsors, and municipal stakeholders to make it happen. For 2026, the festival relocates to Lackawanna Station, with two stages, a family zone, 150-plus vendors, food trucks, and beer and beverage gardens. Admission is free. If you want to help make it happen, Out Montclair has an active GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/save-montclair-pride-2026. This event matters—show up. Read our full coverage of what happened and what to expect.
- Website: outmontclair.org
Montclair Jazz Festival (Downtown Jamboree)
- Date: Annually in Late Summer (August 15, 2026)
- 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 the largest outdoor summer jazz festival in the NYC region and the biggest single-day live music event in Montclair. The 2026 festival—now in its 17th year—celebrates the centennials of Miles Davis and John Coltrane with special tribute performances, and has been selected as a collaborating festival for “Of the People: The Smithsonian Festival of Festivals,” a remarkable honor for our town. We love bringing our folding chairs to Lackawanna Plaza and settling in for hours of world-class, mind-blowing live jazz. Seeing internationally renowned musicians share the stage with insanely talented local students is just so special. Note: attendance at the Downtown Jamboree now requires a free JAM PASS registration (a “Pay What You Wish” option is available) — register at montclairjazzfestival.org before you go.
- Website: montclairjazzfestival.org
Saint Sebastian Feast & Carnival
- Date: Annually in Late August (typically August 21–25)
- Location: Kaveny Field & Christopher Street area, Montclair, NJ
- Description: This one is a little different from the rest of our festival list—and that’s exactly why we love it. The Saint Sebastian Feast & Carnival is old-school Montclair at its finest: a multi-day neighborhood celebration rooted in the Italian-American tradition of the feast. Expect carnival rides, classic fair foods, live entertainment every night, and the St. Sebastian statue procession from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, which rolls through the neighborhood on the final Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Get the zeppoles. You won’t regret it.
- Website: experiencemontclair.org (check for updated dates)
Uptown Sound Music Festival
- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026 (Rain date: October 3, 2026)
- Location: Anderson Park, Upper Montclair, NJ
- Description: Upper Montclair is finally getting its own music festival—and it’s free! Uptown Sound was founded by local residents and business owners Dan & Day with a simple vision: to bring the community together through music, culture, and connection. What began as a small neighborhood idea has evolved into a nonprofit event created to celebrate local music, support local businesses, and bring people together through an unforgettable day of music and connection—and the organization is currently working toward 501(c)(3) status. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome, so yes, bring the whole family. We spoke with the founders—read the full story here.
- Website: uptownsoundfest.org
Montclair Film Festival
- Date: Annually in Mid-to-Late October (October 16–25, 2026)
- Location: Various Venues (including The Clairidge, The Bellevue, 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! Now in its 15th year, the festival entertains film lovers and professionals from across the region with ten days of compelling independent films, comedies, documentaries, panels, family events, and work by emerging artists. 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 a film you won’t see anywhere else. Read our preview of the 2025 festival and the Bellevue’s big reopening.
- 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!
Looking for more? Check out our 2026 Guide to Montclair, NJ for everything else this town has to offer.
