Essex County 2018 Free Summer Concerts, Fireworks Events

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Looking to get outdoors, see a live concert and take it easy on your wallet? The 2018 Essex County Free Summer Music Concert Series will return to North Jersey this year, kicking off with a show on Saturday, June 9 and ending with a show on Sunday, September 9.

According to Essex County officials, the free concerts will bring together a diverse group of musicians and entertainers for live performances in the county’s parks. This year’s series features three concert/fireworks spectaculars, Friday night concerts in Brookdale Park, 17 concerts throughout the county and eight cultural festivals.

“The Essex County Free Summer Music Concert Series offers a diverse lineup of performers who will take center stage throughout our historic parks system,” Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said. “Pack a blanket, enjoy the cool evening breeze, and dance to the sounds of classical, rock and roll, jazz, big band, Latin and more. We have an amazing line-up that is sure to entertain and impress.”

The SummerMusic Concert Series is being sponsored by Rose Squared Productions, the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and TD Bank. The series is also made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.

Over the course of 13 summer weeks, there are 33 different events, featuring local and international acts in jazz, rock and roll, big band, reggae and more.

The 2018 SummerMusic Concert Series begins Saturday, June 9 with a Gospel Festival in Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park and concludes Sunday, September 9 with Mike Griot’s Essex County South Mountain International Blues Festival in Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex.

There will be three concert and “fireworks extravaganzas this summer,” officials said.

The first features the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra on Friday, June 29 in Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark. The second features the Motor City Revue on Monday, July 2 in Essex County Weequahic Park. The third features the Belletones and Total Soul on Tuesday, July 3 in Essex County Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair.

A list of shows and dates follows below, via an Essex County news release. Events with an asterisk (*) are co-sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Concerts are held at accessible sites. Persons who require special accommodations or assistance are asked to call at least two weeks prior to the concert to alert staff as to their needs. Admission to the concerts is free.

For more information, call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs at 973‑268-3500.

· Saturday, June 9th, 12 noon to 5 p.m., Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Gospel Festival*
· Thursday, June 14th, 5:30 p.m., Essex County Branch Brook Park, Concourse Hill Pavilion, Clifton Avenue entrance, Newark: Jazz in the Park
· Thursday, June 21st, 5:30 p.m., Essex County Branch Brook Park, Concourse Hill Pavilion, Clifton Avenue entrance, Newark: Jazz in the Park
· Saturday, June 23rd, 12 Noon, Essex County Weequahic Park, Newark: House Music Festival*
· Tuesday, June 26th, 7 p.m., Essex County Yanticaw Park, Nutley: Jukebox Legends
· Wednesday, June 27th, 7 p.m., Essex County Verona Park, Verona: Julian and Dominique
· Thursday, June 28th, 5:30 p.m., Essex County Branch Brook Park, Concourse Hill Pavilion, Clifton Avenue entrance, Newark: Jazz in the Park
· Friday, June 29th, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Branch Brook Park, Heller Parkway, Newark: Concert by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and a Fireworks Spectacular
· Monday, July 2nd, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Weequahic Park, Newark: Concert by the Motor City Revue and a Fireworks Spectacular
· Tuesday, July 3rd, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Concert by the Belletones and Total Soul, and a Fireworks Spectacular
· Friday, July 6th, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Garden State Radio
· Tuesday, July 10th, 7 p.m., Essex County Veterans Memorial Park, Newark: Bradford Hayes
· Wednesday, July 11th, 7 p.m., Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Pulse Jazz Quintet
· Friday, July 13th, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Billy Gilman, finalist on NBC’s “The Voice”
· Tuesday, July 17th, 7 p.m., Essex County Riverbank Park, Newark: Latin Splendor
· Wednesday, July 18th, 7 p.m., Essex County Watsessing Park, Bloomfield/East Orange: Denise Hamilton
· Friday, July 20th, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: The Infernos
· Tuesday, July 24th, 7 p.m., Essex County Ivy Hill Park, Newark: Richard Reiter
· Wednesday, July 25th, 7 p.m., Essex County Vailsburg Park, Newark: Gordon James
· Friday, July 27th, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Jazz Under the Stars featuring the Nicolas King Quartet and Alex Bugnon
· Tuesday, July 31st, 7 p.m., Essex County Irvington Park, Irvington: Group TBD
· Wednesday, August 1st, 7 p.m., Essex County Cedar Grove Park, Cedar Grove: Cameos
· Friday, August 3rd, 7:30 p.m., Essex County Brookdale Park, Bloomfield/Montclair: Tusk: Fleetwood Mac Tribute
· Saturday, August 4th, 12 noon to 8 p.m., Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: African Caribbean Festival*
· Tuesday, August 7th, 7 p.m., Essex County Grover Cleveland Park, Caldwell/Essex Fells: Steppin’ Out
· Wednesday, August 8th, 7 p.m., Essex County Independence Park, Newark: Nanny Assis Brazilian Experience
· Friday, August 10th, 7 p.m., Essex County Eagle Rock Reservation, West Orange: Joey Arminio and Family
· Saturday, August 11th, 4 to 9 p.m., Essex County Ivy Hill Park, Newark: International Food and Music Festival*
· Sunday, August 12th, 12 noon to 8 p.m., Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Latino Festival*
· Tuesday, August 14th, 7 p.m., Essex County Anderson Park, Upper Montclair: Kennedy Dancers
· Sunday, August 19th, 2 to 7 p.m., Essex County Monte Irvin Orange Park, Orange: Rayfield Morton’s Talent “Gong Show”*
· Saturday, September 8th, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Essex County Branch Brook Park, Newark: African Caribbean Festival*
· Sunday, September 9th, 12 noon to 8 p.m., Essex County South Mountain Reservation, West Orange: Mike Griot’s Essex County South Mountain International Blues Festival*

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