Rolling Stones, film fest, fishing, jazz & more: North Jersey things to do May 23-26
What will you be doing this holiday weekend in North Jersey?
If you want some music, you can see the Rolling Stones at MetLife Stadium, or you can hang out next door at American Dream and check out a Stones cover band. If classic rock isn't your thing, the AAPI Jazz Collective at Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills is an option.
Cinephiles should head to Rutherford for its inaugural film festival at the Williams Center. Those who prefer their drama up close and personal can enjoy a murder mystery dinner theater in Millburn.
For some family fun, there's a fishing derby for kids in Caldwell, Jackals baseball in Paterson, the Xinyang Maojian Tea Cultural Fair at American Dream, and a volunteer opportunity to help remove invasive plants at the Tenafly Nature Center.
And of course, it's Memorial Day weekend, so be sure to have a look at our big list of parades and ceremonies happening throughout North Jersey.
Will it be a rainy weekend?
According to the National Weather Service:
Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms are likely in the late afternoon and early evening. Then it will be mostly cloudy in the mid-60s overnight, with a 60 percent chance of precipitation.
Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a slight chance of showers in the morning then gradually becoming sunny, with a high in the mid-80s. Friday night will be mostly clear, with a low around 65.
Saturday: Partly sunny with a chance of showers after 2 p.m. and a high around 80 and a low in the mid-60s.
Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 83 with a slight chance of showers after 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy overnight with a low around 63.
Memorial Day: Mostly cloudy with a high in the mid-70s, it may rain on our parades with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Rolling Stones at MetLife Stadium, and the Tour Next Door
The Rolling Stones tour will stop in North Jersey for shows on Thursday and Sunday. Fans can expect to experience Mick, Keith and Ronnie play hits like “Start Me Up,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Satisfaction” and more, as well as deep cuts and music from their new album, "Hackney Diamonds," which is their first studio set of new material since 2005's "A Bigger Bang." Since then, the Stones continued to sell out concerts and released 2016's Grammy-winning "Blue & Lonesome," which featured versions of many of the blues tracks that helped shape their sound. Last year, they played to European audiences totaling nearly a quarter of a million on the anniversary Sixty tour. The Rolling Stones have sold over 250 million albums worldwide.
Can't make it to the show or want something fun to do before the concert? Head over to American Dream for "The Tour Next Door" celebrating the Stones with photo ops, cardboard cutouts, exclusive dining specials and a live performance from a cover band, 2 to 4 p.m. each day at the Dream Stage (Court A, Level 1).
Go: The Rolling Stones, Thursday and Sunday, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford. Parking lots open at 3 p.m., gates open at 6, showtime is 8. Tickets are $125 to $600 plus fees. Parking is $40 to $160 per vehicle. metlifestadium.com.
Rutherford Film Festival makes its debut
The first annual Rutherford Film Festival at the artist-run Williams Center in Rutherford is a the three-day event - Thursday, Friday and Saturday - with more than 50 hours of indie film screenings. There will also be lectures, parties and celebrations of the beauty and versatility of cinema. Three screens, including the 101-year-old Rivoli Theater, will be dedicated to up-and-coming filmmakers from across the Tri-State area. Awards and prizes will include Best Feature, Best Short, Best Documentary, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Sound Design, Best Music and Score and the William Carlos Williams Screenplay Award.
Go: Rutherford Film Festival at the Williams Center, 15 Sylvan St., Rutherford. Thursday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to midnight; Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. $21.82 one-day pass; $53.03 three-day pass. information, schedule, tickets.
Essex County fishing derbies
The next in a series of free fishing derbies in the Essex County Parks System will be held on Thursday at Grover Cleveland Park Pond in Caldwell/Essex Fells. Each derby is open to children ages 15 and younger. All children must be accompanied by an adult and bring their own fishing pole, bait, bucket and chair. Prizes in various age categories for catching the first and most fish will be awarded at the conclusion of each derby. The remaining derbies will be in at Weequahick Park Lake in Newark on May 28, Verona Park Boathouse on May 29, South Mountain Recreation Complex on May 30 and Branch Brook Park Prudential Concert Grove in Newark on June 1.
Go: Essex County Fishing Derby at Grover Cleveland Park Pond, Brookside Avenue and Runnymede Road, Thursday. For each derby except June 1, onsite registration begins at 5 p.m., the derby begins at 6 and awards will be presented at 7:15. On June 1, registration begins at 8 p.m., the derby begins at 9 and awards are at 10. Call 973-268-3500 for information. In case of inclement weather, cancellations will be posted on essexcountynj.org. Cancelled derbies will not be rescheduled.
Music and Dance in the Garden
The AAPI Jazz Collective will perform on Friday as part of the Music and Dance in the Garden series at Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills. The series is composed of outdoor concerts featuring jazz and classical music, as well as a dance performance, in a historic garden setting. Led by Peter Lin on trombone and featuring vocalist Tammy Huynh, the musicians in the AAPI Jazz Collective specialize in performing a classic repertoire from Asian cultures reimagined within a jazz concert. In case of rain, the concert will be postponed to Saturday.
The remaining performers in the series include the Vanessa Perea Quintet on July 19 (rain date July 20), with Robert Edwards on trombone; a dance performance featuring Lori Bellilove & The Isadora Duncan Dance Company on Sept. 6 (rain date Sept. 7) on the Main Lawn, with free-flowing costumes, bare feet and loose hair to pay homage to the troupe’s free spirit namesake who is credited with inventing Modern Dance; and Lyrica Chamber Music’s Twelfth Night Ensemble on Sept. 20 (rain date Sept. 21), with a program of baroque music. The series is sponsored by Stone Mountain Properties.
Go: The AAPI Jazz Collective, part of Music and Dance in the Garden, Friday at Greenwood Gardens, 274 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills. For each performance, the gates will open at 5:30 p.m., when visitors are invited to stroll through the garden (except Sept. 6) before the 6:30 showtime. Complimentary wine and cheese will be served starting at 6 on the West Terrace. Tickets must be purchased in advance at greenwoodgardens.org.
NJ Jackals celebrate Italian heritage, promote safety in Paterson
The Jackals are home again in Paterson this weekend with a three-game series against the Sussex County Miners. Friday is Italian Heritage Night, including a WiseGuys jersey auction. Saturday is Paterson Anti-Violence Night, sponsored by the Paterson Police Community Affairs Division and dedicated to promoting a safe summer in the city. There will also be a foam finger giveaway for kids ages 14 and under. Family Day is on Sunday, with discounted tickets for children ages 12 and under, and adults ages 55 and over.
Go: New Jersey Jackals at Hinchliffe Stadium, 1 Jasper St., Paterson. 6:35 p.m. on Friday, 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, 4:35 p.m. on Sunday. Doors open an hour prior to the game. $5 to $25. jackals.com, 973-746-7434, contact@jackals.com.
Xinyang Maojian Tea Cultural Fair
Explore Xinyang’s tea culture on Saturday at American Dream. From its origins to the present day, immerse yourself in the art of tea-making with tastings of the King of Teas. This sensory experience also features cultural performances.
Go: Xinyang Maojian Tea Cultural Fair, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at American Dream (The Avenue, Level 1), East Rutherford. americandream.com.
Murder mystery dinner theater in Millburn
The Paper Mill Playhouse presents "Murder in Tinseltown" on Saturday at the F.M. Kirby Carriage House. Hollywood’s hottest producer, Cecil M. DeBill, has invited anyone who is anyone to his birthday party — including you! Unfortunately, tragedy has befallen this celebration. A few minutes before the party started, Cecil went into his office to answer a phone call and never returned. Two of the party’s attendees, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, began to search for him when they discovered him lying on the floor of his study… dead! With the assistance of Gertie (an all-too-eager hat check girl) and Cecil’s wife (a socialite who may be after more than justice), can Humphrey Bogart ferret out the guilty party? In Hollywood, everyone has a motive.
This immersive evening includes six speaking roles distributed to audience members. Attendees are encouraged to dress up in a period piece, costumes or hats, or bring props from home. Warning: Flashing lights and gunshot sounds may be used in this production.
Go: "Murder in Tinseltown" at the F.M. Kirby Carriage House, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Seating begins at 6:15. $40 ticket charge, $60 three-course prix-fixe meal to be paid for in person on the night of the event. Beverages, tax and gratuity are not included in the prix-fixe total. papermill.org, 973-376-4343.
Be a forest defender at Tenafly Nature Center
The TNC Preserve is under invasion and your help is needed. Non-native plants have been encroaching into the forest, causing harm to native plants and reducing the preserve's biodiversity. Unchecked, these invasive species can toxify the soil and shade out native plants.
Help remove these pesky plants twice a month with the Forest Defenders. Learn to identify different invasive species and work with TNC's land manager to implement various removal techniques. The next session will be 10 a.m. to noon Sunday.
Forest Defenders is free and open to adults, teenagers and families. Kids ages 15 and under must be accompanied by a guardian. Hours spent are eligible for school volunteer requirements. Projects will be held entirely outdoors, so dress appropriately. In case of inclement weather, the project will be postponed. Space is limited and advance registration is required.
Go: Forest Defenders at the Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly. 10 a.m. to noon Sunday. Free, with advance registration. tenaflynaturecenter.org, 201-568-6093.
Have an event coming up? Tell us about it. Write to Daniel Galioto at galiotod@northjersey.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Things to do Memorial Day Weekend 2024 in NJ: Stones, film festival
