Nothing says summer in Essex County quite like a free outdoor concert under the stars. From jazz and soul to classic rock, freestyle, reggae, country, and family dance parties, there’s something happening almost every week throughout the county.
Pack a lawn chair, grab some friends, and enjoy live music in parks, town greens, gazebos, and outdoor plazas all summer long. Here’s your complete guide to summer concerts happening across Essex County.
All concerts listed are free to attend unless otherwise noted. Food, beverages, and certain venue restrictions may apply. Concert schedules are subject to change due to weather.
June
June 24
📍 Newark – Weequahic Park
🎵 Fillet of Soul
🎶 R&B & Philadelphia Soul
🎆 Firework Show
🕢 7:30 PM
June 25
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 New Power Soul
🎶 Variety Hits
🍔 Angry Archie, Jersey Rollz, Danny’s Soft Serve
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 DJ Felix Hernandez Rhythm Revue Dance Party
🎶 Dance Party & Food Trucks
🕔 5–9 PM
📍 Taylor Park, Millburn
🎵 Jersey Sound
🎶 60s, 70s & 80s Favorites
🕖 7 PM
June 26
📍 Newark – Branch Brook Park
🎵 New Jersey Symphony
🎆 Firework Show
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 BJ Wallah with Special Guest Nice & Smooth
🎶 Dance Party & Food Trucks
🕔 5–9 PM
June 27
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Tycoon Dog
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
July
July 1
📍 Brookdale Park (Bloomfield/Montclair)
🎵 Music Through the Decades Ft. Van Martin, The Discoteks, & The Empire
🎆 Firework Show
🕢 7 PM
📍 Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
🎵 Montclair Jazz Festival Soundcheck Series – The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra
🎶 Free Outdoor Jazz Concert
🕕 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 South Orange – Flood’s Hill (Meadowland Park)
🎵 Essex Funk Soul Collective
🎶 Funk, Soul & R&B
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕢 7:30 PM
July 4
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Becky Crosby
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
July 6
📍 Bloomfield Historic Town Green
🎵 Bloomfield Civic Band – Happy Birthday America!
🎶 Patriotic Concert
🕖 7 PM
July 7
📍 Bloomfield – Brookside Park
🎵 Freestyle Forever
🎶 80s & 90s Freestyle
🕖 7 PM
📍 Newark – Riverbank Park
🎵 Tempo Alegre: A Salsa Experience
🕖 7 PM
July 8
📍 Bloomfield – Watsessing Park
🎵 Owls & Lions Trio Top 40
🕖 7 PM
📍 South Orange – Flood’s Hill (Meadowland Park)
🎵 Forget the Whale
🎶 Powerhouse Female Vocals
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Livingston – Memorial Park Gazebo
🎵 Suit & Mai Tai – Yacht That Rocks
🎶 Yacht Rock Favorites
🕖 7:00 PM
July 9
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 Radio 506
🍔 All American Hot Dog, Pie Oh My, Sip N Swirl
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
📍 Verona Civic Center
🎵 70’s Rock Parade
🎶 Classic Rock
🍔 Sunrise Kitchens, Wandering Cup, Bake Me Pretty, Bob’s Ice Cream
🕖 Concert 7 PM | Food 6:30 PM
📍 Belleville High School
🎵 Super 70’s Rock Show featuring Super Trans Am
🎶 Classic Rock
🕖 7 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 Tribute to Mtume featuring Kenny Lattimore, Lisa Fischer & Tawatha Agee
🕔 5–9 PM
📍 Taylor Park, Millburn
🎵 Workingman’s Jed
🎶 Grateful Dead Cover Band
🕖 7 PM
July 10
📍 Brookdale Park (Bloomfield/Montclair)
🎵 Kate Curran Quintet
🎶 Jazz
🕢 7:30 PM
July 11
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Viva Flamenco
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
July 13
📍 Bloomfield Historic Town Green
🎵 Bloomfield Civic Band – A Night at the Movies
🎶 Movie Soundtracks
🕖 7 PM
July 14
📍 Newark – Ivy Hill Park
🎵 Carl Brister Presents: Feel It, Sing It, Live It – The Sound of Soul Music
🕢 7 PM
📍 Bloomfield – Brookside Park
🎵 Earth to Mars
🎶 Bruno Mars Tribute
🕖 7 PM
📍 Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
🎵 Montclair Jazz Festival Soundcheck Series – Michele Rosewoman and Quintessence / Orrin Evans
🎶 Free Outdoor Jazz Concert
🕕 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
July 15
📍 South Orange – Flood’s Hill (Meadowland Park)
🎵 Water Towers
🎶 Indie Rock Cover Band
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Livingston – Memorial Park Gazebo
🎵 The Cliffs
🎶 8-Piece Cover Band
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕖 7 PM
📍 Newark – Vailsburg Park
🎵 East Coast Soul
🕖 7 PM
July 16
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 The Suyat Band
🍔 Angry Archie’s, The Empanada Guy, Amanda’s Bananas
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
📍 Belleville High School
🎵 Cover Girls
🎶 Freestyle Night with DJ Ralph Tunis
🕖 7 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 Spinall
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕔 5–9 PM
July 17
📍 Brookdale Park (Bloomfield/Montclair)
🎵 Never Say Goodbye – A Bon Jovi Tribute
🕢 7:30 PM
July 18
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Andy Lackow & Mess Around
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
July 20
📍 Bloomfield – Oakeside Great Lawn
🎵 Bloomfield Civic Band – Old Time Band Concert
🕖 7 PM
July 21
📍 Bloomfield – Brookside Park
🎵 The New York Bee Gees
🎶 Bee Gees Tribute
🕖 7 PM
📍 Cedar Grove Park
🎵 E Street Shuffle
🎶 Bruce Springsteen Tribute
🕢 7:30 PM
July 22
📍 Caldwell – Grover Cleveland Park
🎵 Nine Deez Nite: The 90s Experience
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 South Orange – Flood’s Hill (Meadowland Park)
🎵 The Brooklyners
🎶 NYC Reggae & Jamaican Standards
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Livingston – Memorial Park Gazebo
🎵 Action Park
🎶 80s MTV Tribute Show
🕖 7:00 PM
July 23
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 Steppin’ Out Band
🎶 Dance Favorites
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
📍 Verona Civic Center
🎵 The John McDermott Band
🎶 60s Rock & Roll Revue
🍔 Chris Red Hots, Bob’s Ice Cream
🕖 Concert 7 PM | Food 6:30 PM
📍 Belleville High School
🎵 David Cedeno & His Orchestra
🎶 Salsa Night
🕖 7 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 Kurtis Blow
🕔 5–9 PM
📍 Taylor Park, Millburn
🎵 Austin City Lights
🎶 Country Favorites
🕖 7 PM
July 24
📍 Brookdale Park (Bloomfield/Montclair)
🎵 The Infernos
🎶 Classic Oldies, Doo-Wop & Dance Favorites
🕢 7:30 PM
July 25
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Eric & Alina
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
July 28
📍 Newark – Independence Park
🎵 Danielle Illario Group
🎶 Contemporary Jazz
🕢 7 PM
📍 Bloomfield – Brookside Park
🎵 DJ Tragedy & Laser Light Show
🎶 Family Dance Party
🕖 DJ at 7 PM | ✨ Laser Show at 9 PM
📍 Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
🎵 Montclair Jazz Festival Soundcheck Series – Joel Ross’ Good Vibes
🎶 Free Outdoor Jazz Concert
🕕 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
July 29
📍 Belleville Park
🎵 Jersey Sound
🎶 60s, 70s & 80s
🕢 7 PM
📍 Livingston – Memorial Park Gazebo
🎵 The Wag
🎶 Pop-Rock Band
🕖 7:00 PM
📍 South Orange – Flood’s Hill (Meadowland Park)
🎵 Workingman’s Jed
🎶 Grateful Dead Cover Band
🚚 Food Trucks Available
🕢 7:30 PM
July 30
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 Eddie Testa Band
🍔 Empanada Guy, Kielbasa N More, Danny’s Soft Serve
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
📍 Verona Pool
🎵 AM Gold Yacht Rock
🎶 70s through mid 80s
⚠️ Verona Residents Only
🕖 Doors open at 6 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 Cimafunk
🎶 Dance Party & Food Trucks
🕔 5–9 PM
July 31
📍 Brookdale Park (Bloomfield/Montclair)
🎵 Sounds of the 60’s featuring The Kelton Cooper Band
🕢 7:30 PM
August
August 1
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Eli Bolin & Allison Posner
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
August 4
📍 Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
🎵 Rebirth Brass Band
🎶 New Orleans Jazz & Brass
🕕 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
📍 Irvington Park – Irvington
🎵 The Verdict
🎶 Sounds of the Caribbean
🕢 7 PM
August 6
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 Soul Seduction
🎶 Soul & Dance Favorites
🍔 Angry Archie’s, Jersey Rollz, Amanda’s Bananas
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
📍 Newark – NJPAC Chambers Plaza
🎵 Vivian Green
🕔 5–9 PM
August 7
📍 Brookdale Park (Bloomfield/Montclair)
🎵 Extreme Queen
🎶 Queen Tribute Band
🕢 7:30 PM
August 8
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – David Easton Band
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
August 13
📍 Belleville High School
🎵 Jersey Sound
🎶 60s, 70s & 80s
🕖 7 PM
August 14
📍 West Orange – Eagle Rock Reservation
🎵 Van Martin & His Big Band Sound
🎶 An Evening with the Crooners
🕢 7:30 PM
August 15
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Yvonnick Prene
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
August 20
📍 Belleville High School
🎵 Nine Deeez
🎶 90s Tribute
🕖 7 PM
August 22
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
August 27
📍 Belleville High School
🎵 Saltwater Country + Fireworks
🤠 Country Night
🎆 Fireworks After
🕖 7 PM
August 29
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Down to the Quick with Sarah Hodd
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
September
September 5
📍 South Orange – Spiotta Park
🎵 Downtown After Sundown – Valerie Adams & The Dimensions Band
🎶 Live Music
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
September 7
📍 West Caldwell Gazebo
🎵 Suit & Mai Tai
🎶 Variety Dance Band
🍔 All American Hot Dog, Jersey Rollz, Mister Softee
🕢 Concert 7:30 PM | Food 6 PM
September 9
📍 Verona Civic Center
🎵 New Power Soul
🎶 Variety Hits from Carrie Underwood to Lady Gaga
🍔 Sunrise Kitchens, The Wandering Cup, Bake Me Pretty, Bob’s Ice Cream
🕖 Concert 7 PM | Food 6:30 PM
Tips for Enjoying Essex County Summer Concerts
✔️ Bring a lawn chair or blanket—many venues have limited seating.
✔️ Arrive early for the best spots, especially at Brookdale Park, Flood’s Hill, and NJPAC events.
✔️ Pack bug spray for park concerts, particularly after sunset.
✔️ Bring cash and a card if food trucks are on-site.
✔️ Check weather forecasts before heading out, as many concerts are weather permitting.
✔️ Bring a light sweatshirt or blanket for cooler evenings.
✔️ Follow the event organizer’s social media pages for last-minute weather updates or cancellations.
Know someone who loves live music? Share this guide and make plans for a summer night out in Essex County!