(NEWARK, NJ) -- On June 14, 2024, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced "Summer Fun in Newark," a vibrant series of free outdoor events that will ignite Newark's public parks, recreation centers, and cultural venues, infusing Newark neighborhoods with a wide array of wholesome activities, entertainment, and opportunities for education.
Starting Friday, July 5, and continuing through Saturday, August 24, events in all five wards will spotlight the breadth of Newark’s cultural energy — outdoors and accessible for all to connect, relax, and play. City pools already opened on May 30.
“Nothing brings a community together better than joyful, shared experiences that create memories steeped in the sense of belonging. That’s what ‘Summer Fun in Newark’ is all about,” said Mayor Baraka. “This year, I think we’ve outdone ourselves with an exhaustive array of activities for families and people of all ages, abilities, and interests. I encourage every resident to accept my personal invitation to come out, enjoy each other, and taste what it is to be Newark and Proud of It!”
The all-encompassing summer fun program is a mosaic of interlocking offerings from City of Newark entities including the Department of Recreation, Cultural Affairs & Senior Services, the Office of Special Projects, the Office of Violence Prevention & Trauma Recovery (OVPTR), the Arts & Education District, and Newark City Parks Foundation, Inc.
This citywide programming enables residents of all ages to deepen their engagement with Newark, a city long defined and strengthened by the arts, culture, and athleticism. The range of free activities span festivals and farmers markets, parades, and pop-up playgrounds, music and movie nights, a cookout and a carnival, and a full spectrum of sports, arts, games, enrichment and social expression programs for young kids, families, teens, adults, and seniors.
INITIAL EVENTS
July 8 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Pop-Up Play Street (17th Avenue between Irvine Turner & Livingston) - This summer, the city of Newark is transforming its streets into vibrant play zones with the “Pop-Up Play Street” initiative! Designed to offer children a safe and engaging environment to play, these pop-up events will close selected streets to traffic, turning them into dynamic playgrounds filled with activities and games. From arts and crafts to sports and interactive workshops, there’s something for every child to enjoy. This initiative not only promotes physical activity and creativity but also fosters community spirit by bringing neighbors together in a fun and friendly setting. Join us for a summer of laughter, learning, and limitless play right in the heart of Newark!
July 9 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Community Movie Night: Rent (Military Park). In New York City’s gritty East Village, a group of bohemians strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness and the AIDS epidemic.
July 10 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Family Movie Night: Ninja Turtles (Independence Park). In New York, mysterious radioactive ooze has mutated four sewer turtles into talking, upright-walking, crime-fighting ninjas. The intrepid heroes -- Michelangelo (Robbie Rist), Donatello (Corey Feldman), Raphael (Josh Pais) and Leonardo (Brian Tochi) -- are trained in the Ninjutsu arts by their rat sensei, Splinter. When a villainous rogue ninja, who is a former pupil of Splinter, arrives and spreads lawlessness throughout the city, it's up to the plucky turtles to stop him.
July 11 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Pop-Up Play Street – Bradley Court (Bradley Court).
July 15 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Pop-Up Play Street – 14th Street.
July 16 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Community Movie Night: One Love (The Colonnades). Bob Marley: ONE LOVE celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, discover Bob's powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music.
July 17 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Family Movie Night: Super Mario Bros (Homestead Park). While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers and brothers Mario and Luigi are transported through a mysterious pipe to a magical new world. But when the siblings are separated, an epic adventure begins.
July 18 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm - Pop-Up Play Street – Hyatt Court
July 22 from 9:00am to 5:00pm - The Mayor’s Family Reunion. Food – Music – Sports – Activities – Swimming – Games – Senior Bingo & so much more!
July 23 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Community Movie Night: Lady Sings the Blues (Stephen Crane Elderly Apartments). Pop star Diana Ross portrays legendary jazz singer Billie Holiday in this biographical drama. Beginning with Holiday's traumatic youth, the film depicts her early attempts at a singing career and her eventual rise to stardom, as well as her difficult relationship with Louis McKay (Billy Dee Williams), her boyfriend and manager. Casting a shadow over even Holiday's brightest moments is the vocalist's severe drug addiction, which threatens to end both her career and her life.
July 24 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Family Movie Night: Creed 3 (West Side Park). Still dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed is thriving in his career and family life. When Damian, a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy resurfaces after serving time in prison, he's eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face-off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.
July 30 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Community Movie Night: The Color Purple (Hansbury Avenue). Torn apart from her sister and her children, Celie faces many hardships in life, including an abusive husband. With support from a sultry singer named Shug Avery, as well as her stand-her-ground stepdaughter, Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.
July 31 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Family Movie Night: The Little Mermaid (Branch Brook Park). The youngest of King Triton's daughters, Ariel is a beautiful and spirited young mermaid with a thirst for adventure. Longing to find out more about the world beyond the sea, Ariel visits the surface and falls for the dashing Prince Eric. Following her heart, she makes a deal with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to experience life on land.
August 6 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Community Movie Night: The Woman King (The Pavilion). The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen.
August 7 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Family Movie Night: Trolls (Mildred Helms Park). After the Bergens invade Troll Village, Poppy (Anna Kendrick), the happiest Troll ever born, and the overly-cautious, curmudgeonly Branch (Justin Timberlake) set off on a journey to rescue her friends. Their mission is full of adventure and mishaps, as this mismatched duo try to tolerate each other long enough to get the job done.
August 13 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - Community Movie Night: Mahogany (Kretchmer Senior Center). Struggling Chicago fashion design student Tracy (Diana Ross) goes from rags to riches when a chance meeting with hotshot fashion photographer Sean (Anthony Perkins) in the department store where she works leads to a runway life as a model in Rome. Tracy's overnight success and strong ambitions bring her professional success as a designer, but her diva antics may destroy her relationship with social activist Brian (Billy Dee Williams), as well as her respect in the fashion world.
For the complete schedule of activities, continuously updated throughout the summer to accommodate weather and other conditions, click here.
