(NEWARK, NJ) -- On Sunday, July 13, 2025, New York's classical music station WQXR (105.9 FM and wqxr.org) brings its beloved Classical Kids Fair to New Jersey for the first time, in partnership with NJPAC and the New Jersey Symphony. The fair will occur at Chambers Plaza at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) from 12:00pm-3:00pm.
WQXR’s Classical Kids Fairs provide families a free and fun way to introduce children ages 4-10 to classical music through engaging live performances, workshops, arts and crafts, and other hands-on experiences. The debut New Jersey Classical Kids Fair will include performances by the New Jersey Symphony Chamber Players, Nimbus Dance, Paterson Music Project, and Keys 2 Success.
The NJ Symphony, NJ Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Keys 2 Success will host an “instrument discovery zone,” where kids can try different musical instruments. Arts and crafts projects will include coloring with WQXR and egg shaker maraca crafting with the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey, with additional programming from Paterson Music Project and STEAM Urban.
The afternoon will also feature a beat-making workshop with Grounded Music Education; a “cool conductors” activity with the NJ Symphony, where participants can craft their own baton and learn how to conduct; a drum circle with Paterson Music Project; an opportunity to meet the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company dragon and performers; classical-themed cookie decorating with Cupcake Carriage in their mobile baking truck; musical storytime from NJPAC’s Books on the Move and an exploration of the sounds of everyday objects in the Girl Scouts’ Mobile Classroom.
Admission is free, though reservations are encouraged. Chambers Plaza is located at 1 Center Street, Newark, New Jersey.
“We’re delighted to partner with NJPAC and the New Jersey Symphony to bring the Classical Kids Fair to New Jersey,” said LaFontaine E. Oliver, President and CEO, New York Public Radio, which includes WQXR. “The Classical Kids Fairs are an important part of our commitment to making this treasured art form accessible, even to our littlest listeners. We want everyone to have pathways to experience the joy, fun, and wonder of classical music, and enjoy a great family day together.”
The Classical Kids Fair coincides with a New Jersey Symphony concert scheduled to be performed in NJPAC’s Prudential Hall that same afternoon. That concert will feature the animated film How To Train Your Dragon, with the score performed live by the orchestra as the complete film is projected on a large movie screen. Tickets for the concert event are available for purchase online.
WQXR is New York City’s only all-classical music station, immersing listeners in the city’s rich musical life on-air at 105.9 FM, online at WQXR.org, and in the community through live events and performances. An essential partner to the city’s musical and cultural organizations, WQXR presents new and archival classical recordings and performances from New York City’s esteemed performance venues. Signature programs include Carnegie Hall Live, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcasts, New York Philharmonic This Week, New York in Concert, and the Young Artists Showcase. WQXR also produces podcasts that showcase compelling storytelling and powerful music: The Open Ears Project, Made in New York: the NY Philharmonic Story, Every Voice with Terrance McKnight, Helga, and Aria Code, a joint project with the Metropolitan Opera. As a public media station, WQXR is supported through the generosity of its members, donors, and sponsors, making classical music relevant, accessible, and inspiring for all.
Leadership support for WQXR is provided by The Jerome L. Greene Foundation, the Robert and Mercedes Eichholz Foundation, and The Thompson Family Foundation. Additional support is provided in part by The Alphadyne Foundation, The Amphion Foundation, The Augustine Foundation, The Carson Family Charitable Trust, the Johnny Carson Foundation, the Edward T. Cone Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, the Jim Cox, Jr. Foundation, The Enoch Foundation, the Howard Gilman Foundation, The Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.
New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, New Jersey, is the most diverse performing arts center in the country, and the anchor cultural institution for both the city of Newark and the state of New Jersey. It is an artistic, cultural, educational, and civic center where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists, while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city.
Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC Arts & Well-Being develops initiatives and programs that amplify the health benefits of the arts and measure the impact of the Arts Center on community health and well-being. NJPAC has attracted more than 12 million visitors (including more than two million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.
New Jersey Symphony is a GRAMMY and Emmy Award-winning orchestra. Under the direction of Music Director Xian Zhang, the Symphony performs more than 55 mainstage concerts across the state at venues in Newark, Princeton, New Brunswick, Red Bank, and Morristown, as well as at schools and public spaces statewide. Programming at the Symphony reflects an unwavering commitment to diverse communities throughout the state, while providing students unparalleled opportunities to achieve musical excellence through its Youth Orchestra and other education programs. In 2024, the Symphony announced it would continue to deliver its statewide activities from a new, permanent office, rehearsal, and concert space in Jersey City, set to open in 2026.
