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Top 15 Most Read Stories At New Jersey Stage from October 5-11, 2025

Published by New Jersey Stage

originally published: 10/12/2025

Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published at New Jersey Stage from October 5-11, 2025. Each week we publish about 70 articles, including several original columns and features, along with news releases for events happening throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 9 counties in New Jersey (Atlantic, Bergen, Camden, Essex, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, and Ocean).

Make sure your events are part of our weekly columns by sending press releases to us at [email protected]. Event previews are always one of the most popular areas of the website. Event previews get noticed when we first publish them and then get noticed again when they are brought back to the main area of the site the week the event takes place - sometimes even several months later.  We also run weekly columns promoting events, music, and theatre shows taking place for the week. These columns include our featured event previews and event listings along with all of our event previews of the week. Your events can stand out for as low as $10! Many times, they are among the most read stories of the week. There is no cost for us to run your press releases!

1) Events This Week in New Jersey from October 7-13, 2025 - Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from October 7-13, 2025 along with our featured listings. New Jersey Stage offers previews of events throughout the Garden State as well as select shows in New York City and Philadelphia areas.

2) Haddon Township presents 10th Annual Music Festival on Saturday - (HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ) -- Haddon Township will hold its 10th Annual Music Festival sponsored by 1st Colonial Community Bank, on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 1:00pm to 9:00pm. The lineup features a diverse range of acts, spanning many different musical genres on two separate stages.

3) Newark Mayor Ras Baraka to Speak at Annual Fannie Lou Hamer Symposium on Tuesday - (GALLOWAY, NJ) -- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka will be the featured speaker at the 22nd annual Fannie Lou Hamer Human and Civil Rights Symposium on Tuesday, October 7, 2025 in the Stockton University Performing Arts Center. This year's theme will be "Good Trouble: The Fight to Preserve our History and Democracy." The event begins at 2:30pm.




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4) Ocean County Library Toms River Branch presents Second Annual LGBTQIA+ Resource Fair - (TOMS RIVER, NJ) -- The 2nd Annual LGBTQIA+ Resource Fair is coming to the Toms River Branch of the Ocean County Library on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The event runs from 10:00am to 3:00pm. The purpose of the Fair is to connect members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies with agencies that are available to assist them.

5) Newark to Host Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Friday - (NEWARK, NJ) -- Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced that the City of Newark will host its Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration at Newark Symphony Hall, located at 1020 Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard, on Friday, October 10, 2025 from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Newark's Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration recognizes the community's achievements and contributions to America's story, both local and nationally.

6) The Bistro at iPlay America hosts "Broomsticks & Booze" Pop-Up and Miracle Bar Holiday Experience - (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Following multiple successful themed pop-ups, The Bistro at iPlay America has transformed once again - this time for back-to-back seasonal experiences that promise over-the-top cocktails and unforgettable décor. The Bistro presents Broomsticks & Booze, a Halloween pop-up running October 2 – November 2, 2025. Guests will be immersed in a spellbinding atmosphere filled with eerie décor and cocktails inspired by fan-favorite Halloween movies and wicked potions.

7) Monmouth County Clerk Hanlon Announces High School #YourVoteMatters Video Reel Contest - (FREEHOLD, NJ) -- Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon is inviting all Monmouth County high school students to enter the County Clerk's High School #YourVoteMatters Video Reel Contest. Students are challenged to create a social media reel aimed at promoting the importance of voting among their peers.  Entries are accepted through October 22, 2025.

8) Asbury Park Whiskey Fest to Take Place on Saturday - (ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Asbury Park Whiskey Fest will take place on Saturday, October 11, 2025 with one Session from 1:00pm-4:30pm. The event will be held at Bradley Park just steps away from the beach at Asbury Park. Over 100 styles of beer, wine & spirits, delicious food, and great music.

9) Trenton City Museum Announces Series of Exhibitions to Celebrate Mel Leipzig at 90 - (TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie announces "Mel at 90," a series of exhibitions at the museum and invited partner sites to celebrate iconic artist Mel Leipzig's 90 years. Leipzig has been a mentor, teacher, catalyst, and keystone in the greater Trenton arts community since his arrival here in 1968. Leading off the series is "The Revival of Realism," which will be on view from October 24 through January 4, 2026.

10) "Blue Skies Yonder" by Peter Fenton to have Staged Reading at ArtWorks - (TRENTON, NJ) -- A free staged reading of Blue Skies Yonder, a new dark comedy by Peter Fenton, will take place at Artworks in downtown Trenton on Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 2:00pm. This event will be the play's first public presentation. The reading is directed by Trenton actress, writer, and acting coach Monah Yancy and stars Fenton himself in the role of Harrison Fowler. Both Fenton and Yancy are members of the administrative staff of Passage Theatre, the only professional theater company in Trenton.




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11) Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company Announces 2026 Season - (FORT LEE, NJ) -- The Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company is excited to unveil its 2026 season of performances, residencies, and community events, featuring world premieres by choreographers Lawrence Jin and Zhongmei Li, plus a vibrant lineup of traditional cultural performances. The season underscores the Company's mission to bridge cultural divides, honor diverse heritage, and elevate artistic voices seldom heard beyond immigrant communities.

12) Author and Professor Jonathan Mercantini, Ph.D., to Deliver 2025 Archives & History Day Keynote Speech - (LINCROFT, NJ) -- Monmouth County Clerk Christine Giordano Hanlon has announced that Jonathan Mercantini, Ph.D. of Kean University will be the keynote speaker at the County Clerk's 30th annual Archives & History Day. The event takes place Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 9:00am to 1:30pm at the Robert J. Collins Arena of Brookdale Community College in Lincroft. Mercantini will speak about the important role New Jersey played in the American Revolution.

13) Concert Hall at Drew University hosts Sinatra, A Man & His Music - (MADISON, NJ) -- Step into the golden era of jazz and swing on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at The Concert Hall at Drew University, as two powerhouse performers—Michael Martocci and Brandon Tomasello—join forces with the acclaimed JTole Jazz Orchestra for an unforgettable night celebrating the timeless charm of Frank Sinatra and the bold brilliance of American jazz. Showtime is 7:30pm.

14) Darkside Art & Oddities Expo to Take Place October 18th - (EDISON, NJ) -- On Saturday, October 18, 2025, the veil will lift once more as the Darkside Art & Oddities Expo takes over the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center in Edison for a one-day immersive experience unlike anything else in the region. Running from 10:00am–8:00pm, the expo offers a curated celebration of the mysterious, the macabre, and the marvelously bizarre.

15) New York Greek Film Expo comes to Fort Lee - (FORT LEE, NJ) -- The New York Greek Film Expo, a Greek film festival for all New Yorkers, moves to New Jersey, with screenings at the Barrymore Film Center on October 7-8, 2025. The annual Expo, presented by Hellenic Film Society USA (HFS), opened on October 2 and runs through October 12. All films are in Greek with English subtitles.



​​​​​​Want your events to stand out? Check out our ad rates which start at just $50 for an entire month of targeted advertising and includes events listed in our online calendar. Or you can have your events listed in the calendar for $10 per event (shows with multiple performances get every show listed for just $10). Either way your events will be featured in the weekly columns. NJ Stage keeps our rates low so they are affordable to arts organizations of all sizes. We are proud to be an independent media company. Nobody covers the Arts throughout the Garden State like New Jersey Stage!​​​​


EVENT PREVIEWS

(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Catsbury Park announces the return of the Catsbury Park Cat Convention, taking place October 10–11, 2026 for two full days of feline fun at Bell Works in Holmdel. The beloved annual event brings together cat lovers from across the region for a weekend filled with adoptable cats, educational presentations, celebrity guests, interactive activities, shopping, and community. Attendees can browse a bustling Vendor Village featuring artists, makers, and pet-focused businesses, meet local rescue organizations, and learn more about cat welfare and adoption efforts.
Monmouth Arts to Honor George Clinton, Dorothea Bongiovi, Harlan Coben, Nicole Atkins and PNC Bank Arts Center at Annual Gala

Monmouth Arts to Honor George Clinton, Dorothea Bongiovi, Harlan Coben, Nicole Atkins and PNC Bank Arts Center at Annual Gala

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Monmouth Arts presents BRING ON THE FUNK: Where the Arts Get Down, an unforgettable celebration of music, creativity, culture, and community taking place on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the iconic The Asbury Hotel and Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park. The evening will honor an extraordinary lineup of trailblazers and cultural leaders whose work has made a lasting impact across music, literature, community service, and the arts.
Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! in Atlantic City this November

Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! in Atlantic City this November

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- A dazzling new Disney On Ice production is skating into Atlantic City, and it's unlike anything audiences have seen before. Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic! invites fans to step into the spotlight and join a glamorous red-carpet celebration packed with never-before-seen performances, chart-topping music, and more than 30 beloved Disney characters – coming to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall from November 6-8, 2026.
 

FEATURED EVENTS



A Beat of Our Own

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 7:30pm
McCarter Theatre Center (Matthews Theatre)
91 University Place, Princeton, NJ


Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band®

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ


Sesame Street Live! Elmo’s Got the Moves

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 2:00pm
State Theatre New Jersey
15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ


Golden Girls - The Laughs Continue

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


Golden Girls - The Laughs Continue

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ


New Jersey Symphony presents Hollywood Hits: From West Side Story to Spirited Away

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Count Basie Center for the Arts
99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ


Dueling Pianos

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ


Disney & Pixar’s Elemental – Popcorn & Pajamas Film Series

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 10:00am
Hamilton Stage at Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC)
360 Hamilton Avenue, Rahway, NJ


Vivid Stage presents B.I.N.G.O. (or Brittney Isle’s Nice Geriatric Orgy)

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Oakes Center
120 Morris Avenue, Summit, NJ


Kean Department of Theatre presents "References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot"

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Kean Stage - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ


Kean Department of Theatre presents "References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot"

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Kean Stage - Bauer Boucher Theatre Center
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ


The Wag's Halloween Spectacular

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 7:00pm
Middletown Arts Center
36 Church Street, Middletown, NJ


Growing Stage presents Roald Dahl’s MATILDA the Musical

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 4:00pm
The Historic Palace Theatre
7 Ledgewood Avenue, Netcong, NJ


ReelAbilities: ReelShorts: Disability Culture

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 2:00pm
Kean Stage - NAAB Auditorium
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ


ReelAbilities: Closing Night - Espina

Saturday, October 10, 2026 @ 6:30pm
Kean Stage - NAAB Auditorium
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ