Here's a look at the top 15 most read articles published on New Jersey Stage from July 5-11, 2026. Each week we publish at least 70 articles, including original columns and features, promoting events and covering arts news taking place throughout the state and nearby areas like Philadelphia and New York City. This week's top 15 includes articles from 8 counties in New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union).
The vast majority of articles at New Jersey Stage are written in-house, but we also accept press releases sent to [email protected]. These event preview articles get noticed when we first publish them and get brought back into focus on the website the week the event takes place. Our articles and event calendar web pages are picked up by search engines and resources like Google News and NewsBreak and help feed information to A.I. We also offer banner ad advertising prices for the arts starting at just $50. In short, we get your shows noticed! For information on advertising at NewJerseyStage.com, click here.
1) Six Flags Great Adventure Releases First Project Purple Teaser Video. (JACKSON, NJ) -- Six Flags Great Adventure has released the first official teaser tied to its Project Purple announcement, which is scheduled for later this month. The short video, now available across the park's official social media channels, features an ominous scene along a moonlit shoreline where a mysterious shipping container has washed ashore.
2) South Jersey Cultural Alliance and Heritage's Dairy Stores Encourage South Jersey Exploration This Year. (WEST DEPTFORD, NJ) -- While people are out celebrating America's 250th anniversary, the South Jersey Cultural Alliance (SJCA), Heritage's Dairy Stores, and Visit South Jersey are encouraging residents and visitors to explore South Jersey's arts, history trails, parks, and cultural heritage destinations through the "Hit the Trails with Heritage's" campaign and SJCA's CultureQuest app. The campaign invites families, friends, and visitors to get outside, visit local historical sites, parks, and cultural heritage destinations right here in South Jersey.
3) Events This Week in New Jersey from July 7-13, 2026. Here is a look at upcoming events taking place from July 7-13, 2026 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.
4) Middlesex County Unveils New Identity and Vision for East Jersey Old Town Village Amid America's 250th Celebration. (PISCATAWAY, NJ) -- On Saturday, July 4, 2026, Middlesex County unveiled a transformative new chapter for East Jersey Old Town Village, guided by the American Alliance of Museums accreditation process and a commitment to providing best-in-class services to visitors. Part of this transformation includes a new name — Historic Raritan Village — and the completion of the design phase of significant enhancements and renovations, intended to expand educational opportunities, improve the visitor experience, and increase accessibility for future generations.
5) Bergen County Players to open 94th season with "The Producers". (ORADELL, NJ) -- Fresh off being named the #1 Theater Venue in Bergen County by (201) Magazine's Best of Bergen poll, the Bergen County Players (BCP) will open its 2026/27 season with Mel Brooks' The Producers. As one of America's longest-running little theater companies, BCP returns for its 94th season to present this area premiere at the Little Firehouse Theatre from September 19 through October 10, 2026.
6) Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Patti Smith comes to NJPAC for a Night of Songs and Stories on October 16th. (NEWARK, NJ) -- New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) proudly welcomes legendary poet, musician, author and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Patti Smith for a special performance during the Dodge Poetry Festival on Friday, October 16, 2026. Returning to her home state of New Jersey, Smith brings together poetry, music and storytelling in a performance by one of the most influential creative voices of the past half-century.
7) Dancing In The Park to Take Place July 15th. (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Washington Park Association of Hudson County (WPA) is proud to join with SMUSH Gallery to produce Dancing in the Park, to be presented on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 7:00pm. In its third iteration, Dancing in the Park offers the public a free outdoor professional modern dance concert. This year’s event features dance created by Sarah Liebau, Morgaine de Leonardis, Kat Reese, Rosalia Saver, Amber Sloan, Diana Uribe, Mamiko Usuda, and Meagan Woods.
8) 24 Hours of Music Jamboree Stretches from Jersey City to the Jersey Shore with a week's worth of live concerts. New Jersey's cultural corridors will come alive from July 12-19, 2026 as the 24 Hours of Music Jamboree – Horizontal Edition returns with a vibrant multi‑town celebration stretching from Jersey City to the Jersey Shore. The reimagined expanded format brings seven days of concerts, community gatherings, jazz showcases, jazz bashes and festival‑style programming designed to unite neighborhoods through music.
9) 51st Annual New Jersey Folk Festival to Take Place August 29th. (SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- The New Jersey Folk Festival (NJFF) is back for the 51st year on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at Davidson's Mill Pond Park in South Brunswick. The event is free and open to the public. It runs from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
10) Award-Winning "5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche" Returns for One-Day Fundraising Preview Before Edinburgh Fringe Debut. (GARWOOD, NJ) -- Before taking their award-winning production to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland this August, Cheese Platter Productions will present one final hometown performance, and one final opportunity for audiences to help send the company overseas.
11) The U.S. Army Field Band and Soldiers’ Chorus LIVE! at PNC Bank Arts Center. Spotlight Central and Love Imagery have photos and a recap of the United States Army Field Band and Soldiers' Chorus performing at PNC Bank Arts Center on July 1, 2026.
12) State Theatre New Jersey presents Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights on July 30th. (NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- State Theatre New Jersey presents Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass & Other Delights on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 7:30pm. This special concert features Herb Alpert, along with his six great musicians, Bill Cantos (piano & marimba), Kerry Marx (guitar), Ryan Dragon (trombone), Kris Bergh (trumpet), Ray Brinker (Drums), and Hussain Jiffry (bass), playing all the favorite TJB hit songs.
13) World Premiere of "Parking Spot: The Musical!" to Take Place at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. (JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- What started as a joke about the impossible search for parking in Jersey City is about to take center stage on the other side of the Atlantic. This August, Parking Spot: The Musical!, an original musical comedy created by New Jersey-based husband-and-wife team Louis Armistead and Lyndsey Alexander, will make its world premiere at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest performing arts festival, where thousands of productions from more than 60 countries perform each summer.
14) Todd Rundgren to perform shows in Englewood, Ocean City, and Red Bank in August. (ENGLEWOOD, NJ) -- Legendary producer/songwriter/guitarist Todd Rundgren is bringing his 2026 Damned If I Do Tour to the Garden Sate in August. He's got shows at bergenPAC in Englewood on August 8th; Ocean City Music Pier on August 11th; and Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank on August 12th.
15) Watchung Booksellers Presents Author Talk and Q&A with The Bottom Line Club Co-founder Allan Pepper and Journalist Billy Altman. (MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Watchung Booksellers is hosting an author talk and Q&A on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at 7:00pm to spotlight Positively Fourth and Mercer: The Inside Story of New York's Iconic Music Club, The Bottom Line. This exclusive panel discussion features Bottom Line co-founder Allan Pepper and music journalist Billy Altman, who co-authored the book, sharing anecdotes and perspectives from the club’s 30-year-plus history.
