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23rd Annual Hot Rods & Harleys | UCPAC Open House

Saturday, May 09, 2026 @ 11:00am



Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065

THIS EVENT HAS PASSED

For event updates, visit www.hrandh.com

Full day fun from 11 AM – 7 PM right in front of our Main Stage Theater! Join us outside for live music, our beer garden right across the street in Rahway Arts Park (starting at noon). From 12 PM – 4 PM head UCPAC’s Main Stage will be open to the public for free tours…while you’re there be sure to visit our box office for ticket deals on select upcoming UCPAC shows!

This Open House is supported in-part by funding through NJEDA’S A.R.T. – Phase II Grant Program.

 

Get ready to rev your engines! The 23rd Annual Hot Rods & Harleys returns to Downtown Rahway, NJ on Saturday, May 9, 2026, for one of the state’s most exciting spring traditions. This free, family-friendly event transforms the streets of Rahway into a celebration of classic cars, motorcycles, live music, local vendors, and community spirit.

Hot Rods & Harleys draws thousands of visitors each year to admire hundreds of vintage hot rods, muscle cars, choppers, and custom motorcycles lined up throughout the downtown streets. It’s a must-attend day for car enthusiasts, collectors, and music lovers too!

Beyond the cars and bikes, the event features multiple live music stages with performances from local bands and musicians, filling the streets with energy and entertainment. Visitors can also shop from local vendors and artisans, explore a wide variety of food trucks and beer gardens, and enjoy fun activities for all ages.

Downtown Rahway’s restaurants, bars, and businesses will be open all day, offering special deals and outdoor seating for guests to relax and soak in the festive atmosphere.

Hot Rods & Harleys is hosted by Mayor Raymond A. Giacobbe, the Rahway City Council, the Rahway Special Improvement District, and U4 Guys and supported by local sponsors and businesses who make this signature event possible year after year. Whether you’re a longtime attendee or checking it out for the first time, this event is the perfect way to kick off the warm weather season and experience everything Rahway has to offer.

Mark your calendars — engines start at 11 AM and the fun continues until 7 PM. Admission is free and all are welcome!




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EVENT PREVIEWS

Princeton

Princeton Summer Theater Announces 2026 Season

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Princeton Summer Theater has unveiled its 2026 subscription season which will run from June 11th to August 1st, featuring an exciting lineup of three mainstage pieces and a family-friendly musical. Productions include Barefoot in the Park, The 39 Steps, True West, and You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.



Crossroads

Crossroads Theatre Company presents "Sizwe Banzi Is Dead"

(NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ) -- Crossroads Theatre Company presents Sizwe Bansi Is Dead from May 19 - June 14, 2026 at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. This is a powerful, funny, and deeply moving story about identity, survival, and the extraordinary ingenuity of ordinary people navigating an unjust system.



Zoopraxic

Zoopraxic presents "In the Devil's Hands" by Helen Banner

(LONG ISLAND, NY) -- In the Devil's Hands, Helen Banner's riveting new play will extend its run to 21 performances running between May 20 and June 14, 2026. Set in the Channel Islands in the 1940s, this intimate and immersive production will have its world premiere at the new micro theatre space Zoopraxic in Long Island City (first stop in Queens).



"Slanted

"Slanted Floors" returns to its Greenpoint Apartment

(NEW YORK, NY) -- Following critical acclaim and sold-out performances, Slanted Floors — hailed by the Daily Beast as "one of New York's most unique and exclusive pieces of theatre" — returns for a strictly limited five-week engagement in its original Greenpoint apartment setting. Performances will run May 26 through June 26, 2026, with 150 seats available.



Arden

Arden Theatre Company presents "Dear Evan Hansen"

(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Arden Theatre Company brings the Tony Award-winning musical, Dear Evan Hansen, to the F. Otto Haas Stage this spring. Featuring a book by Steven Levenson and music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the production is directed by Terrence J. Nolen and co-conceived by Jorge Cousineau and Nolen. Performances begin May 21, the show opens May 27, and runs through July 5, 2026.






 

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