Safe Howl-O-Ween
2025-10-31 16:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ, 07052, United States

Essex County Riker Hill Art Park Artists’ Open House: November 1 & 2
2025-11-01 08:00 - 2025-11-03 17:00 | NJ
Riker Hill Art Park 25

Riker Hill Art Park Open House
2025-11-01 11:00 - 2025-11-02 17:00 | Essex County Riker Hill Art Park, 284 Beaufort Ave., Livingston, NJ, 07039, United States

Thanksgiving Food Distribution – November 17
2025-11-10 08:00 - 2025-11-18 17:00 | Essex County Branch Brook Park, Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Newark, NJ, United States

Essex County Conducting Food Distribution on November 10
2025-11-10 10:00 - 15:00 | Essex County Weequahic Park, Essex County Weequahic Park Elizabeth Ave, Newark, NJ
Click here to download the flyer.

Holiday Lights Spectacular at Essex County Turtle Back Zoo: November 21 to January 3
2025-11-11 08:00 - 2026-01-03 17:00 | Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ, 07052, United States

Essex County Food Distribution Event for SNAP Clients ONLY
2025-11-13 10:00 - 17:00 | Essex County Irvington Park, Lyons Avenue, Irvington, NJ, 07111, United States
Thanksgiving and Holiday 2025 Food Distribution
Click here to view the flyer (English & Spanish)
Thursday, November 13th at 10 AM
Essex County Irvington Park
D. Bilal Beasley Community Center
Lyons Avenue, Irvington, NJ
Essex County Food Distribution Event
for SNAP Clients ONLY
SNAP Clients Must Present their EBT Card
Presented by
Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive
The Board of County Commissioners
RWJBarnabas Health
and the Community FoodBank of NJ
Those arriving by car should line up along the park on Lyons Avenue before turning right into the parking lot.
No left turns into the parking will be allowed.
Cars should line up along the park on Lyons Avenue.
Food boxes will be distributed until supplies last.
“Food insecurity and rising costs and inflation have created uncertainty among residents with limited income or no income at all. We are pleased to present this Food Distribution Event to help those through these challenging times.”
— Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., Essex County Executive
Putting Essex County First

Essex County Historic Holiday House Tour: December 6 & 7
2025-12-06 08:00 - 2025-12-08 17:00 | NJ
Essex County, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. invites the public to celebrate the holiday season and participate in the Annual Essex County Historic Holiday House Tour. This year’s tour includes nine Essex County historic sites, which will be decorated for the holidays and open to the public for a weekend tour. The tour includes Essex County Kip’s Castle and the Walther House at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens. The self-guided house tour will be held Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th at the following locations:
Essex County Kip’s Castle Park
22 Crestmont Road, Verona
973-433-7469; www.essexcountynj.org
Admission is free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 p.m.
Walther House at the Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair
973-783-5974; www.presbyirisgardens.org
Admission is free. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
Blanchard Estate
100 Blanchard Road, South Orange
973-803-9390; yvonne@patterson-foundation.org
Admission is $20 for adults; free for children and students. Reservations are encouraged. For information, email info@pattersonfoundation.org.
Glenmont at Thomas Edison National Historic Park
211 Main Street, West Orange
973-736-0550
Admission is $15 per person and free for children under 16. Tickets must be purchased at the Laboratory Complex Visitor Center the day of the tour and includes access to the Laboratory Complex. Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Grover Cleveland Birthplace
207 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
973-226-0001; visitgcb@dep.nj.gov
Free admission. Open Saturday and Sunday.
Kingsland Manor
3 Kingsland Street, Nutley
973-661-3410; www.kingslandmanor.org
Admission is free. Donations are gratefully appreciated. Open Saturday and Sunday from 1- 4 p.m.
Montclair Historical Society Property: Crane House and Historic YWCA
108 Orange Road, Montclair
973-744-1796; www.montclairhistorical.org
Admission is $5 per adult; free for children under 12. Open Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 3 p.m.
The Newark Museum of Art – The Ballantine House
49 Washington Street, Newark
973-596-6550; www.newarkmuseumart.org
Open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Van Tassel Funeral Home
337 Belleville Avenue, Bloomfield
973-743-1234; www.vantasselfuneralhome.com
Admission is free. Open Saturday from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
“The Holiday House Tour is a great example of organizations throughout the County pooling their resources to create a wonderful event for families to enjoy and to provide insight into how past holidays were celebrated,” DiVincenzo said. “Take a break from the hustle and bustle this December and visit local homes and landmarks that will have decked the halls in holiday extravagance for one spectacular weekend. Tour historic Essex County with your friends and delight in the spirit of the season,” DiVincenzo said.
The public can visit each site at their own pace. The houses will be exquisitely decorated for the holidays and be open for public viewing. Each site will offer something unique, including musical entertainment, refreshments or educational programs. There may be an admission fee at some locations. For more information, please call 973-268-3500 or visit www.essexcountynj.org.
The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 23 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, six off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.

Essex County Environmental Center Winter 2026 Events
2025-12-09 08:00 - 2026-03-31 17:00 | NJ
Click here to download the ECEC WINTER Seasonal Brochure.
ECEC WINTER Seasonal Brochure 2025_26

Essex County South Mountain Recreational Complex Job Fair
2026-01-02 08:00 - 2026-03-07 17:00 | NJ

20th Annual Project Homeless Connect Day
2026-01-28 10:00 - 14:00 | NJ

Essex County CODE BLUE Shelters
2026-01-30 - 2026-02-08, 2026-02-12 08:00 - 2026-02-19 17:00 | NJ

Essex County Extends Code Blue to February 12
2026-02-06 08:00 - 2026-02-12 10:00 | NJ

Education and Workforce NJDOL Partner Career Pathways
2026-02-18 10:00 - 11:30 | NJ

Free Computer Skills Training and Laptop
2026-02-18 12:00 - 13:30 | NJ

Essex County Declares Code Blue from February 22-25
2026-02-20 08:00 - 2026-02-26 17:00 | NJ

Essex County Code Blue in effect until March 4
2026-03-02 08:00 - 2026-03-04 09:00 | NJ

Positive Recruitment Amazing Deliveries
2026-03-10 09:00 - 12:00 | NJ

Essex County Code Blue Extended to March 19
2026-03-18 08:00 - 2026-03-19 09:00 | NJ

New Jersey District Council of Roofers Career Opportunity
2026-03-19 08:00 - 17:00 | NJ

Positive Recruitment Delta-T Group
2026-03-19 09:00 - 12:00 | NJ

Recruitment Federal Air Marshal Service
2026-03-25 09:00 - 12:00 | NJ

Essex County Enacts Code Blue from March 27 to 29
2026-03-27 08:00 - 2026-03-29 09:30 | NJ

50 Years of Blossoms Photo Contest
2026-04-01 08:00 - 2026-04-12 17:00 | NJ
As part of the 50th Anniversary of the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, we are excited to launch our “50 Years of Blossoms” Photo Contest. This contest is a celebration of memories, tradition, and community.
From April 1st through April 12th, residents and visitors are invited to submit their favorite cherry blossom photos, whether it’s a treasured family photo from decades past or a recent snapshot capturing the beauty of this year’s blooms. This contest is a unique opportunity to reflect on how this beloved Essex County tradition has brought generations together under the cherry blossoms.
Selected winners will receive a family membership to the Turtle Back Zoo along with a special Essex County swag bag. Winners will be invited to accept their prize on-stage during Bloomfest on Sunday, April 19th at 11 a.m.
We encourage everyone to take part, share their stories, and help us celebrate 50 years of blossoms, beauty, and community here in Essex County.
Please submit your photos via social media using #50YearsOfBlossoms and tagging the accounts below:

Instagram Tag: @JoeDEssexCounty and @EssexParks
Facebook Tag: Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and Essex County Park System

All photographs submitted into the contest become the property of Essex County and may be used in the future to promote the Essex County Parks System, Essex County Branch Brook Park or the Cherry Blossom Festival.

Positive Recruitment: Program for Parents Hiring
2026-04-01 09:00 - 12:00 | NJ

Essex County Spring Food Distribution Event
2026-04-02 09:00 - 13:00 | NJ

Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival
2026-04-04 08:00 - 2026-04-19 17:00 | NJ

Essex County Cherry Blossom One-Mile Fun Run/Walk
2026-04-18 09:00 - 11:00 | NJ
2026 fun run registration

Essex County's Recycling Day: Household Hazardous Waste
2026-05-02 08:00 - 15:30 | NJ
