Essex County Daily Buzz: Jun. 11, 2026

LOCAL NEWS

Juneteenth celebration planned with Durand-Hedden House and Garden on Jun. 19 in Maplewood. It is from 12-4 p.m. at 523 Ridgewood Rd. There will be music, art, poetry, reenactors, exhibits, and food.
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Durand-Hedden House and Garden

Stage production of “Pyscho Beach Party” planned with Maplewood arts and culture on Jun. 19-20. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. at the Burgdorff Center For The Performing Arts. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Maplewood Division of Arts and Culture

Native gardening introductory class planned at East Orange library on Jun. 16. It is from 5:30-7 p.m. Led by Rutgers Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Master Gardeners of Essex County. Free admission. Registration is required.
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East Orange Public Library

Book talk with author Kamilah Majied planned at East Orange library on Jun. 20. Majied will discuss “Joyfully Just: Black Wisdom and Buddhist Insights for Liberated Living” from 1-4 p.m. Registration is not required.
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East Orange Public Library

Free blood pressure screenings planned with Bloomfield health on Jun. 18. It is from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Bloomfield library. Registration not required.
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Bloomfield Public Library

Drop-in session for artists ages 16+ planned with Bloomfield recreation on Jun. 20. It is from 1:30-4 p.m. at the Bloomfield Civic Center. Admission is $5. Register online.
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Bloomfield Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Department

“Queer Reads and Teas” planned at Bloomfield library on Jun. 20. Attendees will share and discuss their favorite queer stories. Registration is not required. Free tea and iced coffee provided.
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Bloomfield Public Library

Food distribution planned at Orange library on Jun. 20. It is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. People must bring their own bags. Food includes produce and groceries.
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City of Orange Township

Nutley residents can register for summer tennis lessons through the township’s recreation department. Classes are designed for all ages. Attendees should bring their own tennis racket. Lessons are held at Monsignor Owens Park Tennis Courts on Fridays starting Jun. 19. Enrollment fee is $90 for the five-week program. Registration available online.
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Nutley Township

Book discussion and autoharp performance with Ivan Stiles planned at Nutley library. It is from 2-3:30 p.m. Free admission.
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Nutley Public Library

Newark’s South Ward Juneteenth Festival is Jun. 20. It is from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. along Bergen Street. There will be vendors and resources.
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South Ward Councilman Patrick Council

“People Over Pollution: Passaic River” rally planned with Ironbound Community Corporation on Jun. 20 in Newark. It is from 10-11 a.m. at Newark Riverfront Park, 727 Raymond Blvd. Demands include federal action, accountability from polluters, and cleanup of the Passaic River. Registration is required.
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Ironbound Community Corporation

Opening reception of “Black Revolutionary Women,” an exhibition by Noelle Lorraine Williams, planned at Project for Empty Space on Jun. 19 in Newark. It is from 6-9 p.m. at 800 Broad St. The exhibit is on display through Oct. 10 at 800 Mayor Kenneth Gibson Blvd. Tickets are available online. Free admission.
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Project for Empty Space

Lincoln Park Music Festival House Music Bar Crawl is Jun. 19 in Newark. It is from 5:30-10 p.m. Tickets are available online.
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Newark Pride Inc.

Newark Restaurant Week is Jun. 19-28. Participating restaurants throughout the city will offer special discounts and menu items for patrons. List of participating restaurants can be viewed online.
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Newark Happening

“Bodega Night” with Latinos of Montclair planned on Jun. 18 in Montclair. It is from 7-10 p.m. at MC Hotel The Splendid Rooftop, 690 Bloomfield Ave. There will be dancing, food, and music. All proceeds support Latinos of Montclair. Admission is $20. Only open to people ages 21+.
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Latinos of Montclair

Screening of “The Story of America in Ten Films” planned with Montclair Film on Jun. 18. It begins at 7 p.m. at 505 Bloomfield Ave. Tickets are available online for purchase.
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Montclair Film

Guided tour of the Crane House and Historic YWCA planned with Montclair History Center on Jun. 20. Tours start at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., and 2 p.m. at 110 Orange Rd. Entry is $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors, and $8 for children older than 2. Montclair History Center members attend for free. Reservations not required.
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Montclair History Center

Students in grades 10-12 can apply to join Montclair Film’s 2026 “Junior Jury” through Sep. 21. Program participants will be a part of the 2026 Montclair Film Festival and meet industry professionals, learn how to analyze and judge films, and receive free access to select films. Applications available online.
Montclair Film

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to offer free vehicle inspections in South Orange on Jun. 18. The station will be located at Waterlands Park between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Appointments not required. First-come, first-served basis.
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South Orange Police Department

End-of-school party planned with South Orange Downtown on Jun. 18. It is from 5-8 p.m. at 58 Vose Ave. There will be live music, food, and vendors.
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South Orange Downtown

World Cup watch party planned with South Orange Downtown on Jun. 19. It is from 1:30-8 p.m. at Meadowland Park. There will be Juneteenth celebrations, food trucks, a beer garden, and children activities.
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South Orange Downtown

REGIONAL NEWS

“Inclusive Mental Health Symposium” planned virtually with Nutley Family Service Bureau on Jun. 18. Melissa Cheplic will explore ways healthcare providers and advocates can create environments supporting people with disabilities. It is from 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. A list of sessions is available online. Registration is required. Free admission. Add to 📅.
Nutley Family Service Bureau

New Jersey health inspectors found poor employee hygiene, unclean surfaces, and food stored at unsafe temperatures at Delaney Hall, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement concentration camp in Newark. The inspection comes from a May 28 report issued by the state department of health. Health inspectors visited Delaney Hall on May 27 to inspect the entire facility, but was denied entry to living quarters, medical areas, and the HVAC system. Health inspectors also found staff handling garbage cans during food service and cases of soda stored alongside chemicals. On Jun. 2, Gov. Mikie Sherrill sued GEO Group, the private prison company operating Delaney Hall, in attempt to gain full access to the site.
Gothamist

New Jersey will increase funding for its free legal representation programs, Detention Deportation Defense Initiative and Rapid Legal Response Initiative. The Detention Deportation Defense Initiative will see a $12 million increase, bringing its funding total to $20.2 million. It will provide legal services for low-income residents, including all low-income detainees at Delaney Hall. The Rapid Legal Response Initiative will provide emergency immigration defense and support immigrant families throughout the state.
Governor Mikie Sherrill