Need July 4 weekend plans? 8 things to do, including live music, roller skating
July 4 and the long weekend surrounding it are all about fireworks, festivals and parades to celebrate America's independence from Britain in 1776.
But what if you're looking for something to do that's a little different? Something a little less pomp and pageantry?
Well, NorthJersey.com readers, there are activities that fit the bill in Bergen, Essex, Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties, including board-game playing and Shakespeare.
Bergen County
The Williams Center, 15 Sylvan St. in Rutherford, has a Board Game Night every Thursday at 7 p.m. That will not change for July 4, according to Jordan Fried, the center's operations manager. The public can bring their board games and there will also be board games provided to play.
Essex County
The 4th of July Skate will be held at the Branch Brook Park Roller Skating Center, 7th Avenue in Newark, from 12 to 4 p.m. Admission is $16 for admission and skate rental (plus service fee), $10 for those with their own skates (plus service fee) and $5 for non-skating adult spectators (plus service fee). Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite. All guests, whether skating or not, must sign a waiver online.
Morris County
The Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, will be opened on the Fourth of July. That will enable visitors to see the various exhibits on display such as Like Clockwork!: Guinness Collection Conservation at the Morris Museum and Set in Motion: Kinetic Worlds from the Studio of Richard Whitten. For more information, call (973) 971-3700 or email: info@morrismuseum.org.
If you are in the mood for some William Shakespeare on July 4 and happen to be in Morris County, the bad news is there won't be any staging of the Bard's work that day. The good news is the day before and the day after, the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will be presenting "As You Like It," at its outdoor stage on the campus of Saint Elizabeth College in Madison. The showtimes on July 3 and July 5 are at 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the theater's website and are $40 for regular price, $30 for customers under the age of 30, $15 for student (with ID) and free for those ages 17 and under.
Passaic County
The Wayne Ale House & Pizza, 611 Ratzer Road in Wayne, home of the 24-inch "Supersize Me" slice, will host Trivia Night Hosted by Joe Trivia on July 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, call the venue at (973) 706-5505 or call Joe Trivia at (201) 390-7351.
Dominican rapper Yaisel LM will be giving a concert performance to celebrate Indpendence Day on July 3 at 9 p.m. at the Serie 92 Bar and Lounge, 21 West Broadway in Paterson. Yaisel LM performs in the Dembow music genre, an offshoot of dancehall and reggaeton music. The tickets are $50 and can purchased at the Boletos Express website.
Sussex County
The New Jersey-based country blues/rock band Whiskey Crossing will perform in concert on July 4 at Lola's Waterfront Tex-Mex Restaurant, 300 Lakeside Ave. in Andover. The performance, part of a tour of the state, will be at 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Whiskey Crossing website.
Celebrate America's birthday with taking in America's pastime. A July 4 minor league baseball battle between the New Jersey Jackals and the Sussex County Miners at Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place in Augusta, at 6:35 p.m. There will be a Hometown Heroes Parade before the game and post-game fireworks if you choose to take in both activities. Gates open at 4:35 p.m. Tickets range from $17 for general seating to $137.50 for seating in suites and can be purchased at the website Vivenu.
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration, and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ricardokaul
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Things to do July 4th weekend in North Jersey, including live music
