featured events
Metuchen High School Senior Awarded First FOMA Scholarship
Congratulations to Emily Grosso, recipient of this year’s Friends of Metuchen Arts Graduating High School Scholarship! This fall, Emily will attend Elon University, where she will pursue a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography.
Emily is a 2026 graduate of Metuchen High School and a proud alumna of Metuchen Dance Centre, where she spent fifteen years honing her craft. During her time at Metuchen Dance Centre, Emily was a member of Dance Reflections, the Pre-Professional Dance Company of Theatre Arts Conservatory. She served as Senior Captain during the 2025–2026 season, Senior Co-Captain during the 2024–2025 season, and Junior Captain during the 2021–2022 season.
Emily’s accomplishments at Metuchen Dance Centre include receiving the 2021 Exemplary Dancer Award, the 2023 Outstanding Dedication Award, and the 2025–2026 Rose Pedone Maloney Dance Reflections Scholarship.
A line that stood out to us from her application:
“Through training and encouragement from people who believed in me, my confidence has grown in ways I never dreamed possible. I now understand that artistic growth is not a destination but a continuous practice, and I embrace that.”
We’re wishing her all the best as she begins study at Elon!
Metuchen Street Fair
Sunday, August 16 from 11-5pm
Everyone loves the street fair! Stroll downtown, greet your friends and make some new ones! Look for us at the Friends of Metuchen Arts table!
Book Launch - Beyond Supervision by Sonia Toledo
Wednesday, September 2, 6 pm
Friends of Metuchen Arts Gallery
315A Main Street, Metuchen
You are invited to the book launch of Beyond Supervision, the new book by Dr. Sonia M. Toledo. Beyond Supervision is a practical guide for after-school and youth program leaders who want to create emotionally safe, inclusive spaces where every young person can grow. Join us for an evening of conversation about what it takes to build the skills that support executive function and keep children emotionally safe.
Middlesex County Jazz Festival 2026
September 23-26
Now in its 4th year! FREE!
Come see live jazz in a different town each night:
9/23—Woodbridge, 7-9:30 pm at Parker Press Park (rain location: Acacia Youth Center)
9/24—New Brunswick 5:30-8:30 pm at Liberty Square Park
9/25—Carteret 7:00-8:45 pm at the Performing Arts Center
9/26—Metuchen 5:30-9:45 pm at Metuchen High School
Mingus Big Band is our Metuchen Festival Headliner! The lineup:
Mingus Big Band (yes, for real!)
Dave Schumacher & Cubeye (7 piece Latin Jazz Band)
Metuchen High School (MHS) Jazz Ensemble (big band)
MHS Orchestra
Metuchen Dance Center—jazz and tap
MMEDO opens the snack bar at 4:30 pm and closes at the beginning of the last event.
No need to register! Just show up!
A Performance of Traditional Indian Dance-Theatre (Kuchipudi)
Mignolo Arts
272 Lake Avenue, Metuchen
Performance by Ms. Neelima Raju (NJ State Heritage Fellow FY 2026) and her students.
The program explores the choreographic techniques/proces used in the traditional repertoire and new approaches used for enhancing the communicative process.
Tickets: $20/person
September 27 at 11am
Ginko Haiku Poetry Walk Series by Spencer Soletto
Join art facilitator and seasoned haiku poet Spencer Soletto June 28th 11am for a poetry walk along the unpaved path of the Middlesex Greenway Metuchen NJ . Starting at our hosted location Basecamp Studio & Gallery, we will explore haiku, a Japanese short form of poetry, and learn how it fosters an appreciation for our local natural and urban environments. This event is accessible to those without any experience of writing, and still explorative enough for established writers, walkers, and environmentalists. Participants will be guided with a short lesson, a walk for poetic inspiration, and a community writing session.
Grant funding has been provided by Friends of Metuchen Arts, a 501(c)(3)
This free event is open to the public.
Save the date for future poetry walks:
Fall: September 27, 2026
Winter: January 3, 2027
Spring: April 4, 2027
October 3rd, 2026
Metuchen PorchFest 2026 – A Celebration of Community & Live Music!
Metuchen PorchFest is back for another incredible year of music, community, and fun! This much-anticipated annual event transforms front porches and yards across Metuchen into lively stages where local musicians showcase their talents.
Metuchen PorchFest is a free, family-friendly music festival where porches throughout the town become performance spaces. Stroll from house to house, enjoy music, and experience the unique charm of Metuchen’s artistic community.
Why You’ll Love Metuchen PorchFest:
✅ Live music all afternoon – Enjoy a mix of genres, from rock and folk to jazz and blues.
✅ Support local artists – Celebrate and uplift the town’s talented musicians.
✅ Community spirit at its best – Meet neighbors, make new friends, and enjoy a day filled with music and fun.
October 10 from 1-4pm
Empty Bowls: A fundraiser for First Presbyterian Church Food Pantry
Your $50 ticket includes First Presbyterian Church’s famous soup, salad and bread, a hand-crafted ceramic bowl to keep, and live entertainment. Plus, explore a wide selection of artwork available for purchase to support the arts.
Registration details coming soon!
Sunday, Nov. 1 from 3–5pm
Book Launch Party at the Parlor at Hailey’s
Come celebrate the debut short story collection of Metuchen author Alyson Mosquera Dutemple with a Brainy Boro Bash featuring books, music, snacks, swag, and prizes!
The Parlor at Hailey’s
15 Station Place, Metuchen, NJ
3-5 pm
Sunday, Nov. 1st
Tickets are very limited. Please order early.
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