It’ll be hard to get bored in Secaucus this summer. The town is sponsoring a wide variety of music, movies, events, activities, day camps, sports, and more.
The annual Summer Concert Series began this year on May 23 with blues guitarist Bobby Messano and continues through September, with events at a variety of locations.
Highlights include “Invincible: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson” at Harmon Meadow Plaza on June 12 and The Infernos Band on Sept. 11. Tributes to Neil Diamond, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Lady Gaga, Chicago, and the bands of the British Invasion will light up Buchmuller Park from June through August, with Eaglemania at Xchange on June 22.
The town pool will host seven-time Emmy Award winner Hunter Hayes on Sept. 5, with party band Alotta Colada playing a 4 p.m. show on July 2. Other performers include The Skyliners, the Infernos, Cameos, and a children’s summer program at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Aug. 14.
The town is sponsoring a wide variety of music, movies, events, activities, day camps, sports, and much more.
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“Basically we have concerts every Thursday night through the summer,” said John Voli, director of recreation for the Town of Secaucus. “And then on Tuesdays we have movies. We have a big outdoor screen. We put it right on the stage at Buchmuller Park. As soon as it gets dark enough we start the movie. The kids have a great time.”
Among the hits screening this year are Monsters University, Despicable Me 2, and The Lego Movie. Additional films will also be shown on some Saturday nights at Xchange Place, and Field Station Dinosaurs will screen Jurassic Park 2 on Aug. 16.
Swimming and day camps
The town pool opens this weekend, and will remain open every weekend until June 21. Beginning June 21 it will be open daily until Sept. 1 (Labor Day). Saturday nights in July and August are theme nights for kids and teens.
This year the pool, known as the Secaucus Swim Club, is available for residents and guests with passes only. Residents can sign up at the Recreation Center, 1200 Koelle Blvd. on Monday thru Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or register by mail.
Complete instructions are available on the town website at www.secaucusnj.org.
Once again Secaucus is hosting a huge selection of summer activities for kids.
“We run three camps,” said Voli. Ages 7 to 12 are invited to join the Summer Day Camp, while ages 5 and 6 can participate in Junior Camp.
Both camps run from June 30 to Aug. 15, Monday to Friday. The cost is $150 per week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or $180 per week for 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The third option is the All Abilities Recreation day camp. Formerly the Special Needs camp, it has been revamped for 2014. “We’re doing it a new way as an inclusion camp,” said Voli.
“We’re going to partner a special needs kid with another kid like a buddy,” he continued. The idea is for both kids to learn and benefit from the experience. Participants will go on field trips, bowling, to movies, and more.
Kids will have to apply and qualify to be buddies, according to Voli. “We want kids who want to to this. It’ll be a great opportunity.”
Ages 5 to 18 can participate.
Sports, arts, learning
Sports programs are available this summer for almost any interest, including basketball, soccer, tennis, and softball.
In addition, the new “Summer Game On” program will focus on teaching kids exercise and conditioning, with separate classes for ages 6 to 8 and 9 to 11. “That’s a brand new program, we’ve never run that yet,” said Voli.
“It’ll have indoor and outdoor exercises,” he added, “and things like hand-eye coordination.”
Summer Game On was created and will be run by Toni Ann Salvatore, who also helms the summer Arts and Crafts program for Secaucus, open to ages 4 to 12.
Kids with an artistic bent can also sign up for Showstoppers, the performing arts program the town has run for nearly 10 years now.
“We have a director that teaches them songs and dances,” said Voli. “They learn over two nights a week. Then on Aug. 14 they put on a performance for free for town residents.”
In addition to performing, the kids create costumes and scenery for the show, which takes place inside the PAC.
Most of the programs run for seven weeks, from June 30 to Aug. 15. Then for the eighth week, kids have the opportunity to join the Junior Police Academy, run by police officers in town.
“They do drill training,” explained Voli. “The police put them through calisthenics. They take field trips. In the past we went to the Hudson County Jail.”
The program runs from Monday, Aug. 18 to Thursday, Aug. 21, with graduation on Thursday night including a certificate for participants.
Sign-up and registration forms for all program are available at the Recreation Center. Proper identification is required to register: a birth certificate, proof of residency, and a copy of required immunization.
Food and more food
Two more popular events will bookend the summer. Buchmuller Park will host the annual Street Fair from June 6 to 8.
“Different organizations in town all set up booths,” said Voli. “We have food trucks and rides, music and games. We get a pretty good crowd.”
Hours will be 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
The season will wrap up with Secaucus Restaurant Night on September 25 in the town center, a delicious evening of appetizers, entrees, desserts, and entertainment.
Art Schwartz may be reached at arts@hudsonreporter.com.