Events Page

"By popular demand, UCPAC welcomes back Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas concert for a special holiday matinee performance!

“I discovered that the Celtic instrumentation naturally blends with the Christmas music,” said Cherish the Ladies leader, National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Award Winner, and flutist/whistle player extraordinaire Joanie Madden in a 2023 interview with TapInto Rahway. “The audience loves it, and we love to have the audience get involved and sing along with us. My band members—the singers, dancers, and musicians—are just so talented. They’re stellar. And it’s really a family event. There is something for everyone. We have so much fun.”

One of the most engaging and successful ensembles in the history of Celtic music, Cherish the Ladies have shared timeless Irish traditions with audiences worldwide for forty years. In their Celtic Christmas performance, the Ladies put their signature mark on classic carols such as “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night,” in arrangements that highlight the group’s unique Celtic instrumentation, beautiful harmonies, and spectacular step dancing.

Kick up your heels and kick off your holiday season at Cherish the Ladies Celtic Christmas! Tickets make a perfect holiday gift, so start your shopping early and get yours today!"

Come share your musical passions at Belmar Art Center's Weekly Open Mic and Music Workshop!

Every Tuesday, sign-ups start at 7pm.

Attention songwriters and musicians, a new open mic is town. We have been facilitating a Tuesday WEEKLY open mic and workshop, every TUESDAY for artists to hone and share their amazingness and receive feedback for over 3 years now!

If you wish to share an original of yours, awesome. If you want to play a cover, great. You may want to just share an idea with a band to see what it sounds like. That's great. This open mic is designed for collaborators and experimentalist alike, to try new things, and be open to different possibilities. Join our hosts multi-instrumentalist Andy Demos & singer, song writer, guitarist Alex Sanders every Tuesday Night.

Free for BAC Members ($35/year membership fee)
$5 donation for non-members

This Shared Interest group is run by Andy Demos adreamos1@gmail.com
Please email Andy if you have any questions or concerns.

Biographies and Women’s History books are half price for March. If you love to read and have never visited our sale, please come in to shop. Our prices are unbelievable. We are currently overloaded with paperbacks and children's books. You will also find puzzles, games, vinyl records, DVDs and CDs as well as books on tape and large print books. We are also open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. until noon. Visit our website at www.aauw-nj-nmcb.org for our donation policy.
Closed on Holiday weekends.

Take a musical journey through the cosmos this holiday season with Holst’s “The Planets,” performed by Wharton Arts’ New Jersey Youth Symphony in “Galaxies of Joy: ‘The Planets’ in Concert.”

Accompanied by stunning NASA imagery, this family-friendly concert blends the wonder of space with the spirit of the season for an unforgettable celebration of music and stars.

This performance is presented by Wharton Arts’ New Jersey Youth Symphony in partnership with UCPAC.

About New Jersey Youth Symphony (NJYS)

NJYS’ family of 15 orchestras serves 3rd to 12th-grade students, many of whom remain a part of the organization for as long as 10 years. Students flourish in their programs as they explore their potential, share the love of music with peers, and express themselves freely in a supportive and inclusive environment. NJYS has received numerous prestigious awards for its adventurous programming from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP).

"Developed by The American Opera Project and performed by New Jersey Opera Theater, “The Christmas Spider” spins a shimmering tale about love and togetherness during the holiday season. On a bitterly cold Christmas Eve, a poor woodcutter and his two children have no gifts, barely enough to eat, and are in danger of losing their home to an impatient landlady. The surprise discovery of a large, but gentle arachnid leads to a seemingly miraculous turn of good fortune for the family. Inspired by a Ukrainian legend, “The Christmas Spider” is a new addition to the holiday canon, telling a tale for all ages. Please note: “The Christmas Spider” will be performed in English.

About New Jersey Opera Theater
Led by Rahway resident Joseph Mayon, Founder & Artistic Director, New Jersey Opera Theater works in partnership with UCPAC to provide the community with state-of-the-art shows and world class performances that truly make an impact. Through mentorship, local high school and college students have the opportunity to join these professional musicians in the orchestra, chorus, or as understudies for lead roles.

About The American Opera Project
American Opera Projects (AOP) is a non-profit organization that provides resources and opportunities to artists for the creation of new lyric theater. Based in Brooklyn, AOP has been at the forefront of the contemporary opera movement for over thirty years through the commissioning, developing, and producing of opera and lyric theater projects, training programs for student and emerging composers and librettists, and community engagement."

Come share your musical passions at Belmar Art Center's Weekly Open Mic and Music Workshop!

Every Tuesday, sign-ups start at 7pm.

Attention songwriters and musicians, a new open mic is town. We have been facilitating a Tuesday WEEKLY open mic and workshop, every TUESDAY for artists to hone and share their amazingness and receive feedback for over 3 years now!

If you wish to share an original of yours, awesome. If you want to play a cover, great. You may want to just share an idea with a band to see what it sounds like. That's great. This open mic is designed for collaborators and experimentalist alike, to try new things, and be open to different possibilities. Join our hosts multi-instrumentalist Andy Demos & singer, song writer, guitarist Alex Sanders every Tuesday Night.

Free for BAC Members ($35/year membership fee)
$5 donation for non-members

This Shared Interest group is run by Andy Demos adreamos1@gmail.com
Please email Andy if you have any questions or concerns.

Join us once again for UCPAC’s annual holiday tradition: “The Muppet Christmas Carol” in 35mm!

Come enjoy this classic film on our big screen and be sure to come early to snap “elfie” selfies with Santa’s friends and maybe a surprise special guest (or two)! To get you even more into the holiday spirit, an organ concert of festive favorites, played on our “Biggest Little Wurlitzer,” starts at 6:30 PM.

In addition to Kermit (Bob Cratchit), Miss Piggy (Mrs. Cratchit), the Great Gonzo (Charles Dickens) and Rizzo the Rat (Himself, “The Muppet Christmas Carol” stars Academy Award Winner Michael Caine as Ebeneezer Scrooge. The film features original songs by famed composer Paul Williams (“The Rainbow Connection”).

Whether you’ve never seen “The Muppet Christmas Carol” in a theater before, watched it every year since you were a child, or are taking your grandchildren to see it for the first time, we’re excited to be a part of your holiday celebrations!

This screening is part of UCPAC’s Third Thursdays Classic & 35mm Film Series. UCPAC’s Third Thursdays events offer themed drinks, photo ops, and other surprises. The Muppet Christmas Carol in 35mm is one of our most popular events each holiday season, so don’t wait – get your tickets today!

Doors: 6 PM – Before the movie, have a seat at our craft table and make something fun to take home!
Film: 7 PM UCPAC’s Popcorn & Pajamas Film Series is a digital presentation.
All aboard The Polar Express! “Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see.” Believe in the magic of the season, the power of wonder, and the importance of keeping childlike faith alive—no matter your age.

Come in your coziest PJs for a magical movie night the whole family will love—complete with holiday crafts and a heartwarming journey to the North Pole.

Set on Christmas Eve, this classic Christmas movie tells the story of a young boy who sees a mysterious train bound for the North Pole stop outside his window and is invited aboard by its conductor. He joins other children as they embark on a journey to visit Santa Claus, who is preparing for Christmas. It stars Tom Hanks (in multiple roles), Daryl Sabara, Nona Gaye, Jimmy Bennett, and Eddie Deezen.

“An enchanting, beautiful and brilliantly imagined film.” –San Francisco Cronicle

Biographies and Women’s History books are half price for March. If you love to read and have never visited our sale, please come in to shop. Our prices are unbelievable. We are currently overloaded with paperbacks and children's books. You will also find puzzles, games, vinyl records, DVDs and CDs as well as books on tape and large print books. We are also open on Thursdays from 10 a.m. until noon. Visit our website at www.aauw-nj-nmcb.org for our donation policy.
Closed on Holiday weekends.

In the spirit of collaboration and appreciation for musical brilliance, we bring you our monthly concert series — pairing tunes from legendary masters of rock, along with some unsung heroes following in their footsteps. Settle in for an intimate vibe akin to MTV Unplugged, Storytellers and Behind the Music, as singer/guitarist Kevin Spyker performs timeless hits and hidden gems, accompanied by an array of instrumentalists from the Belmar Arts music collective.

Reserve your seats for our series launch on May 18th — highlighting the music of rock icon Tom Petty, with an opening set honoring the up-and-coming band known as Dawes...each month we will tribute two different bands.

Between songs we’ll share some history and fun facts about our featured songsters.

We’re honored to name our tribute series after the memorable Dawes song / album “All Your Favorite Bands” with the anthemic refrain:

“I hope that life without a chaperone is what you thought it'd be,

I hope your brother's El Camino runs forever,

I hope the world sees the same person that you've always been to me,

And may all your favorite bands stay together!”