See Passaic County Week is coming September 14-20, 2026, bringing a week of exciting events, local experiences, food, culture, history, and fun from across the county. This is your chance to discover new places, revisit local favorites, and celebrate everything that makes Passaic County one of a kind. Many Places. One Passaic.

Events Schedule

See Passaic County Week Kickoff Party

Monday, September 14 | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Yard, 289 Belmont Ave, Haledon, NJ

Join Passaic County Tourism at The Yard on Belmont Avenue in Haledon as we kick off See Passaic County Week, a week-long celebration of the people, places, food, culture, and experiences that make our county special! Come out and enjoy an evening of food, drinks, community, and fun as we officially launch the week.

The first 100 guests will enjoy complimentary food, courtesy of Passaic County Tourism, while The Yard will be offering Happy Hour all day. We’ll also have a photo booth, tourism giveaways, the launch of our See Passaic County Passport, and an opportunity to meet the Passaic County Tourism team.

Bring your friends, grab a drink, and come celebrate with us as we kick off a week of discovering all that Passaic County has to offer!

Tuesdays in the Plaza

Tuesday, September 15 | 10:00 AM -2:00 PM
Passaic County Courthouse Plaza, 71 Hamilton Street, Paterson, NJ

Looking for the perfect way to break up your week? Join us on Tuesday, September 15 at the Passaic County Courthouse Plaza for a special See Passaic County Week celebration! Enjoy live music, fresh local produce from our farmers market, great resources from community organizations. Bring your friends, grab a bite, enjoy the music, and spend your afternoon discovering a little more of what makes Passaic County special!

Art Gallery Reception at Passaic County Arts Center

Friday, September 18 | 6:00 PM -9:00 PM
Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House, 675 Goffle Rd, Hawthorne, NJ

Join us for a special evening at the Passaic County Arts Center in Hawthorne as we celebrate our newest exhibition. Enjoy an intimate night of art, conversation, wine, and good food featuring a selection of wine, beautifully prepared charcuterie, and passed hors d’oeuvres while exploring the gallery and discovering the work of our featured artists. Whether you’re an art enthusiast or simply looking for a unique night out, come enjoy the Arts Center after hours and experience Passaic County’s creative side.

Behind the Artifact: A Close-Up Look at the Collection

Saturday, September 19 | 1:00 PM -2:00 PM
Lambert Castle Carriage House, 3 Valley Road, Paterson, NJ

Join our Director of Collections Patrick Byrnes and Registrar Emmett Rivera at the Lambert Castle Carriage House for a special behind-the-scenes look at highlighted artifacts from the Department’s collections. Participants will examine select objects up close while learning how museum professionals identify, catalog, document, store, and preserve artifacts for future generations. Discover the stories these objects reveal and gain insight into the important work that happens behind the scenes to care for our shared history.

This event is free to the public. Registration encouraged.

Click here to register for this event.

Can You Dig It?

Saturday, September 19 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Passaic County Archaeology Center, 1093 Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Ringwood, NJ

Calling all junior explorers and history-hunting families! Grab your trowels and get ready to dig into the past with our hands-on, simulated excavation adventure.

Lab Analysis: Head into the workshop to inspect, clean, and crack the secrets of your finds.
Learn the Ropes: Discover how real-world archaeologists find and study clues to the past.
The Big Dig: Roll up your sleeves and search for hidden artifacts in our special excavation bins.
Sift & Screen: Hunt for tiny treasures just like the pros do out in the field.

This event is free to the public. Registration required.

Click here to register for this event.

From Harvest to Hearth: Preparing for Winter in the 18th Century

Saturday, September 19 | Throughout the Day
Dey Mansion, 199 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470

Join Program Specialist Vivian Davis for an open-hearth cooking demonstration exploring how 18th-century households prepared for the colder months. Discover how seasonal ingredients were harvested, preserved, and transformed into hearty dishes over the fire. Visitors will learn about historic cooking techniques, kitchen tools, and the important work required to keep a household well provisioned through the fall and winter.

Music Festival

Sunday, September 20 | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Rifle Camp Park, 387 Rifle Camp Road Woodland Park, NJ

Come celebrate the grand finale of See Passaic County Week with a day of live music, great food, and community at the beautiful Rifle Camp Park Amphitheater! Enjoy performances throughout the day featuring local and regional musicians, delicious food from area food trucks, family-friendly activities, and plenty of opportunities to discover what makes Passaic County such a special place to live, work, and visit. Bring your family and friends, grab a blanket or lawn chair, and spend the day enjoying the sounds of Passaic County as we close out a week of exploring, experiencing, and celebrating our county!

Olmsted Walking Tour of Garret Mountain

Sunday, September 20 | 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM
Garret Mountain Reservation, 8 Mountain Avenue, Woodland Park, NJ

Olmsted’s Vision: Garret Mountain Reservation is a walking tour for those who want to know how the County wide park system was established. Join Department Curator Isabella Costa as she discusses Federick Law Olmsted’s vision for public parks, its impact on the Passaic County Park System, and how Garret Mountain was designed by the Olmsted Brother’s Firm in 1928. Tour meets at the Gazebo by Barbour’s Pond Boat House. Please wear comfortable shoes!

This event is free to the public. Registration encouraged.

Click here to register for this event.

Hands-On History: Artifact Analysis

Sunday, September 20 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Passaic County Archaeology Center, 1093 Greenwood Lake Turnpike, Ringwood, NJ

Do you think you can reconstruct the activities of past cultures? Join us in the lab to learn how! Working alongside an expert, you will handle real artifacts from our collection to unlock the secrets they hold. You will learn the methods modern archaeologists use to investigate and interpret the artifacts they encounter and will try your hand at analyzing actual artifacts!

Please note that no food or drink will be permitted in the lab during this program in order to protect the artifacts.

Click here to register for this event.

Lecture: Washington’s Army at Valley Forge

Sunday, September 20 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Dey Mansion, 199 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470

Why did George Washington choose Valley Forge as the Continental Army’s winter encampment in 1777–1778? And how did that decision shape the outcome of the American Revolution?

Join historian and Valley Forge guide Kenneth Gavin for an engaging lecture that goes beyond the familiar story of the army’s winter hardships. Drawing upon primary source documents, Gavin examines the strategic, political, social, and economic considerations that made Valley Forge the practical choice for the Continental Army’s main encampment during the winter of 1777–1778.

By looking beyond the traditional narrative of suffering and endurance, this lecture offers a deeper understanding of why Valley Forge became one of the most consequential locations of the Revolutionary War.

This event is free to the public. Registration encouraged.

Click here to register for this event.

Art Activities – All Weekend at Our Museums!

Enjoy these hands-on arts and crafts activities throughout the weekend, September 19th and 20th, as you explore Passaic County’s museums!

Postcards from the Tower

All Day
Lambert Tower, 8 Mountain Avenue, Woodland Park, NJ

Stop by Lambert Tower throughout the day to create your own vintage-inspired postcard featuring the Tower and its surrounding views. Visitors of all ages can use the provided postcard templates and art supplies to draw the historic tower, illustrate the landscape, or capture the scenery from the summit. Add a personal message and take your completed postcard home as a keepsake of your visit. This drop-in activity will be available continuously during open-house hours; no reservations are required.

Hammered History: Punched-Tin Keepsakes

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Dey Mansion, 199 Totowa Road, Wayne, NJ 07470

Discover the art of punched-tin decoration at the Dey Mansion. During the 18th and 19th centuries, pierced metalwork brought both beauty and function to household objects such as lanterns, candle shades, pie safes, and food-storage cabinets. The small openings created decorative patterns while allowing light or air to pass through.

Visitors can stop by throughout the day to make a punched-tin ornament inspired by traditional geometric, floral, and star designs. Using a prepared metal blank, pattern, and simple hand tools, participants will carefully punch their chosen design into the surface. Each finished piece can be tied with ribbon or twine and taken home as a keepsake. This ongoing activity is suitable for families, although children will require adult assistance.

Ink & Imagination: Write Like the Past

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Passaic County Arts Center at the John W. Rea House, 675 Goffle Rd, Hawthorne, NJ
and Passaic County Literary Center at the Vanderhoef House, 794 Park Dr, Clifton, NJ

Put pen to paper! Visitors can stop by throughout the day to try writing with a quill pen and create a literary keepsake inspired by the handwritten letters and journals of the past. Choose a favorite quotation, compose a short poem, or write a message using provided prompts, then decorate the page or turn it into a bookmark to take home. This activity will be available continuously during open-house hours.