Things to Do in Maplewood: Parks, Events and the Farmers Market

This guide covers the best of everyday life in Maplewood, NJ, for anyone considering Maplewood NJ real estate: the neighborhood parks, the Essex County open space at South Mountain Reservation, the weekly farmers market and the events that return each year. It's a practical look at how residents spend their weekends, written from public sources and firsthand knowledge of the town.

Start at Memorial Park

Memorial Park sits right beside the train station and the village, which makes it the easiest way to start a Maplewood afternoon. The 25-acre park includes two playgrounds, playing fields, tennis and basketball courts, a pond and walking paths. It's also the stage for some of the town's biggest gatherings, including the annual Maplewoodstock music and art festival.

Neighborhood parks for every pace

Maplecrest Park on Oakland Road is the largest community space, with two playgrounds, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a skate park and picnic areas, plus a walking path under tall trees. Milo S. Borden Park on Orchard Road, formally dedicated in 1954, offers multi-purpose fields, tennis courts, a playground and walking paths in a quieter, residential setting. For warmer months, the Maplewood Community Pool is another township recreation option.

South Mountain Reservation

Just at the edge of town, South Mountain Reservation is a roughly 2,110-acre Essex County park that spans Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange. It offers miles of gravel carriage roads for walking, jogging and horseback riding, plus blazed hiking trails that include the Lenape Trail. Washington Rock Lookout is a popular destination, and the South Mountain Dog Park sits on Bear Lane in Maplewood for visits with your dog.

The Monday farmers market

From roughly June through November, the Maplewood Farmers Market runs every Monday from 2:00 to 7:00 PM at 1662 Springfield Avenue, near the Springfield Gazebo. Run by the Township of Maplewood, it accepts SNAP/EBT, WIC and Food Bucks, and it's a good way to meet neighbors while picking up local produce and prepared foods.

Village events through the year

Maplewood Village keeps a full calendar. The Maplewood Art Walk & Music Fest fills the downtown with artists and live music each October, the Maplewood Street Fair and Craft Show returns each May, and Downtown After Sundown brings evening events to the shop-lined streets. In March, Windows for Women turns village storefronts into art galleries. Summer evenings bring the Gazebo Summer Concert Series on Springfield Avenue.

The signature summer festival

The marquee event of the year is Maplewoodstock, a free two-day music and art festival held in Memorial Park, typically on the second weekend of July. It features local and national bands across rock, reggae, jazz, Latin and Americana, along with arts and crafts vendors, food and a beer garden. It's a true community event, and it's free to attend.

See it for yourself

The best introduction to Maplewood is a walkable afternoon: grab coffee in the village, stroll through Memorial Park, and take the train home. When you're ready to explore seriously, tour 12 Meadowbrook Place and Sorelle will point out the parks, the market and the best of the local scene along the way.