Come celebrate the Fourth of July with three spectacular fireworks displays and exciting concerts by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in Essex County Branch Brook Park on Tues., June 28, AM Gold in Essex County Brookdale Park on Fri., July 1 and A Tribute to Motown by Smooth in Essex County Weequahic Park on Wed., July 6. The 2016 Essex County SummerMusic Concert Series also moves into high gear with a performances by The Symphonics and The Bronx Wanderers.

“Our Free Concert Series offers a diverse lineup of performers who will take center stage in venues throughout our historic Essex County Park System. Pack a blanket, enjoy the cool evening breeze and dance to the sounds of classical, rock and roll, jazz, big band, Latin and more. We have an outstanding line-up that is sure to entertain and impress,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said. “An evening in the parks with some of the area’s most talented musicians and our Spectacular Fireworks Extravaganzas are the perfect shows for Independence Day. Come out and celebrate your Fourth of July with us,” he added.

The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Fireworks Display
Relax with friends and family and enjoy an evening under the stars at Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark. Under the direction of Conductor Gemma New, the NJSO goes from the concert hall to the movie theater to Branch Brook Park! Listen to musical selections from Ghostbusters, Star Wars, The Godfather: Part III, The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Moulin Rouge, Batman and many more. After the concert, a fireworks show will light up the night sky for a brilliant cap to a lovely night. In case of rain, the concert will be relocated to an indoor location and the fireworks will be rescheduled at a later date. The concert and fireworks will be held on Tues., June 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Branch Book Park on the Great Lawn in Newark.

AM Gold and Fireworks Display

AM Gold is a New York City-based cover band that performs adult-contemporary hit songs from the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. The band formed when drummer Dan Wintersteen threw a yacht rock party with musician friends for his 30th birthday. In 2013, he teamed with singer and saxophonist Jonny Hirsch. AM Gold and the fireworks display will be held on Fri., July 1, at 7:30 p.m. at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield.

A Tribute to Motown by Smooth and Fireworks Display

Smooth will bring the songs and sounds of Motown to life with their energetic review. The concert and the Fireworks Display will be held on Wed., July 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Weequahic Park in Newark.

The 2016 Essex County SummerMusic Concert Series is in full swing, with the following upcoming performances:

The Symphonics

The Symphonics perform a variety of music from the 1940s through today, including Big Band, Motown, Oldies, Swing, Show Tunes, and Ballroom. Original band members Stevie V and Michael Schiavo have taken the stage with groups such as The Infernos Show Band, Streetlight, The Duprees, The Drifters and other legendary groups. They are joined by Jason Gecek and Howard Hulen. The Symphonics will perform on Thurs., June 30, at 7 p.m. at Yanticaw Park in Nutley.

The Bronx Wanderers

The Bronx Wanderers are the ”perfect musical storm,” effortlessly creating a high level of synergy between generations and the music, the family and the rockin’ band that pulls it all together. United by their passion for great music (regardless of the decade), former gold record producer Yo’ Vinny and his sons Vinny “The Kid” and Nicky “Stix” form the heart and soul of this pitch perfect band that delivers a non-stop barrage of hit after hit. With favorites like “Sherry,” “Runaway,” “We Gotta Get Out Of This Place,” “Teenager in Love,” “There’s a Kind of Hush,” “Tie A Yellow Ribbon,” “Put Your Head On My Shoulder,” “Looking for an Echo” and even Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” this show positively dazzles the listener with a non-stop powerhouse of hits right from the start. The Bronx Wanderers will perform on Fri., July 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Brookdale Park in Bloomfield.

The SummerMusic Concert Series is being sponsored by Rose Squared Productions, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey and TD Bank. The series is also made possible, in part, by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State.

Concerts are held at accessible sites. Persons who require special accommodations or assistance are asked to call at least two weeks prior to the concert to alert staff as to their needs. Admission to the concerts is free. For more information, call the Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs at 973‑239-2485.

The Essex County Park System was created in 1895 and is the first county park system established in the United States. The Park System consists of more than 6,000 acres and has 22 parks, five reservations, an environmental center, a zoo, Treetop Adventure Course, ice skating rink, roller skating rink, three public golf courses, golf driving range, two miniature golf courses, Treetop Adventure Course, three off-leash dog facilities, a castle and the Presby Memorial Iris Gardens.