44 / matters magazine / spring 2026 June 12 5-11PM Gala 20 featuring Max Weinberg’s Jukebox: Celebrate SOPAC’s 20th Anniversary to honor two decades of extraordinary performance and visual arts DETAILS South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange; sopacnow.org The Maplewood Record Fair May 17 10AM-4PM Music lovers come together to celebrate their love for records, CDs, cassettes, 8-tracks, stereo equipment, comics and more DETAILS The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood; maplewoodrecordfair@gmail.com South Orange Downtown May 30 2-10PM Under Cover Music Fest: cover bands bring hits ranging from 70s disco to 90s alt classics to 2000s R&B, plus food, kid zone, beer and more DETAILS Sloan Street Parking Lot, 12 Sloan Street, South Orange; southorangedowntown.org South Orange Rescue Squad May 31 8:30AM Sound The Siren 5K Run/Walk: Work up a sweat and then tour headquarters and learn about EMS in Maplewood and South Orange DETAILS South Orange Rescue Squad, 62 Sloan Street, South Orange; runsignup.com/Race/NJ/SouthOrange/ SouthOrangeRescueSquad5K JESPY House June 3 6:30PM JESPY Spring Gala 2026 celebrates JESPY clients and recognize the contributions of Honorees: Bottle King, Elizabeth Broadhurst of Little Apple Arts and Jason Miller of Sonny's Bagels DETAILS Orange Lawn Tennis Club, 305 N. Ridgewood Road, South Orange; jespyhouse.org/SpringGala The Theater Project June 11, 18 10AM; June 12-13, 19-20 7:30PM; June 14, 21 2PM Having Our Say, a play about two sisters who share their family stories, taking us through a century of American history from slavery to the Civil Rights movement and beyond DETAILS DMK Theater / Union Twp Arts Center, 1980 Morris Avenue, Union; thetheaterproject.org/having-our-say-2026 SOMA Two Towns for All Ages June 20 1-4PM SOMA Repair Cafe: Volunteers mend clothes, fix bicycles, sewing machines, vacuum cleaners, sharpen knives and more DETAILS Baird Community Center, 5 Mead Street, South Orange; somatwotownsforallages.org (please register Fall Events That Matter Spring 5K Run/Walk JESPY Spring Gala SOPAC Gala 20 Maplewood Record Fair Repair Cafe Under Cover Music Fest Springsteen’s longtime E Street Band drummer and South Orange native and his four-piece band. The audience gets to shape the setlist in real time, choosing from a video menu of more than 200 songs – everything from the Beatles to the Stones to Bruce and The E Street Band’s biggest hits. The dinner will recognize three foundational partners who have played a vital role in SOPAC’s success: Anthony J. Leitner – Former chair of SOPAC’s Board of Gov ernors, whose l e a d e r s h i p helped secure long-term fi nancial stability and strengthen key institution al partnerships. Seton Hall University, rep resented by Monsignor Reilly, an original contributor to SOPAC’s construction and a contin ued partner in arts and educa tion. South Or ange Village, re p re s e n t e d by Mayor Sheena Col lum, a long standing mu nicipal partner instrumental in SOPAC’s growth and sustainability With a fundraising goal of $200,000, Marinik says the support will be used for the organization’s year-round programming, including world-class performances, visual arts exhibitions and arts education initia tives that serve thousands of students and community members each year. SOPAC has many programs be yond entertainment. “It’s not as ob vious,” says Board Chair Aida Jones, “One of the things that we’re looking to do in this 20th year is to be more intentional about how we commu nicate who we are and what we do.” She points to the arts education and dance programs, the art gallery with rotating exhibits, as well as smaller, more intimate programs in the Loft, such as jazz, cabaret and comedy. Reflecting on the legacy SOPAC has built since its opening, Jones says, “SOPAC is really a cultural anchor. It’s a place where the com munity comes together for shared experiences across music, art and education.” Looking to the next 20 years, she says they will “continue to deepen community engagement, ex pand access to more people and keep the experience fresh and relevant.” In case you’re envisioning a stuffy affair, Jones would disagree. “It’s re ally not a typical gala. It’s immersive, social and connected to the perfor mance in a way that feels, I think, different from a traditional event,” she says. The gala is participatory, because that is what SOPAC is. It’s about bringing local talent and hav ing the community really feel a part of it in a meaningful way. “We want to share our gratitude with the community for keeping us going for 20 years,” says Marinik. “We can’t do what we do without the support of our local community. It’s an honor to be able to bring the performing and visual arts to our neighbors.” To attend, visit sopacnow.org and choose from a variety of ticket op tions, from Performance Tickets ($175) for the concert and afterparty to Full Event Tickets ($500+) in cluding dinner and access to the complete evening experience and ad ditional benefits. Anthony Leitner has played a vital role in SOPAC's success. SOPAC is celebrating 20 years as a cultural anchor for shared experiences across music, art and education. Having Our Say
View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.