What's going on in Westfield??

Find information on events around the district and town below.

Athletic Events, Tryouts and Team Updates

🏈 Westfield PAL — Fall Sports

Westfield Police Athletic League currently lists Fall 2026 registration as open. The PAL site has registration for:

🏈 Boys Flag Football — registration closes August 30
🏈 Girls Flag Football
🏈 Tackle Football
📣 Cheerleading
🤼 Wrestling

Westfield PAL — Fall 2026 Registration

The PAL specifically confirms that Fall 2026 registration is open.

⚽️ Westfield Soccer Association

The Westfield Soccer Association has Fall 2026 recreational soccer registration available. Their U5/U6 “Fun of Soccer” program is specifically showing fall registration availability.

Westfield Soccer Association — Registration

🎾 Westfield Tennis

The Westfield Outdoor Tennis Club has junior programming through the Westfield Outdoor Tennis Academy. The club's 2026 registration is available through its site.

Westfield Tennis Club / Outdoor Tennis Academy

⚽️🏀🏈 Westfield Recreation — Sports Classes

Westfield Recreation's current registration system has sports programs through the U.S. Sports Institute, including:

⚽️ Soccer
🏀 Basketball
🏈 Flag football
🎾 Tennis
🥍 Lacrosse
🏃 Track & field
🏌️ Golf
⚾️ T-ball
🏅 Multi-sports

The offerings range from ages 2 through teens, and the listings are updated regularly.

Westfield Recreation — Current Program Registration

Town Events

Check out What's New in our Community for details about upcoming events shared by non-profit organizations in Westfield.

🎉 September

September 12 — Cornhole Tournament
A town-listed community event. The Town's 2026 community-events page currently lists it for Saturday, September 12.

Westfield Community Events Calendar

September 20 — 🎉 FestiFall
10 AM–5 PM | Downtown Westfield | FREE

This is definitely one I'd put prominently on the McKinley PTO calendar. Central Avenue becomes a huge fall celebration with local vendors, shopping, food, live entertainment and family-friendly activities.

FestiFall — Official Town Information

📚 September–October — Westfield Memorial Library

The library is a great one to include, but its individual September/October 2026 children's program schedule isn't fully indexed/published yet, so I wouldn't make up dates.

One confirmed seasonal program is:

🎃 Halloween Costume Exchange for Kids
Donation: September 15–October 19
Costume Selection: September 22–October 30
Westfield Memorial Library, 550 E. Broad St.

Families can donate gently used children's costumes and then select a costume; a donation isn't required to receive one.

Westfield Memorial Library — Costume Exchange

Westfield Memorial Library — Official Site

I'd also add a small note to your PTO calendar: “Check the library calendar for weekly storytimes, crafts, LEGO, children's programs and fall activities.”

🎃 October

AddamsFest 2026

This is probably the biggest October family/community event to highlight.

The official AddamsFest site confirms that the celebration returns in October 2026 with family-friendly events, exhibits and other programming throughout Westfield.

AddamsFest 2026 — Official Website

Some 2026 items currently listed include:

🏠 Addams Family House at Mindowaskin Pond
Throughout October
Free to walk by and see the seasonal installation.

🎨 “Complements” Art Exhibit
Weekends October 8–31
Rialto Theater, 250 E. Broad St.

🎬 Cult Classics at the Rialto
October 22 & October 29
The Rialto Theater.

AddamsFest 2026 Schedule

⭐ Family Fun Zone / Family Programming

The official FAQ specifically describes AddamsFest as including family-friendly events as well as adult programming.

🎨 October 10 — Westfield Street Fair & Craft Show

11 AM–5 PM | Downtown Westfield | FREE

This is another excellent PTO pick. It includes arts and crafts, shopping, live music, food vendors, kids' games and family activities.

Westfield Street Fair Details

💙 October 28 — Bagged with Love

5–6 PM | Temple Emanu-El, 756 E. Broad St.

Families can help pack emergency food bags for families in need through the JCC of Central NJ's Bagged with Loveprogram. The 2026–27 schedule specifically lists the Westfield event for October 28.

Bagged with Love — JCC of Central NJ

This would be a really nice community-service opportunity to include for McKinley families.

🏃 Fall Recreation & YMCA

The Westfield Area YMCA has its Fall 1 session running September 8–October 31, 2026, with programs available to families. Registration for members and non-members is already open.

Westfield Area YMCA — Fall 2026 Programs

Online registration is open for Kindergarten and Grade 1 for the 2026-2027 school year. Visit the Student Registration Portal on the district website at westfieldnjk12.org for all of the information and forms necessary to complete the secure online registration process. Please share with Westfield friends and neighbors.

After receiving concerns about children riding e-bikes and e-scooters in an unsafe manner, the Westfield Police Department is sharing this letter to help the school community avoid serious and/or life-threatening injuries by understanding the laws regarding safe operation of e-bikes and scooters, along with a helpful infographic regarding New Jersey's E-Bike and E-Scooter Law.

The Westfield Recreation Department is holding after-school chess programs for elementary students in grades 2-5 and intermediate students in grades 6-8. Click the links for more information and visit secure.rec1.com/NJ/westfield-nj/catalog to register.

Established in 1957, the PTC Scholarship Fund benefits graduating Westfield High School seniors who demonstrate financial need, academic perseverance, and community involvement. The 5-12 scholarships awarded annually truly make a difference in the lives of graduating seniors. Every donation counts toward our goal to help worthy WHS graduates continue to achieve success in college and beyond. Click HERE to donate.

The Crossing Guard Company ACMS has openings for Crossing Guards in Westfield. Click HERE to learn more or call Sandy at (908) 848-7664, Robert (908) 848-7666, or Odalys (201) 744-8351.

Concerned about your child’s development? Need help navigating the complex world of special education? Looking for resources? Let Parent PASS help! Beth Mitchell, JCC's Director of Inclusion and Diversity, can provide useful guidance for parents/guardians of children who are being assessed for early intervention, beginning the special education evaluation process, receiving/would benefit from additional support through an IEP or Section 504 Plan, among other support services. To learn more about Parent PASS or to make an appointment for the Parent PASS program or for information about any of the JCC’s inclusive programs or services, please see the following link (https://www.jccnj.org/component-basic-content/component/parent-pass/) or contact Beth Mitchell at BMitchell@jccnj.org.

Information about before/after care opportunities are posted on the district website under "Family and Community," including new after school and summer programs offered by the Westfield Community Center.

The JCC of Central Jersey is hosting its annual JCC Special Needs Resource Fair on Sunday, April 27,2027 from 10a-2p. JCC of Central NJ, 1391 Martine Avenue, Scotch Plains, NJ

The JCC of Central New Jersey offers a free caregiver support group, a monthly group for caregivers of children with special needs to focus on their mental wellness, share their experiences and meet/connect with other caregivers. More information: https://www.jccnj.org/caregiversupport/ The JCC also offers the Club Connect after school program. Club Connect creates social and recreational opportunities for high school students with disabilities within their local community. https://www.jccnj.org/clubconnect/

The College Woman's Club Events: Upcoming Events here.

With the "Please Don't Risk It" campaign, the Westfield Regional Health Department and Westfield Peer Leadership Group have partnered to remind parents of the legal and health consequences of providing alcohol to minors. National research shows that 57% of minors report drinking at friends' homes.

🎻 New Jersey Festival Orchestra — February 2027 Concert
Date & program: To Be Announced
NJFO presents professional orchestral performances in Westfield and surrounding communities. Check the NJFO website for the 2027 concert schedule and student ticket opportunities.

New Jersey Festival Orchestra

The College Woman's Club of Westfield. Scholarship opportunities TBA.

Visit cwclubwestfield.org for the application and other details.

JCC of Central NJ — Club Connect
This is currently confirmed for the 2026–2027 school year:

High School/Young Adult Program (Grades 9–Age 21)
📅 Tuesdays, September 8, 2026–June 15, 2027
⏰ 3:00–5:30 PM
📍 JCC of Central NJ, Scotch Plains
💙 For students with disabilities
💰 $220/month; JCC member price $187/month

There is also a Junior Varsity program for Grades 6–8 on Thursdays, September 10, 2026–June 17, 2027.

JCC Club Connect — 2026–27 Information

All WPS parents/guardians of children in Grades Pre-K through 12 are invited to a Mental Health Symposium on Thursday, March 27 at 6 p.m. at Westfield High School. Pre-registration is required by February 28 to determine if there will be sufficient attendance to hold the event. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from mental health and related professionals on this important topic.

Support Local Organizations

The St. Joseph Social Service Center is accepting bagged lunch donations for its Daily Bread Sandwich Program.

The Westfield Recreation Department offers a wide range of programs & activities for all ages this Fall. Programs include: sports, fitness, nature, arts, music, coding, LEGO, STEM, science, social, on day workshops & so much more. Programs are offered for preschool, parent & child, school age, teens, adults & seniors. Check out all that the Recreation Department has to offer at https://secure.rec1.com/NJ/westfield-nj/catalog or contact the department at recreation@westfieldnj.gov

The Westfield Coalition for the Arts (WCA) is a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1986 by parent volunteers in Westfield, N.J. The mission of the WCA is to act as an advocate for the arts including music, drama and visual arts in the Westfield Public Schools. The WCA fulfills teacher requests for arts materials and supplies, musical instruments, equipment, technology, special events and more. Learn more about the WCA, including how to show your support for the arts. Email westfieldcoalitionforthearts@gmail.com with any questions.

The Westfield Education Fund (WEF) strives to enhance the quality of education in the Westfield Public Schools by funding high-impact, district-wide initiatives that will promote a culture of innovation. WEF supports projects that strengthen and enrich students’ academic experience and social emotional learning, but fall beyond the school district budget. A suggested contribution of $25+ per student can be made at www.WestfieldEdFund.org/support-us. If you're passionate about sparking innovation within our district, consider joining the WEF board. Reach out to ansingh@gmail.com to express interest and learn more about the organization and its impact.

There are many ways to support our students, thanks to our generous community partners. Please click these links to learn more about the PTC Scholarship Fund, the PTC-Special Education Katherine Cuthbertson Achievement Award, the Westfield Education Fund, the Westfield Coalition for the Arts, and the WHS Helping Hands Fund.