Forget the headache of heading into NYC—New Jersey’s premiere theater experience is in Newark, at The New Jersey Performing Arts Center or NJPAC. You’ll find that NJPAC has everything from family programs to art education programs and free cultural events without the traffic or big city ticket prices and lots of area parking (so much better than the city).  And if you or your child want to dive further into the arts, NJPAC offers classes and summer camps to enrich their arts experience. Read on for more about this cultural icon in New Jersey. (featured photo credit: NJPAC)

New Jersey Performing Arts Center

Family shows for kids and their parents

NJPAC is a place for shows that all ages can enjoy, with a mix of comedy, ballet, and musical performances. Mark your calendars for exciting upcoming family events, like “Sleeping Beauty” on April 26, 2025, and “Naruto: The Symphonic Experience” on May 16, 2025. To make it easy to find family-friendly options, check out the genre search on NJPAC’s website, where you can explore a wide range of categories, from dance to musicals and education. While many shows are suitable for all ages, NJPAC suggests that children under 5 might want to skip adult performances. 

Something for everyone (including FREE performances) 

All year round, NJPAC has something fun for everyone—whether you’re into jazz with the TD Jazz Series or love classical music, there’s an event for everyone in the family. You can see outstanding performances from the New Jersey Symphony, listen to up-and-coming poets at the Dodge Poetry Festival, and take in a variety of shows at the North to Shore Festival, which runs for a whole month from Asbury Park to Atlantic City and Newark, celebrating our area’s incredible diversity and creativity. And if ticket prices seem daunting, there are free events like Horizon Sounds of the City, a weekly outdoor concert in Chambers Plaza. Plus, there are exciting activities like Jazz Jams, the ArtsXchange program that connects NJPAC with Newark’s residents, and the Standing in Solidarity event focused on racial equality. 

Classes, camps, and the Colton Institute 

Have a budding actor or musician in the family? Kids can explore activities like jazz, acting, hip-hop, and musical theater through classes at NJPAC’s Center for Arts Education, the largest provider of arts education for kids in the state. Sign up for classes in Hip-Hop Arts and Culture, Acting, Backstage Pathways, and a Summer Creative Arts Camp, where dedicated teachers with arts education experience. Their newest initiative—Colton Institute for Training and Research in the Arts—amplifies student voices even more, supporting creative kids and teens through classes, camps, coaching, mentorship, and performance opportunities to make their ideas and projects shine. 

What to know before you go

NJPAC (1 Center Street) and the NJPAC Arts Education Building (24 Rector Street) are in different locations. If you’re driving, there are two attended parking lots (NJPAC Lots A and C) next to or across from NJPAC, as well as a Military Park Garage directly across the street. Everyone, including infants not in a seat, must have a ticket, and children under 14 must be with an adult. Ticket prices vary by show. Will Call is at the NJPAC Box Office, and tickets can be picked up from any box office window until the day of the performance. On show days, the box office is open for Will Call and same-day sales until the end of the first intermission or 30 minutes after the performance starts without intermission. Doors open one hour before the show, and elevators and restrooms are available.

To learn more about the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, visit their website, Instagram, and Facebook.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
1 Center Street
Newark, NJ 07102

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