August 2025

August 2025 ....... ... .... ...... . Rutgers University–New Brunswick

New Brunswick Heart Festival

Celebrate the vibrant arts, culture, and history of New Brunswick and Middlesex County at the 6th Annual New Brunswick Heart Festival. This family-friendly event will take place rain or shine on August 9 in front of the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center on Livingston Avenue.

The festival features live performances by The Discoteks recreating disco and Motown hits; Afro-Peruvian music and dance by Socabón Peru Cultural Association; dance by Inspira Performing Arts & Cultural Center, George Street Playhouse; PlayGrupo de Danza Folklorica La Sagrada Familia; singer Myles Cherette; New Brunswick Brass; Jersey Talent winner, pianist Elias Nicozisis; hustle dance instruction; tap dancer Omar Edwards; and DJ IZM.

In addition, there will be dance classes for kids with Princeton Ballet School, arts and craft vendors, face painting, a health and wellness tent, arts and craft activities, and a history corner hosted by East Jersey Old Town Village. Other activities include food vendors, ticket and swag giveaways, and so much more! Free.

EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, AND FILMS

Hub City Sounds returns with the Janmashtami Festival on August 16 in Monument Square, offering mouthwatering treats, music, and dance performances inspired by the culture and traditions of India, complemented by educational dance and theater presentations, Zumba, Bollywood, and a visual arts workshop. Free.

Come for a night out on the town with Kroozin’ in New Brunswick monthly car shows, with hot cars, live music, retail specials, and delicious eats every third Thursday through September. On August 21, the show features muscle cars. No need to preregister to attend, but register ahead of time to have your vehicle featured. Free.

On August 23, join the New Brunswick Cultural Center for an afternoon of Caribbean culture, music, dance, and tasty food on Saturday, August 23, in Recreation Park, New Brunswick. Revel in the island vibes with Caribbean cuisine, music, and dance performances (reggae, soca, calypso), an EPIC jerk chicken tasting cook-off, and learn about the English, Spanish, French, and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. Free.

See comedian Steve Hofstetter on his Comedy Without Apology Tour at NBPAC on August 23. One of the top booked acts on the college circuit, the original writer for collegehumor.com has also released six albums. Hofstetter has written humor columns for the New York Times, SportsIllustrated.com, and NHL.com.

Tickets are selling fast for "My First Ex-Husband," written by and starring Joy Behar, at the George Street Playhouse on August 28. Whether you’re happily coupled, cautiously committed, or considering changing the locks, relationships are complicated—and universally relatable.

LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS, AND WEBINARS

Rutgers Gardens presents Make Your Own Cut Flower Bouquet Workshop on August 22. Take a mood-boosting walking tour, explore a Donald B. Lacey cut flower demonstration garden, and find colorful blooms throughout the collections for you to get your creativity flowing. Before the day is through you'll create a lovely bouquet to take with you.

George Street Playhouse is getting the Acting Studio ready for the fall. With youth and adult classes starting in just a few months, now is the time to secure your spot. This year, offerings include Youth Musical Theatre and Acting as well as Adult Acting on Camera and Acting & Improv.

FOR KIDS

The Yard on College Avenue offers family-friendly movie nights on Sundays, all summer long. This month brings Despicable Me 4 on August 3, Trolls World Tour on August 10, Snow White on August 17, Inside Out 2 on August 24, and Wicked on August 31. Free.

Middlesex County has launched a Junior Rangers program for children 4-10. The program provides a series of outdoor activities that you can do with children on your own at county parks. Request your Junior Ranger activity book today.

SPORTS AND RECREATION

Start your Sunday mornings with Yoga at The Yard by Garden of Healing Yoga & Wellness. Free.

Rutgers Football is back on August 28 when Rutgers hosts the Ohio Bobcats for the first home game of the season. September home games include Miami (Ohio) on September 6, Norfolk State on September 13, and Iowa on September 19.

Come see what all the excitement is about. Limited Rutgers Men's Basketball season tickets are available.

SCIENCE AND NATURE

The Rutgers Community Farmers Markets, including the New Brunswick Community Farmers Market and Cook’s Market at Rutgers Gardens, are back for the season, bringing fresh, healthy food from local farms. The market offers multiple locations and days for convenient access:

Jones Avenue – Tuesdays and Saturdays
Kilmer Square Park – Thursdays
Rutgers Gardens – Fridays
College Avenue Student Center – Thursdays (beginning August 28)

Observe the night sky through a 20-inch optical telescope at the Robert A. Schommer Astronomical Observatory on Rutgers' Busch Campus. Public open viewing nights are scheduled for August 14, 21, and 28, weather permitting. Free.

Immerse yourself in nature at the Rutgers Ecological Preserve and Natural Teaching Area, a 360-acre wooded preserve between the Busch and Livingston campuses in Piscataway. Free.

AROUND TOWN

The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers marks its first 50 years at an anniversary gala on October 4 at the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center. Join GSAPP for an evening of connection, reflection, and celebration of the school's impact and how they have been "meeting the moment" for a half of century.

The Zimmerli Art Museum is getting ready for fall. The museum is closed to the public during the month of August. While Zimmerli staff install new exhibitions, catch up on their YouTube videos, and take a peek at our calendar for fall programs.

View lifelike statues by artist Seward Johnson, a New Brunswick native, that will be on display along George Street through November 1. Take a self-guided walking tour of the sculpture pieces and share photos on social media for a chance to win a gift card to New Brunswick's favorite shops and restaurants. Free.

NEW IN TOWN

Galata Bistro Mediterranean Cuisine

150 Easton Avenue

New Brunswick

DATES TO KNOW

Rutgers Summer Session

through August 13

Labor Day

September 1

Rutgers First Day of Fall Classes

September 2

Rutgers Home Football Games

August 28,

September 6, September 13, September 20, October 18 (Homecoming),

November 8, November 29

Middlesex County Jazz Festival

September 28

ACCESS RUTGERS

Programs for the Community Events Calendar

Campus Maps Jobs at Rutgers Rutgers Home

Share this newsletter with family, friends, and colleagues at this link.

Join Our Mailing List

NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS WELCOME

Submit your New Brunswick or Piscataway programs/events to Campus & Community.

Campus & Community is on Facebook. Follow us to stay in touch throughout the month and learn about more events and happenings on campus and around town.