Montclair Center is the traditional commercial hub of Montclair, running along Bloomfield Avenue for more than a mile from the Glen Ridge border to Mountain Avenue. For the tourists, this means a cornucopia of shopping, antique shops, art galleries, and bookshops. Montclair Center is classic and edgy, urban and urbane, but most of all fun!

What to Do

The Wellmont Theater

The Wellmont Theater is an American theater and concert venue. The theater originally opened in 1922 for live entertainment then switched to movies in 1929. Downtown Montclair came alive when The Wellmont reopened in 2015, partnering with Live Nation to host renowned performing artists.
5 Seymour St, Montclair – (973) 783-9500

Montclair Art Museum

The Montclair Art Museum, a notable, community-based institution with an international reputation, has been collecting and preserving Native American and American artwork since 1914. MAM’s Yard School of Art is the leading regional art school, offering a multitude of comprehensive workshops, classes, and camps for children, teens, adults, seniors, and professional artists.
3 S Mountain Ave, Montclair – (973) 746-5555

The Clairidge

Opened in 1922, the historic Clairidge began life as a single screen movie palace. It grew from one screen, to three, to six. In June of 2021, the non profit Montclair Film (Festival) took over the operation, remodeled, and focus on showing the best in independent, documentary, foreign language, and restored films.
486 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair – (973) 381-5588

Montclair Film Festival

Montclair Film has become a leader in presenting screenings, conversations, special events, workshops, and classes that promote a greater understanding, awareness, and appreciation of the art of filmmaking and the role that media arts and storytelling play in our community. Its signature event, the 10-day Montclair Film Festival in October, showcases over 130+ films and offers celebrity conversations, panels, and parties. MovieMaker Magazine voted the Festival one of the “25 coolest film festivals in the world.”
505 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair – (973) 783-6433

Jazz House Kids

For over 20 years, JAZZ HOUSE KiDS has been transforming lives using the power and legacy of jazz through world-class education and performances that create avenues of access, learning, career development and community building. The organization and students have received more than 125 awards and honors for excellence in jazz and jazz education. Every day of the week through a series of in-school and out-of-school programs, the JAZZ HOUSE helps young people gain an artistic edge through music, mentoring, education and apprenticeship, building thriving communities, and fostering community leaders and global citizens. The organization’s far-reaching cultural signature program is the award-winning MONTCLAIR JAZZ FESTIVAL, the largest free jazz festival in the NYC area, attracting more than 25,000 attendees to downtown Montclair each year.
347 Bloomfield Avenue, Lower Level, Montclair – (973) 744-2273

PEAK Performances at Montclair State University

PEAK Performances at Montclair State University brings a diverse range of internationally acclaimed artists to the Alexander Kasser Theater. With an emphasis on interdisciplinary work, Peak Performances has presented more than 50 world and American premieres by international artists, in addition to numerous works by Montclair State University’s next generation of artists.
Alexander Kasser Theater, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair – (973) 655-5112

Studio Montclair, Inc.

SMI is an organization that provides exhibiting opportunities to its emerging, established, and underrepresented member artists. Every show in the gallery is curated or juried and undergoes a highly competitive selection process. SMI holds an annual members’ exhibition, “Viewpoints,” in May. Many of their programs are free and open to the public. They include artist receptions, workshops, artist and professional panels, networking events, curator talks and more. Be sure to check our their 4 display Windows along Bloomfield Ave.
127 Bloomfield Ave., Montclair – (862) 500-1447

Montclair BID Mural Project

From a selection of 90 applicants, 4 artists were chosen by property owners to create murals that “contribute to the positive energy of the downtown Montclair community, improve the cultural vibrancy of the district and highlight the important connection between art and community.” Here’s a map.

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