Town-Wide Festival Honoring Westfield’s Charles Addams Celebrates its Ninth Year 

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WESTFIELD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 – It’s back! AddamsFest will return to Westfield for its ninth consecutive October as the destination event of the season. Once again, the Town will be transformed by this uniquely exciting celebration honoring its own Charles Addams and his penchant for the macabre with a wide variety of events.

Born in 1912 and raised in Westfield, Charles Addams was one of the country’s premier cartoonists, with his work prominently featured in The New Yorker. His most successful creation, The Addams Family, was inspired by his hometown surroundings. The characters that began as illustrations grew into a television series, a live action movie franchise, a Broadway musical, two Addams Family animated movies, and the highly successful Wednesday series on Netflix. What better place to honor Addams’ talent and creativity than the town where he grew up?
 

Mark your calendars for a variety of events to be held throughout October! 

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SIGHTS TO SEE

AddamsFest Americana
Weekends, October 9 - 25
Fridays, 5:00 - 8:00 PM
Saturdays, 1:00 - 6:00 PM
Sundays, 10:00 - 3:00 PM
Rialto Center for Creativity

This year’s AddamsFest art exhibit, AddamsFest Americana, celebrates America250 by exploring the American experience through an Addams-inspired perspective. Original works by Addams – generously on loan from the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation – as well as selections by local artists, reveal the delightfully unexpected side of America's everyday places, traditions, and landscapes. 

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The Wicked Windows of Westfield
Throughout October 
Downtown Westfield 
Sponsored by Jean Marie Morgan, Realtor

The Wicked Windows of Westfield transforms Downtown Westfield’s storefronts into delightful displays painted by community members. Look for these impressive seasonal scenes and of course some of Charles Addams’ favorite characters peering out from the windows. 

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Haunt Your House Contest: Day and Night
Registration Opens September 9 at 7:00 PM
Community Voting Opens October 11
Throughout Westfield 
Sponsored by The Mavins Group

The competition gets stiffer every year! Westfield residents can sign up to enter one of two contests – one for daytime haunts, and one for haunts by night. Community members will tour the routes and vote for their favorites using an online map of participating homes from October 11 through October 30. Registration opens on Wednesday, September 9, at 7:00 PM, for the first 25 houses to enroll in each category.

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Be Witched Selfie Stop
Central Avenue near The Rialto
Sponsored by Erin Ben-Hayon, Realtor

Get into a wicked state of mind with this interactive sculpture, inspired by the original Bewitched statue in Salem, Massachusetts.

The Addams Family House on Mindowaskin Pond
Throughout October

Be sure to take a photo of the floating Addams Family house on Mindowaskin Pond. Playing off a beloved Westfield tradition, this Halloween house is a nod to the replica of the Presbyterian Church that signals the holiday season in December. 

Addams-Inspired Murals
Central Avenue Underpass
Ongoing
Unveiled in 2021 by the Westfield Public Arts Commission, these murals showcase the work of local artists on both sides of the underpass on Central Avenue, providing a bright and colorful backdrop to revive and reimagine this public space. One entire span of the underpass features the theme Inspired by Addams.

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CHARLIE'S CURIOSITIES

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Charles Addams: Family and Friends
Sunday, October 18, 2:00 PM
Westfield Memorial Library
Advance registration required and now open on the Westfield Memorial Library website
Hear from H. Kevin Miserocchi, Trustee for the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation, as he shares an engaging visual presentation about Addams' artwork and his life as an artistic force.

Lantern Burial Ground Tours
Saturday, October 10, Sunday, October 11, and Saturday, October 17, 4:30 - 6:00 PM
Tours run every ten minutes
140 Mountain Avenue

No tickets or registration required; first come, first served (suggested donation: $5 per person/$20 per family).

While other kids his age were out frolicking with friends, a young Charles Addams spent his time hanging out in Westfield's oldest cemetery (of course he did). Take a lantern tour of these historic grounds, hosted by The Presbyterian Church in Westfield. 

The Charles Addams Heritage Trail Tour 
Saturday, October 10, 17, and 24, 11:00 AM
Meet in front of the Rialto Center for Creativity
250 East Broad Street
Advance ticket purchase required; on sale September 23
Charles Addams was just like any other kid who grew up in Westfield in the early 1900s – except when he wasn’t. Step back in time to see the sights of Westfield circa 1920 as you retrace Addams’ steps from his home to school, downtown, and even to the cemetery where he spent his lazy afternoons.   

RELEASE YOUR INNER ADDAMS

Charlie’s Ale Garden 
Saturday, October 17, 6:00 - 11:00 PM
The Westfield Armory
500 Rahway Avenue, Westfield
Advance ticket purchase required; on sale September 16 (Westfield residents) and September 27 (open to all)
Sponsored by Atlantic Health and Westfield Pediatric Dental Group

It wouldn’t be AddamsFest without Charlie’s Ale Garden at the Armory. Enjoy fantastic entertainment, including a great line-up of local bands and headliner Fresh Kids of Bel-Air. The most in-demand event of the season will once again feature beer and wine poured by Harvest Restaurant Group and food for purchase from a variety of food trucks.

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The Wednesday Night Crawlers 
Wednesday, October 28, 6:00 - 10:00
Participating locations in Downtown Westfield
No tickets or registration required

We love all things Wednesday, and what better night to wrap up spooky season than a casual bar crawl through Downtown Westfield? Stop by any of the participating spots to enjoy specialty seasonal cocktails and Addams Family-style surprises.

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​​FUN FOR THE WEDNESDAYS AND PUGSLEYS IN ALL OF US

Addams Family Fun Day
Sunday, October 18, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM 
Downtown Westfield 
No tickets or registration required
Sponsored by Atlantic Health and Westfield Pediatric Dental Group 
Sponsored, in part, by Oceans Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, The Union County Board of Commissioners, and Westfield Braces

From Pugsley to Grandmama, there's something fun for everyone at Addams Family Fun Day. Head on over to Quimby Street in Downtown Westfield, which will be closed to cars for a day of family fun -- including Addams Family character visits, pumpkin decorating, music and entertainment by the DJ Spinners, activities with local merchants, and more. 

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The Addams Family Movie Screening
Friday, October 23, 7:30 PM (rain date: Saturday, October 24)
Foundation Park

Advance reservations required, free of charge; available September 30.

They’re creepy, they’re kooky, and they’re headed to Foundation Park! Don’t miss the outdoor screening of the 1991 classic The Addams Family and spend an evening with everyone’s favorite delightfully dysfunctional family. Movie-goers will settle in under the October sky for some gloriously macabre 90s nostalgia. 

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FRIENDS OF ADDAMSFEST AND WEDNESDAY'S FINDS
New this year, the AddamsFest spirit will extend even further throughout the community with Friends of AddamsFest and Wednesday’s Finds!

Friends of AddamsFest brings independently produced events from local businesses and organizations into the October festivities, adding even more entertainment, activities, and seasonal experiences to enjoy alongside the official festival lineup. Some initial additions include:

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• Masquerade Ball, hosted by The James Ward Mansion: October 2

• Wednesday Addams’ Creepy Garden Kids Storytime at the Westfield Memorial Library: October 14

• Addams Family Cookie Decorating, hosted by Westfield Recreation: October 23

• Jack O'Lantern Trail at Brightwood Park, hosted by The Friends of Brightwood Park and Westfield Recreation: October 24

• Halloween Family Fun & Parade, hosted by the Westfield Police Department and The Optimist Club of Westfield: October 25 

Details and ticketing information for these events is listed at addamsfest.com/partnerships, with additional partner events to be announced in the coming weeks.

And because Wednesday is always a favorite day of the week during AddamsFest, Wednesday’s Finds will give visitors another reason to explore Downtown Westfield, with participating businesses offering themed specials, treats, giveaways, exclusive products, and other surprises every Wednesday in October. 

Further details about this year’s line-up will be communicated throughout September. Stay tuned as the altogether ooky events continue to unfold on the AddamsFest website (www.addamsfest.com) and social media channels (@addamsfest on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok). For more information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please email info@addamsfest.com.

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AddamsFest is a town-wide celebration, honoring Westfield native Charles Addams and his penchant for the macabre. This destination event of the season will take place throughout October and includes family-friendly events, lectures, exhibits, and more. 

For more information, visit www.addamsfest.com, or follow along on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (@addamsfest).