The Weekend – From Ballroom Dancing to River Paddle

Union County is busy this weekend: Locals can enjoy comedy, dancing, theater, farmers markets, river paddle and archery.  Take a look below for more information and to see some other suggestions we have for you.  Be sure to check the Patch calendar for even more events or list your own event in the calendar.

Friday

— Floyd Vivino began his career in show business as a child performer, giving  piano recitals and appearing as a dancer with Sandra Lee and Jill Davison. He danced at the 1964 World's Fair in New York and at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Now you can see him, live, at The Comedy Cove @ Scotty's this weekend along with Steve Trevelise from 101.5 fm. Springfield, Friday, 9 p.m., $20

— Starry Night Studios is hosting Ballroom Dance.  This event will take place Friday, June 22 at  7:30 p.m. with a free lesson.  8 – 11 p.m. social dancing.  Light refreshments, potluck, BYOB.  $12 per person.  Live DJ.  Call 848-248-2364 for more details. Garwood, Friday, 7:30 p.m. $12

— This blood drive will be held from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 1776 Raritan Rd, Scotch Plains.  For more information, visit www.nybloodcenter.org or call 800-933-BLOOD. Friday, Scotch Plains, 11 a.m., Free

— The Scotch Plains Recreation Commission is pleased to announce that the 2012 STARS Theatre Program will open its season this Friday, June 22, 2012 with their performance of “Beauty and the Beast Jr.”  The performances, which all begin at 3 pm, will run through the weekend, with shows on Saturday June 23rd and finishing up on Sunday June 24. Friday, Scotch Plains, 3 p.m., Free

— The Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA 2012 Dance Company is hosting a Dance Company summer camp the week of June 25 - June 28, 2012 from 9 a.m. - 12 noon at the Fanwood-Scotch Plain's YMCA Grand Street and Union Avenue facility in Scotch Plains for dancers ages 8-18.  Call for pricing.  The dancers have diverse dance techniques and styles and meet each week and work together like a professional dance company that performs twice a year and attends dance competitions and workshops.  For more information, please visit www.fanwoodscotchplainsymca.org or contact the Member Service Desk (908) 889-8880 to learn more about the many camps available this summer
at the Y. Scotch Plains, Friday, All Day, Free

Saturday

— The American Theatre Group presents a stage reading of a new play, Adam's Gifts by Peter Filicia.  This event will take place at Hamilton Stage, 360 Hamilton St, Rahway, beginning at 8 p.m.  Seating is limited and reservations are required.  For more information and to reserve, call 732-499-8226 or email boxoffice@ucpac.org. Rahway, Saturday, 8 p.m. Free

— The Rick Cantor Band will be performing one long set featuring maybe our coolest song list yet.  This will take place this evening at Crossroads, 78 North Ave, Garwood, from 8:30 p.m. -  10:30 p.m. Don't forget to tell Ronnie at the door that you're there to see the Rick Cantor Band — and, as an added incentive, the first 20 people who do so get one of their cool new t-shirts. If you miss the free ones you can buy 'em for $10. Don't forget to "like" them on Facebook for contests, gig news, trivia and more! Garwood, Saturday, 8:30 p.m., $8  

— The Second Annual Rahway River Paddle takes place Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 11 a.m. (rain date Sunday, June 24).  This leisurely 5.5-mile trip takes paddlers from the Rahway Yacht Club in Rahway out to the Veterans Waterfront Park on the Arthur Kill in Carteret and is a wonderful way to experience the intersection of human industry and nature's resilience. NOTE:  This trip is for experienced kayakers only and participants must bring their own boat. Admission is $25 for non-members and $10 for Rahway River Association members. For more information, visit www.rahwayriver.org. Rahway, Saturday, 11 a.m. $10 - $25

— Trailside Nature & Science Center is hosting a Star Party.  This event will take place this evening from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.  Members of Amateur Astronomers, Inc. (AAI) from the Miller Sperry Observatory in Cranford will offer an easy-to-understand presentations on the evening sky from the comfort of the Trailside Auditorium and then enjoy an hour of star gazing using telescopes an binoculars provided by the AAI to view Saturn, Mars, a crescent Moon and M57, the famous Ring Nebula.  All are welcome. Mountainside, Saturday, 8 p.m. Free

—Historic Speedwell, 333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown is hosting Civil War Weekend.  This two day event will take place Saturday, June 23 and Sunday June 24, 2012 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Sunday.  The 2nd NJ Brigade brings the battle between the Blue and the Gray to life through camp life demonstrations, musket and artillery drills, mail calls, bayonet drills, cannon firings, a medical demonstration, skirmishes, and more!  Admission is $7 adults, $6 seniros (65+), $5 for children 4 - 16, children under 4 free.  Parking is available at Historic Speedwell, or at the Alfred Vail Elementary School located 1/8 mile north of the site.  A free shuttle will bring visitors to the site!  All are welcome. Morristown, Saturday, 10 a.m., $7 

— Scotch Plains Farm Market will be held today from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.  Local farmers, bakers and growers will be set up in the parking lot, selling everything from Pickleicious spicy olives, to organic zucchini, and fresh flowers.  This market is Sponsored by the Scotch Plains Business Professional Association, the Farmers Market runs from May to November. Scotch Plains, Saturday, 8 a.m., Free

Sunday

— The award-winning Central Jersey All-Stars (CJA) is proud to announce they will open their doors to the community and host a free open gym at their 124 Market Street location in Kenilworth.  This open gym will be held on Sunday, June 24, 2012 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.  Kenilworth, Sunday, 10 a.m., Free

— Union County’s Watchung Stable is offering guided trail rides at the Watchung Reservation for riding enthusiasts nine years of age and older.  These rides are held on Sundays during the summer at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m., weather permitting. Groups of 15 or more people ride along the bridle trails in part of the 2,065-acre Reservation in Mountainside. The rides are on a first come, first served basis and are available to people nine years of age and older, with or without experience. Mountainside, Sunday, 1 p.m., $28 in-county - $39 out-of-county.  

— The sport of archery is alive and well in Union County and there’s no time like the present to enjoy the Union County Archery Range at Oak Ridge Park in Clark. Archery safety classes are available for people who would like to learn the basics of archery. Each archery course is two hours long and consists of a safety training session followed by hands-on instruction at the range. The fee is $20 per person, which is due at registration. There will be a minimum of eight and a maximum of 24 participants per class. Clark, Sunday, 10 a.m., $20

— Can't get your kids to kick their dependency on training wheels?  Fanwood's 4th Annual Training Wheel Toss is here to help. All Training Wheel Toss participants must be at least 5-years old, wear a helmet and have a bicycle that is in good working condition. Participants must be able to rest their feet flat on the ground while sitting on his or her bicycle seat. All participants must be accompanied by an adult throughout the entire session. Parents or guardians are encouraged to remove training wheels prior to the class, if possible. Participation is free, but registration is required and limited to the first 60 applicants.  Register early as this event is always in extremely high demand!  Please email Anthony Carter at TrainingWheelToss@gmail.com for registration. Scotch Plains, Sunday, 1 p.m., Free

— Unity Bank will host the 6th Annual Crusin’ Bob's Classic Car Show on Sunday, June 24, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Clinton headquarters branch, benefiting Family Promise of Hunterdon County, Inc. and the Arc of Hunterdon County. Sponsorships and registration fees to compete in the classic car competition help raise funds for important community services. Clinton, Sunday, 10 a.m., Free

Friday, Saturday AND Sunday

— The largest photography event ever held in New Jersey will provide photo enthusiasts from beginners to professionals with the opportunity to demo and purchase new products and take free classes with some of the world’s top photographers.  Unique Photo, the largest camera store in the state, will hold a free, open to the public four-day consumer expo Thursday, June 21 through Sunday, June 24 at the Unique Photo superstore at 123 Route 46 West in Fairfield, NJ. — Fairfield, Friday-Sunday, All Day, Free

— Premiere Stages at Kean University invites you to a free staged reading of Tamarack House by Michael Dowling directed by Anders Cato. A compelling group of discarded misfits, caught in the whirlpool of a fleeting American dream, struggle to hold onto the stately boarding house that defines them. Listen, contribute, and engage in the developmental process.  Intimate discussions with the playwright follow each reading.  This event will take place on June 22 through 24, 2012.  Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Murphy Dunn Theatre in the Vaughn Eames Building. Union, Friday – Sunday, Time Varies, Free