START YOUR ENGINES, BRING THE FAMILY, AND ENJOY DOWNTOWN SUMMIT: ARTS & CARS FESTIVAL

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21st, from 10am – 4PM

Do you remember the 21st DAY of September? This year you definitely will!

Summit Downtown is excited to announce the return of a community favorite, the Arts & Cars Festival on Sunday, September 21st from 10am-4pm. Presented in collaboration with the Visual Arts Center of NJ and Peotter’s Auto Body & Spa, this event will bring together automotive enthusiasts and local artists for a day filled with beauty, culture, and family fun. Guests can expect a day filled with great food, live music, children’s entertainment, cool and unique cars from all years and much more in downtown Summit. This incredible day of festivities is free and open to the public and attendees are encouraged to explore the charming downtown area, discover new art and artists, admire vehicles in the car show, and enjoy themselves – immersed in a day of culture and entertainment.

Arts & Cars features an Arts Festival hosted by the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey that will transform the downtown into an open-air gallery, with juried artists and artisans from around the region displaying and selling their work – ranging from paintings and pottery to jewelry and sculpture. This section will be located on Springfield Avenue between Beechwood Road and Summit Avenue.

In tandem with the arts festival, the event also features the premier Peotter’s Car Show, which will showcase stunning classic, exotic, and custom cars that will line the streets of Downtown Summit. Whether you’re a car buff or simply appreciate fine craftsmanship, you won’t want to miss these striking vehicles. Sponsored and staffed by Peotter’s Auto Body and Spa, the car show will be on display for enjoyment along Union Place and lower Beechwood Road. There will be awards given out to the winner of 6 categories, including a People’s Choice Award that attendees will get to vote on! To review the different award categories or to pre-register your vehicle for the car show click here: https://bit.ly/AC25CarShowPreRegistration. Fill out the form before September 19th to be automatically entered as a nominee for the People’s Choice Award – plus you’ll save 20% on the registration fee!

Make sure to come hungry too! This spectacle will feature a Food Truck alley on Bank St. with a delicious assortment of vendors offering something for everyone. Returning to Arts & Cars, you will be able to indulge in buttery lobster rolls from Angry Archies and chow down on artisanal pizza from Pizza Vita. New options this year include flavorful Peruvian street food from Sandwicheria, and juicy burgers from Jake’s Surf & Turf. Of course, you can’t forget to grab fresh kettle corn from Just Delicious and beat the heat with ice pops and agua-frescas from Puras Paletas.

The Bank Street parking lot, across from the food truck alley, will once again be transformed into a Beer/Wine Garden, courtesy of Summit’s own Cambridge Wines, and Peerless Beverage & Co. Opening at 11am, the Beer/Wine Garden will feature draft beers and a variety of fine wines. All are welcome inside to enjoy the entertainment and games or take a seat to enjoy some food – those aged 21 years and older can get a wristband to purchase alcoholic beverages. Enjoy live music, kids’ activities, plenty of tables for dining, cornhole and other games, and just a great place to take a break! Grab some food from Food Truck Alley or any downtown eatery and bring it to the Beer & Wine Garden to enjoy! Drink tickets can be purchased at the entrance at Lyric Park on Beechwood Rd and are CASH only.

Live music will fill the air throughout the day with Main Stage performances from the Maura Glynn Band, Four the Record, and the Carnival Dogs, along with Beer/Wine Garden sounds from Beth Sherby, and the Firepit – sponsored by Summit Hearing Aid Center.

Arts & Cars will also have downtown Summit packed with exciting activities for teens and kids! Sponsored in part by Dwell NJ, this year’s lineup is sure to keep young visitors smiling all day long. Look forward to tons of family fun with remote controlled car racing, 9-holes of mini golf, an interactive photo booth, airbrush tattoos, face painting, and so much more! These activities will be provided on Springfield Avenue between Beechwood Road & Maple Street. Also roaming around for the young ones will be Krazy Kevin juggling along on his unicycle and Shawn Yaney, the immensely popular balloon artist.

For those seeking unique gifts or hostess presents, Kanibal & Co. offers a carefully curated selection of distinctive items. The boutique, which is open throughout the weekend—including Friday, July 4th—caters to shoppers looking for something special any day of the week. Kanibal & Co. is located in downtown Summit and maintains regular weekend hours, welcoming customers with an eclectic inventory that often includes artisanal home goods, accessories, and one-of-a-kind finds.

Meanwhile, BarBacoa, a popular Summit restaurant and bar, has unveiled a refreshed look while maintaining its menu of flavorful dishes and beverages. The venue remains a favored destination for brunch dates, happy hour gatherings, special occasions, and seasonal outdoor enjoyment. BarBacoa also offers customizable catering services for parties of any size, accommodating events from intimate celebrations to larger groups. Their official site and social media confirm the updates and services for summer dining and entertainment.

Together, these Summit establishments continue to enhance the local dining and shopping landscape with fresh offerings and thoughtful customer experiences as the community enjoys the summer season.

Come experience SUMMthing incredible on Sunday, September 21st, from 10am-4pm!
For more information on Arts & Cars click here
bit.ly/SDIArtsCars2025
The Summit Farmers Market will be open at the corner
of DeForest Ave/Woodland Ave from 8am-1pm.
For future downtown Summit events visit us at:
www.SummitDowntown.org

Summit Downtown, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the on-going development and promotion of the business community in downtown Summit, NJ.