Roselle Residents Kickoff Uptown Vibes

The Scene

The Borough Hall parking lot filled with lawn chairs and blankets. People were dancing. Kids were running around. DJ Qua & Friends was spinning R&B tracks that had neighbors on their feet or swaying in their seats. Vendor tables dotted the lot. The sun was dropping. The music kept playing.

This was Roselle's Uptown Vibes on June 26—the second event of the summer season.

Mayor Donald Shaw watched the crowd and smiled. "Music soothes the soul," he said. "Once you put it together, people just come out. It's a family event."

For Union County Life readers in Roselle, this is what summer should feel like—free, accessible, and close to home.

How It Started

Roselle's Borough Council launched Uptown Vibes in 2023 looking to create something of their own. They experimented with different sounds—jazz one week, Caribbean night another, house music, R&B. They tried formats, watched what stuck, and paid attention to what drew people back.

Jazz and R&B won. Since then, those genres have anchored the series.

Shaw grew up in New York, visiting parks with good music, vendor popcorn, and cotton candy. Those weren't complicated events. They were just moments where people gathered and felt like they belonged.

"There's a lot of families that can't get away in the summers for whatever reason," he said. "And if you can provide an outlet, where people are not just cooped up in the house, it means a lot."

Keep Coming Back

Uptown Vibes continues every Thursday and Friday night for the next five weeks at the Borough Hall parking lot, 210 Chestnut Street in Roselle. Events start at 6 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, bring your family, bring your neighbors. It's free and open to all ages.

Vendors will be there. The DJ will be spinning. And for a few hours on a Thursday or Friday night, the Borough Hall parking lot becomes the place to be.

If Mayor Shaw had his way, it would run year-round.

FAQ

Q: When and where is Uptown Vibes in Roselle?
Every Thursday and Friday night for the next five weeks at the Borough Hall parking lot, 210 Chestnut Street in Roselle. Events start at 6 p.m.

Q: Is it free?
Yes. Uptown Vibes is completely free and open to all ages.

Q: What kind of music plays at Uptown Vibes?
Jazz and R&B. The series landed on those genres after the Borough Council tried different formats in 2023 and found that residents connected most with jazz and R&B.

Q: Can I bring my family and kids?
Absolutely. It's a family event. Bring your lawn chair, a blanket, and anyone you want to share the evening with.

Q: Are there vendors and food?
Yes. Vendor tables set up throughout the event, so there's food and items for sale.

Q: What do I need to bring?
Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Everything else—music, vendors, and the vibe—is provided.

Q: How did Uptown Vibes start?
The Roselle Borough Council launched the series in 2023, experimenting with different musical formats. Residents responded most strongly to jazz and R&B, so the council built the series around those genres.