Festival of the Moon Lights Up Rahway With Stunning Art and Live Entertainment
Three weeks of concerts, dance, movies, and family fun shine under a glowing lunar sculpture.
A close-up of Luke Jerram’s glowing Museum of the Moon highlights every crater and valley of the lunar surface. (The Central Jerseyan)
October 3, 2025
Rahway lights up this weekend as the Festival of the Moon launches this weekend, bringing three weeks of art, music, dance, films, and family activities to the downtown.
At the center of the festival, the Museum of the Moon by British artist Luke Jerram floats above the orchestra section inside the Union County Performing Arts Center. The glowing sculpture measures 23 feet across and shows every crater, mountain, and valley of the lunar surface.
Jerram built the sphere using high-definition images taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, giving visitors a rare chance to study the moon in detail. The piece blends science and art, turning the theater into a place where technology meets wonder.
Mayor Raymond Giacobbe invited the public to experience it for themselves. “This is your invitation to be part of something truly special,” he says in a statement. “I look forward to seeing you there.”
City officials and UCPAC teamed up to organize the event. They brought in regional arts groups, international performers, and local businesses to create a festival that spills out from the theater and into the heart of downtown.
The Museum of the Moon glows above the Union County Performing Arts Center’s main stage during Rahway’s Festival of the Moon. (The Central Jerseyan)
Concerts and stage performances form the backbone of the schedule. The New Jersey Symphony performs Moonrise: A Celestial Celebration, a concert that blends classical masterworks and popular favorites. Audiences will hear Claude Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Antonín Dvořák’s Song to the Moon, Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Serenade, and even music from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
The New Jersey Opera Theater adds scenes from Rusalka, where the moon acts as a silent witness to love and loss. Meanwhile, the Chinese Culture and Arts Association brings a colorful program of traditional and folkloric dances, with choreography inspired by mythology and moonlight.
For fans of rock, the festival offers a different kind of show. The tribute band Heroes for Ghosts recreates Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, complete with lights, video, and sound effects that surround the audience.
Organizers also designed the schedule with families in mind. Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends introduces children to STEM ideas through a playful musical. An outdoor movie night will screen Sing, and storytime events called Goodnight, Moon: Tales for Tiny Astronauts invite local leaders to read to kids under the glowing installation.
The Moonlit Market will add to the family atmosphere with local vendors, handmade crafts, and moon-themed food specials. Downtown restaurants and shops will take part, making it easy for visitors to spend an evening exploring Rahway while enjoying the festival.
Artist Luke Jerram created the internationally acclaimed Museum of the Moon, now on display in Rahway. (Luke Jerram)
The Museum of the Moon carries a global history. Jerram first imagined the project while riding his bicycle along a river in Bristol, England, and has since toured the sculpture through Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. Each stop adds new context as visitors share their own stories and interpretations.
The sculpture comes with an original surround-sound score by award-winning composer Dan Jones. The music mixes with the visuals to create an atmosphere that feels both cosmic and intimate, as though visitors are standing beneath the real moon.
Jerram describes the moon as a “cultural mirror,” reflecting the beliefs and emotions of societies throughout history. He hopes the project reminds people that the moon connects us all, no matter where we live.
For Rahway, this marks the first time the Museum of the Moon has appeared in New Jersey. Local leaders see the festival as an opportunity to put the city on a larger cultural stage, while also highlighting its small businesses and community spirit.
From symphonies and opera to children’s story hours and street markets, the Festival of the Moon offers a rare chance to see how one piece of art can inspire an entire city to come alive.
The festival runs from October 4 through October 20, with events centered at the Union County Performing Arts Center at 1601 Irving Street in Rahway. More information, including tickets and a full schedule, is available at rahwaymoonfest.com and on the Museum of the Moon site.
📅 Festival Dates: October 4 – October 20
📍 Main Venue: Union County Performing Arts Center, 1601 Irving Street, Rahway
🔗 More Info: rahwaymoonfest.com | Museum of the Moon