Arts & Entertainment

Westfield To Host AddamsFest Honoring Charles Addams

Westfield will host AddamsFest on Oct. 26 to 28, honoring Westfield native and creator of "The Addams Family," Charles Addams.

Alexis Tarrazi,Patch Staff

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield will host AddamsFest on Oct. 26 to 28, honoring Westfield native and creator of "The Addams Family," Charles Addams.

AddamsFest will include family-friendly events, lectures, exhibits, and film screenings.

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.

He is most known for creating The Addams Family, which was inspired by his surroundings in Westfield. The characters that began as illustrations grew into a television series, a live action movie franchise, a Broadway musical, and a movie (coming in late 2019).

Check back atwww.addamsfest.com as events continue to unfold.

Some festival highlights will include:

• Family-friendly events such as trunk-or-treating and an Addams Family Fun Zone
• Lectures and exhibits featuring Charles Addams’ work spanning his career at The New Yorker and as the creator of The Addams Family
• Screeningsof the original Addams Family movie and The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Westfield’s New Vision Rialto Theater
• Morticia’s Masquerade Ball in Westfield’s James Ward Mansion
• Special food and beverage eventsthroughout Westfield’s restaurants

”AddamsFest will be an exciting celebration of a great local talent and the town that inspired his work,” said Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle. “The festival promises to be a signature destination event that celebrates our unique and rich history while delivering on our commitment to increase community engagement and support our downtown businesses.”

For more information on sponsorship and volunteer opportunities for this event, emailinfo@addamsfest.com.

(Image and video via Town of Westfield)

Have a news tip? Emailalexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app.Download here.