May in Montclair - Celebrating 46 Years
What were you doing in 1979? Watching the solar eclipse, disco dancing, or maybe using the first-ever DustBuster? In Montclair, some very special women were meeting for the first time. Their mission: to beautify the natural landscape of the town and celebrate the spirit of their community.
Betty Dallery and Jean Kidd were among the small group of residents with a simple, beautiful idea: plant bulbs in the fall and then, when the bulbs are blooming in the spring, distribute a calendar of special events around town. Donations from the residents would cover the cost of the bulbs and advertising from local businesses would pay for the publication. Now almost fifty years later 'May in Montclair' remains a vital volunteer-driven initiative that beautifies the town and showcases the best of what the town has to offer.
Bulbs by the thousands are ordered in September, arrive by November, and Chair Cyndee Rowan (whose children are fifth generation Montclairians) transforms her garage into the tulip/daffodil depot where committee members bag, label, and deliver to eager volunteers planters all over town - in schools, gardening groups, park conservancies, houses of worship, and in the business districts. From Canterbury to Tuers, and Kaveny Field to Edgemont, the town fills the flowerbeds for a spectacular spring display.
Volunteers are even more important this year than ever before. After forty years, the bulbs are now funded SOLELY by tulip project donations.
Springtime events all around town continue to be showcased in the MIM website Calendar of Events. Opening day ceremonies will take place in Watchung Plaza on May 1st. The school children's musical performance will continue as a beautiful community celebration to kick off May in Montclair.
May in Montclair is a celebration of the physical beauty and the indomitable community spirit of Montclair.
It is a month-long festival of art shows, concerts, garden tours, health and exercise programs, fairs and markets presented to make people feel good about living, working, shopping, and spending leisure time as they celebrate the spirit that is Montclair.
Thank you to our 2024 Tulip Donors - Learn More / Donate
Our Valued Business and Organization Supporters
Bellevue Avenue Dental Associates
Christian Science Reading Room
College Women's Club of Montclair
Friends of Anderson Park
Catherine Kinkade
Montclair Women's Club
Partners For Health
Town Auto Body
Upper Montclair Dental Associates
Watchung Booksellers
Woman's Club of Upper Montclair
Frances Adams
In memory of Jean Kidd
The Aitken Family
Sally Filmore and David Appel
Dr. Renee E. Baskerville
Gene Bloch
In memory of Jean, Joan, and Judy
Gerald and Linda Blume
Robert and Ellen Campbell
Dedicated to Catherine Howe
Deana and Robert Campion
In memory of Jean Kidd
Sandra and James C. Carter
Susann and Jim Connors
Maria and Jerry W. Czin
Michael and Eileen Diaz
Emer Featherstone
In memory of Jean Kidd
Helman Frank Family
Blaine and Lynda Frantz
Alicia and Peter Giuffra
Lisanne Renner and Adam Grace
Judy Greene
Gloria and Ralph Grieco
Marguerite & Gimi Giustina
Donna and Jim Hains
In dedication to Mrs. Sue Moore
Peter and Deborah Hirsch
In dedication to The Garden Club of Montclair
Sharon Hurwich
In memory of Elaine Rapaport
Rosemary Iversen
Robert and Cheryl Jackson
Ann and Tom Johnson
In memory of Jean Kidd
Mary Lee and Dave Jones
Dedicated to Jean Kidd
Bruce and Janell Keller
Carolyn Lack
In memory of Jean Kidd
Susan and Norman Ladov
Patricia LaDuca
James & Josephine LaDuca
Mary Ann and Cliff Lindholm
Christina Mayer and Kevin Cooney
Robert & Peggy McMillan
Dedicated to Mary Graham McMillan
Tracy A. McVeigh and Andrew Melitz
Joyce Michaelson
In memory of Jean Kidd
Jory and Deborah Miller
Robert and Joyce Mims
In memory of Jean Kidd and Judy Rich
Gregg Peters Monsees
remembering Doropthy Miller Monsees, Warren Rehm Monsees, and Laura Monsees Dowling
Janet Orr
Wendy & Ira Pollack
Celia Radek
In memory of Joan Bloch
Cynthia and John Rogers
Marcia S. Rogers
Maggie Rothman
Christine and Bob Russo
Daryl E. Savage
Robin and Ken Schlager
Denise and Paul Silverman
Rita Singer
Mayor Sean Spiller
Derek Stordahl and Jody Suden
Patty and Tage Strom
C.Y. and Bill Treene
Michele and Cal Trevenen
In memory of Jean Kidd
Judy and Bill Turner
Sharon Burton Turner and Lincoln Turner
Josh Weston
Stanley White
Leslie and Barry Wiesner
Joan and Donald Zief