East Rutherford, New Jersey — A Small Town with Big Entertainment

East Rutherford might just be a tiny borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, but don’t let its small size fool ya – this little town packs a big punch when it comes to entertainment and recreation. With under 10,000 residents, you wouldn’t expect much from East Rutherford but it’s home to some of the largest venues in New Jersey. Let’s take a look at what this tiny town has to offer:

The Meadowlands Sports Complex

The Meadowlands Sports Complex is probably the biggest claim-to-fame for East Rutherford. This massive sports and entertainment site spans over 230 acres and includes MetLife Stadium, the Meadowlands Racetrack, the Meadowlands Arena, and the American Dream entertainment/retail complex.

MetLife Stadium is home to the New York Giants and New York Jets football teams. With a capacity of over 82,000, it’s one of the largest stadiums in the NFL. From Super Bowls to major concerts, this place hosts huge events year-round. The Meadowlands Racetrack is home to harness racing and hosts the annual Hambletonian Stakes, the biggest harness race in North America.

The Meadowlands Arena (or Izod Center) can hold 20,000 people and hosts concerts and sporting events, including the NBA’s New Jersey Nets from 1981 to 2010. And American Dream is a new 3 million square foot entertainment/retail complex with attractions like an indoor ski slope, water park, aquarium, and more.

So as you can see, the Meadowlands Sports Complex offers entertainment options galore – from sports to racing to concerts and more. It’s incredible that tiny East Rutherford is home to one of the largest sports/entertainment venues in the entire United States!

The Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of NJ

In addition to the Meadowlands complex, East Rutherford is also home to the Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum of New Jersey. This museum is located at Teterboro Airport, New Jersey’s oldest operating airport, and provides an extensive history of aviation in the state.

Some of the major exhibits include the Hindenburg, one of the largest aircrafts ever built; a Sopwith Camel WWI fighter plane; and a range of engines, propellers, models and artifacts related to NJ’s aviation legacy. There are also educational programs and events held at the museum.

So if you’re an airplane enthusiast, this is definitely the place to visit in East Rutherford! It’s a hidden gem that provides a unique look into NJ’s role in the history of aviation.

The Rutherford Hall of Fame

To honor notable residents and natives of the borough, East Rutherford established its own Hall of Fame in 2018. The Rutherford Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding individuals from East Rutherford across various fields like arts, sports, science, business, and more.

Some of the inductees so far include Alfred N. Sanzari, a real estate developer responsible for projects like the Meadowlands Sports Complex; Alfred E. Driscoll, a former governor of New Jersey; and Willie Wilson, a Major League Baseball player.

The Rutherford Hall of Fame is located right on the 3rd floor of East Rutherford’s Borough Hall. It’s small but provides an inspiring glimpse into some of the successful people who once called this tiny town home.

Local Parks for Recreation

Despite its small size, East Rutherford has a nice collection of local parks and green spaces that offer plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation.

Veterans Park is one of the main parks and includes facilities like lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, a soccer field, playgrounds, and more. There are also passive recreation parks like Becton Woods Park which has nature trails for hiking through the woods. And for water lovers, Sydma Park has an outdoor public pool to enjoy in the summer.

In the winter, Sesquicentennial Park has an ice skating rink to get your skate on outdoors. And the recently renovated Columbus Park has new playground equipment, spray fountains, and fitness stations.

So whether you want to play sports, go for a nature walk, swim, skate, or just enjoy a nice playground, East Rutherford has park options for all ages to stay active outdoors.

Local Eats and Entertainment

Despite its small size, East Rutherford still has some great local restaurants, bars, and entertainment options:

• Carlstadt Pub – local watering hole with pub fare, drinks, & entertainment
• White Manna – legendary NJ sliders/burgers, a state icon since 1946
• The Stony Hill Inn – old school Italian restaurant since 1968
• Mahmoud’s Place – Middle Eastern cuisine, great hummus & falafel
• State Street Bar & Grill – pub with large beer selection, wings, live music
• East Rutherford Cinemas – movie theater with current films, big screens
• Allstar Sports – massive entertainment complex with bowling, arcade, laser tag
• East Rutherford Library – community library with events, activities, classes

So don’t assume there’s nothing to do in small town East Rutherford – there are plenty of dining, bar, and entertainment spots that provide a local neighborhood vibe.

Convenient Location

Despite being a small town, one of the perks of East Rutherford is its very convenient location. The borough is only 9 miles outside of New York City, making it an easy commute or trip into the big city. For entertainment, NYC is right nearby.

East Rutherford is also centrally located in Bergen County, within a short drive of other NJ towns and cities like Hackensack, Rutherford, Lyndhurst, Secaucus, and more. So residents enjoy suburban living with convenience.

The town is easily accessible by major highways like Route 3, Route 17, Route 120, and the NJ Turnpike. And it has its very own NJ Transit train station on the Bergen County Line, providing public transportation to NYC and North Jersey.

So East Rutherford offers the best of both worlds – a small town community feel yet conveniently close by to everything you need, from the big city attractions of NYC to the surrounding suburban towns and amenities of North Jersey.