Festivals and Fairs in NJ

Fun Outdoor Activities for Whole Family

New Jersey is loaded with special NJ festivals and fairs that the entire family can enjoy. NJ Kids has collected these fabulous ideas below. Your kids will be sure to find interactive and engaging things to do.

NJ Renaissance Faire
May 31, June 1, 7 & 8. 1195 Florence Columbus Rd Bordentown Township, NJ 08505.
The family-friendly festival features a wide variety of entertainment, food (including the ever popular turkey leg), and activities including jousting, sword fighting, comedy, music, and Valenzano Winery "Meade Garden" -along with shopping at the extensive Merchant Village of over 60 fine artisans, including historical glass blowing, a live forge, and other fine crafts, trinkets, and period clothing. This year's theme is SHAKESPEARE- he has writer's block and needs your help, as his most famous characters come to life in a desperate effort to either assist or stop him from regaining his skills!

Red Bank Riverfest Food & Music Festival
May 30 – Jun 1.
Three days of non-stop music, food, and family fun in Marine Park.

Montvale Street Fair
June 1. Paragon Drive (between grand Ave W & Summit Ave), Montvale.
Free live entertainment, street performers, kiddie rides, great shopping, and lots of delicious festival and gourmet foods.

17^th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival
June 1 10 am – 1 pm.
An environmental festival that celebrates maritime heritage and Barnegat Bay with several interactive family events at the Wanamaker Complex.

Ocean City Flower Show
May 30 – June 1 Fri 2pm-9pm, Sat 10am-9pm and Sun 10am-4pm.
See beautiful flower displays at Music, Pier, Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk.

Denville Annual Street Festival
June 1 11 am – 7 pm. Broadway and Center Street.
Food, rides, arts and crafts, vendors and chili cook-off.

Holmdel 37^th Annual Greek Festival
June 5 – 8. Theotokou Orthodox Church 20 Hillcrest Road, Holmdel.
Rides, games, Greek food and pastry, folk dancing, and music.

West Orange Street Fair
June 7. 211 Main Street, West Orange, NJ.
Great food and fun activities for the whole family. Full day of live entertainment planned including bands, dancing, comedy and more.

Asbury Park Blues & Brews Festival
June 7^th Noon- 8^pm. 1300 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ.
Music all day on the Main Stage. Featuring a Beer & Garden, Arts, Crafts, Food, Beach nearby and Free Music!

Edison Day 2014
June 7 10 AM – 7 pm. Thomas Edison National Historic Park 211 Main St, West Orange.
Street fair, children’s activities, and annual town picnic .

Privateers & Pirates Festival at Tuckerton Seaport
June 7 11am to 5pm. 120 W Main St #1, Tuckerton, NJ 08087 (609) 296-8868.
All Things Pirates! Learn the difference between privateers and pirates and then be one. Pirate history – authentic and make-believe – plus a treasure scavenger hunt, costume contest and pirate craft activities. Enjoy the crew of the Valhalla Pirates with historic pirate entertainment. “Pirates for Sail” live band, Grog Garden and tasty food vendors. General Admission applies.

Point Pleasant Summer Fest
June 7 11 AM – 7 PM. Point Pleasant Community Park, Beaver Dam and Bridge Ave.
Children’s activities, rides, live music, vendors, restaurant fair, and food trucks.

Wayne Day Festival
June 8. Wayne Municipal Complex, Lincoln Park.
Wayne Day is a day of fun and entertainment. Children’s’ Carnival Rides, Free pony rides and a petting zoo. The Lizard Guy will be here - lots of reptiles! Great Scott the Magician and much more. Musical entertainment

North Jersey Pride Festival
June 8. Memorial Park Amphitheater, 124 Dunnell Road, Maplewood, NJ.
The North Jersey Pride Festival is the "Built for Grownups, Safe for Kids" event bringing LGBTQ and Ally families together to celebrate equality, diversity and community. Live stage, huge Rainbow Kids Zone with inflatables, arts & crafts activities, sand art, face painting, balloon art and much more! Five-Star Food Court, including kid-friendly fare, and 85 merchant vendors for fabulous shopping. Admission: FREE.

Garwood Rocks
June 8 10 AM – 5 PM. Downtown Garwood, Center Street and Willow Avenue.
Care show and live music festival with arts and crafts, vendors, and amusement rides

8^th Annual Sussex County Birding & Nature Festival
June 8 & 9. Sussex County Fairgrounds; 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ.
This is where you'll want to be for a weekend of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and nature in Sussex County. Sussex County is where the north and south unite and a great diversity of species abounds.

28th Annual Seafood Festival in Belmar
6/13 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm 6/14 11:00 am - 8:00 pm.
6/15 11:00 am - 6:00 pm.
Silver Lake Park 5th & Ocean Belmar.

18^th Century Kids Olympics at Old Barracks Museum
June 14 11:30 – 2 pm. 101 Barracks St, Trenton (609) 396-1776.
Ages 7 – 12 can participate in vintage games including hoops, nine pin, and cup and ball $5

Skimmer Festival in Sea Isle City
June 14 - 9:00am to 4:00pm. JFK Boulevard & Promenade, Sea Isle City 609-263-8687.
The festival includes a seaside craft market with 400 vendors, food court, live music, children's entertainment and a sand sculpting demonstration and contest.

Jersey City 29^th Annual Hamilton Park Festival
June 14 10 am – 6 pm. Hamilton Park Eighth and Ninth Streets.
Live entertainment, sports clinics, vendors, food, crafts, and children’s activities.

Manalapan Day
June 14, 2014 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
The Manalapan Arts Council (MAC) is excited to announce that “Manalapan Day” will be held on June 14, 2014 from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the Manalapan Recreation Center. Their Annual kick off to summer celebration will bring together residents from Manalapan and its surrounding towns for the event of the season attracting attendees of every age! The fabulous JOE PISCOPO is headlining the event entertaining with his famous comedy, impressions and songs at 8:00 pm followed by a spectacular fireworks display as the evening’s finale!!! Fun and food make Manalapan Day an all-day event including games, rides, ponies, exhibits, local performance groups, great food vendors, and non-stop entertainment!

Bridgewater Flag Day Festival
June 14 2 – 6 pm. Duke Island Park, 191 Old York Road.
Live music, display of military vehicles, crafts, patriotic costume contest, and historic reenactments

Wings and Wheels Expo 2014
June 14 & 15 9 AM. Aviation Hall of Fame 400 Fred Wehran Drive Teterboro (201) 288-6344.
WWII Airplanes, helicopters, and other aircrafts, vintage car show, vendors, and live entertainment.

Big Backyard BBQ & Music Festival at New York Botanical Garden
June 14-15. 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY.
Live music, outdoor fun, and a selection of barbecue styles. Food and drink samplings from New York-based specialty purveyors come paired with family entertainment throughout the weekend, and it's the perfect opportunity to get dad out of the house for Father's Day! We'll also have an array of local New York craft brews on hand to keep you cool.

Annual Father’s Day Street Fair
June 15, 10am-5pm.
Exhibitors displaying their hand made works, festival foods and over 100 merchandise vendors.
There is a free concert with nonstop music and entertainment. In the Kid’s Traveling Shindig area there is face painting, temporary tattoos, pony rides, petting zoo, kiddie rides and climbing wall, games and much more. Kids have fun dancing and hula hooping, playing pirate and more with AV Musical entertainment.

Curley Fry Festival at Morey Piers
June 15 Noon – 2 pm. 3501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260 (609) 729-3700.
Amateur eaters will compete to eat the most Curley fries. Kids will also enjoy face painters and stilt walkers. Free admission. (Father will also get free admission to rides 11 am – 5 pm in honor of Father’s Day)

State Fair at Meadowlands
June 20 – July 6.
For family-friendly entertainment, head to the Meadowlands for 17 days of action-packed fun for the entire family; starting Friday, June 20 through Sunday, July 6. There is plenty of FREE entertainment featuring live performers on two stages and more. With over 150 rides and attractions everyone in your family will have plenty to do.

Middletown 350 Parade & Time Capsule Celebration - June 21^st
This family fun day culminates at the Middletown Arts Center 36 Church Street. The day includes a parade, special performances, and burial of the Middletown 350 Time Capsule.

Hot Rods and Food Trucks at Seaside Heights
June 21 11 AM – 5 PM.
Head to Seaside Heights for cars, music, prizes, vendors, and fun for the whole family. Free admission for spectators! Plus…an extreme Food Truck Showdown…come hungry and leave satisfied! Location: Bay Boulevard and Grant Avenue.

Dr. Floyd Mooreland Carousel 104th Birthday
June 21^st 12 Noon.
Come celebrate Casino Pier’s Carousel’s 104th Birthday! Fun, game and prizes for all!

Baymen’s Seafood & Music Festival at Tuckerton Seaport
June 21 & 22 11 AM – 5 PM. 120 W Main St #1, Tuckerton, NJ 08087 (609) 296-8868
Enjoy delicious Jersey fresh clams, crabs, scallops and shrimp from the finest local seafood purveyors. Micro brew court. Crafters, vendors, music, food, refreshments, family activities, demonstrations, boat rides, boat builders and decoy carvers. Speak with commercial fishermen to learn about occupations on the bay or take a clam shucking class. So bring the family and plan to spend the day. Music from local favorites: The Mott’s Creek Pickers (Sat) & The Billy Walton Band (Sun). Presented by the Jersey Shore Folklife Center. General Admission applies.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival
June 21-22 North Wildwood
Featuring great food and music as well as activities for the kids. Pirates will wander the grounds and tours of the historic 19^th century lighthouse and gardens will be offered too. Free admission.

Hampton Day
June 21 3 – 8 pm. Hampton Municipal Building 1 Rumsey Way.
150 year anniversary celebration with live entertainment, food, and fireworks.

Firefly Festival at Terhune Orchards
June 22 4 – 9 pm. 330 Cold Soil Road Princeton, NJ 08540 (609) 924-2310.
Music, wagon rides, crafts, talks and demonstrations, firefly hunting, and other outdoor activities.

Jenkinson's Music Festival 2014
June 25 — 7:30PM.
Join them on Wednesday nights at 7:30pm at Jenkinson's Inlet Beach for the annual Music Festival! - Opening Concert

31st Annual Blueberry Festival at Whitesbog Village
June 28 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. 120 Whites Bogs Road, Browns Mills, NJ, 08015 (609) 893-4646
Celebrate all things blueberry at this old fashioned festival. Enjoy blueberry picking, live country music, lots of children’s activities, exhibits, great food, historical presentations and tours, pinelands artists and crafters, their famous blueberry pie eating contest and lots more. $10/ per car

North Wildwood Italian American Festival
June 27-29.
Annual celebration of Italian-American Hertiage, food, and music held on Olde New Jersey Ave. Authentic food, vendors, free live entertainment, dancing, kids games, celebrity appearances, meatball relay races, Little Miss Italy contest, and more.

Roots Music Festival at Tuckerton Seaport
June 28 and 29 2pm – 8pm. 120 W Main St #1, Tuckerton, NJ 08087 (609) 296-8868.
Kick back for 2 great days of music, wine tasting, food, crafters, vendors, demonstrations & activities. Live roots music from The Billy Walton Band, Ryan & the Blue Hearts, James Day & The Fish Fry, Steve Guyger, The Keystone Swingbillies, Snake Brothers, Home Cookin’, and Zydeco-a-Go-Go. Uncork some fun and enjoy a perfect afternoon of wine tasting from some of NJ’s finest wineries Di Matteo, Tomasello, and Valenzano. Complimentary wine glass included. Try free samples from the barbeques of best local barbeque cooks and vote for your favorite. $20 day / $15 members; 2 day combo pass $30 / $25 members.

Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival 2014
June 28 & 29. Sussex County Fairgrounds; 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ.
This year's musical lineup is a collection ever of rock legends, including two superstars: Grand Funk Railroad (Saturday, June 28) and George Thorogood and the Destroyers (Sunday, June 29). Add Outlaws, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Artimus Pyle Band, other top-notch music, another collection of tasty barbecue teams, and the result is a can’t-miss event.

Berkeley Heights Street Fair
June 29 10 AM – 5 PM. Downtown Berkeley Heights.
From Summit to Snyder Ave there will be pony rides, kiddie rides, petting zoo, climbing wall, clown, face painting, live entertainment, and food.