Summer Fun With the Kids

August is here with lots of summer left. Head outside and enjoy some wonderful family friendly festivals in New Jersey. Check out butterflies, go listen to music, learn about 4-H programs, or chow down at food festivals. For more events, see NJ Kids calendar.

Watershed Butterfly Festival at The Watershed Institute

Saturday, August 3, 2024. Pre-register for 9:30AM or 12:30PM entry. Annual Watershed Butterfly Festival is filled with fun family activities, music, nature walks, Butterfly and Bug Parade, and “Eyes of the Wild” animal show. See exhibits, famed Insect Zoo, touch a fish, and the Kate Gorrie Butterfly House. $ Admission, located in Pennington NJ.

29th Annual Clam Festival

August 1-3, 2024. FREE Admission and Parking. Clamoring for clams? Fresh delicious seafood, live music entertainment, contests, children activities, games and rides at New Jersey's best Annual Clam Festival. Clam fun for the whole family! Huddy Park in Highlands, NJ.

New Jersey State Fair Sussex County Farm & Horse Show

Friday, August 2nd through Saturday August 10, 2024. Old-fashioned country fair with carnival rides & games, racing pigs, pony rides, demolition derby, monster truck show, horse show, musical performers, food, and farmers market. Children’s Day is Tuesday August 6th, with Sensory Friendly hours in the Carnival 12PM-2PM. General Admission fee for ages 6+. Located at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta NJ.

Middlesex County Fair

Monday-Sunday, August 5-11, 2024. East Brunswick’s Middlesex County Fair is a week long summer event with rides, children’s activities, music entertainment, food and more! Family friendly activities: dog shows, pig races, Agri-puppets, Singing Cowboys, The Flying Cortes Trapeze, UWA Elite Pro Wrestling and more! Fireworks Show Monday 8/5 & Sunday 8/11. $ Admission, buy your tickets in advance. 655 Cranbury Road in East Brunswick, NJ.

Salem County Fair

Monday-Friday, August 5-9, 2024. FREE Admission. $ Parking. Check out the animals at the Salem County Fair - livestock, horses, goats, cows, pigs, and rabbits. Children’s activities, pony rides, kiddie tractor pulls, and Little Miss Salem County contest. Fairgrounds located at 735 Harding Hwy in Woodstown NJ.

Somerset County 4-H Fair

Wednesday-Friday, August 7-9, 2024, 10AM-10PM. FREE Family Fun at the Somerset County 4-H Fair. Animals shows, demos, live music, exhibits, food, and artists. 4-H clubs compete and perform. North Branch Park in Bridgewater, NJ.

48th Annual IAATO Italian Festival

Wednesday-Sunday, August 7-11, 2024, 5PM-11PM. FREE Admission to the IAATO Italian Festival. Celebrate Italian heritage and culture in Ocean Township. Featuring rides, games, raffles, fireworks, music and entertainment. Enjoy tasty Italian foods and treats! Joe Palaia Park, 200 Whalepond Rd in Oakhurst NJ.

La Festa Italiana - Jersey City’s Italian Festival

Wednesday-Sunday, August 7-11, 2024, 5PM-11PM. Celebrate Italian food, heritage and faith at Jersey City’s largest Italian American street festival. Featuring Italian food & drink. Plenty of live music entertainment: You’ve Got 90’s", Promised Land, The Ryan Express, The Cameos, and Total Soul. Festival will be held on 6th Street in Jersey City NJ.

Passaic County Fair 2024

Thursday-Sunday, August 15-18, 2024. Annual Passaic County Fair with amusement rides, games, live music, pony rides, petting zoo, kids activities, face painting, fireworks and more! Woodland Park, NJ.

Atlantic County 4-H Fair

Friday & Saturday, August 9-10, 2024. FREE Admission. $ Parking. This 2-day Atlantic County 4-H Fair will have animals, kids’s arts & crafts, horticulture, rides, entertainment, horse shows, STEM activities, and competition. Also showcasing a Car Show, Baby parade, Pet parade, Pie Eating contest, Crab Cake Dinner, and Chicken BBQ platters. Atlantic County 4-H Fairgrounds, Route 50 in Mays Landing, NJ.

Montclair Jazz Festival

Saturday August 17, 2024, 12PM-8PM. FREE Live Jazz. The Montclair Jazz Festival featuring live performances at Montclair State University by 150 JAZZ HOUSE KiDS, various NJ Jazz musicians, along with Christian McBride and Friends: featuring Jeff Tain Watts, Julian Lee. Located at the Kasser Theater at Montclair State.

Surf & Turf Seafood Festival

Saturday & Sunday, August 17-18, 2024, 11AM-5PM. Family friendly festival for all seafood lovers. Enjoy crab cakes, shrimp, clams, lobster rolls, and more culinary delights from the best seafood food trucks around. Fun day on Sunday with kids games & activities. Children 12 & under FREE, all others $ Admission. Free parking. Monmouth Park in Oceanport NJ.

Seafaring Skullduggery at Historic Cold Spring Village

Saturday & Sunday, August 17-18, 2024, 11AM-4PM. Pirates, music, and family fun at Cold Spring Village! Swashbuckling, high adventure, and loads of fun. Come listen to tales of the sea. Music performance by The Sea Dogs Maritime Band. So head out to Cape May, NJ.

Hunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair

Wednesday-Sunday, August 21-25, 2024. Opens 10AM. FREE Admission to the Hunterdon County Fair. $ Parking. Amusement rides, main stage entertainment, food, tractor and truck pulls, pig races, antique tractor display, 4-H shows and animal exhibits with cows, horses, sheep, and goats. South County Park, 1207 Rt 179, Lambertville, NJ.