Labor Day Weekend Events - New Jersey's Best

Your Guide to New Jersey Labor Day Weekend Events - Parades, Fireworks, Concerts, Festivals and other weekend events

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, falls on September 4, 2023 this year.

Created as a labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Over the years this holiday has evolved from a being a labor union celebration into a celebration of the unofficial end of summer, especially for families with kids.

Labor Day is often regarded simply as a day of rest and or end of summer celebrations that include picnics, barbecues, fireworks, parades, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before kids begin the new school year.

Note: Sometimes conditions require cancellations or changes of dates, times and location which are not reflected in the original schedule. Before planning a trip to visit one of the listed events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event.

Stay tuned --- we will be updating this list as the event sponsors confirm this year's events.

Northern NJ Labor Day Weekend Events

Annual Mendham Labor Day Carnival, Parade, Concert, & Fireworks
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, September 1, 2, 3, 4, 2023
Bourough Park
Mendham, NJ
Website
Admission: Free
This annual family four day holiday event features a carnival with rides, games, food, and a 50/50 raffle, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening 6pm - 10pm.
On Labor Day, Monday, the parade will kickoff @ 10:00am, beginning on 72 E Main St, and ending at the Borough Park Gazebo. After the Parade at 11:00am at the Borough Park Gazebo, there will be a live concert. Later that night, the spectacular fireworks display will take place at dusk at Borough Park.

Annual St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival
Friday, September 1 to to Monday, September 4, 2023 (Friday, Saturday Sunday 4:30pm to 10:30pm; Monday 3:30pm to 9:30pm)
St. Bartholomew Church
2032 Westfield Ave
Scotch Plains, NJ
908-322-5192
The feast is truly a great family event and has something for everyone to enjoy. There is nightly live music, rides, games, and great food, including favorites like pizza, pasta, zeppoles, clams, mussels, and calzones. In addition, there are nightly 50/50 drawings and a super 50/50 raffle on Monday.

The Feast of Saint Joseph of Lodi
September 1, 2, 3, 4, 2023; Friday 6-10pm, Saturday & Sunday 4-11pm, Monday 2-10pm
Saint Joseph Church
40 Spring Street
Lodi, NJ
Website
[email protected]ظ┬ُ├┤
This family event features traditional Italian festival food, exciting nightly entertainment, thrill rides, and games of chance. The highlight of the Feast is on Labor Day at 2PM where there is a solemn mass followed by a procession honoring Saint Joseph.

Boonton Fire Department Labor Day Parade
Saturday, September 2, 2023: 1:30 PM 4:00 PM (rain date September 4th)
Boonton, NJ
Website
Beginning at 1:30 pm, the parade will assemble in the West Boonton area and proceed down Main Street to Grant Street, to Old Boonton Road, ending at Boonton High School.

Great Falls Festival
September 2 - 4, 2023; (3:00 PM to 10:00 PM each day)
Great Falls National Historical Park
Paterson, NJ
Website
This family event at the historic Great Falls National Park In the heart of Paterson, will have streets closed on Labor Day weekend to celebrate the nation's first planned industrial center and the falls that powered it. The festival features a variety thrilling rides, games, food, a beer garden, and live music.

Knowlton Township Labor Day Weekend Food and Music Festival
Saturday, September 2, 2023; 11am - 7pm
Knowlton Twp. Fire & Rescue Co. No. 1
4 Roy Ace St, Delaware, NJ 07833
Website/Tickets
Cost: Admission will be $6 for everyone 6 years old and older!
This event features 12+ food trucks with great family activities including Bungee Trampoline, inflatable village, face painter, henna tattoos, local craft vendors, beer/wine, pro wrestling, and live music from Naughty Humphrey and The Big Fuss!
Bring your appetite, lawn chairs, and of course your 4 – legged family members

American Labor Museum Parade
Sunday, September 3, 2023
83 Norwood Street
Haledon, NJ 07508
973-595-7953
Website
The opening ceremony begins at the Museum at 10am. Parade Step-off at the museum is at 10:30AM, rain or shine.

Lake Hopatcong Labor Day Weekend Cruise
September 4th, 2023
Lake Hopatcong Cruises
37 Nolan's Point Park Road
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
973-663-5000
Website
They offer two cruises around Lake Hopatcong; The 2 hour lunch Cruise at 1:30 PM and the 90 minute Happy Hour cruise at 3pm. The Lunch Cruise offers Food served buffet style. The Happy Hour Cruise offers a Full-Service Bar for Cocktail purchases.

Riverdale Labor Day Street Fair
Monday, September 4, 2023; 10am-5pm
Newark Pompton Turnpike from Newbury Place to Cotluss Rd, (off Rte 23)
Riverdale, NJ
Website
201.998.6311
This fun filled family street fair features live entertainment, festival foods, local merchants and restaurants displaying their specialties and a variety of family activities. The event includes a special arts & crafts section, kiddie rides & games, food trucks, and so much more.

Central NJ Labor Day Weekend Events

Manasquan Labor Day Concert & Fireworks
Saturday, September 2, 2023; @ 7:30pm
Main Beach
Main St & 1st Ave
Manasquan, NJ
Website
This family event features Concert at 7:30pm by the Walnutz, followed by Fireworks on Main Beach.

Monmouth Park Labor Day Weekend BBQ & Craft Beer Festival
September 2, 3, 4, 2023; 11:00am to 5:00pm
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Oceanport Avenue
Oceanport, NJ
Website
Parking is FREE!
This Labor Day weekend from 11am to 5pm, join in for three days of delicious BBQ and a great selection of brews in their NJ Craft Beer Garden. The Craft Beer Garden will feature over 40 NJ craft beers to choose from. Enjoy live music from 12-4pm all three days! After the Reign rocks out on Saturday, followed by West End Dogs Sunday and Chris Morrisy on Monday. FREE Family Fun Day activities take place from 12-4pm on Saturday and Sunday featuring pony rides, clowns, face painters and a bounce house.

Frenchtown Riverfest
Sunday September 3rd, 2023:11am-7pm
Sunbeam Lenape Park & Downtown
Frenchtown, NJ
Website/Music line-up
This event features a street fair celebration of life along the river! Stroll Bridge Street and Sunbeam Park for a fun filled day of live music, art, food, family friendly activities, and paper boat races with the Frenchtown Vikings, all with an ecologically and sustainability focused lens. Honor the mighty Delaware and join in festivities truly unique to Frenchtown.

Viking Village Art & Craft Show
September 3, 2023; 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (rain or shine)
Historic Viking Village
19th & Bayview Avenue
Barnegat Light, NJ
Website
Free admission
This event features over 70 vendors with Fine Arts, Photography, Ceramics, Wood Crafts, Clothing, Handmade Jewelry and Accessories.

Annual South Plainfield Labor Day Parade & Fireworks
Monday, September 4, 2023
Spring Lake Park
South Plainfield, NJ
Facebook page
The parade starts at the Police Athletic League [PAL] Recreation Center on Maple Avenue at Noon.
Immediately following parade, enjoy the festivities at the Veterans' Memorial Park (327 Elm Street - behind the South Plainfield Senior Center). Fireworks at dusk at Spring Lake Park

Southern NJ Labor Day Weekend Events

Airfest
September 1, 2, 3, 4, 2023; 10 AM ق│ô 4 PM
NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum
500 Forrestal Road
Cape May Airport
Rio Grande, NJ
(609) 886-8787
Website
Cost:Adults: $14 Children (ages 3-12): $10 Children (ages 2 and under): FREE Active Duty U.S. Military: Members FREE: *U.S. Military Veterans will receive a $2 discount
This annual event features historic aircraft flown in for display, Women in History Reenactor Presentation Series, Live Music, Classic Cars, Face Painting, Caricatures, Vendors, Exhibitors, Food and Beer, and more.

Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival
September 1, 2023: 5 - 9pm This is a rain or shine event.
Rowan Blv'd
Glassboro, NJ
Website
Cost: Free; Parking Free
This family fun event features restored vehicles representing all decades of automotive history as well as modern exotics and race cars.آ Food truck vendors will be on site selling food and non-alcoholic beverages. آ Landmark Americana will host the Beer Gardens.آ View over 300 cruise vehicles while listening to live music, and a DJ, and enjoying great food trucks, a beer garden with cold craft beer. Participants compete for a multitude of trophy awards judged by car professionals.
The viewing area will be on Rowan Boulevard in Downtown Glassboro and an anticipated 5,000+ attendees.

Labor Day Weekend Fireworks on the Beach in Wildwood
Friday, September 1st, 2023 at 10pm (Rain date is Sunday)
On the Rio Grande Avenue beach
Wildwood, NJ
Website
آ(609) 523-1602
Visible from almost anywhere on the Wildwoods Boardwalk! Hear the fireworks explode to a musical score that is played all along the Boardwalk and is simulcast on 98.7 The Coast.

The 50th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival
Labor Day Weekend, September 1, 2, 3, 2023
Salem County Fairgrounds
725 Route 40
Pilesgrove Township, NJ
This family music festival features southern Appalachian old-time and bluegrass and related music styles. For kids, there is also a Children's Stage.
The festival site has plenty of room for camping for tenters as well as RVers, and unlike many other festivals, they do not charge extra for camping. Weekend ticket holders may camp on the grounds at no charge, but camping is available only to weekend ticket holders - daily ticket holders may not bring vehicles or camping gear into the campground.

Annual Whitesboro Reunion Festival
September 1-3, 2023
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center
Whitesboro, NJ
Information/Tickets
Cost: $20/person
The theme of this year's reunion event is "Be BOLD" - Believe It and Achieve It!
The event features live music, great food, fun, laughter, enlightenment, with speakers with bold messages for the community,

Labor Day Weekend Boardwalk Craft Show
Saturday, Sunday, September 2 & 3, 2023: rain or shine
Boardwalk at Rio Grande Avenue
Wildwood, NJ
Website
609.522.0198
Free admission
This event features Artisans, handmade craft items, boutique items, gifts & more.

Revolutionary War Weekend
Saturday and Sunday, September 2nd & 3rd, 2023; 11:00am-4:00pm
Historic Cold Spring Village
720 Route 9
Cape May, NJ 08204
609-898-2300
Website
Cost: Adults $14; children 3-12 $12; under 3 free
This family event features two days of interactive and educational fun. Authentically clad and equipped reenactors bring the American Revolution to life on the grounds of Historic Cold Spring Village.
The event will feature encampments, weaponry, and demonstrations from living history groups. Children can search the Village for clues in the Patriot Spy Game on both Saturday and Sunday.

Tropicana's Free Fireworks Series
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Tropicana Casino & Resort
2831 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
609-340-4000
Free Event
Fireworks are launched from the beachfront and can be viewed all along the beaches or boardwalk of Atlantic City.

West Cape May Tomato Festival
September 2, 2023; 9am - 4pm
Backyard Park
732 Broadway
West Cape May, NJ
Website
Free Admission
This event is a celebration of the State of New Jersey’s well-known fruit, as well as the end of the summer season, with this tomato themed festival! The festivities will include Food Vendors, Craft Vendors, Live Music, and more.

Annual Wildwood End of Summer Block Party & Music Festival
Sunday, September 3, 2023: 1pm - 10pm
Fox Park
(across from the Wildwoods Convention Center on Ocean Avenue between Burk and Montgomery Avenues)
Wildwood, NJ
609.522.5837
Website
Free Event
This family festival event will feature free music, entertainment, food vendors, craft vendors and more as we say goodbye to another great summer here in Wildwood.

End of Summer Labor Day Weekend Booze Cruise Boat Party in Atlantic City
Sunday, September 3, 2023; 8:30pm - 11pm
Gardner's Basin Marina
800 N. New Hampshire Avenue
Atlantic City, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: General Admission $51.67 (All items will be CASH BAR ONLY)
The boat will sail in the Atlantic City Marina with Amazing views of the Atlantic City Skyline. It will circle the casinos of Harrah's, Borgata and Golden Nugget. The boat will not go into the Ocean. The DJ will spin the latest music for a fun and entertaining experience. Dancing on the deck and downstairs bar with captivating views of Atlantic City.