The best New Jersey Family Festivals and fairsthat have wide appeal with families and kids.
Bring your whole family and enjoy spending time together at one of New Jersey's popular family festivals! These are festivals that celebrate events and include state fairs, music, food, fun activities, crafts, and more!
The Best NJ Family Festivals
January 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Lambertville - New Hope Winter Festival January 27 - 31, 2010
Downtown New Hope and Lambertville 215-862-5067
Celebrating a healthy, invigorating cold-weather experience in the two river town communities to demonstrate that they are alive and well in the winter months with exciting and diverse activities. The Lambertville – New Hope Winter Festival is a two-town, two-state, five-day celebration of parades, ice-sculpting, music, art and entertainment that spans the Delaware River. The twin towns of Lambertville, N.J., and New Hope, Pa., host the annual event filled with free, family-friendly fun as well as ticket-only special events.
Fire & Ice Festival
Saturday, January 30, 2010
High Street and Mill Race Village on White Street
Downtown Mount Holly, NJ
609-894-9311 x 1475
What better way to demonstrate fire and ice than to have a festival dedicated to Ice Carving and a Chili making Contest. Visitors to the festival can watch professional and amateur ice carvers transform 300 pound blocks of ice into beautiful works of art and they can also taste the Chili entries after the judging takes place.
February 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Atlantic City International Power Boat Show Feb 3 - 7, 2010
Atlantic City Convention Center
One Convention Blvd., Atlantic City
732-403-1610
Come for the boats and gear, stay for the fun! Check out the “Green Boating Zone”, Kids’ Cove, Miss GEICO racing boat and more
Atlantic City Classic Car Show Feb 26 - 28, 2010
Atlantic City Convention Center
One Convention Blvd., Atlantic City
732-403-1610
Classic Car Show & Auction
April 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Newark Cherry Blossom Festival
April 10 - April 18, 2010
This is the second largest Cherry Blossom display in the United States with the National Cherry Blossom display in Washington, DC, being the largest with peak blooms about two weeks earlier.
Held in Newark's Branch Brook Park, there are over 3,000 cherry trees. The blossoms can be best enjoyed by a casual walk or picnic in the park. However, to see the blossoms at its peak, perfect timing is needed. Arrive too early in April and you’ll be greeted by bare limbs. Arrive too late, after heavy rain or wind, and you’ll find only fallen blossoms.
The cherry trees usually flower in the second and third weeks of April but make their showiest display for just two or three days.
This is a weeklong festival with many events including a 10K race, trolley bus tours, and family Day with Japanese cultural activities, including demonstrations on origami, bonsai, ikebana, and martial arts.
Earth Day 2010 April 24, 2010
Liberty State Park
Central NJ Railroad Terminal
& South Field
Jersey City
5K Walk/Run & Fair
10 AM – 4 PM
The Celebration includes the Kids’ Earth Day Kingdom featuring environment-themed displays, live entertainment, inflatable rides, arts and crafts activities, games, contests and food. The winners of the “Earth Day Calendar Art Contest” will be recognized and awarded prizes on the main stage. The Fair is preceded by the HCIA’s Annual 5K Race/Walk.
28th Annual Shad Festival
April 24th and 25th, 2010
Union & Bridge Streets
Lambertville, NJ
609-397-0055
12:30 - 5:30 both days, rain or shine. Admission is free, bring the whole family! Please take advantage of the clearly marked Parking Areas.
40,000 people will descend on this 1.3 sq mile city to celebrate this acquacultural family event when the shad swim upstream in the fresh waters of the Delaware to spawn.
The event features:
• The Area’s Finest Artists & Crafter's
• Delicious food
• Live Musical Entertainment both days
• Children’s Activities and an all new KIDZONE with rides
• Historic Shad Fishing Demonstrations
• Sunday Shad Festival Scholarship Poster Auction
The Liberty Boat Show
Thursday-Sunday, April 29 - May 2, 2010
Liberty Landing Marina
Liberty State Park
80 Audrey Zapp Drive
Jersey City, NJ
212-984-7001
$10.00 Adults Youth/children 16 and younger FREE (must be accompanied by an adult)
Features all the best names in boating in the water and on land for you to view. The show truly has something for everyone with dock after dock of powerboats from 16' through 66'. The show enjoys spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and boasts as its home, a first class 600 slip marina, seconds off the Hudson River. Liberty State Park affords the show an expansive, beautiful landscape on which to spread out the considerable “on-land” portions of the show. Visitors are treated to over a mile long scenic drive through the winding roads of the Park on the way into the marina, with the majestic site of the Statue of Liberty in the background all the while.
May 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Spirit of Jersey's State History Fair
May 1, 2010
11 AM to 5 PM
Washington Crossing State Park
355 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Titusville, NJ 08560
609-737-9303
11 am - 5 pm, rain or shine.
Admission: Free
The only statewide event where visitors can experience four centuries of NJ's history in one place. Started in 2004 as a celebratory event marking the 100th anniversary of NJ's State Historic Sites, the fair is now an annual event. Its goal is to engage the public in discovering NJ's history in a fun and enjoyable manner.
Get your hands on history at the 6th Annual State History Fair. Live music, period games, living history demonstrations, food and more. Fun for the entire family!
Wildwood International Kite Festival May 28-31, 2010
On the Beach at Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center.
609-729-9000
America's largest kite festival, featuring world-renowned kite builders and competitors, kite making workshops and exhibits, and children's activities. 9 AM to 5 PM. Daily. Fri: 9 PM Illuminated night kite fly. Entrance fee for participants. Free to spectators
Some of the biggest kites in the world fly high over the famous Wildwood boardwalk. Talented guest kite makers exhibit their kites and fly incredible aerial displays, while the East Coast Stunt Kite Championships and World Indoor Championships heats up. The Wild Wheels Buggy Blast features exhibitions of land sailing and kite boarding on the ocean, as kites go to the extreme. Kite making, food, fun and games are a natural match to the Memorial Day Weekend on the Jersey Shore.
June 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Ocean Grove Giant Spring Flea Market
June 5, 2010
9:00am-4:00pm
Ocean Pathway
Ocean Grove, NJ
(732) 774-1391
Antiques, collectibles, new stuff, old stuff, variety of food, something for everyone!
Over 300 Vendors!
9am to 4pm,
Rain or Shine
July 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning
July 23 - July 25, 2010
Solberg Airport
Readington, NJ
800-HOT-AIR-9 (800-468-2479)
Friday,1 pm. to 10 pm
Saturday, 6 am. to 10 pm
Sunday, 6 am. to 8 pm
This is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America and and outstanding family entertainment attraction in New Jersey. It holds the dual distinction of being a recipient of The New Jersey Governor's Award for Best Special Event, as well as the American Bus Association's designation as a Top 100 Festival in North America. The festival has something for everyone! From twice daily mass ascensions of up to 125 special shape and sport hot air balloons, to headlining concerts, non-stop family entertainment, hundreds of crafters and vendors, great food, fireworks, a balloon glow, and more, the festival is jam-packed with stuff to do.
Festival Admission in Advance
Adults, $17 Children (4-12 years old), $7
Children three and under, FREE Festival Admission at the Gate
Adults, $25
Children (4-12 years old), $10
Children three and under, Free
Past Festivals
April 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
A Day at the Fair at Grounds For Sculpture
April 26, 2009
This family event is a celebration to commemorate Grounds For Sculpture’s roots as the New Jersey State Fairgrounds. Tour the park, visit the balloon man, relax to music in the courtyard, see sheep shearing, participate in workshops and purchase popcorn, cotton-candy, hot dogs, and other treats at the concession stands.
Free With Park Admission to the Grounds for Sculpture
Adults $10;
Students (13+) and Senior (65+) $8,and
Children (6-12) $6
May 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Belmar Spring Kite Festival May 15-16, 2009
4th - 7th Avenue Beaches
Belmar, NJ
848-333-8539
Watch the delicate maneuvers of the single and team precision kite flying of the South Jersey Kite Flyers, take a kite flying lesson or just enjoy all the kites that fill the sky.
9 am - 5 pm
Ocean Port Strawberry Fair May 19 - 24, 2009
Monmouth Park Race Track parking area
Oceanport, NJ
732-492-6000
Tuesday through Sunday 6pm to 11pm
This major family festival is an official State of New Jersey Department of Agricultural event. The fair provides educational displays and programs with rides, games, attractions and delicious food, including the Lions' famous Strawberry Shortcake.
Other attractions include, one of the Nations largest traveling petting zoos with exotic animals including camels, zebra, llama, a kangaroo, macaw parrots and a reptile display; a wolves special attraction from volunteers of the Howling Woods Farm in Jackson; seeing eye dogs and puppies, beekeeping. and chick hatching.
The fair is run by the Lions Club as a fundraiser with proceeds donated to charitable causes that primarily support those less fortunate individuals who suffer from sight impairments, including blindness and those who have hearing impairments.
June 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Trenton Heritage Days Festival
June 6-7, 2009
New Jersey State Complex
Trenton, NJ
609-815-2162
This two-day festival celebrates the heritage of New Jersey's residents and features food, exhibits, crafts and children's activities. Four stages provide a continuous array of music and dancing including jazz, salsa, gospel, blues, Dixieland, folk and a wide variety of ethnic music.
Organized by the City of Trenton's Department of Recreation, Natural Resources and Culture, the Trenton Heritage Days Festival is the largest cultural activity of its kind in New Jersey. The Festival highlights the city's diverse cultures and historic richness. Ethnic foods, arts and crafts, children activities and continuous entertainment are available during this weekend-long event.
12th Annual Barnegat Bay Festival
June 7, 2009
Waterfront Wanamaker Complex
Island Heights, NJ 732-255-0472
10 am. to 4 pm. (rain or shine)
The Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program is celebrating the environment at their annual Barnegat Bay Festival. Enjoy an entire day of family fun with scavenger hunts, fish printing, face painting, seedling planting, pontoon boat tours, music, and hands-on demonstrations. Artisans and crafters will be selling custom fishing rods, jewelry, marine art,and photography.
Admission: Free
Jazams Summer Block Party & Movie
Friday, June 12
6:00-8:30pm
Festival on Hulfish Street Movie: 8:30pm
Movie on the Green The Wizard of Oz will begin at 8:30pm Hulfish Street will be a festival of crafts,activities, food and fun—plus music by Alex Mitnick and the Kaleidoscope Band!
New Jersey Seafood Festival June 13 - 14, 2009
Silver Lake Park
Ocean Avenue between 5th & 6th Avenues
Belmar
732- 681-3700 ext 213
One of the most popular annual family festivals in New Jersey with over 150,000 people attending each year.
The event is a a culinary celebration of master chefs showcasing their favorite seafood preparations along with and many fun activities for the entire family, arts and crafts, and musicians.
The event is free and open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. This is a rain or shine event; there are no rain dates.
New Jersey Family Medieval & Fantasy Festival
June 13-14, 2009
St. Mark's Concert Field
59 Spring Lane
Long Valley, NJ
973-632-0693
The NJ Medieval & Fantasy Festivals are host to the ongoing story of The Paladin Knight, a Medieval Fantasy Hero. It is about courage, loyalty, determination, good versus evil and...well...having fun and enjoying life to the fullest! The Festival is appropriate for all ages.
This year's focus is on Music, but there are shows, contests, scavenger hunts, games for the kids, costumed characters, as well as arts and crafts merchants. There are medieval craft and sword demonstrations by educational groups too! The Festival can be summed up as a Medieval Party for all!
It Includes over 6 renaissance/celtic bands, The Paladin Knight, SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), Sword Fighting Tournament, Wizards, Goblins, Fairies, Musicians, and more!
2nd Annual Cape May Harbor Fest
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Cape May’s harbor will provide the overall setting for Harbor Fest; while most land based activities will be held at or near the Nature Center located adjacent to the Coast Guard Base and the Corinthian Yacht Club, and across the harbor from Cape May’s marinas.
Contact:
Greater Cape May Chamber of Commerce
609-884-5508
Harbor Fest is a celebration of seafood and song; the sea, its culture, its economy and its ecology.
It includes a street festival with music and over 100 vendors offering something for everyone, including a beer garden and a family dining area.
There will also be arts/crafts, lab gab, touch tank, a crabbing demo, and a regatta, and the U.S. Coast Guard performing an air-to-sea search and rescue.
On Friday, June 19th there will be a blessing of the waters and a rembrance at the Fisherman's Memorial for crew members lost on the Lady Mary.
This will be followed by an artist reception at the nature center with 3 artists, Steve Spabnola, Jane Payne, and Tina Giamo, will be displayng their work. Also at the nature center there will be story telling around a campfire while toasting marchmallows.
July 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Oceanfest 2009
July 4, 2009
Long Branch, New Jersey, USA
Crowds in the hundreds of thousands attend this popular Jersey Shore Oceanfest for an all-day, family-friendly festival that brings together the most memorable sights, sounds and sensations of the summer season. It's more than a music or food festival, with crafts, cultural events, and a spectacular fireworks display. In addition to the beautiful ocean views, there will performances by dancers, musicians, clowns and carnival acts, a sand sculpture demonstration, costumed characters, and food vendors.
10 am to 10 pm
Free admission
New Jersey State Barbecue Championship
July 10-12, 2009
Huge outdoor BBQ and Blues Festival covering 4 city blocks on the NJ Shoreline. Headliner Blues Acts from all over the USA; fabulous BBQ food, Street Vendors and Crafters, Family activities, live radio broadcasts, along with the NJ State BBQ competition, too many other events to name.
35th Annual Monmouth County Fair
July 22-26, 2009
East Freehold Show grounds
Kozloski Road Freehold
(732) 842-4000
Annual county fair with all the traditional county fair fun events for families and kids. Features, BBQ Competition Judging & Tasting,
Antique & Classic Auto Show,
4-H Events, Animal Shows & Exhibits, Lumberjacks, Racing Pigs, Home & Garden Competition, Kids Games & Races.
4-H Fairgrounds, Route 77 South
Mullica Hill, NJ
856-307-6450
NJ Peach Festival. In addition to the crowning of the New Jersey Peach Queen and the awarding of the New Jersey Governors Cup for the best box of peaches will be a wide variety of educational displays and the sale of fresh juicy peaches and peach products. Don’t miss the barbecue dinners and tasty snacks like peach ice cream.
Annual Warren County Farmers Fair, New Jersey, featuring the 9th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival
Sunday, July 26 to Saturday, August 1, 2009
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for ages 5-12. Children 4 and under are admitted free. FREE PARKING NEW Weekday Specials – Monday - Friday, 12 pm - 4 pm Admission is $5 for adults and FREE for ages 12 and under. (After 4 pm, admission fees revert back to the regular prices).
Where else can you thrill to a hot air balloon ride, eat cotton candy on a carnival midway, watch traditional craftsmen at work, get down-and-dirty in a Mud Bog competition, and cheer your neighbor on in a tractor pull... all in the same place? Yes, the Farmers' Fair, featuring one of New Jerseys' popular Hot Air Balloon Festival is truly a family affair.
Local traditional artists from area Guilds will demonstrate their work. Daily Farm Events & Exhibits give everyone the opportunity to savor the bounty of Warren County's fine agricultural community. The Open Horse Show, pony rides, baking & canning exhibits, farm-fresh ice cream to strawberry shortcake, 4-H/FFA exhibits. Old Cars, Antique Cars and Fast Cars will plentiful at the 2009 Fair.
Fair Hours Sunday & aturday– 8 am - 10 pm Monday thru Friday – vendors & exhibit buildings are open 12 pm - 10 pm - check the schedule for limited activities and shows going on prior to 12 pm.
August 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Camden County 4-H Fair July 31st - August 2, 2009
4-H Fairgrounds Salina-County House Road
Blackwood, NJ
(856) 566-2900
$3.00 Parking Donation
The Camden County 4-H Fair will feature everything from pony rides to spinning demonstrations and will include amusements and food vendors.
New Jersey State Fair July 31 - August 9, 2009
Sussex County Fairgrounds
Augusta, NJ
973-948-5500
One of the more popular New Jersey family festivals, The New Jersey State Fair offers agricultural competitions and education, horse shows, 4-H, livestock and animals, rides and attractions, free entertainment, vendors, foods and much more. Animals, competitions and exhibits bring public attention to agriculture, education, youth advancement and the great things that Sussex County and New Jersey Have to offer.
The Middlesex County Fair August 3-9, 2009
Cranbury Rd. & Fern Road
East Brunswick, NJ
732-257-8858
Featuring the Victoria Circus, a sensational High Wire Show, a Comedy Trampoline Act, Scheer’s Lumberjack Show with Log Rolling, Axe Throwing, Chainsaw carving, Agricadabra, an Agriculture Magic Show, Fireworks, and more.
Adults - $6.00 Seniors 65+ - $4.00 Kids Age 3-12 - $1.00 Kids 2 and Under FREE
Free Parking
Weird Contest Week August 17-21, 2009
11am each day
The Music Pier
Moorlyn Terrace & Boardwalk
Ocean City
609-525-9300
Everyone has a special talent; this may be just the place to showcase yours. If you can sculpt a mean french fry or turn a wad of taffy into a mini Eiffel Tower, consider entering this year’s art with food competitions. There will also be artistic pie eating, wet T-shirt tossing, and superhero impersonations.
Atlantic City Air Show
"Thunder Over The Boardwalk"
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
From 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
On the beach and Boardwalk of Atlantic City
Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa presents the heart-stopping feats, aerobatics maneuvers, formation flying and solo routines of military and civilian pilots that have helped to make the Atlantic City Airshow "Thunder Over The Boardwalk" one of the most popular events in Atlantic City.
See flybys and demonstrations that reach up to 15,000 feet and as low as 50 feet over the water in front of the Atlantic City skyline.
Along with performances and demonstrations by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Air National Guard and civilian acts, this year's lineup will be headlined with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team.
Wharton Canal Day
August 22, 2009
Hugh Force Canal Park
170 West Central Ave., Wharton, NJ
973-989-0237
An old time country fair that celebrates the Morris Canal and its contributions to the development of the communities along its banks. Approximately 3000 people from around the region, from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and as far away as Texas, attended the festival in 2008 to celebrate this heritage and history. This year's Festival will be larger than ever with the addition of a second performance area for acoustic venues. There will be something of interest for everyone to enjoy, including a day of free family fun, featuring a juried craft show, food, educational events and musical entertainment provided by New Jersey's best home grown artists.
Rain Date: August 23, 2009
Asbury Park Kidfest-09 Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009 (rain date 9/6)
On the Boardwalk
Asbury Park
201.998.6311
There will be a variety of kids friendly exhibitors...such as vendors selling kid friendly goods, entertainers, clowns, face painters, tattoo artists and more.
September 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Riverfest
Saturday, September 5th 2009 12-6pm with music into the night & Sunday, September 6th 2009
12:30-6pm
Frenchtown, NJ
1-866-287-0905
Frenchtown's most attended event; celebrating life on the Delaware River. Riverfest is a family event. This year, being mindful of the green theme, there will be plenty for kids including eco art and learning how simple it is to reduce your carbon footprint. Be sure and stop by Earthwise.US tent and make your pledge that cost nothing and saves you money. Live Music throughout the day by The Swinging Richards, Top Soil, Payer, Dave Rounsaville and more. Arm of the Sea a theatrical puppet performance will present “Turtle Island Medicine Show” at 1:30 and 4 on Saturday September 5th. Don’t miss the ever popular Haute Re-cycled Couture Pet Show on Sunday 6th at 2pm. To enter a pet call Cleo at Alchemy 908-996-9000. And don’t miss the first ever "Whatever Floats Your Eco-Boat" Race Sunday 6th at 3pm. If you haven’t made your under 18 inches biodegradable boat, come make one on Saturday 5th in the alcove on race street by the National Hotel
ScanFest!
September 6, 2009
Vasa Park
Budd Lake,NJ Info09@scanfest.org
It's an all-day celebration of Scandinavia at its best where you'll discover the customs, the history, and the ethnic variety of the six Nordic nations: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden
10 AM to 6 PM Rain or Shine!
Annual Festival of the Sea
September 19, 2009
Downtown Pt. Pleasant 732-899-2424
The "Festival of the Sea" is a street fair located in the heart of downtown Point Pleasant Beach, on Arnold & Bay Avenues, where over 60,000 visitors sample dishes by area's finest restaurants (from clam chowder to lobster to steak); arts & crafts, pony rides, antiques, health, business and non-profit booths, kiddie games and live entertainment.
Over 225 crafters & artists, plus other exhibits and games for the whole family.
Free. 10-7 pm
Rain date; September 20th
Lakewood Lions Renaissance Faire September 19 - 20, 2009
Pine Park, behind Lakewood Country Club on Country Club Drive off County Line Road
(rte 526), on the Lakewood - Jackson border
Lakewood, NJ
732-414-9639
An annual Medieval Renaissance Faire with Knights in full armor jousting on charging War Horses. You will be entertained by the many artisans. You will revel in the days of yore as you stroll in the village amongst the 50 or more guildsmen, and merchants, not to mention the other service organizations just waiting to quench thy thirst and please your appetite. You will also see world champion jouster, Shane Adams, and others from Australia, Canada, and the United States joust on their War Horses; see archers using the English long bow, Knights in armour battling for their honor in hand–to-hand combat, a gypsy camp, belly dancers, medieval dancers, and a first rate magic show. Children’s games and activities will be available for the young at heart. There are wandering poets, minstrels, and jugglers.
Ocean City Boardwalk Airshow Sunday, September 20, 2009
Ocean City Boardwalk
609-525-9300
An awesome, 2 hour family airshow. Performances will include World Aerobatic Champion Rob Holland in his MX-2, Mike Wiskus in the LUCAS Oil Pitts, the RedStar Raiders Formation Team, flybys from McGuire AFB's C-17A Globemaster III and KC-10A Extender, Thirdstrike Wingwalking featuring Carol Pilon, the USCG Search & Rescue Demonstration, and the USAF F-16CJ Viper East Coast Demonstration Team.
FLYING STARTS at 1PM
Wildlife Heritage Festival
Saturday, September 26,
10 am - 4 pm
The Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center
605 Pequest Rd
Oxford, NJ
908-637-4125
Register on line at www.njfishandwildlife.com/hunted.htm
The festival is free and will be held rain or shine.
Bring your family and friends to the Pequest Trout Hatchery for a day of family fun. Volunteers from Trout Unlimited and the Wildlife Conservation Corps will be on hand to teach kids between the ages of 8 and 16 the art of fishing as they try their luck in the Pequest Fishing Education Pond. All equipment will be provided. Kids under 8 will be able to fish in the "Kiddie Fishing Tank" which will be stocked with trout from the hatchery. There will be an archery range for beginners, as well as a free 3-D archery course for the advanced archer. The 3-D course consists of 15 shooting stations simulating realistic hunting conditions, and you will need to bring your own equipment. A shotgun range for beginners ages 10 and up will be available where novices can learn the basics of shooting safety and have the opportunity to shoot at knock-down targets. A hunter education class will also be offered at the festival.
Asbury Park Guiness Oyster Festival
Sunday, September 27, 2009
11 am - 7 pm
Live music, great food (Oysters) rides, craft vendors, and entertainment.
Includes six bands on two stages, Black 47, Chris Barron and the Time Bandits, Funkton 11, The E Street Shuffle.
October 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
9th Annual Oktoberfest October 3, 2009
2pm to 10pm
Veterans Park
Bay and Shrewsbury Avenues
Highlands
Done up in the traditional Munich, Germany Oktoberfest with an emphasis on eating, drinking and being merry while providing something for everyone. The park is festive, the food is great and the fireworks at 7:30 pm are spectacular.
The New Jersey Devils Street Team will be available to take pictures, sign autographs, hand out promotional items and give fans the chance to win memorabilia. Shop for unique gifts with specialty vendors and crafters.
The rain date is October 4th from 2 – 10 p.m.
Chowderfest Weekend
October 3 - 4, 2009
Taylor Avenue Ballfield, 9th Street & Taylor Avenue,
Beach Haven (across from Bay Village &
Schooner's Wharf)
Beach Haven, NJ
609-494-7211 x 100
800-292-6372 x 100
Winner of the NJ Governor's Award - Excellence in Tourism 2008. 20th Annual Chowderfest Weekend. Come vote for your favorite Chowder. Twenty restaurants create 4,000 gallons of New England and Manhattan Clam Chowder and vie for the title of Chowder Grand Champion.
Free admission to Saturdays Merchant's Mart with end of season Blowout Bargains.
Chowder contest is on Sunday with unlimited chowder tasting! Live music, children's entertainment, and a food court are all part of the event.
General Admission Tickets - $20.00
Children's Tickets (Ages 4-12 ) - $10.00
VIP Tickets - $50.00
(VIP ticket includes a T-shirt and
exclusive early admission at 10 am)
Rain or Shine event held
under the “Big Top” tents.
20th Annual Craneberry Festival October 3,4, 2009, 11-5:00pm
Farnsworth Avenue
Bordentown
609 298-8066
Fine arts & crafts, music & entertainment for everyone!
All types of cranberry food, along with burgers, pulled pork, fish and chips, and other fun food.
Kids can enjoy face painting, pony rides, and rock climbs.
Vintage car show will take place on Saturday
Fall Harvest Festival October 10 - 11, 2009
Downtown
Allentown, NJ
609-208-2992
Artists, crafters, food, live bands, antique car show, petting zoo, pony rides, civil war encampment, and more
Saturday 9 to 5, Sunday 10 to 5
Admission and parking is free
Kids Day Weekend
Oct 10 & 11, 2009
PNC Arts Center
Exit 116, Garden State Parkway,
Holmdel, NJ
732-442-9400
This is the largest Kids event to take place in New Jersey. Located at New Jersey's largest outdoor venue, the PNC Arts center in Holmdel. This event is a weekend filled with live entertainment, unique arts activities, interactive educational games, exciting rides. Most of the attractions are free to families and kids, including parking and admission.
West Cape May Lima Bean Festival October 10, 2009
Wilbrham Park
609-884-5404
800-275-4278
Luscious Lima Bean Soup, Lima Bean Chili and Barbecued Limas are among the items usually on the menu in this annual, October Festival.
One of the festival traditions is the crowning of a Lima Bean Queen and King.The honorary King and Queen ride in the town's annual Christmas Parade.
Wildwoods Hydrofest October 10-11, 2009
Stanton Road &
New Jersey Avenue
Wildwood Crest
609-886-8156
Something for the entire family; Power boat racing 80-140 mph with hydroplanes and flat bottom race boats competing for the North American Championshios and for the NJ Governors Cup.
Races 11am - 4pm
Crafts, merchandise, and food.
Vendors 9am-4pm
Free; Up front pit pass: $10
Coast Day in Cape May
Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009
11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
At The Lobster House Restaurant Dock and the New Jersey Audubon Society Nature Center of Cape May
(732) 872-1300
A Celebration of the Sea with activities that include hands-on marine science exhibits, demonstrations, eco-tours, crab races, a youth fishing clinic and more. Attendees can pull a seine in Cape May Harbor or go behind the scenes at a fish-packing facility.
The New Jersey Audubon Nature Center of Cape May will offer “Explore the Shore Eco-Tours“ throughout the day. New this year, visitors can hop a free trolley shuttle to tour the nearby Multi-Species Aquaculture Demonstration Facility or take in a crab trap demonstration at the Wetlands Institute exhibit. Event-goers will also have a chance to cast their vote for their favorite entry in the Fifth Annual Coast Day NJ Photo Contest, with its 2009 theme of recreational fishing.
Parking, admission and all activities are free.
Native American Arts Festival
October 10-12, 2009
Rankokus Indian Reservation
720 Rancocas Road
Westampton Township
609-261-4747
The largest Native American event on the east coast, features 150 American Indian artists and entertainers from throughout the Americas. Continuous entertainment. Wide variety of native food. Demonstrations, Wisdom Keepers, and live animals.
25th Annual Cranberry Festival
October 17th & 18th, 2009, 11 am to 4pm
Main St (rte 5763)
Chatsworth
(609)726-9237
The Cranberry Festival is a celebration of New Jersey's cranberry harvest, the 3rd largest in the United States, and offers a tribute to the Pine Barrens & Culture. The main attraction is the diverse showing of more than 160 artists & craftsmen, some of which will also be demonstrating their crafts as well as displaying them for sale.
Southern/Classic Rock Music will be provided by Jersey Bound
There will be Cranberry Bog Tours this year
Admission to the festival is FREE.
November 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Atlantic City Recreational Vehicle and Camping Show November 13 - 15, 2009
Atlantic City Convention Center
One Convention Blvd.
Atlantic City
732-403-1610
More Than 350 RVs! Begin planning your camping vacations for the next season at the 16th Annual Fall Atlantic City RV Show. See the latest RVs or just learn about the joys of travel in a recreational vehicle.
December 2009 New Jersey Family Festivals
Kwanzaa Festival and Marketplace December 16 - 20, 2009
New Jersey Performing Arts Center
One Center Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(888) 466-5722
Kwanzaa is a seven-day, non-religious, cultural celebration observed annually from December 26 to January 1
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s annual Kwanzaa Festival and Marketplace, one of the only endowed Kwanzaa celebrations in the United States. An integral part of NJPAC’s holiday celebrations each year, Kwanzaa, a week long secular cultural and community celebration, is observed through varied dance and music performances, a tribute to community elders, a marketplace for holiday shopping, free activities for children and families, and ceremonies honoring members of the community. The Kwanzaa Marketplace runs the entire week of NJPAC’s presentation of Oprah Winfrey Presents: The Color Purple.
January 2010 New Jersey Family Festivals
Lambertville - New Hope Winter Festival
January 27 - 31, 2010
Advance tickets available online www.winterfestival.net
Celebrating a healthy, invigorating cold-weather experience in the two river town communities to demonstrate that they are alive
and well in the winter months with exciting and diverse activities.
The Lambertville – New Hope Winter Festival is a two-town, two-state, five-day celebration of parades, ice-sculpting, music, art and entertainment that spans the Delaware River. The twin towns of Lambertville, N.J., and New Hope, Pa., host the annual event filled with free, family-friendly fun as well as ticket-only special events.
Atlantic City Indoor Auto Racing - January 29 & 30, 2010
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ
The Atlantic City Indoor Auto Races are for everyone!. The highlight race is the 2010 "Gambler's Classic" a 40 lap TQ / Microsprints feature race for the top 25 cars that qualified through a series of heat and consolation / last chance races. The Atlantic City indoor race track is a tight 1/8 mile paved oval that is sure to please every type of race fan. You will several wild and crazy accidents, the open wheel TQ Midgets can on occasion flip upside several times safely.
