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New Jersey Guide Newsletter - September 2021 edition
August 31, 2021

New Jersey Leisure Guide Monthly Newsletter
September 2021

With the official end of summer not far off and the weather still very pleasant to enjoy outdoor activities, September is a great month to catch up on visiting attractions and participating in outdoor activities before it turns cold. With the crowds at the Jersey shore having dwindled, and the ocean water still warm in southern NJ, popular destinations like Cape May, Wildwood and Ocean City are excellent choices for a weekend getaway or late season vacation.

This Edition's Contents...

  • Popular September Events & Things To Do
  • Seasonal Frequently Asked Question
  • This Month's Featured Restaurant

    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.


September 2021 Events & Things To Do .

Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival
September 3, 2021; 5 - 9pm
Glassboro Town Square
1 Main Street West
Glassboro, NJ
Website
Cost: Free; Parking Free
The viewing area will be on Rowan Boulevard in Downtown Glassboro and an anticipated 5,000 attendees will have the opportunity to view over 300 vehicles while listening to live music, DJ Pepper Paul 92.1 and enjoying great food trucks and cold craft beer. Participants compete for a multitude of trophy awards judged by car professionals.


Lead Fest
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 3, 4, 5, 2021
Hilton Parsippany
1 Hilton Ct.
Parsippany, NJ
Website
Tickets & information: (908) 876-9100
This family oriented, oldies festival is a high quality classic car and Rock 'n' Roll show. It features more than 34 live bands and musicians plus five DJ's inside and out, classic cars, trucks and exciting cruisers, food trucks, and indoor and outdoor dancing.


The 49th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival
September 3, 4, 5, 2021
Salem County Fairgrounds
725 Route 40
Pilesgrove Township, NJ
Website (Line-up, schedule, and Tickets)
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.


Airfest 2121
September 3, 4, 5, 6, 2021; 10 AM – 4 PM
NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum
500 Forrestal Road
Cape May Airport
Rio Grande, NJ
(609) 886-8787
Website
Cost: Adults $14, Kids 4-12 $10, 2 and under Free. AirFest admission is FREE if you are a Member of Naval Air Station
This annual event features all new aircraft, Tuskegee Airmen, live music, beer garden, vendors, exhibitors, classic cars & more.


Trenton Pork Roll Festival
Saturday, September 4, 2021: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM 
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ 08611
Website/Tickets
Whether you call it Pork Roll or Taylor Ham ... this cult favorite meat, still made in Trenton, is one of Jersey's most beloved edible treasures. This event features Food trucks & guest chefs, a Beer garden and full bar, Live music stage, their superhero mascot, P-Roll. VIP option for the ultimate experience Games and fun for kids and adults alike.


Central Jersey Jazz Festival
September 10, 11, 12, 2021
at Three Venues
Website/Schedule of performers
Free to the public
Experience the Sounds of Today's Best Live Jazz at 3 Outdoor Venues in Central Jersey:
Flemington, Friday, September 10, 2021
New Brunswick/ Metuchen, Saturday, September 11, 2021
Somerville, Sunday, September 12, 2021


New Year's in North Wildwood
September 10th & 11th, 2021; Rain date is Sunday, Sept 12th
Olde New Jersey Ave.
North Wildwood, NJ
Website
609.522.2955
Admission: Free
Both the top Mummers Brigades AND top Mummers String Bands from the New Year's Day Parade in Philadelphia will entertain crowds in the pub district of North Wildwood. The excitement kicks off Friday night at 6 p.m. with the Fancy Brigade Pub Crawl through local drinking establishments in the North Wildwood Entertainment District. A colorful Mummers parade will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday along Olde New Jersey Avenue where you can get up-close views of the beautiful costumes and intricate dance steps. (Fancy Brigades begin at 3 p.m. and the String Band Grand Finale begins at 4:30 p.m.)


6th Annual NJ Taco Festival
Saturday, September 11, 2021; 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
The Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
Website/tickets
This event features over 50 of the Tri-State Area's Best Taco Producers alongside a variety of Craft Beer and Specialty Cocktails. Their main stage has a full day of Live Music and Culinary Inspired Competition. This is a family friendly event with a Kids Zone featuring inflatables, face painting and more.


Annual Feis
Sunday, September 12th, 2021; 8:30 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M.
Sussex County Fairgrounds
Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
Facebook
This event features a step dancing competition, music, art, Irish language, massed bands, food, Irish vendors, and a beer garden.


Boots at the Beach
September 17, 18, 19, 2021; (Rain or shine)
Olde New Jersey Ave
North Wildwood, NJ
Website
Free Outdoor event
Southern New Jersey's largest country festival features Country bands, Dj's, line dancing, food, and Country vendors crafts and wares. All in a great outdoor setting by the seaside in beautiful North Wildwood. A good Olde Time for the entire family. The event includes an open air concert and vendors for people to choose from. The event is held on Olde New Jersey Avenue in the Entertainment District that allows many options for guests in the areas of beverages, food, and many other entertainment options.


The XPoNential Music Festival
September 17 - 19, 2021; (3:00 PM - 10:00 PM)
Wiggins Park
1 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103
Web Site/Tickets
Contact: Blaire Brinster, Phone: 215-898-6677, Email: [email protected]
This annual music festival features 3 days with 30+ performers on three stages with an eclectic line-up of established and up-and-coming artists. heard on WXPN 88.5FM, the award-winning Philadelphia public radio station. Acts coming to the festival include Dawes, Los Lobos, Ani Difranco, Strand Of Oaks, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, and more.


Downbeach Seafood Festival
September 18 & 19, 2021
Ski Beach
Dorset & Burk Ave
Ventnor, NJ
Website
With most of the restaurants attending as brick and mortar Atlantic County restaurants, the Downbeach Seafood festival will allow attendees to experience this seaside community as a culinary destination. It is also an excellent opportunity for foodies and food seekers to meet some of Atlantic County's most unique chefs and restaurateurs, all while eating their tasty creations. This event also features. Jersey made craft beers, cooking with local chefs, shopping unique exhibitors, children's activities and amusements, live Sand Sculpting/ Kids Sand Sculpting area, Live Music, Complimentary Demos, and Seminars.This venue has unobstructed bay views and allows for our guests to get creative with their transportation modes, welcoming non-motorized water vessels to dock on it's shores. 
The Downbeach Seafood Festival will support the Community Food Bank of New Jersey through the widely-popular Chowder Cook-Offin.


Ocean City Airport Festival & Parachute Pyrotechnic Show
September 18, 2021; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Municipal Airport
26th & Bay Ave.
Ocean City, NJ
609-399-6111
Website
Features a ground display of unusual airplanes ranging from World War II Planes to Classics and Warbirds. The event will conclude with a Parachute Pyrotechnic Show from Team Fastrax at 8:00 PM, This event consists of several highly trained and specially licensed Team Fastrax™ demonstrators exiting the aircraft 6,000 feet above Ocean City's Beach & Boardwalk. Brilliant white or multi-colored projectile pyrotechnics are then ignited and flown in formation, creating a dazzling display for spectators on the ground, concluding with a landing on the 7th St Beach. Viewable along the entire Boardwalk.


Sea.Hear.Now Festival
September 18 - 19, 2021
North Beach & Bradley Park
Asbury Park, NJ
Website & Tickets
Sea.Hear.Now is committed to raising awareness about the issues facing our ocean environment, including the global plastic waste crisis and climate change.
Two days featuring over 25 performances on three stages, all on the gorgeous Asbury Park Waterfront. The event features music, surf culture and arts festival features over 25 performances, food from regional and local restaurants including vegan, vegetarian & gluten-free options, specialty items from dozens of art vendors with giveaways with Bars & concessions throughout the park and beach Water stations with free refills.


Hot Air Balloons - Fun & Games Festival
September 24, 25, 26, 2021
Warren County Community College
475 Route 57 West
Washington NJ
Website
This fun family event features Hot Air balloon rides, live entertainment, food trucks, drone flying demos & lessons, and more!


Annual Rock the Farm Festival
September 25th, 2021; Noon - 10pm (rain or shine)
Grant Avenue
Seaside Heights, NJ
Cost: $35 to $195
Website- Tickets & Line-up
Rock the Farm is a premier family friendly music festival, featuring 10 hours of world class music across two stages, with a family-friendly kid-zone, Beer & wine garden, craft vendors, food trucks, games, and the infamous foam dance party.
All proceeds from the festival benefit CFC Loud n Clear Foundation, an organization that promotes positive life choices by aiding drug recovery efforts. CFC has been featured on CBS, NBC, Fox, NJ 101.5, and so much more. CFC has assisted over 7,500 families since conception in 2012.


Margate Fall Fun Fest by the Bay
Saturday & Sunday, September 25, 26, 2021
Throughout the city of Margate, focusing on business areas.
Margate, NJ
Website
This family event features food, music (on two stages), crafters, kid's activities, character parade, and more.
With over 125 booths and activities; a true celebration of the season, the beautiful bayfront, and the friendly spirit of the people of Margate! Fall Funfest is FREE and loaded with new entertainment and activities including music, games, back-bay nature tours and educational exhibits. New this year is a Saturday, Cornhole Tournament, open to everyone –
There will be classic Fall Funfest decor throughout the city of Margate, focusing on business areas. Strolling acoustic musicians, characters for kids, entertainers, and virtual contests such as a Pumpkin Photo Contest and Receipts are All the Rage. In person activities include a treasure hunt, The Pet Salon Pics with Pets with professional photos by PhotoGraphics Photography and Congo Falls Margate is open for family fun mini golf!


Water Lantern Festival 
September 25, 2021
Liberty State Park
30 Audrey Zapp Dr
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Website/Tickets
Cost: $40,99, $45.99, $50.99, $60.99 - Price varies by purchase date from/until August 24th and ending on day of event on Sept 25th.
The Water Lantern Festival is filled with fun, happiness, hope, and great memories that you'll cherish for a lifetime. This is a family friendly event that can be shared by everyone. Friends, families, neighbors, and lots of people that you haven't met can come together to create a peaceful, memorable experience.
While they're called many things such as lantern festivals, lights festivals, floating lanterns, water fest, or Chinese lanterns - only Water Lantern Festival allows you to Light The Water in a way you'll never forget. Now you can experience the magic of thousands of lanterns as the soft lights reflect upon the water.
All lanterns will be cleaned up after the event by their awesome staff. In addition, they pick up any trash that may have previously been in or around the water. The lanterns are made from rice paper and wood so they are as eco-friendly as possible and they reuse and recycle the LED candles.


11th Annual Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival
Sunday, September 26th, 2021: from 12 noon to 6 p.m. (Rain Date: Sunday, October 3rd)
White Street Municipal Parking Lot
Red Bank, NJ
(GPS Address: 40 White Street,
Red Bank, NJ 07701)
Website
This event features a huge food, beer & music festival with tons of delicious food to sample from, local artisans to shop from, kiddie rides and some of the best Jersey Shore musicians.
The event will be a culinary feast with tons of GUINNESS and fresh OYSTERS plus Red Bank's favorite restaurants will be serving a variety of specialty menu items including everything from Fried and Raw Oysters to Filet Mignon Sandwiches to Lobster Rolls and more!


Seasonal Frequently Asked Question:

Question: Fall Weekend Getaway for a Family. We are a family with young kids and are planning a weekend October overnight trip somewhere in NJ to experience the best of fall. What can you suggest?

Answer: In New Jersey, fall colors tend to peak around Columbus Day Weekend and with the weather still pleasant, this is the best time to get out and enjoy the fall. To experience fall with all it's beautiful colors, rolling hills and mountains, I would suggest an overnight trip to either Hunterdon County, Warren County or Sussex County. Always popular with kids is pumpkin picking. Halloween events (some not so scary) are also very popular. For more active families with kids who enjoy getting out in the woods, there are a number of easy hiking trails in each of the three counties,
For information on Fall events visit Fall Activities and Events


This Months Featured Restaurant

The Surfing Pig
231 W 10th Ave
North Wildwood, NJ
Website
North Wildwood's only bay front dining restaurant, is a summer hot spot enjoyed by diners looking for a casual Jersey Shore waterfront setting with great sunset views, live entertainment, full bar service, and a well prepared slow cooked smoked barbecue and seafood menu..
Read Review


Top Ten Things To Do in September - The popular NJ seasonal outdoor and indoor activities, events, attractions, and points of interest for people of all ages.

Your Guide To The Best Apple Picking Farms In New Jersey - If you love apples and enjoy getting out with the family for a fun activity, head on out to a pick your own apple farm and take home fresh, fully ripened, and flavorful appless --- apples that you aren't able to get at the local supermarket.

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


Monthly Events - This page has links to events that appear in future months, usually 3-4 months in advance. The Monthly newsletter that you are receiving includes many of the events found on the pages

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