Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events
2024 Edition

Features Central Jersey Family Oriented Music,
Food, Entertainment and Fun Activities

The Central Jersey family festivals feature festivals and events with special themes and are known for having good music, food, entertainment, skilled artisans and performers, fun activities, crafts, and more!

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.

Multi-Date Central Jersey Family
Festivals and Events

Night Forms
Now until April 7, 2024 ( Friday – Sunday, Sunset – 10PM )
Grounds for Sculpture
80 Sculptors Way
Hamilton, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: $24 - $30, children under 5 free
This evening multi-sensory light and sound experience features a landscape of creative exploration through lighting, sound, and video projection mapping. This audio and visual exhibition offers new perspectives on these works and multi-dimensional space.

April 2024 Central Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

Tulip Festival
Weather permitting, beginning early April and remain in bloom for two to three weeks.
Holland Ridge Farms
86 Rues Road
Cream Ridge, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This popular family spring flower festival features an awesome display of tulips .... a top New Jersey spring photo opportunity Visitors will get to enjoy food trucks, a bakery, farm animals, a gift shop and merchendise store.

Paranormal Cirque III
April 11 - 14, 2024
Freehold Raceway Mall
Parking Lot
Freehold, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: $20.00 – $60.00
A fusion of Circus, theatre, and cabaret under the striped big top tent.

Allentown Daffodil Days Festival
April 17 – 24, 2024
Historic Village of Allentown
Allentown, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Free Event
The Festival is full of family-friendly events set amongst 4,000 daffodils planted by volunteers all across town. Meet King Alfred Daffodil and his court amongst the blooms of Sensi Park with free activities for children.

New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival
April 19th, 20th, 21st, 2024
New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: $25-$40. Children: 10 and under free with paying adult
This event features a variety of horror films with an opportunity to mingle with big names in horror productions. Visitors will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A sessions and vendors from around the Horror scene

Brick Fest Live
April 20, 21, 2024
New Jersey Convention & Expo Center
Edison, NJ
BuyTickets: TicketNetwork | TickPick | Vivid Seats
Features life-size models made from tens of thousands of bricks built to unlock your imagination.
Visitors will get to enjoy hands-on activities and attractions assembled for maximum family-fun.

Lambertville Shad Fest
April 20 & 21, 2024; 11am - 5pm, both days, Rain or shine
Downtown
Lambertville, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This popular central Jersey spring festival features children's activities, live music, a home & garden section, a farmer's market, a food court, and the region's finest artists and crafters featuring hand-crafted art, jewelry, home and garden items, and more.

Annual Central NJ Empanada Fest
Saturday, April 27, 2024; 11am - 7pm
Mall Street
Manville,NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This fest features empanadas, BBQ, All-American, and Asian delights from the top food trucks in town! Includes Empanada trucks and a variety of other cuisines, Live Music, Beer & Wine, kids activities, and Craft Vendors

New Jersey Folk Festival
Saturday, April 27, 2024; 10 am - 4pm (rain or shine)
Passion Puddle on Cook Campus.
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
The family spring festival features music, dance, and art activities as part of Rutgers Day. This year's theme "Garden State: Cultures of Cultivation" will explore the many creative and culturally unique approaches to the arts of gardening, agriculture, and food.

May 2024 Central Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

Highlands Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl
May 4, 2024: 12pm - 5pm (rain or shine)
Huddy Park
301 Shore Dr
Highlands, NJ 07732
Visit their site to learn more
This Fiesta features a sampling of Margaritas withh attendees voting for their favorite!
Live Mariachi music will be playing at the participating restaurants to add an authentic Mexican flair to the event!

BBQ Jamfest!
Sunday, May 5, 2024; 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm (rain date May 21st)
Downtown Point Pleasant Beach
710 Arnold Ave
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate
An outdoor cookout with family and friends! The event features Live Music, Cornhole, Prizes, and more.

Annual Azalea Festival
Saturday, May 11th, 2024: 10am-4pm (Rain Date: Sunday, May 12th)
Sayen Park Botanical Garden
155 Hughes Drive
Hamilton Square
Hamilton Township, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Held only on Mother's Day weekend each year. This event takes place in the historic Hamilton Square, Sayen House and Gardens, a sanctuary for nature lovers, garden enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Enjoy seeing over 250,000 flowering bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendron, In addition to touring the grounds' collection of beautifully landscaped walking paths, fountains, bridges, lakes, gazebos, and breathtaking scenery, attendees can enjoy crafters, food, music, entertainment, and more.

Thompson Park's Annual Creative Arts & Music Festival
Saturday, May 11, 2024;@ 10:00am - 4:00 pm
Thompson Park
805 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: Free
This is a juried art festival, open to artists of all mediums. In addition to the art vendors, the day will be filled with art demonstrations, live music, and food vendors.

New Jersey Seafood Festival
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, May 17, 18, 19, 2024
Silver Lake Park 5th and Ocean Ave
Belmar, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Admission: Free
This popular family-friendly event offers an ultimate feast of crowd-pleasing fare — from gumbo, lobster rolls, and jambalaya, to coconut shrimp, crab legs, conch fritters, and more.
In addition to some great seafood, live music is also a big part of the Belmar Seafood Festival. The lineup of bands includes popular area musicians performing live during all three days of the festival.

Asbury Park Vegan Food Festival
Saturday & Sunday, May 18, 19, 2024; 11AM - 5PM (This event is rain or shine)
Bradley Park
101-199 5th Ave (Across the street from Convention Hall)
Asbury Park, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: $15 - $35. Kids 13 and under are free.
This two-day celebration features tasty vegan and plant-based meals from local chefs, as well as vegan products, plant-based fashion, live music and good times.

Walnford Day
Sunday, May 19, 2024: from 11:00am to 5:00pm
Historic Walnford
Walnford Road
Upper Freehold, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Free Event
This family-friendly event offers visitors the chance to explore this historic site and see its 19th century gristmill in action, tour the elegant Waln family home, and go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. Demonstrations for the day include blacksmithing, loom weaving, basket weaving, 18th century music, and more.

Bradley Beach Memorial Day Weekend Festival
Saturday & Sunday, May 25, 26, 2024; from 9am-7pm
on the Bradley Beach Boardwalk
Visit their site to learn more
The festival includes crafters, food, live music, and Family Fun, long the promenade with entertanment both Days
Parade on Saturday, at 10am and runs along Ocean Ave.

Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
May 25 - 27, 2024; 11am-5pm
Monmouth Park Racetrack
175 Oceanport Ave.
Oceanport, NJ 07757
Visit their site to learn more
Free admission with free parking
This Memorial Day weekend festival features over 30 mouth-watering food trucks. Sample everything from Lobster Rolls to Mac & Cheese to Fried Oreos. Live music 12-4pm all three days on two stages. Family Fun Day events – including clowns, face painters, pony rides and a bounce house, will take place from 12-4pm in the picnic area on Saturday and Sunday.

June 2024 Central Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

2nd Annual Pride Fest in the Park
Saturday, June 1, 2024; noon - 6pm
Huddy Park
329 Bay Ave.
Highlands, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Free Admission
This event features a celebration the LGBTQ+ community! with an afternoon of live music, food & specialty vendors, and a wine and beer garden.

Robbinsville Community Festival
Saturday, June 8 2024: @ 2pm - 9:30pm ( rain date on June 9)
Community Park
West Manor Way and Gordon Road
Robbinsville, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Free Admission
This family event features live music, food trucks, prizes, rides, fun activities and more.
The grand finale wiill be the fireworks display at dusk.

246th Anniversary of the Battle of Monmouth Reenactment
June 15-16, 2024
Monmouth Battlefield
16 Highway 33-BR
Manalapan, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This event features a 1770s reenactment of a revolutionary war battle. The army encampments will also feature soldiers clean their muskets while their women prepare what may be their men's last meal.

St Gregory Carnival
June 17 - 24, 2024
4620 Nottingham Way
Hamilton Square, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This family fun event features carnival games & rides, food, fun attractions, and fireworks shows on Tuesday & Saturday evenings

13th Annual Taste of Highlands
Saturday, June 22, 2024; noon - 5pm (rain or shine)
Huddy Park
329 Bay Ave
Highlands, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Cost: $45.00 (Includes samplings, a map and free parking)
This event features an afternoon of samplings and cocktails in a half-squrare mile of over twenty Highlands restaurants and establishments.

Phillipsburg Ole Towne Festival
Saturday, June 22, 2024; 2pm - 9:30pm
Walters Park
1 Meyner Road
Phillipsburg, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This annual event features a celebration filled with a children's fun zone, local vendors, food trucks, games, contests, and the grand finale fireworks display.

August 2024 Central Jersey
Family Festivals and Events

Long Branch Jazz and Blues Festival
Saturday, August 24, 2024; from 1 PM - 9:30 PM (Rain or Shine)
The Great Lawn on the Long Branch Promenade
Boardwalk at 10 Ocean Blvd
Long Branch, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Free Event
This family music festival features a mix of strong national and local musicians performing live Jazz and blues on stage. There will be food trucks, crafters, kids activities, and fireworks at dusk.