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Central Jersey Family Festivals: Discover The Best Themed Events

Your Guide to The Best Central Jersey Family Festivals: Features 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!

State of NJ

At this time, and until further notice,  COVID-19 executive orders  in effect apply to large public gatherings such as concerts, festivals, fireworks,  and inside restaurant dining and bars, resulting in either closures or restrictions in operation.

Some outdoor recreational areas and businesses have been able to restart their operations. These include; Restaurants, beginning June 15,  will be allowed to open for outdoor dining.  Beaches, State and Municipal Parks, and recreational campgrounds. State parks are open for passive recreation, including fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking,  jogging, biking, birding, horseback riding, and more.

Limits on people gathering outdoors have been increased from 10 to 25, including picnics and cookouts.  However, indoor gatherings are still limited to 10 people.

With near term, (prior to June 30) cancellations occurring at a rapid rate, and despite trying to remove them as soon as we learn of the cancellations or restrictions, we  recommend viewers contact the event sponsors before heading out to a listed event to confirm their status.

2020 On-line & Multi-Date, Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

Six Flags Great Adventure Safari adventure - drive-through experience
1 Six Flags Blvd.
Jackson, NJ 08527.
Website
Starting May 30, 2020, this drive-through format enables guests to enjoy the Safari's 1,200 exotic animals from the privacy and safety of their own vehicles, while allowing for proper social distancing. To prevent overcrowding, the Safari experience will require advance registration using Six Flags' new online reservation system. Once the opening date is confirmed, the reservation system will be activated to allow Members, Season Pass Holders, and single-day ticket holders to make reservations at www.sixflags.com/reserve. All tickets must be purchased online and in advance. Sales will not be available at the gate, and guests without advance reservations will not be allowed to enter.
Per state, local, and federal guidelines regarding COVID-19, the theme park and waterpark will remain closed until further notice.

Princeton Museum On-line Events
Website/Schedule/Zoom link
They offer a variety of scheduled lectures where participants will have the opportunity to put forward questions at the conclusion of the conversation. There also have online projects you can complete with children at home using materials on hand.
A zoom link will be published closer to the event.

Brick's Summerfest Concert Series w/ Fireworks
Summerfest will be held on four Thursdays in July, & August, 2020, each event featuring fireworks, food trucks, a beer and wine garden and – of course – the backdrop of Windward Beach and the Metedeconk River.
265 Princeton Ave.
Brick, NJ
Website
732-262-1044
Concerts with Fireworks schedule:
July 2nd - 7:30pm to 9:00pm - Super TransAM
July 23rd - Tribute to the 80s (7:00pm to 7:55pm) and 90s (8:10pm to 9:05pm)
Aug. 9th - 7:15pm to 8:45pm - The Nerds
Aug. 16th - 7:30pm to 9:00pm - The Amish Outlaws

Springsteen: His Hometown
Postponed until further notice
Monmouth County Historical Association
70 Court St.,
Freehold, NJ 07728
Website / Tickets
Cost: Adult $15, Senior $12, Student $12, Freehold Boro Residents $0
"Springsteen: His Hometown" displays over 150 unique items featuring selections from both the Monmouth County Historical Association and The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music at Monmouth University.

June 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

Seaside Heights Drive-In Movie: The Secret Life of Pets 2
June 6, 2020; @8pm
Hiering Avenue Parking Lot
60 Hiering Avenue
Seaside Heights , NJ 08751
Website/Tickets
Admission is free
Attendees are asked to abide by social distancing guidelines, stay inside your vehicle for the duration of the show, and maintain social distancing if you need to use the restrooms provided on Kearney Avenue on the boardwalk.

July 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

Oceanfest at Long Branch
July 4, 2020; 10:00am — 10:00pm 732-222-0400
Long Branch Promenade
1 Ocean Blvd.
Long Branch, NJ
732-222-0400
Website
This annual family friendly festival features an awesome variety of fun activities. It's offers plenty of live music, food festival, craft sales kids activities, and a spectacular fireworks display

Minefaire, an Official MINECRAFT Community Event
Saturday, July 11, & Sunday July 12, 2020
New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
97 Sunfield Avenue
Edison, NJ 08837
Website /Tickets
Cost: $59.98 – $89.99 - Children 2 and under are free
This event features entertainment, gameplay, and educational content to inspire the next generation. Attend and get ready to meet many of your favorite YouTubers, participate in build battles, witness amazing stage performances, attempt world records, learn from the world's top MINECRAFT mentors and experts, and so much more!

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes - Live Drive-in Concert
Saturday, July 11, 2020
Monmouth Park
iOceanport, NJ
Tickets, $150 per vehicle and $225/$250 for gold circle
Websute/Tickets
800-745-3000
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes will perform live and in person in the grandstand general parking lot.
The concert, presented by the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, will benefit Basie arts programs and the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. Up to 1,000 vehicles, four occupants per vehicle, can be accommodated.

Rugged Maniac 5k Obstacle Race
July 18, 19, 2020: 8:30 am - 5:30pm
Raceway Park
230 Pension Road
Englishtown, New Jersey 07726
Web Site/ Registration
info@ruggedraces.com
General Admission: Free for Festival: $59 plus tax for race participants
This event is 50% Festival & 50% Mud run
The Festival:
The 5,000-person party starts at 8:30 a.m. (Sat. and Sun.) with a DJ on the main stage, booths giving away free stuff, all kinds of interactive games (dance-offs, stein-hoisting, pie-eating...), and tasty food and beer to keep you fueled all day. The best part? The festival and games are completely Free, no ticket required, so even your least adventurous friends can join the party!
The Playground:
This is where the real fun happens. The 3-mile course packed with 20+ epic obstacles designed to both challenge and thrill Maniacs of all fitness levels, from couch potatoes to marathoners.  The course opens at 9 a.m. but you'll select a specific time to run when you buy your tickets. If you're a late sleeper, that means you can wake up at noon, run at 1:45 p.m., and then party the rest of the day!  Or if you're the competitive type, join the 9 a.m. "Elite Heat" to race other speedsters for a chance to be crowned the winner!
Each time slot is limited to just 200 Maniacs each, so grab your friends and reserve your spot before it sells out!

August 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

The New Jersey Jerk Fest
Saturday, August 1, 2020
Arbor Rescue Squad Lot
1790 West 7th Street
Piscataway, NJ 08854
Website
Cost: $5 - $10
The New Jersey Jerk Fest is anticipating to be the largest Caribbean Festival in the New Jersey. It has a broad general market appeal as the popularity of 'Jerk' transcends easily across the New Jersey area's dynamic, multi-ethnic population.
This family event features local chefs and restaurants cooking up variations of Jerk food, Food trucks and food vendors, Local performers & Live stage acts, A Beer garden, Craft and other shopping vendors, Bouncy Houses and other Kids Activiies

September 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

Jersey Shore Festival
Rescheuled to: September 11-12, 2020: (rain or shine)
Seaside Heights, NJ
Website (Information and line-up)
(732) 203-7787
FREE ADMISSION,
This family event event features performances by over 150 artists from around the world. Aside from the music, the Jersey Shore Festival also includes activities that are fun for the whole family including Motocross Shows, the JSF Vendor Village, and much more!

Trenton Pork Roll Festival
Saturday, September 5, 2020: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM 
Trenton Social
449 South Broad Street
Trenton, NJ 08611
Website
Cost: $5
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 (alias: Casey Taylor) VIP option for the ultimate experience Games and fun for kids and adults alike.

October 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

Barktoberfest - Fall Festival and Pet Expo
 Rescheduled to October 3rd, 2020
Island Beach State Park
Swimming Area 1
Website
Cost: free with a suggested $8 donation
This annual family event features a pet expo, with food trucks, entertainment, crafters, a dog walk, K-9 Demos, and more.

4th Annual Jazz & Blues Street Fest
Sunday, October 11th, 2020; from 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Main St.
Downtown, Freehold, NJ
Website - Line-up
This event takes place on West Main Street between Court Street and Throckmorton Street in Downtown Freehold. featuring talented and well-known musicians from the Tri-State Area and beyond. Many vendors are participating with a variety of items from hand rolled cigars being made in front of you to hand crafted jewelry made from sea glass, metal, gem stone, etc. We will also feature vendors with t-shirts, clothing, handmade dog biscuits, soaps, honey & more.

More New Jersey Family Festivals



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