The Best Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

These popular festivals occur at venues in all corners of NJ and have wide appeal with families with kids.

They feature events with special themes and are known for having good music, food, entertainment, skilled artisans and performers, fun activities, crafts, and more!

Note: This information is provided by event sponsors as a free service to our viewers. 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

Holland Ridge Farms Tulip Festival
April 21, 2018 until May 6, 2018; 7 days/week, 9 am til 6:00 pm
Holland Ridge Farms
86 Rues Road
Cream Ridge, NJ,
609.448.7483
Website
The farm is modeled after the great tulip fields of Holland with our tulip fields designed by the same former architect, Jan Guldemond, of the famed Keukenhof, Holland. The barns that have been converted to educational sites relating to tulips; a museum, history of tulips theatre, hand made baskets.with Bouquets of fresh cut tulips will be available at their on-site flower store. For those wanting the full farm experience, simply wander through our designated U-pick area and build a bouquet of unique tulips to take home, for a small fee. There is also an food vendor on-site, with fresh baked goods and a covered picnic area, For kida enjoyment, Holland Ridge Farms is also home to the cutest barn animals around.

April 2018 Central Jersey Family Festivals And Events

Kites at the Pier
April 14, 15, 2018: 9AM-4PM
Pier Village
Ocean Ave & Centennial Dr
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
Web Site
Contact: Lynn Zientek, Phone: 732-923-0100, Email: lzientek@wmapts.com
Event Cost: Free except for amusement rides and vendors
Join in for some great family fun! Featuring kite flyers from all areas of the eastern seaboard flying their most incredible creations!
Every kind of kite imaginable will be at the festival. Kites of all shapes and sizes – from inflatable flying creatures to traditional kites – will be flying high over the beach between Avenue and McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch. A dazzling display of giant kites will be visible for miles and miles. Giant kite experts including the Dallmer family, Mike Pignolet and Don Petty, Jeff Burka, Paul & Tina Keeler, the Klopp family and others will be lofting some giant sea and land creatures.
In addition, both kids AND parents, can join in on the Running of the Bols competition where bragging rights will be awarded to parents and their kids as each group vies to earn this prestigious title! A favorite way to play with the wind, each competitor latches on to an 8 foot diameter parachute-kite and runs head first into the wind from a starting line to the finish line – an exhausting and exciting time!
And -- for more fantastic fun there is the kids Candy Drop! A kid’s dream come true – candy falling from the “sky” – with the sky being a kite. Individually wrapped candy is parachuted up a kite and when the whistle blows, the candy is released for kids to grab – and of course, to see who can get the most candy!

Red Bank International Beer Wine & Food Fest
Sunday, April 22nd; Noon - 7:00pm, (Rain Date: Sunday, April 29th)
Red Bank Municipal Parking Lot
(White Street, between Maple Ave & Broad St)
GPS Address: 62 White St
Red Bank, NJ
Website
Cost: $5.00/person, 10 and under free
This family event features international food from Red Bank area restaurants, a large selection of beer & wine, live entertainment on two stages, kids area and family fun, and unique crafters & vendors.

Annual New Jersey Folk Festival
April 28, 2018
Douglass Campus
Rutgers University
New Brunswick
Website
A family friendly one day folk festival featuring three stages of music, dancing, craft vendors, children's activities, and food.This years theme will be Native Americans in New Jersey.

Lambertville Shad Festival
April 28, 29, 2018
Downtown Lambertville
11 Bridge St
Lambertville, NJ 08530
609-397-0055
Website
This family event Features over 80 of the area's finest artists and crafters, great foo, and live family entertainment. Shad Fest has lots of ways for families to join in the fun. The Kids' Bazaar in the North Union parking lot gives kids of all ages the chance to create their own arts and crafts, from making candles to printing T-shirts. And, the Lambertville Station parking lot has carnival rides! Face Painting, Sand Art, and other children's activities. The Food Court has everything from taco salads to crab cakes! There will also be shad chowder, hot dogs, kettles corn, hamburgers, fries and fresh lemonade! The educational shad seining demonstrations down at Lewis Island where the Delaware River Basin Commission will be teaching us about how to test water quality. Over 150 original art posters, created and donated by local artists, are on display and will be auctioned off on Sunday to raise money for scholarships

Rutgers Day
April 28, 2018; 10am - 4pm
At their three campus' Camden, New Brunswick, and Newark
Website
This spring family event features hands-on learning activities in the sciences, arts, and humanities; enjoy performances by musicians and dancers; see exhibitions and demonstrations hosted by accomplished professors and students! And the excitement doesn't end there. Alumni Weekend takes place the last weekend in April to coincide with Rutgers Day.

May 2018 Central Jersey Family Festivals & Events

Kite Day
May 5, 6, 2018; 10am - 5pm
Terhune Orchards
330 Cold Soil Rd.
Princeton, NJ 08540
Website
609-924-2310
Admission to the festival area is $5, age 3 and up
Bring your own kite or choose a kite from the store. Or, make a "guaranteed to fly" kite. Then, test fly your kite in our pasture with the farm animals looking on. The farm will ring with country music and entertainment all weekend. Tour the orchards and fields in a tractor-drawn farm wagon. The sheep will be shorn on Sunday and children can take home a piece of real fleece. There will be special activities for children in the barnyard including make your own pinwheels. The whole family will enjoy Terhune Orchards' apples, cider, donuts, pies, chili, hot dogs, fresh, grilled asparagus, salads, soup and more.

New Jersey Seafood Festival
May 18, 19, 20, 2018
Silver Lake Park
5th & Ocean Aves.
Belmar, NJ 07719
732-747-4449
Website
Admission: Free
This annual family event features many new activities and attractions for the whole family: Live music, wine and craft beer tent, contests, kids' activities, craft vendors, and of course the tastiest seafood around.
Parking and Shuttles at the NJ Seafood Festival Free parking at the Municipal parking lot at 5th and River Road and Dempsey Park on 16th Avenue. Free shuttles will run through Belmar continuously from 11 am until 8 pm on Saturday and 11 am until 6 pm on Sunday, with stops at the Marina, the Belmar train station, delivering visitors to the end of Silver Lake at 5th Avenue (right next to the festival)

Jersey Shore Festival
May 18, 19, 20, 2018
Beach and Boardwalk
Seaside Heights, NJ
Website
The Jersey Shore Festival is a free-admission event on the beach, boardwalk, and in select bars and venues in Seaside Heights, with over 300 live performances from artists from all over the country and the world. The Jersey Shore Festival is also a great place for musicians to network with some of the top music industry professionals that will be on hand for mentoring and workshops. Other attractions include a Vendor village, Pros vs. Heroes flag football game, BMX and MX stunt shows, and much more.

Pet Fest
May 19, 2018
Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor
2 Simon Lake Dr.,
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
732-787-4275
Website
Free admision & parking
This family event features a day for all things Pets. Make sure you bring your Pets, or your love for Pets.
They will have plenty of fun waiting- from vendors with crafted treats for you and your pets, to adoption opportunities- FREE seminars- a doggie parade- Cool Pet Tricks Contest all topped off with a "Me -n- My Pet" Costume Contest! Live music, Beer & Wine Garden, Vendors, and Kids activities

20th Annual Family Fun Buffalo Watch
May 19, 2018; 9AM - 5PM (rain or shine)
Readington River Buffalo Farm
937 County Road 523
Flemington, NJ 08822
Web Site
Contact: Buffalo Bob, Email: buffalowatch@whitehouserescue.com
Event Cost: $5 donation for on-site parking
This event features an outstanding line-up of family fun activities and some great attractions for the adults too. You’ll have the rare opportunity to get a close-up view of bison and their newborn calves. Their tour guides will give you an education on the wagon trail and provide fun facts about these magnificent animals and the incredible 300+ acre farm they call home.
Your day will include farm tours, live bands, civil war reenactment camps, WWII army equipment, blacksmith demonstration, live wild west cowboy shows, native American Indian, wolf preservation animal and much more. In addition, there will be a good selection of crafters, collectors, memorabilia and antique vendors if you’re looking for that something special to wear, display or cherish as a keepsake.
The children love the pony rides, face painters and hay wagon tour rides. If its’ the food you’re looking for don’t forget to stop for Italian Ices, Soda, BBQ, Pizza, Burgers, hot dogs, popcorn, or pastries. The farm owners are again grilling buffalo burgers.
There will also be a handful of food truck vendors that are well known and part of the NJ food truck Association. That should pair well with a cold glass of beer or wine from the “Red River Saloon”. The Saloon is for those 21 and over. This custom designed bar captures the spirit of a 1800 gunslinger saloon.
Guests are advised to wear sturdy shoes and to bring binoculars.

Waterfront Arts Festival
May 26, 2018
Perth Amboy Waterfront
Sadowski Pkwy.
Perth Amboy, NJ 08861
732-826-1690
Website
This family event features a Show & Sale of Original Art, Arts & Crafts for Kids, Live Bands, Food Trucks, and more.

June 2018 Central Jersey Family Festivals & Events

National Marina Day-Pirate Spirit!
June 9, 2018; 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Leonardo State Marina
102 Concord Ave
Leonardo, New Jersey 07737
Web Site
Contact: Maggie Mitchell, Phone: 732-291-1333, Email: Maggie.Mitchell@dep.nj.gov
Free Admission
This family event features a FREE day of fun andan opportunity to show your pirate spirit! Lots of activities for everyone! Find treasure at our flea market and take a paddle on the bay! Dress as your favorite pirate and walk the plank in our pirate parade! Prizes awarded for age groups 0 - 5 yrs old,
6-10 yrs old, 11-15 yrs old & 16 and up!
FREE youth fishing tournament with amazing prizes!! Visit our Nature Center and learn about the animals, watch a live snake feeding, free crafts and more!

Bradley Beach Lobster fest
June 23 & 24, 2018 ( Saturday 11 am - 8 pm, Sunday 11 am - 6 pm)
500 Ocean Avenue
Bradley Beach, NJ
Website
Free event!
Bradley Beach comes alive this weekend with it's popular oceanfront family event featuring live music, great lobster, beer & wine, crafts, and plenty of kids activities.
Highlighted by 6 bands and a DJ emcee, over 180 craft and specialty vendors, a beer & wine garden and children's activities including water slide, rides, face painters and sand art.

September 2018 Central Jersey Family Festivals & Events

Berkeley Township Community Pride Day
Saturday September 8, 2018; 10 am - 10pm
Veterans Park
489 Forest Hills Parkway
Bayville, NJ
732-269-4456
Website
Free event
This annual family event featureslive entertainment, fireworks, games, prizes and fun for the entire family. The day begins @ 10am with rides and inflatable's for the kids. The late afternoon will begin with musical entertainment at 5:30pm with the Symphonics, who perform a variety of music from the 1940's thru today, followed by Eaglemania known for their uncanny ability to sound like the Eagles note by note. After the show, there will have a fabulous fireworks display.