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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

COVID-19 executive orders in effect apply to large outdoor public gatherings such as concerts, festivals, and fireworks, and are limited to 500 persons.

indoor performance venues, including concert venues can reopen. Face masks and social distancing will be required and capacity will be capped at the lesser of either 25% of the venue's capacity, or 150 people.. Indoor nightclubs that have dance floors have to remain closed. Restaurants and bars may resume indoor dining at 25% capacity and with social distancing between tables

With near term 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 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
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.

Sunflower Festival
September 25th through end of October 2020: 9am to 6pm, 7 days per week
Holland Ridge Farms
86 Rues Road
Cream Ridge, New Jersey 08514
Website
In the fall, the fields come alive again for the Sunflower Festival. Guests can wander through the towering rows of Sunflower and enjoy the warmth and happiness they inspire. While you are at the farm take the time to stroll through our barns, visit the animals and enjoy some of the charm of Holland in the Good 'ole Days museum and Holland Shop. Learn about Holland in the Hollandwood Theatre and get all your questions about flowers, including how they get their color, from their Pollinator. The Pollinator helps to create the rainbow of color in our fields.
State guidelines for COVID-19 will be enforced

Pumpkin Train
Every Saturday and Sunday from October 3, 4 to October 31, 2020
Black River & Western Railroad Flemington Station
80 Stangl Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
Website
This event includes:
Entry to 6 acre corn maze.
Tractor-pulled wagon ride.
Petting zoo (additional charge to feed the animals).
Kids' corn box play area.
Hay bale maze for smaller children.
Music / DJ and games.
Aadditional purchase required for:
Pick-your-own pumpkins, cash only.
Concession stand with seasonal treats.
Local produce and seasonal decor for sale.
Covid-19 restrictions are in place

The Haunting at the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel
October 23 thru November 1, 2020
Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel
1401 Ocean Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Tickets
Cost: $50 – $666.66
**VIP Tickets Include a seating at the exclusive Halloween speakeasy inclusive of welcome cocktail, passed hors devours & spooky drink specials!
***VIP Overnight Experiences include VIP Tickets + an overnight stay in one of our Haunting Experience Hotel Rooms
Recommended for ages 16+ Guests under 16 are permitted entry with a parent or guardian.
Experience an Immersive Halloween Tour of 13 Haunted Rooms at the Berkeley Hotel in Asbury Park.
The Haunting is an immersive halloween experience where guests will tour the hotel's 13 Haunted Rooms. Wear your best costume (or a face mask) and get those cameras ready - because you're in for 13 scenes of terror and Halloween fun.
Guests will have the opportunity to score amazing halloween pictures and be totally freaked out as they tour 13 haunted rooms across the sealed off areas of the hotel. Enter the Haunting and get ready for 13 Rooms, 13 Scenes, 13 Frights and 13 Screams
Each group will have an opportunity to explore the paranormal activity at the Haunting, and immerse themselves into a Halloween Wonderland filled with spooks and thrills!
This scary event includes strobe lighting, serious terror and loud music.





October 2020 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events


Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve - Drive-in
Wednesday, October 7 to Sunday , October 11, 2020
Woosley Park
221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Hopewell Township, New Jersey
(609) 281-5887
info@hvartscouncil.org
Website/tickets (Purchase tickets in advance or at the gate during hours of operation)
Admission: $25 per vehicle (1-6 occupants) $40 per vehicle (>6 occupants) $100 per bus.
This years event will be a drive-thru Event
This family event will feature 40 colossal pumpkins will be carved and electrified by the area's most talented artists and displayed in a beautifully illuminated drive-thru all from the comfort and safety of your vehicle!
Ffriday & Saturday live bands perform from 7pm – 9pm, Sunday all-day fun and DJ with NJ Sings LLC

Somerset County’s 15th annual Journey through the Past
October 10, 11, 2020; (In Person on: Saturday, October 10th from 10:00am to 5:00pm Sunday, October 11th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm …and virtually throughout October)
20 Grove Street
Somerville, New Jersey
Web Site
Contact: Robert Meyer, Phone: 908-231-7021, Email: rmeyer@co.somerset.nj.us
Event Cost: Free
Make a vibrant connection to history at Somerset County’s 15th annual Journey through the Past! If it is permissible and safe to do so, several Somerset County historic sites will be open free to the public. The Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission asks that all visitors, and all participating historic sites and their attendant organizations comply with the current State and County health, safety and social distancing protocols during this event.
New this year is a series of virtual experiences that can be accessed online. Please visit www.SCHistoryWeekend.com as you plan your trip and before you travel for the most up to date information and to access virtual material.

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.

Atlantic Highlands Fall Classic Car Show
October 17, 2020: 10:00am — 4:00pm (Rain date 10/24)
First Avenue Business District
68 First Ave.
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
732-872-8711, email at LoriAnne@TheWriteAngles.com.
Website
The Atlantic Highlands Fall Classic Car Show will feature over 150 antique and collectible cars. Beautiful cars will be displayed along First Avenue, the main business district. There will also be food trucks, sidewalk sales, vendors in Veterans Park, live entertainment, and lots of family fun. Businesses will offer special promotions to mark the joy of this event!

Fall Allaire Music Jamboree
Saturday & Sunday, October 17, 18, 2020 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
The Historic Village at Allaire
4263 Atlantic Avenue
Wall Township, NJ 0772
Website/Tickets
Cost:: $5 – $18
This event features local bands from NJ performing a variety of Bluegrass and Folk music! Multiple stages and jam sessions through out the day!

Asbury Park Trick or Treat
October 31, 2020: 1pm - 3pm
City Hall Parking Lot
1 Muncipal Plaza
Asbury Park, NJ
Facebook page
Contact: Leesha Floyd, 732- 502-5750 or Sgt. Mike Casey, 732- 502-5705
This is a Walk/Drive-thru event. Every one is invited to trick or treat with the Asbury Park Recreation and Police Departments..
Adults must accompany children in order to get a Halloween Goodie Bag. Masks must be worn, social distancing required.





July 2021 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning
July 23 - 25, 2021
Solberg Airport
39 Thor Solberg Rd
Whitehouse Station, NJ
Website/tickets
This very popular family festival features 3 days of hot air ballooning with approximately 100 giant hot air balloons, live concerts with performances by Grammy award winners, children's amusement rides; a 5K race; exhibits, hundreds of vendors, and an awesome fireworks display on Friday evening





September 2021 Central Jersey Family Festivals and Events

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. The lineup for the festival is decidedly rock-heavy with alt-rockers Incubus and folksy surfer dude Jack Johnson headlining the two days, which will feature three stages -- two on the beach just north of Convention Hall and one in nearby Bradley Park -- and more than two-dozen of bands. This years big draws include; Dave Matthews Band, The Lumineers, Dropkick Murphys, Dispatch, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Work In Progress, Brick + Mortar, and many more.





More New Jersey Family Festivals