Central Jersey Music Festivals
and Free Summer Concerts

Discover The Best Central Jersey Music Festivals and Free Summer Concerts. Features Concerts with Blue Grass, Country, Rock, Jazz, and Folk.

The popular Central Jersey music festivals typically appear at large, destination venues, mostly outdoors, and at indoor live music venues. Music enthusiasts of all ages and interests can enjoy blue grass, country, rock, jazz, folk, contemporary, indie, and many other types of music.

Many local communities offer Free, summertime weekly concert series, a short drive from your home.

July 2024 Central Jersey
Music Festivals

The Princeton Festival
July 7-22, 2024
Morven Museum & Garden
55 Stockton St
Princeton, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
The Princeton Festival is a beautiful music, opera, and more tented pavilion on the grounds of beautiful Morven Museum & Garden. With opportunities for picnicking, socializing, and exploring the Museum's main building and superb garden before events.

Soulsational Music Festival
Saturday, July 27, 2024; 11:00 am to 8:00 pm (rain or shine)
Veterans Park
Bayville, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This family event features live music on two stages, crafters, vendors, free yoga, vegetarian and organic food, food trucks, a beer garden, and a kids' village.

August 2024 Central Jersey
Music Festivals & Events

Hi-Tide Summer Holiday: Asbury Park
August 16 - 18, 2024
Asbury Lanes & The Asbury Hotel
Asbury Park, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
This annual music festival features a weekend of Surf Music, Tiki Cocktails, Pool Parties, Record Hops,Seminars & more.

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.

September 2024 Central Jersey
Music Festivals & Events

Sea.Hear.Now Festival
September 14, 15, 2024; 12:00pm
North Beach and Bradley Park
Asbury Park, NJ
Buy Tickets: TicketNetwork | Vivid Seats | TickPick
The event features a music, surf culture, and arts festival with over 25 performances over two days on three stages, all on the gorgeous Asbury Park Waterfront.

Middlesex County Jazz estival
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 2024
(rain or shine)
At multiple locations in Edison, Carteret, Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, Metuchen & Woodbridge, NJ
Visit their site to learn more
Free Admission
This Middlesex County, multi-venue event features a live jazz festival with a common experience by neighboring towns and their sharing of love of jazz music.

Asbury Park PorchFest
Saturday, September 28, 2024
Visit their site to learn more
This family-friendly, free event features more than 600 performances by an amazing group of local bands ranging from Americana to Rap, from blues to Broadway. The Porchfest is a 501c3 charity to support local underserved familes.
Bring your own folding chair, water, and an umbrella just in case we get sprinkles or to block the sun. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes!

2024 FREE Central Jersey Summer Concerts

Summertime in New Jersey features many fun-filled, inexpensive neighborhood outdoor concerts. Most of the venues suggest bringing a blanket or chair.
Below are some of the popular concerts taking place at local parks, downtown areas, and beaches:

Aberdeen Twp Summer Concert Series
Every Tuesday night, from 6-8pm, beginning July 9th and ending August 27th, 2024, with an additional concert with the Independence Day Celebration, July 2nd.
Veteran's Memorial Park
Ocean Blvd & Lakeshore Dr.
Aberdeen Twp, NJ
Performers Schedule
There will be a different band each week.

Asbury Park Thursday Night Concerts
Every Thurday night @ 7pm beginning on July 4th and ending on August 29th, 2024
Pryor BandShell
5th Avenue Pavilion on the Asbury Park Boardwalk (entrance on Ocean Avenue)
Asbury Park, NJ
Schedule of performers

Brick's Summerfest Concert Series w/ Fireworks
The Thursday series will feature popular bands, a food court, a beer and wine garden, and fireworks after each show.
Thursday evenings, July 4, 11, 18, 2024; @ 7pm
Windward Beach Park
265 Princeton Ave.
Brick, NJ
Schedule of Performers

Downtown Freehold "Thursdays Rock" concerts
Thursday evenings beginning June 6th through August, 22nd, 2024: from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
Hall of Records plaza
Main Street.
Freehold, NJ
Admission to the concerts is free.
Schedule
These free concerts feature widely known groups and local talent that attract audiences from the greater-Freehold area and beyond, attracts people of all ages.

Flemington Music Under the Stars Concert Series
On select Thursday evenings, beginning Thursday, June 27th, until Thursday, August 8th, 2024; @7:00pm
Deer Path Park
120 West Woodschurch Road
Flemington, NJ
Schedule of performers
Deer Path Park offers awesome scenic vistas, especially at sunset, for spectators to enjoy. The park also offers plenty of room for the entire family to spread out a blanket, have a picnic dinner.

Highlands Thursday Summer Concerts
Thursday evenings beginning June 20, ending on August 29th, 2024; 6:30 pm - 8:00pm
Veteran's Memorial Park
51 Bay Avenue
Highlands, NJ
Performers schedule
Bring your chairs & blankets

Long Branch Summer Free Concert Series
Schedule
The concert series includes several programs Including:
Bands By The Beach - Sundays beginning June 9th, ending August 25th, 2024 7-8:30pm, at West End Park
Thursday By The Sea - Thursdays beginning June 13th, ending August 29 (with fireworks) 2024, 7 - 8:30pm, at Pier Village
Tuesdays on Broadway - Tuesdays beginning July 9th, ending August 27th, 2024, 7 - 8:30pm at the Broadway Band Shell.

Princeton - Summer Music Series
Beginning Saturday, July 13, until Saturday August 19, 2024; 5:00pm to 7:30pm
Nassau Park Pavilion
510 Nassau Park Blvd
Princeton, NJ
Schedule of performers and activities
Features and evening of music by local talent in a variety of genres, along with free art activities for both youth and adults.

Princeton - Sunset Sips & Sounds
Every Friday night, June 2nd through September 8th, 2024
Grab a glass of one of their award-winning wines, a tasting flight, or a wine slushy, sit back, relax, and enjoy live music from local artists each week. Styles range from Jazz and Blues to Folk and Rock. Music from 5pm-8pm.
Terhune Orchards Vineyard and Winery.
330 Cold Soil Road
Princeton, NJ
Schedule of performers

Rahway Free Concert Series
On select evenings beginning May 4th through October 4th, 2024
Arts District
Downtown
Rahway, NJ
Performers & Venue Schedule
Features local musicians ranging from funk, rock, Latin, or jazz sounds.

Seaside Heights Carteret Ave Concerts on the Boardwalk
Every Saturday & Sunday night @ 6pm beginning July 6th, and ending on August 25th, 2024.
Carteret Avenue Stage
Seaside Heights, NJ
Performers Schedule

Seaside Park Monday Night Summer Concert Series
Monday nights beginning June 24th until August 26th, 2024 @ 7:30pm
Seaside Park Municipal Complex
Police Station Lawn
1 Municipal Plaza
Between 5th and 7th Aves
Seaside Park, NJ
Schedule of performers

Woodbridge Mayor's Summer Concert Series
Concerts each night of the week from June 11th until September 24th, 2024; @ 7:30Pm
At various venues including: Parker Press Park, Herbert Rankin Park, Joseph R. Lewis Concert Field,
Schedulule of performers and locations
Bring a lawn chair and non-perishable food donation to refill local food pantries.

"Hot" Tickets for Upcoming
Central New Jersey Concerts

Sammy Hagar & Loverboy July 27, 2024, PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

Earth Wind and Fire and Chicago, August 3, 2024, PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

Creed - Summer of '99 Tour August 7, 2024 PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster |

Avril Lavigne, August, 23, 2024, PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

Something Corporate - Out Of Office Tour , Friday, August 23, 2024, Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | Seat Geek

Almost Queen w/The Super 70's, Friday, August 30, 2024, Stone Pony Summer Stage, Asbury Park, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | Seat Geek

Sea.Hear.Now Festival, September 14, 15, 2024, North Beach and Bradley Park, Asbury Park, NJ
Buy Tickets: TicketNetwork |Seat Geek

Tickets to Events at Popular
Central Jersey Entertainment Venues

Algonquin Arts Theatre, Manasquan, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

Asbury Park, NJ - Music/Concert Venues
Buy Tickets: TicketNetwork
Wonder Bar - Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster
Stony Pony - Buy Tickets : Seat Geek

Count Basie Center For The Arts, Red Bank, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork

Mercer County Festival Grounds, Princeton Junction, NJ
Buy Tickets: TicketNetwork

PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork | SeatGeek

Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork | SeatGeek

State Theatre, New Brunswick, NJ
Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster | TicketNetwork | SeatGeek

Two River Theater, Red Bank, NJ
Buy Tickets: TicketNetwork

Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, official, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official tickets.
Affiliate Disclosure: Many of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you click through them and buy tickets, I receive a commission at no cost to you. This money helps support my site, and I do my best to use the profits to provide you with as much detail and free information about New Jersey leisure activities as I am able.