Experience the Best 2025 Free Summer Concerts and Music Festivals in Central New Jersey
Discover the Rhythm of Central New Jersey's 2025
Outdoor Summer Music Festivals
Central New Jersey boasts a vibrant music scene, particularly in the summer, featuring numerous outdoor music festivals and free concerts.
These outdoor summer concerts vary widely, from affordable events in local community parks showcasing local performers to pricier larger venues hosting top international acts.
Attending these events offers the opportunity to enjoy a diverse range of music genres and talents while exploring different areas of New Jersey.
Here’s a glimpse at some notable outdoor summer concerts in Central Jersey:
Central NJ 2025 Summer Outdoor Concerts @
local community and Jersey Shore venues
Sound.Wav Music And Arts Festival
Saturday, July 12, 2025; 1pm - 10pm ( rain or shine)
Pat's 30 Acres
4103 W Hurley Pond Rd
Wall Township, NJ
This community music festival for 18+ ages features
a showcasing of the tri-states electronic dance music performers on two Stages with a vendor village featuring art, clothing, and more.
Somerset Folk Harp Festival
July 17-20, 2025
The Westin Princeton
at Forrestal Village
Princeton, NJ
This event features a celebrationof the diversity of music, talent and experience of the folk harp world. The festival with offers over 100 workshops and over 28 presenters, and inspirational daily concerts.
Sourland Mountain Festival
Saturday, August 16, 2025; 3pm - 8:30pm (rain or shine)
Unionville Yards
9 Rocktown Road
Ringoes, NJ
This annual family event features the communities of the Central New Jersey region coming together to present the best in musical talent, local food and drink, family fun, with a spectacular view. Festival-goers get to enjoy several hours of music, food, wine, spirits, craft beer, vendors, family activities, history, critters and wildlife education.
Long Branch Jazz and Blues Festival
Saturday, August 23, 2025; 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
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.
Bay Zara Music Festival
Saturday, Sunday, September 6, 7, 2025
Keansburg, NJ Beachfront
This two-day weekend celebrationbrings together music, culture, and community with a line-up of performers including: Better Than Ezra, The Ataris, The Fresh Kids of Bel Air, Vertical Horizon, Jesses Girl, Williams Honor, Bird Streets, and Dirty Old Gangsters
Sea.Hear.Now Festival
September 13, 14, 2025
North Beach and Bradley Park
Asbury Park, NJ
Buy Tickets: TicketNetwork
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, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September 24th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 2025
(rain or shine)
At multiple locations in Carteret, New Brunswick, Metuchen & Woodbridge, NJ
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 27, 2025
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 under-served families.
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!
Central NJ Summer Outdoor Concerts @
larger venues hosting top international acts.
Thomas Rhett: Better In Boots Tour 2025
Thursday, July10, 2025
PNC Bank Arts Center,
Holmdel, NJ
Styx, Kevin Cronin & Don Felder
Sunday July 20, 2025
PNC Bank Arts Center
Holmdel, NJ
Toto, Christopher Cross, & Men at Work
Friday July 25, 2025
PNC Bank Arts Center
Holmdei, NJ
Nelly, Ja Rule & Eve
Saturday Jul 26, 2025
PNC Bank Arts Center
Holmdei, NJ
Goo Goo Dolls & Dashboard Confessional
Friday Aug 1, 2025
PNC Bank Arts Center
Holmdei, NJ
Cody Jinks
Thursday Aug 7, 2025
Stone Pony Summer Stage
Asbury Park, NJ
2025 FREE Central Jersey Summer Concerts
Aberdeen Twp Summer Concert Series
Every Tuesday night, from 6-8pm, beginning July 8th and ending July 29th, 2025, with an additional " Jazz in the Park Concert" held at Cambridge Park, on Saturday, October 11 from 6-8pm.
Veteran's Memorial Park
Ocean Blvd & Lakeshore Dr.
Aberdeen Twp, NJ
The Asbury Park LIVE series
@ 7pm beginning on June 26th and ending on August 29th, 2025
First Avenue Green Space
located next to Watermark and MOGO Korean Fusion Tacos
on the Asbury Park Boardwalk.
Features 20 fan favorites and emerging local performers playing original pop, rock, hip hop, soul and funk music.
Belmar Friday Night Concerts
Every Friday night beginning May 23rd and ending on August 29th, 2025
Pyanoe Plaza
9th Avenue and Main Street
Belmar, NJ
All shows take place from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bring your own lawn chairs and cooler with refreshments.
Brick's Summerfest Concert Series w/ Fireworks
Thursday evenings, July 3, 10, 17, 24, 2025; @ 7pm
Windward Beach Park
265 Princeton Ave.
Brick, NJ
The Thursday series will feature popular bands, a food court, a beer and wine garden, and fireworks after each show. Parking at Windward Beach Park fills up really fast during Summerfest, so you'll want to get there early in order to park and grab a good spot to sit.
Freehold's Thursday's ROCK! Summer Concert Series
Beginning Thursday, June 5th and ending Thursday, August 25th, 2025: @ 7:30pm
Hall of Records
Main Street
Freehold, NJ
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
Freehold Jazz, Blues & More Summer Concert Series
Every Sunday July 6th through August 24th, 2025: 7 – 9 pm
The Downtown Gazebo
Main Street.
Freehold, NJ
Flemington Music Under the Stars Concert Series
On Thursday evenings, beginning
Thursday, June 26th, until Thursday, July 31, 2025; @ 7pm with a special season ending concert Saturday, August 9th, 2025
Deer Path Park
120 West Woodschurch Road
Flemington, NJ
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
Every Thursday night from June 26 through July 31, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
Veterans Memorial Park
corner of Shrewsbury Avenue and Bay Avenue
Highlands, NJ
Bring your lawn chairs, sit back, and enjoy a great lineup of live music in a beautiful waterfront setting.
Lavallette Summer Concerts
Sunday nights, beginning July 6th and ending August 31st, 2025, @ 7pm
at the Gazebo
Lavallette, NJ
In the event of a postponement due to weather, the concert will be held on the following Monday.
Long Branch Summer Free Concert Series
The concert series includes several programs Including:
Bands By The Beach - Sundays beginning June 8th, ending August 24th, 2025: 7-8:30pm, at West End Park
Bands on the Sand - July 13th, August 10th & Septermber 1st, 2025; 7-8:30pm, at West End Park.
Thursday By The Sea - Thursdays beginning June 12th, ending August 28th (with fireworks) 2025, 7 - 8:30pm, at Pier Village.
Tuesdays on Broadway - Tuesdays beginning July 8th, ending August 26th, 2025, 7 - 8:30pm at the Broadway Band Shell.
Princeton - Summer Music Series
Every Saturday, beginning June 7th , until August 23, 2025; 1-3pm
On The Green
Palmer Square
Princeton, NJ
Features an eclectic mix of music that brings Princeton to life. From acoustic covers to classic rock and jazzy favorites, there's something for everyone to enjoy! Find a spot at one of our picnic tables or bring your own chairs and blankets for an afternoon of fun in the sun.
Rahway Mayor's Summer Concert Series
On Friday evenings from August 1st through August 29th, 2025
In Front of UCPAC
1601 Irving St
Rahway, NJ
Features local musicians ranging from funk, rock, Latin, or jazz sounds.
Seaside Heights Monday Concert Series
Every Monday night beginning July 7th and ending on Monday, August 25th, 2025:@ 7pm
Franklin Avenue Stage
Seaside Heights, NJ
Seaside Park Monday Night Summer Concert Series
Monday nights beginning June 30th until August 25th, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Seaside Park Municipal Complex
Police Station Lawn
1 Municipal Plaza
Between 5th and 7th Aves
Seaside Park, NJ
Woodbridge Arts Summer Concerts
Concerts on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, & Thursdays, from June 10th until September 30th, 2025; @ 7:30Pm
At three venues: Parker Press Park, Herbert Rankin Park, Woodbridge High School,
Woobridge, NJ
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