Top Columbus Day Weekend Events in New Jersey

2019 Celebrations, Parades, and Popular Events

Discover what's happening during the 2019 Columbus Day weekend with celebrations of parades, events and festivals in New Jersey.

Columbus Day celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas, on October 12, 1492, or as some historians claim, that event set in motion the chain of events that led to the discovery of the United States as we know it today.

With a large immigration of Catholics during the mid-19th century and in response to discrimination from anti-immigrant activists, most notably the Ku Klux Klan, Catholics created organizations to combat discrimination and provide a means of survival for struggling immigrants.

The Knights of Columbus who chose that name in part because they viewed Christopher Columbus, a Catholic as the icon of the struggle of Catholic immigrants and their pursuit of citizenship.

Today many Italian-Americans and Italian-American organizations such as the Sons of Italy and the Italian-American Association observe Columbus Day as a celebration of their heritage.

The first known celebration of Columbus Day began in New York City, a city with a large Catholic population, occurred on October 12, 1866.

Columbus Day was first celebrated as a holiday in the United States as a result of the efforts of Angelo Noce, a first generation Italian, in Denver. In April 1934, as a result of lobbying by the Knights of Columbus, Congress and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set aside October 12 as Columbus Day and a Federal holiday.

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.

Stay tuned --- we will be updating this list as our sponsors confirm this year's events

2019 Northern Jersey Columbus Day Weekend Festivals, events, and Parades

Nutley-Belleville Columbus Day Parade
Sunday, October 6, 2019; Noon
Franklin Avenue
At the Oval
Nutley, NJ
Website
Contact: Pasquale Meola at 973- 489-7002 or email at pmitalia57@aol.com.
One of the largest Columbus Dasy parades in northern New Jersey, will step off at noon Sunday from Belleville High School, then proceed north on Franklin Avenue toward Nutley. At Holy Family Church in Nutley; a flag-raising ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at Belleville Town Hall.

Jersey City Columbus Day Parade
Saturday, October 12, 2019; 1pm
Website
The parade starts at 6th & Newark, goes east to Grove Street, right on Grove and comes to an end City Hall with a street fair celebration.

Dunellen HarvestFest
October 13, 2019: 11am -4pm (RAIN OR SHINE)
Washington Park
N. Washington Ave., between Dunellen Ave. & First St.,
Dunellen, NJ 08812
732-968-3033
Website
This Family event will feature artists and crafters from around the Garden State, local nonprofits, activities for kids, foods, music, dancing, and more!

2019 Central Jersey Columbus Day Weekend Festivals, events, and Parades

Annual Sea Isle City Italian-American Festival and Columbus Day Parade
Saturday October 5, 2019; 11:00 am until 6 pm
KIX-McNutley's, 63rd Street
Sea Isle City, NJ
Website
609-263-4461 x 1230 or 609-263-6341
The Parade starts at 2:00 pm in front of the Italian-American Club and ventures down Landis Avenue and ends at KIX-McNutley's, 63rd Street where the Italian Festival will be happening.
The festival grows larger every year with 40 food, craft and various merchant vendors that attended last year.

Annual Deerfield Township Harvest Festival
October 10, 11, 12, 13, 2019; 12:00 PM until 10:00 PM
Rosenhayn Fire and Rescue and Frank LoBiondo, Sr. Park
GPS: 678 Morton Avenue
Bridgeton, NJ
Website & Entertainment Schedule
This event pays tribute to local farmers and salutes Country Stars & Stripes. The festival's outstanding entertainment lineup features local and regional entertainers coupled with established and rising national performers. It also includes a parade, arts & crafts show, mascot mania, amusement rides and games, a Songfest competition, dessert baking challenge, multi-cultural food court and fireworks on Sunday @ 9:30pm. Bring your own chairs.

5th Annual LBI FLY International Kite Festival
October 11th - 13th, 2019
Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island, NJ 08008
609-361-3395
Website
Celebrate Columbus Day weekend with brilliant colorful artist design kites, fun flying giant inflatable kites and the amazing show of sport kiting to our beautiful island. Many of these fliers are invited guests in prestigious festivals around the world. This free and cross-generational event will yield even more spectacular and unusual kites this year – as well as displayed at local galleries prior to the festival

Annual Atlantic City Columbus Day Weekend Comedy Festival
October 12, 13, 2019
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Tickets
Attendees will experience hilarious, side-splitting humor from some of the nations most noted, critically acclaimed comedians. The all-star line-up features comedians Sommore, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, Mark Curry, Mike Epps, Lavell Crawford, huggy lowdown, and others.

Fall Block Party & Fireworks Spectacular
October 12th, 2019; 9am – 5pm
5th – 14th Streets on Asbury Ave.
Ocean City, NJ
609-399-1412
Website
This family event features over 400 crafters, food, vendors, music and and a grand finale fireworks display fireworks viewed over the boardwalk from 6th – 14th Streets in the evening.

Annual Pine Barrens Jamboree at Wells Mills Park
October 12th, 2019; 10am - 4:30pm (rain or shine)
Wells Mills County Park
905 Wells Mills Rd, Rt. 532
Waretown, NJ
Website
Parking and admission FREE
This annual event features a fun filled day of music of the pines, cultural demonstrations, traditional crafts, nature and history programs. Attendees will sit under the big tent and enjoy a fun filled day of county, bluegrass and traditional music presented by the musicians from Albert Music Hall.

Avalon Seafood Festival
Saturday, October 12, & Sunday, October 13, 2019
30th St. & Beach
Avalon, NJ 08202
609-967-3936
Website
This family festival features fresh and local seafood from area restaurants, craft and seasonal beer and wine and live entertainment. Children's activities including face painting, balloon art and even a family-fun Art Bar! Be sure to return on Sunday for the famous Chowder Championship at 1pm.

Downtown Wildwood Chili & Chowder Cook-off Festival
October, 12, 13, 14, 2019: Saturday Noon to 9 pm., Sunday Noon to 8 pm, & Monday 11 am to 5 pm.
Byrne Plaza
3400 Pacific Ave.
Wildwood. NJ
(732) 481-2311
Website
Don't miss the Columbus Weekend Chili & Chowder cook-off at Byrne Plaza. Food trucks & local tent vendors, artisan & bacon related vendore, FREE family & kids activities (to include but not limited to corn hole, kam jam, lawn Jenga, Connect Four and face painting) wine and craft beer tasting and sale in garden/tent area. Sat: & Sun: DJ & live band, Monday, DJ.

South Jersey Pumpkin Show
October 12, 13, 2019; Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
Salem County Fairgrounds
735 Harding Highway
Woodstown, NJ 08098
Web Site
Contact: Kathryn Wright, Phone: 856-765-0118, Email: sjpumpkinshow@aol.com
This festival features three- days of family fun with contests, artists, craftsmen, home products, a pumpkin pyramid, entertainment, food, wine, amusement rides, a Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, headless horsemen, scarecrows, Little Miss & Mister Pageant, dog parade, Boo Barn and more.
Contact: Kathryn Wright, Phone: 856-765-0118, Email: sjpumpkinshow@aol.com
The South Jersey Pumpkin Show has become one of the best ways to welcome the autumn harvest with kids and parents alike.Festival goers visiting will enjoy pumpkin desserts, 100+ craftsmen, Salem County Fall Home Show, fun contests, give-a-ways, wine sampling, giant food court, NJ Largest Baked Pumpkin Pie, pony rides and hayrides around the fairgrounds. The festival will host a variety of live musical acts daily.

Italian American Festival & Car Show
October 12, 2019; 11 am - 4pm
5300 North Park Drive
Pennsauken, NJ
Website
856-986-9737
This event features a day rich in tradition featuring Italian food, kids activities, entertainment, local wine tastings , a beer garden, and a car show featuring Italian made autos!

2019 Southern Jersey Columbus Day Weekend Festivals, events, and Parades

4th Annual LBI FLY International Kite Festival
October 5th - 8th, 2018
Ship Bottom
Long Beach Island, NJ 08008
609-361-3395
Website
Celebrate Columbus Day weekend with brilliant colorful artist design kites, fun flying giant inflatable kites and the amazing show of sport kiting to our beautiful island. Many of these fliers are invited guests in prestigious festivals around the world. This free and cross-generational event will yield even more spectacular and unusual kites this year – as well as displayed at local galleries prior to the festival

Annual Sea Isle City Italian-American Festival and Columbus Day Parade
Saturday. October 6th, 2018; 10:00 am until dusk
In front of the Italian American Club on JFK Boulevard
Sea Isle City, NJ
Website
609-263-4 461 x 1230 or 609-263-6341
The Parade starts at 2:00 pm in front of the Italian-American Club and ventures down Landis Avenue and ends at KIX-McNutley's, 63rd Street where the Italian Festival will be happening.

Fall Block Party & Fireworks Spectacular
October 6th, 2018; 9am – 5pm
861 Asbury Ave.
Ocean City, NJ
609-399-1412
Website
This family event features over 400 crafters, food, vendors, music and and a grand finale fireworks display in the evening over the ocean.

Wildwoods Seafood and Music Festival
October 6th, 2018; 11 am - 8 pm; Rain date Sun. Oct.7th
Atlantic Avenue (between Wildwood and Schellenger Avenues)
Wildwood, NJ 08260
609-729-4000
This family event features live music, crafters, food vendors, pie eating contest & much more!
Two stages of free musical entertainment. A "Kids Korner" with activities including pumpkin painting, crab hat making and inflatable bounce houses will take place from noon - 5 p.m.

29th Annual Cranberry Fest
October 6, 7, 2018
Downtown Bordentown, Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ
609-414-0828
Website
This family event features live music. a beer garden. "Family Friendly" Kids Zone, and over 150 artists and artisans, crafters and makers in offering one of a kind, handmade, vintage, and upcycled treats to nourish both the heart and the home.

Atlantic City Columbus Day Weekend Comedy Festival
October 6, 7, 2018
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Tickets
Attendees will experience hilarious, side-splitting humor from some of the nations most noted, critically acclaimed comedians. The all-star line-up features comedians Sommore, bruce bruce, earthquake, guy torry, tony rock, buck wild, mike epps, rickey smiley, lavelle crawford, tony roberts, & huggy lowdown.

Avalon Seafood Festival
October 6th, 7th, 2018; 10 am - 5pm
30th St. & Beach
Avalon, NJ 08202
609-967-3936
Website
This family festival features fresh and local seafood from area restaurants, craft and seasonal beer and wine and live entertainment. Let's Party Events will be on-site with children's activities including face painting, balloon art and even a family-fun Art Bar! Be sure to return on Sunday for the famous Chowder Championship at 1pm. Entertainment will be provided by Sound Advice Lounge, live-streaming the weekend's College and NFL football games throughout the weekend.

27th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival
Sunday, October 7, 2018; 11am - 4pm (raindate: Oct. 14th)
The Studio at Mainstage
27 South Black Horse Pike
Blackwood, NJ
Website
This annual festival features food, games, live music, and crafters, including four stages of entertainment, amusement rides, hayrides, pumpkin painting and carving, scarecrow making, a costume contest, and more.

Follow Us: