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.

Lenape Day
Saturday, October 12, 2019: 12 PM - 4 PM
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
247 Southern Blvd.
Chatham Township, NJ
973.635.6629
Website
This popular annual family event celebrates the Lenape people with dancing, drums, vendors, and historical talks by the Ramapough Lenape People. Enjoy games, crafts, touring a replica wigwam, and more! Great fun for the entire family

10th Annual Sussex County Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival
October 12, 2019; 10am - 4pm
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Branchville, NJ
Free event
Website
This family festival is a celebration of agritourism, ecotourism and arts & heritage tourism. The County of Sussex, the Sussex County Beekeepers Association and the Garden State Garlic Growers are joining with the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show to showcase New Jersey's great northwest. There will be a farmers market where you can buy fresh, local Sussex County and Jersey Fresh products including fruit, vegetables, flowers and wine. The Sussex County Beekeepers Association will have educational displays and materials along with an array of honey products.

West Milford Autumn Lights Festival
October 12, 2019; 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Union Valley Rd
West Milford, NJ
Website
The Autumn Lights Festival first started 20 years ago as a celebration to West Milford for getting its first traffic light! In the beginning it was just the town gathering on the lawn of Town Hall.
Today it has grown to a street fair that has over 300 vendors, live music, child activities, games and rides. With about 20,000 'ALFers' that visit throughout the day.

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

Ocean County Columbus Day Parade & Italian Street Festival
Friday, October 11th, 4:00pm to 10:00pm, Saturday, October 12th, 10:00am to 10:00pm, and Sunday, October 13th, 2019; 10:00am to 8:00pm
Parade: Sunday, October 13th, at 1:00pm on the Boulevard, Seaside Heights.
Floats, bands, antique cars, contests, clowns, etc
Grant Avenue from Bay Blvd. to Boardwalk
Seaside Heights, N.J
Website
Celebrating the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Festival. A fun filled weekend of food, friends, and Italian Culture.

5th Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve
Friday October 11 – Monday October 14, 2019 (Columbus Day – Kid's Day!)
Woosley Park
221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Hopewell Township, New Jersey
(609) 281-5887
info@hvartscouncil.org
Website
Admission: Adults: $15; Youth: $5; 4 & under: Free!
This family event features a four-day exhibition and celebration of giant carved pumpkins carved by local artists. This event has become a local autumn tradition. with evening storytelling around fire pits, pumpkin sales & painting for kids, humongous hay bale playground, scarecrows decorated by participating community groups, (a new) Art Walk art show & sale, live music and dance performances, s'more kits & cider, photo op-boards, and more!

Hometown Harvest Fair
Saturday, October 12, 2019; 10am - 4pm, rain or shine
North Main Street/Rt. 33
Hightstown, New Jersey
Website
Held annually on Columbus Day Weekend, this family festival is designed to bring awareness to the community, to bring commerce to local business and sponsors, and to provide fun for the children. The celebration now encompasses all of our historic Business District with the addition of food trucks, live music, special attractions, and much, much more! With an eclectic mix of nostalgic flair and modern entertainment, the Hometown Harvest Fair has a little something for everyone in your family.

5th Annual Columbus Day Weekend Oktoberfest
Saturday & Sunday, October 12 & 13, 2019
527 Lake Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ
732-997-8767
Website
The Jersey Shores Authentic Oktoberfest Celebration in their tented Biergarten Roof top. Continuing the celeberation that began with the Royal Wedding on October 12, 1810 of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen enjoy Food, Beer, Oktoberfest Merchandise, and Live Polka Bands

Columbus Day Pumpkin Fest
Monday, October 14h, 2019; 11 am - 4 pm
Delicious Orchards
320 Rt. 34
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
732-462-1989
Website
Held annually on Columbus Day, this festival features fun for all ages. The day includes: Pumpkin Painting and Decorating, Fun Games, Antique Tractor Display, Live Music, and free food samples

2019 Southern 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.

Lima Bean Festival
Saturday, October 12, 2019; 9am-5pm (rain date Oct 13th)
Wilbraham Park
Perry Street
West Cape May, NJ
609-884-9325
Website
The lowly legume takes center stage delighting locals and visitors alike with her vast array of recipes, crafts and products available. Come out and celebrate West Cape May's farming heritage with lima bean soup, tacos, salad, jewelry, T-shirts and more! Enjoy great food, quality vendors, antiques, entertainment and fun.

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; 11am - 4pm (rain or shine)
905 Wells Mills Rd,
Waretown, NJ
Website
Parking and admission FREE
This annual family event features a fun filled day of music of the pines, cultural demonstrations, traditional crafts, & Crafts, Kids Crafts and Games, 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!

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