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 Northern New Jersey:
Hoboken Arts & Music Festival
Sunday, May 18, 2025: 11am to 6pm
Washington St. bet. Observer Highway & 7th St.
Hoboken, NJ
Free Admission
This family event features
2 stages of live music, displays and sales by artists, crafters, food vendors and local businesses. Activities for children with rides, games, craft activities and more. Brenda K. Starr will headline the musical portion of the event.
Annual Jersey City Jazz Festival
May 30, 31, 2025
Exchange Place
Alliance Plaza
Jersey City, NJ
Free admission.
This event is a celebration of community featuring live Jazz music, performed by over 200 Jazz muscians with a wide range of musical styles featuring some of the best talent in the NYC-tristate area.
Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest
May 30th - June 1st, 2025
The Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
On-site Camping and camping hook-ups.
3 day New Orleans Style Music, Food, and Camping Festival. Featuring the best Music and Food that Louisiana and New Orleans has to offer. Cajun, Zydeco, Delta Blues, New Orleans R&B, Brass, Gospel and Jazz on 3 Stages. To really enjoy the "nor-leans" experience, you can try a taste of fresh Boiled Louisiana Crawfish trucked in alive, Crawfish Bread, Shrimp Creole, Crawfish Bread, Crawfish Pie, Alligator Sausage, Crawfish Po-boys, Jambalaya, Southern Fried Chicken and the other great dishes.
Under Cover Music Fest
May 31, 2025; 2pm until 10pm
Rain date: Sunday, June 1, 12ق8 PM.
Sloan Street Parking Lot
12 Sloan Street
South Orange, NJ
Event Cost: FREE
This event fatures a full day of epic cover band performances. From The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac to Erykah Badu and the Grateful Dead, eight phenomenal bands will bring legendary hits to life and get the whole town dancing.
There will be food from local favorites and drinks from the South Orange Downtown Beer Garden, featuring craft brews and hard seltzers, will be available for purchase. Families can stop by the Y-Zone, free kid-friendly games, crafts, and activities.
Spring Shedfest Raritan Headwaters Music Festival
Sunday,
June 1st, 2025; 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve
2121 Larger Cross Road
Bedminster, NJ
This family friendly music festival located on a beautiful wildlife preserve, features live music, kid's activities, food trucks, and local craft beer & cider.
Proceeds from this event benefit
Raritan Headwaters, a nonprofit conservation organization protecting land and water.
Rock Hunger VII
Saturday, June 7, 2025; @2:00 pm
Old Canal Inn
2 East Passaic Ave
Nutley, NJ
Tickets are $25 per person when purchased in advance online.
A high-energy music festival, featuring several well-respected local bands.
Live music peformers include The Attic, The Sticky Wickets, Mother Hubbard, and Porch Rockers!
Cash bar, menu available, tricky tray prizes and 50/50 raffle are available to attendants. Rock Hunger is a franchised event with national recognition. All proceeds benefit NFSB programs including the Food Pantry.
The Sustainably Green Music & Arts Festival
Saturday, June 14th, 2024:10am to 5pm
Downtown Washington Borough
Washington, NJ
Free Admission
This family event features a day of live music, ecofriendly vendors, crafters, artists, free kids activities, shopping, & dining!
The day is filled with activities relating to the environment, green practices, and recycling initiatives. Don't miss out on the multiple live musical acts throughout the day, kid's activities, and plenty of vendors.
Great Swamp Great Music After Dark
Sunday, June 22, 2025: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Homestead Bar and Kitchen
10 Dehart St.
Morristown, NJ
Cost: $35 - $50
This event features a dinner, reduced-price drinks, and a musical smorgasbord. The musical line-up includes country vibes, classic rock hits and fresh original music that'll leave you wanting more.
15th Annual Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival
June 27 - 29, 2025; 11:30am - 11:30pm
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
This event features
a three day celebration of great Southern Rock music, finger-lickin' barbeque, camping, cold beer, and fun! Pitch a tent or bring an RV and camp the entire weekend.
This years headliners include:The Allman Betts Band, Black Stone Cherry, Grand Funk Railroad, Artimus Pyle, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Orleans.
20th Annual Maplewoodstock Music & Arts Festival
Saturday and Sunday, July 12, 13, 2025;
From noon to 9 pm
Memorial Park
Dunnell Rd.and Jefferson Avenue
Maplewood, NJ
Free admission
A family family festival ia a celebration of community music and art. It features over 20 bands, 50 art vendors, 20 food vendors, Beer Garden, Kid Zone and more!
Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival
Saturday, August 16, 2025; Noon until 9:30pm
Speedwell Avenue between Headquarters Plaza and 1776, and on The Green
Morristown, NJ
Admission Free
Music fans of all ages will enjoy great music on The Morristown Green. Parking is available in the many public lots and the train station is just a couple of blocks away.
Please bring blankets & lawn chairs.
Millburn's Rocktoberfest
September 13th, 2025; 12pm - 10pm
Taylor Park
100 Main Street
Millburn, NJ
Event Cost: Free
This event features live music, food and drinks, shopping and lots of fun activities for the entire family.
The event features over 30 Music Bands/Solo Artists playing on multiple stages throughout the day and into the night.
Their Kid's Zone has activities for pre-K to age 18 including Arts & STEM Activities • Inflatables • Rides • Carnival
The North To Shore Jersey festival
June 17 –29, 2025
Prudential Center, Lincoln Park, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Newark, NJ
This month-long New Jersey festival features all the talent, diversity and creativity this great state has to offer. The Festival is set to bring an exciting mix of music, comedy, film, and technology to New Jersey this summer from June 14th to the 29th. Taking place across three cities — Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark — at
Asbury Lanes, Chambers Plaza, Count Basie Center for the Arts, Lincoln Park, Newark Symphony Hall, NJPAC, Prudential Center, The Stone Pony and the Stone Pony Summer Stage, House of Independents, and The Wonder Bar.
Top performeres inclclude: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jon Stewart, John Mulaney, Pete Davidson, Bleachers, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Gregory Porter, Jack's Mannequin, Josh Johnson, Natalia Lafourcade, Slightly Stoopid, Streetlight Manifesto, The String Cheese Incident, rock bands Stone Temple Pilots and Third Eye Blind, and many more.
Zach Bryan
Friday July 18, 19, 20, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks
Friday August 8, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
My Chemical Romance
Saturday August 9, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
System of a Down, Korn & Polyphia
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Oasis & Cage The Elephant
Sunday, August 31, & Monday, September 1,2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
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