The Best South Jersey Family Festivals and Events

These popular festivals occur at venues in all corners of NJ and have wide appeal with families with kids.

They feature events with special themes and are known for having good music, food, entertainment, skilled artisans and performers, fun activities, crafts, and more!

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.

April 2018 Central Jersey Family Festivals & Events

Renaissance Faire
April 28, 29, 2018; 11am - 5pm
Historic Smithville
615 E. Moss Mill Rd.
Galloway, NJ 08205
Website
609-748-8999
Travel back to the days of yore and merry Olde England as the Historic Village of Smithville is transformed into the Shire of Smithville in the heart of the English Renaissance. This event brings fun for the whole family and includes comedy, tragedy, sword fighting, dance, song, knights, jesters and so much more. Also stroll among the wares of the local vendors and traveling merchants sporting historical gifts and finely crafted items.

Cape May Lighthouse Full Moon Climb
Sunday April 29, 2018 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Cape May Lighthouse
215 Light House Avenue
Cape May Point, NJ 08212
Website
Cost: $12 for adults, $8 for children (ages 3-12). Purchase tickets from the Keeper at the Lighthouse the night of the event
Let the light of the full moon guide you up the 199 stairs to the starry top. Don't miss a rare opportunity to see the light of the moon at the top, weather permitting.

May 2018 Southern NJ Family Festivals

Motor Social -- Atlantic City
Saturday May 4 - Sunday May 6, 2018; Friday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM Saturday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Sunday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Showboat Hotel
Atlantic City, NJ
Website
Phone: (609) 857-1213 or (347) 528-5372
Cost: Free for Spectators Entry Fee for Cars & Vendors
This 3 day event will feature an indoor/outdoor car show, bands, burlesque, sideshow and much more in a Mardi-Gras style atmosphere.

Mullica Hill Main Street Stroll
May 4, 2018; 6 - 9pm
47 S. Main St.
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
856-278-2055
Website
This family event features an open concert with local band with food trucks and a variety of selection of food. Local Specialty shops will be hosting specials and a variety of antiques and other offerings

Cape May County Coast Guard Community Festival
May 5, 6, 2018; Saturday 10 am - 4pm, Sunday 9am - 12:30pm
Training Center
Cape May
1 Munro Ave.
Cape May, NJ 08204
609-888-6120
Website
This Festival honors the men and women of the United States Coast Guard and celebrates the county's designation as a Coast Guard Community.
The festival takes place at Training Center Cape May, the only active boot camp for Coast Guard recruits in the nation.
On Saturday festival goers can
• Explore the extensive base on foot and by guided trolley tours
• Get an inside look at Coast Guard vessels and helicopters
• See performances by the Recruit Band and drill team
• And watch a thrilling search and rescue demonstration where a Coast Guard helicopter hovers over the harbor.
There will be tours of Cape May Harbor, a Coast Guard Kids' Zone, vendors, diverse food offerings, beer and live music all day.
The festival continues Sunday at the Cape May - Lewes Ferry Terminal where breakfast is served. Other activities include musical performances, awards ceremony and a classic car show.

Harrison Township Day
May 5, 2018; 11am - 10pm
Ella Harris Park
141 Bridgeton Pk.
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Website
856-223-8777
This event features live entertainment; amusements for young children, food, beverages and carnival specialty snacks. Games of chance, crafters, local entertainment and preferred house band. Other wow effects all day long then a fireworks extravaganza at dusk.

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakurst "Power in the Pines"
May 5, 6, 2018
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
2901 Falcon Ln, 08641
McGuire Air Force Base, NJ
Facebook Page
This family weekend event features an open house and air show. Highlighting the activities will be the ACC F-22 Raptor Demo Team, Canadian Forces CF18 Demo Team, and the U.S. Army Golden Knights

Children's Festival
May 12, 2018: Noon - 4:00pm
Historic Smithville
615 E. Moss Mill Rd.
Galloway, NJ 08205
609-748-8999
Website
Admission: Free
This family event features a variety of activities including the Cape May Zoo Show and activities for all ages. Popcorn, face-painting, balloon animals, and games are just some of the events to look forward to! . While there are some free activities, others will have a small fee.
Historic Smithville also offers 60 shoppes, 7 eateries, carousel and train rides, paddleboats, arcade, on site lodging at the Colonial Inn

Burlington Day
May 19, 2018
Downtown
1 High St.,
Burlington, NJ 08010
609-386-4070
Website
Free Parking & Admission
This event features an Antique Car Show; Street Musicians, Food Vendors, a Sidewalk Sale, High Street Shoppes, and more.

Wildwoods International Kite Festival
May 25, 26, 27, 28, 2018
Wildwoods Beach
Rio Grande to Burke Aves.
Wildwood, NJ 08260
609-729-9000
Website
Free to spectators.
This annual event is one of the largest kite festival in North America. It features kite makers from around the world flying their most incredible colorful creations.
Event begins on Friday at noon with the 'Unlocking of the Ocean' media event on the beach behind the center. Festivities continue with the opening of the Festival Field Tent and the 9 pm illuminated kite fly at Rio Grande Ave. and the beach.
Saturday & Sunday include the East Coast Stunt Kite Championships on the beach starting at 9 am daily, as well as kite exhibits and workshops. A Kite Festival Auction will be held in the center at 7 pm on Saturday night and is open to the public - many unique kites and collectibles will be auctioned off.
Monday will feature the World Indoor Kite Competition from 11 am - 12:30 pm inside the center where kite fliers will showcase their impressive ability to fly a kite without wind.

Township of Ocean Founder's Day
May 26, 2018; 9 am - 10 pm
Frederic A. Priff Elementary School
139 Wells Mills Rd
Waretown, NJ 08758
609-548-6319
Website
This family event features Free Children's Inflatable rides, over 125 vendors; Food trucks; live bands; Police Demonstrations; Cupcake Decorating Contest and a Cupcake Eating Contest; Day ends with a hugh fireworks display over Barnegat Bay.
For the best viewing go to the end of Bryant Rd in Waretown

June 2018 Southern NJ Family Festivals

South Jersey Arts Festival
June 2, 3, 2108
Appel Farm Arts and Music Center
457 Shirley Road
Elmer, NJ 08318
Web Site (for infomation, tickets, & updates)
Contact: Melissa Tevere, Phone: 856-358-2472, Email: info@appelfarm.org
Event Cost: $15, Single Day, $25 VIP, $40 Overnight Experience
This weekend family festival is jam-packed with performances, innovative arts exhibits and immersive workshops. The event features live music and performance art, student-based performances, crafters and artists, delicious fare from gourmet food trucks, local wine and craft brews. Check out the “Art of Wine-Making” tent hosted by various South Jersey wineries where you can meet the winemakers, learn the secrets to making great wine and sample exclusive vintages. Drop off your kids at “Kids Camp” where they can experience the magic of Appel Farm’s summer camp while parents enjoy the festival. Camp under the stars on Saturday night and enjoy a campfire, s’mores and a special musical performance. On Sunday morning, novice and experienced riders can join the South Jersey Cycling Tour. Don’t miss this special family kick-off to the summer where you will discover what makes Appel Farm the leading arts education center in South Jersey!

Annual Hop Sauce Festival
June 2, 2018 (rain or shine)
Taylor Ave,
Beach Haven, NJ
Website (tickets & event schedule)
This family friendly event features good food, sampling100+ hot sauces, 50+ craft beers, 7+ hours of live band entertainment, and plenty of fun activities for kids.
While the main activity is to pair local fare with a sampling of twenty delicious micro, craft, domestic & imported beers from our area of the country, there will be a bouncy castle and Adventure Golf (right across the street at Thundering Surf) are offering two-for-one mini-golf, so if the kids are old enough, they can go play golf, or one parent can accompany them while the other enjoys the fes.

35th Annual Blueberry Festival
June 23, 24, 2018: 11 am - 4 pm
Historic Whitesbog Village
120 W Whites Bogs Rd.
Browns Mills, NJ 08015
609-893-4646
Website
This annual family event is celebrated at the Birthplace of the Blueberry. It features a great old-fashioned country fair with Pinelands artists, crafters, folk music, dancing, wagon tours, blueberry picking, kids crafts and field games, Blueberry Art show, vintage tractor and engine demos, Pinelands history and ecology, blueberry plants, blueberry baked goods, ice cream, food vendors, blueberry pie eating contest, historic house and museum tours, Jersey Devil sightings, and more.

Fantasy Faire
June 23, 24, 2018; 10 am - 5 pm
Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center
1501 Glasstown Rd
Millville, NJ 08332
856-825-6800
Website
Fantasy Faire at WheatonArts is an annual, outdoor event featuring talented performers as they bring to life the "Kingdom of Wheaton" by enacting a series of interconnected shows that tell the story of the day. Strolling costumed characters, portraying historical and mythical figures, interact with each other and WheatonArts visitors throughout the campus during both days of Fantasy Faire. Visitors are welcome to come dressed in their favorite fantasy garb to enjoy retail vendors, family friendly activities, and performances throughout the day. Refreshments will be available for purchase from local food vendors. The event is included in the price of admission to WheatonArts.

July 2018 Southern New Jersey Family Festivals And Events

Night in Venice
Saturday, July 28, 2018, 7pm - 9pm
Longport Bridge
Ocean City, NJ
Website
609-399-6111
The City's annual boat parade is one of the largest in the world. Suggested Theme: "TV's Greatest Hits". Starts at the Longport Bridge to Tennessee Ave. along the bay. Fireworks display to follow parade.