Looking for the best festivals, events and things to do in New Jersey in March? From St. Patrick’s Day celebrations and parades to hands-on farm experiences and PEEPS making their return to Peddler’s Village in nearby PA, March is packed with events across New Jersey and beyond. Highlights this month include the Lambertville New Hope Chili Cookoff, Lunar Fest NJ in Maplewood, the Atlantic City Boat Show and the Philadelphia Flower Show. Here are the top festivals and events in the Garden State this month:
March 1
Lambertville New Hope Winter Festival Chili Cookoff
Triumph Restaurant & Brewery, New Hope, PA
Each tickets gets you a pint glass to keep, all-you-can-drink beer, all-you-can-eat chili from more than 10 local restaurants. Vote for your favorite chili.
Lunar Fest NJ
The Woodland, Maplewood
There will be performances representing Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Southeast Asian culture, including children’s activities and food.
New Jersey Home & Garden Show
NJ Convention & Expo Center, Edison
Check out five designer gardens; meet landscape experts like Don Engebretson “The Renegade Gardener”™ and Caroline Blazovsky, America’s Healthy Home Expert®; and shop from dozens of vendors. New this year is “Make It – Take It,” a gardening learning center where kids can plant herb seedlings and take them home. Other activities include pot decorating, arts and crafts, and balloon animals.
Discover Boating Atlantic City Boat Show
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City
Ocean lovers of all ages can climb aboard nearly 500 boats. Kids can make a toy boat souvenir and see what they catch at the Fishing Frenzy game. Tweens and teens can try out the Indoor Paddle Pool and virtual reality games. The Discover Boating Beach Club will have drinks, beach games and summer vibes.
March 1-8
Philadelphia Flower Show
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society puts on its yearly mega floral exhibit with stunning displays, gardening presentations, info on sustainability and innovation, tons of opportunities to shop for your own plants, floral making projects and kids’ activities.
March 1, 14-15, 21-22
Maple Syrup Festival
Happy Day Farm, Manalapan
Happy Day reopens in the early spring for its maple sugaring event. Help Farmer Tim tap the trees the “old-fashioned way.” You’ll take a tractor ride around the 130-acre property before arriving at Olivia’s Sugar Shack to help with the process. Feed the farm animals, play in the animal cart, and order maple pancakes.
March 7
Maple Sugar Festival
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center, Chatham Twp.
There will be guided maple sugaring history walks, sap cooking demos, taste testing, maple cream making, games, crafts and more. Frontier Village Maple Products, based in NJ, will be selling products.
Shamrocks By The Shore
Pier Village, Long Branch
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration is filled with music by an Irish folk band and bagpipers, kids’ activities, and a village-wide Shamrock Stroll where you collect stamps to win prizes.
Winter Fairy Festival
The Watershed Institute, Pennington
Search for fairies hidden at each activity station using a scavenger hunt sheet, create crafts, play games, and flutter your way around the obstacle course. Dress as your favorite fairy or mythical creature for more fun.
March 7-8
The Chocolate Expo
New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison
Taste all the samples of chocolate you can handle. There will be plenty of merch to buy, live demos and chocolate presentations, plus a scavenger hunt and other activities for kids. Stars from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory will greet fans, as will Alley Mills and Olivia d’Abo from The Wonder Years.
March 8
Sunflower Lantern Festival Gala
American Dream, East Rutherford
This is the culminating event of American Dream’s Lunar New Year celebration.
Lines in the Pines
Stockton University Campus Center, Galloway
Artists, authors and artisans who love the Pine Barrens get together to sign books, display their artwork, show off their crafts and play their music. This year’s theme is Safety in the NJ Pine Barrens. A special “Lines on the Pines for KIDS” area has hands-on displays, crafts and activities for young ones.
Wayne Valley High School Craft Fair
Wayne Valley High School, Wayne
Over 100 exhibitors will be set up in the gym, selling everything from puzzles to recycled items and resin art, to decorated porch signs and gnomes, to soaps and candles, to olive oils and chocolates. Breakfast, lunch, baked goods, homemade pickles and kettle korn will be available to buy. A tie dye station will be set up outside.
March 9 – April 12
PEEPS in the Village
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
More than 100 dioramas made out of the Easter candy will line the walls of the Visitor and Event Center. There are dozens of shops and restaurants in the village to visit after you cast your vote for your favorite marshmallow masterpiece. Note: The Visitor Center is closed on Easter (Sunday, April 5).
March 13-15
Hunterdon County Irish Festival
Red Mill Museum Village, Clinton
Activities ahead of St. Patrick’s Day include a children’s party on Saturday, the village-wide parade on Sunday, and music concerts every night.
March 14
Catsbury Park
Bell Works, Holmdel
This adopt & shop event takes over the Main Atrium with everything you need for your cat-loving needs: the option to adopt a new kitty while getting food, clothes and accessories for your current cats.
March 14-15
St. Patrick’s Day in the Winery
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
The music of Shamrock Shenanigans (with Mike Tusay) will have you tapping your toes on Saturday, while Irish Tunes with Bill O’Neal and his wife, Mary, takes over the grounds on Sunday. Adults can try tasting flights or mulled wine while kids run around on the playgrounds and near the farm animals. Stop inside the farm store for fresh homemade Irish soda bread.
March 21
Montclair Flea
Montclair Flea, Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
There will be curated vendors selling everything from art to vintage finds indoors. Food trucks will be located outside.
A Night in Paris
Old Rail Tavern, Barrington
Highlights include specialty drinks and French food, a children’s play area, Pierre the Mime, a live strolling violinist, a balloon artist, cozy fire pits, ice skating under the lights, a horse-and-carriage ride, and an Eiffel Tower replica for standout family photos.
Sparta Special Olympics 2026 Spring Vendor & Craft Fair
Sparta High School, Sparta
There will be 60+ tables set up to sell all sorts of goods and food. Support the Sparta Special Olympics and Special Olympics NJ Morris-Sussex programs and wish their Athletes of Determination them luck for the 2026 spring season.
March 21-22
Spring Artisan Market
Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes
Local artisans will line the tasting room. There will be live music, food by Antimos Italian Kitchen, wine tastings and flights.
March 22
Bergenfield High School Flea & Collectible Market
Bergenfield High School, Bergenfield
More than 50 vendors will sell crafts, clothing, jewelry, candles, toys, antiques, vintage items, sports collectibles and housewares. There will be a tag sale and other bargains. Food vendors will be on site. This is a fundraiser for the BHS Parents Association.
Anime Wild
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
There will be a collection of anime, manga, Pokemon, trading cards, comics and toys. Meet artists, writers and costumed groups. There will be a costume contest for all ages.
Spring Craft Show
Paramus High School, Paramus
Two gyms, the vestibule and the café will be set up with more than 145 booths selling all things arts, crafts and photography. Homemade pickles, beef jerky, kettle korn and desserts – plus chainsaw animals and a tie dye station – will be set up outside.
March 27-29
Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo
NJ Convention & Expo Center, Edison
There will be 200+ wellness-based businesses, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, metaphysical shopping, modern tech, and free workshops.
March 28-29
Also: April 3-4, 11-12
Easter EGG-stravaganza Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
Kick off the spring season at the farm with the popular Easter festival, featuring colorful egg hunts, games, and treats for kids.
March 28 – April 4
Also April 6
Easter & Springtime Festival
Alstede Farms, Chester
Your ticket includes scenic hay wagon rides, visits with baby farm animals, animal feeding, an Easter Egg Hunt and Bunny Trail Maze, photos with the Easter Bunny, access to the farm museum, an evergreen maze, and a giant hay pyramid.
March 29
Easter Bunny Festival, Pizza Party & Puppy Adoption Event
Blairstown Masonic Lodge, Blairstown
For the free festival, there will be vendors inside and outside, glitter tattoos, doggy ice cream, coffee trucks, food trucks, slime making, and a bounce house for kids. The ticketed portion includes a pizza party and photo ops with the Easter Bunny. Meet puppies from Cold Nose Warm Heart Rescue.
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