Looking for things to do in NJ this weekend? Good news! It looks like this weekend will be beautiful and sunny, which means plenty of opportunity to explore the great outdoors with your family. Take a trip back to 16th-century Europe at Lakewood’s Renaissance Faire to get up close and personal with knights and dragons, or celebrate a gorgeous day walking through 50 acres of towering sunflowers at Holland Ridge Farms Sunflower Festival in Cream Ridge.
For more fun, check out our complete list of fairs and festivals, and if rain puts a damper on your plans, take a look at our favorite indoor activities. Got a bunch of five-and-unders to entertain? We’ve got activities that cater just to them, plus free events for the whole fam. Check out our calendar for events near you, or browse things to do in NJ this weekend by county below.
THINGS TO DO IN NJ ALL WEEKEND
Roseland Greek Fest
Roseland
It’s all about authenticity at this fest, from music and dancing to food and dessert. Check out cooking demos, boutiques and dance groups while the kids play games.
$2
Bergen Street Fest
Teaneck
Spend the weekend indulging in flavors from 14 gourmet food trucks, listen to live music and hit the beer garden and vendors’ booths while the kids play games and burn off all that energy.
$5/adults, $3/ages 2-12
Great Pumpkin Festival
Vernon
Try navigating your way through the corn maze, then explore the carnival rides, pony rides, gem mining, face painting and sand art.
$15, free/ages 2 and under
Fall Festival at Alstede Farms
Chester
Activities include family-friendly options like PYO fruits and veggies, wagon rides, a moon bounce and a corn kingdom. But if you’re more interested in a harvest moon ride, Alstede Farms is hosting a hayride through their corn maze on Friday and Saturday evenings so climb aboard while you’re there.
$15-25
Holland Ridge Farms Sunflower Festival 2019
Cream Ridge
Create memories at one of NJ’s sunflower festivals, which boasts more than 50 acres of flowers. If you get tired of picking, park it at the food trucks, live music and a fire pit.
$7-10
Lakewood Lions 38th Annual Renaissance Fair
Lakewood
Take the family on a trip back to 16th-century Europe for a fantastical experience filled with knights, dragons, pirates and fairies. Explore archery, medieval plays and foods of the era like steak on a stick, dragon dogs and more.
$2-12
Puchi Anime & Video Game Con!
Secaucus
If your munchkins love to watch anime and read manga or comics, then this event is for them. Think performances, a maid cafe, after parties and plenty of other kiddies to make friends with.
$15
Casola Farms Fall Fest
Holmdel
This fall fest guarantees fun for all ages with Halloween themed rides like the haunted hayride and greenhouse, corn mazes, house of horror, cowboy shows, and a petting zoo.
Call for costs
Camden County Fair
Gloucester Twp.
If you live close by, head down with the kids to check out the amusement and pony rides, carnival games, live entertainment and demonstrations.
Free admission
Fall Fun
Closter
This event is exactly as it sounds like, from a tractor pulled hayride to corn mazes, a feeding zoo, pumpkin painting and carving, private events for both kids and adults, there are tons of fall-themed activities to choose from.
$6-20
Oktoberfest Returns to Mountain Creek Resort
Vernon
Oktoberfest here has live music and entertainment, German food, lumberjack contests, hay bale tosses, beer barrel rolls, stein holding contests and more.
Free/ages 6 and under, $6/online, $10/door
FRIDAY (September 20)
Dragon Eye Pins
Hackettstown
Kids ages 8 through 17 are welcome to celebrate Hobbit Day by designing their own dragon pins.
Free
SATURDAY (September 21)
Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day Live!
Trenton
Experience a live performance in the auditorium by David Fry, singing “Voice of the People: A History of American Folk Music”.
Free
Apple Days Fall Harvest Festival
Princeton
Celebrate the upcoming fall season with traditional and entertaining events like the adventure barn, PYO apples and pumpkins and more fall-themed rides.
$10, free/ages 3 and under
Peppa Pig Live! Peppa’s Big Adventure
Morristown
Go camping with Peppa, George, Pedro Pony, Suzy Sheep and Gerald Giraffe at MPAC. These life-size puppets will bring your kids on a journey filled with signing, dancing, games and other surprises.
$40-60
6th Annual Heroes for Children 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk
West Orange
Join the community for a 5K or family fun walk to raise awareness for child abuse and neglect in NJ, plus learn about local children’s advocacy centers. After your cardio, the kids can listen to music, get their faces painted, make crafts and more. Superhero costumes encouraged!
$30/5K, $15/run and walk
The Wurst BeerFest in NJ
Blairstown
Craft beer lovers, this one’s for you. Local breweries like Alementary, Czig Meister and Hidden Sands will be in attendance, plus there’ll be delish dishes like kielbasa, bratwurst and BBQ. Play jenga, cornhole and lawn games, plus hit the hay bale toss, visit farm animals, hop on a hayride or PYO fruits and veggies.
$20+
Wildwood Comic Book Expo
Wildwood
Wildwood’s Comic Book Expo will have plenty for your lil’ tots to go crazy about. There’ll be vendors, artists, collectibles, guests (like NFL player Keith Williams, who’ll be dressed as Spider-Man), as well as a costume contest.
$8/adults, free/ages 12 and under
Ridgefield Park Annual Street Fair
Ridgefield Park
This giant block party has lots to check out, from 100 retail vendors and crafters, mechanical rides, wall climbing, face painting, temporary tattoos and more.
Free
Picatinny Inflatable Race & PFD Block Party
Dover
The Picatinny Fire Department and Picatinny Arsenal are throwing a huge giant block party filled with competitive, friendly events like the inflatable obstacle race. There’ll also be vendors, food trucks, live music and a kids’ area.
$10-30
Fall Fest Food Truck and Music Festival
Wildwood
Bring an empty stomach! This festival will have plenty of food trucks to choose from, plus live music, vendors and a kids’ zone that’ll keep the kids entertained for hours.
Free
Clue At The Zoo
West Orange
Take a trip to the Essex County Zoo for an evening filled with activities like scavenger hunts, mysteries to solve and an opportunity to meet animal ambassadors.
$55/adults, $25/children, free/ages 6 and under
Museum Day
NJ
This Saturday, all participating museums will open their doors—for free!—to visitors. Venues include the Aviation Hall of Fame and Museum of New Jersey, Morven Museum & Garden, the Hunterdon Art Museum and more.
Free
SUNDAY (September 22)
Kessler Foundation Stroll ‘N Roll 2019
Verona
Stroll around Verona Lake for food trucks, games, prizes, crafts, music and magic, all to benefit the lives of people with disabilities.
Free
Sussex County Fairgrounds Food Truck & Music Festival
Augusta
Mark your calendar for food trucks, art and live music. The kids can stop by Sugar Sweet Farms’ petting zoo, visit a face painter and more.
$5, free/ages 10 and under
Hub City Sounds 39th Raritan River Festival Rubber Duck Race
New Brunswick
Check out this family-friendly visual and culinary arts festival with something for all tastes. There’ll be live music, vendors, a community farmers’ market, activities for the kids and cardboard canoe races.
Free
Lord Stirling Stable 50th Anniversary Celebration
Basking Ridge
This afternoon of entertainment includes a catered barbecue, pony, hay and trail rides plus demonstrations.
$15-30
FIND MORE THINGS TO DO IN NJ THIS WEEKEND
If you have any upcoming events you’d like to add to our calendar, click here! And if you know of other things to do in NJ this weekend, leave us a comment.
