Celebrate the 4th of July at a parade, celebration or epic fireworks display. During the rest of the weekend, go for a blueberry-themed run, look for sports memorabilia, or check out the unveiling of Civil War flags.
WEEKEND
L.E.A.D. Fest State Fair
Mercer County Park, West Windsor
Wednesday – Sunday
The L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival is hosted by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence. There will be food, rides and entertainment at the state fair.
L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival
Route 9, Howell Twp.
Wednesday – Sunday
Hosted by L.E.A.D. (Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence), a nationwide nonprofit that works with communities to help students understand the dangers of drugs and violence, the carnival will include food, rides and entertainment.
Atlantic Highlands Fireman’s Fair
Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor, Atlantic Highlands
Wednesday – Sunday
Five nights of fun to benefit the Atlantic Highlands Fire Department include games, rides, a food court, live music every night, a beer garden, games of chance, and fireworks on Friday.
The Little Mermaid
Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven
Wednesday – Sunday (no show on Thursday)
Kids ages 3-10 will see their favorite underwater adventure live on stage.
Boardwalk Craft Show
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood
Friday – Sunday
Artisan-made items, handmade craft items, boutique items, gifts and more will be set up for sale along the boardwalk at Rio Grande Avenue.
Sports Card, Toys, Comics & Collectibles Show
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood
Friday – Sunday
The show will feature over 200 tables of the hottest collectibles, including sports cards, non-sports cards, old and new toys, comic books, Pokemon sets, supplies, unopened packs and boxes, Funko Pops, non-sports cards, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic, Beanie Babies, videos, jerseys, books, posters, coins, T-shirts, LEGOs, antiques and more.
Bank of America Museums on Us Weekend
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair
Morris Museum, Morristown
The Newark Museum of Art, Newark
Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville
Saturday – Sunday
Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank cardholders can receive free general admission to six cultural attractions the first full weekend of each month.
FRIDAY
Anime Night
Yestercades Locations in NJ
July 5 in Westfield; August 2 in Metuchen
Yestercades partnered with Anime NYC convention to host the official meet-ups. Dress up in your Instagram-worthy cosplays. There will be music and arcade games.
Lobster And All That Jazz Dinner Show
Mathis House, Toms River
Chef Bill Ball from A Matter of Taste will prepare clams, steamers, shrimp, lobster and all the fixings (kids can order chicken nuggets instead). Mocktails and dessert are included with the dinner show. BYOB. Dance the night away to live jazz music by four-piece jazz band Recked for Jazz from Atlantic City.
SATURDAY
Birding With Technology Walk
Hawk Rise Sanctuary, Linden
A phone app will be used to help identify and locate birds while walking the trails.
Evening Blacksmithing
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
Blacksmith Daniel Lapidow fires up the forge and heats wrought iron for bending, hammering and sharpening. Kids can help by turning the crank of the forge blower until the iron glows orange, while Daniel makes harness hooks, gate hinges, and other hardware needed on the farm.
Independence Day Light Show
Taylor Pavilion Field, Belmar
Computerized lighting and music to celebrate July 4 is followed by fireworks to celebrate USA’s birthday and honor the veterans who’ve protected our freedoms.
Red, Wine & Blueberry 5K Run
Renault Winery, Egg Harbor City
Dress in your most patriotic outfit and get geared up to run a 5K with other adults toward the lake, or one mile with the kids.
The Great American Cookout
Unionville Vineyards, Ringoes
The Independence Day celebration includes patriotic music by The Red Hot Ramblers Dixie Band, burgers and dogs by Ottoburger, a live reading of the Declaration of Independence, and sparklers for children.
Civil War Flag Unveiling
New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
Join a flag historian from the New Jersey Civil War Heritage Association and the museum’s curator of Cultural History for a one-hour gallery walk focusing on the history of five new flags to be unveiled in the museum’s Civil War Flag Collection of New Jersey. After, stay for a reception hosted by Hunterdon 300th.
Big Umbrella Festival
Lincoln Center, New York, NY
For audience members with autism and other developmental disabilities, there will be sensory-based, interactive and intimate artistic experiences. Highlights include an interactive installation on Hearst Plaza based on the reflection of light, roaming stilt-walking puppets resembling prehistoric birds, performances throughout the day, and a silent disco at night.
SUNDAY
Cosmos Cirque
Staten Island Children’s Museum, Staten Island, NY
The Staten Island-based performers will demonstrate aerial arts, trapeze acts and acrobatics, and include the audience in basic stretching moves that circus artists do.
Star Spangled Bash
Historic Wicoff House Museum, Plainsboro
There will be 4th of July-themed snacks, crafts, and activities. There will be snow cones, sand art, outdoor games and more.
Roller Skating
The Rink, American Dream
This summer, trade your ice skates for roller blades. Sunday will be a special Gotham Roller Derby where there will be fierce competition.
ONGOING
Friday Night Live
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream
Every Friday
Harlem band The Nate Lucas All-Stars will perform every Friday night at Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant.
Girls Day Out
Renault Winery & Resort, Egg Harbor City
Last Saturday of the month
Live music by John King includes your boy band favorites. There will be drink specials at TASTE 1864. You can also purchase a Wine Tower with chocolate-covered strawberries or Renault Barrel Stave Shotski.
Tours of Crane House & Historic YWCA
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
Every Sunday
Take a self-guided tour to learn about the women of the Historic YWCA and the Crane family at your own pace. Take some time to walk through the gardens and meadow on site.
Vegan in NJ Monthly Market
American Legion Post 346, Neptune
First Sunday of every month
More than 20 vegan vendors will be set up indoors and outdoors, selling food, sweets and retail items.
Friday Night Fireworks
The Wildwoods
Fridays, through August 30
Look high above the beach and boardwalk for a spectacular nighttime display of fireworks synched to music that will be played via a sound system and simulcast on 98.7 The Coast. You can tap into the livestream to view from anywhere outside of Wildwood, too.
Red, White & Blueberries BBQ Bash
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
July 4-7
Celebrate Independence Day weekend and National Blueberry Month with lots of food, live music, old-fashioned lawn games, bubble making, watermelon eating contests, and lots of blueberries.
Summer Concert Series
Palisades Center, West Nyack, NY
Fridays-Saturdays, July 5-27
Musicians include The Loft, Rae Simone and The Fellas, Lisa’s Entertainment for You, Mercvrii, Zino Park, New Horizons, L.O.E. Juu, and School of Rock.
Nubian Heritage Quilters Honoring Our Heritage: One Stitch At A Time
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
July 7 and 24
To celebrate its 29th anniversary, guild members are showing off a quilt exhibit, “Honoring Our Heritage: One Stitch at a Time.” There will be quilts and wall hangings that showcase patchwork, applique, collage and abstract textiles.
Cumberland County Cooperative Fair
Cumberland County Fairgrounds, Millville
July 9-13
Activities include dog shows, horse shows, rabbit shows, poultry shows, goat shows and lots of rides. There will be exhibits, livestock, chicken BBQ and other food.
My Fairytale Party’s Summer Series
Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus
Wednesdays and Sundays, through August 21
There will be sing-alongs and interactive experiences with princesses and princes, fairies and pirates, Barbie and Weird Barbie, Mary Poppins, pop stars, kids karaoke, Minions, Inside Out and unicorn princesses. After the show, meet the characters and grab a quick photo.
Summer in Sand
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Through August 31
Five incredible sand sculptures designed by John Gowdy and Team Sandtastic depict favorite summer activities like watching baseball, camping, embarking on an overseas adventure, playing games and solving puzzles, and lounging at the beach. You can enjoy sandboxes designed for play, as well as a family-friendly scavenger hunt beginning on July 12 that will feature the colorful, quirky beach-themed character “Shelly Shovel.”
Sesame Place Summer Nights
Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA
Fridays – Sundays, through September 1
During extended hours on special nights, extra activities include the DJ Dance Party at Oscar’s Wacky Taxi Stage and an encore of the Sesame Street Party Parade.
Luxury Glamping
Six Flags Great Adventure – Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa, Jackson
Weekends through September 2, with select dates through December 1
Instead of braving the wild outdoors, you’ll experience luxury camping, where you and up to five other people can sleep in one of 20 glamping suites that overlook the safari grounds. You can also book a treatment at the spa.
Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through September 2
You’ll be able to see role models from every era of Barbie’s history. You’ll learn about the dolls as if they were real, including their backgrounds, struggles and accomplishments. Each area will highlight a particular role type – leader, problem solver, creator, nurturer or adventurer – and you can try each career option for yourself.
Apollo: When We Went to The Moon
Intrepid Museum, New York, NY
Through September 2
Climb aboard a lunar rover model, leave your footprints on the Moon and learn about the Space Race through this exhibit at the sea, air and space museum. Starting April 4, you can check out the Concorde Superjet that recently underwent renovations and returned to the museum.
Delsea Drive-In 2024 Season
Delsea Drive-In Movie Theatre, Vineland
Fridays – Sundays, through September 3
Watch two movies back-to-back while sitting in your car, just like they did in the ’50s.
Sunset Sips & Sounds
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Fridays, through September 6
Come to the historic apple orchard after work for Terhune wine, music, light bites and friend-filled evenings.
Roller Skating
The Rink, American Dream
Through September 7
This summer, trade your ice skates for roller blades. Every Friday and Saturday will be Retro Nights, where you can skate to your favorite tunes from the past. Ice skating returns on September 8.
Wellmont Arts Plaza Outdoor Concert Series
Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
Select dates, through September 8
A series of free, all-ages, outdoor shows will take place, courtesy of Montclair Jazz Festival and Jazz House Kids. Some of the newly announced shows include Spafford, Prince/Bowie, Wallace Roney Jr. and Vanessa Perea, as well as the annual return of Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree.
Black River Limited Train Ride
Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington or Ringoes station
Select dates, through September 14
This 90-minute trip takes you through Hunterdon County aboard a train, with stops at both historic train stations.
Hunterdon Wine Express
Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington
Select dates, through September 14
The round-trip excursion goes from the Flemington station to Old York Cellars Winery, where you’ll be treated to a wine tasting, chocolate and cheese pairing, and lunch. You’ll have time to walk through the vineyards before heading back.
Like Clockwork! Guinness Collection Conservation
Morris Museum, Morristown
Wednesdays – Sundays, through September 22
Learn how the Morris Museum keeps hundreds of mechanical objects running like clockwork for twenty years.
The BEAST NYC Speedboat Ride
Pier 83, New York, NY
Tuesdays – Sundays, through September 29
Roar down the Hudson River from Pier 83 to The Statue of Liberty on this high-speed boat.
Yoga on the Beach
Burk Avenue, behind the Wildwoods Convention Center
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through September 29
A traditional Hatha yoga-style class will be infused with Qi Gong, a variety of healing therapies and lots of modifications.
Free Guided Garden Tours
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Sundays, through the end of October
NJBG docents take you on a tour of what’s blooming around the Botanical Garden.
Friday Night Bites
The Hungry Puppy Dog Park, Farmingdale
Fridays, through October 25
Bring your pup and your friends to the double-gated, specially-designed dog park, where you can relax and listen to some music while mingling with other pet parents. There will be free snacks and treats from a sponsoring pet food manufacturer each week.
Festival of Fountains
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Through October 27
There are new garden spaces, the return of the Fireworks & Fountains Shows, performances in front of the Illuminated Fountain, a beer garden, Festive Fridays with live music, and a Wine & Jazz Festival (September 14), plus all the gorgeous landscapes we can’t get enough of.
We All Scream For Ice Cream
Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May
Through November 3
Learn about the history of ice cream dating back to the Victorian era. It started as an elite and expensive dish but by the end of the 1800s came in simpler flavors and was used in cones, sundaes and banana splits. You’ll see an authentic ice cream maker and other equipment, plus a Victorian ice cream wagon.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Overpeck County Park, Leonia
Select dates through November 10
New for the season is the Feathered and Fearless exhibition, three new dinosaurs and tons of new games, activities, and shows featuring T-Rex, Toddlersaurus, dinosaur hatchlings and the park’s Dinosaur Troubadour.
Frank V. Marina Flea Market
Frank A. Vincent Marina, Kearny
Second Sunday of every month, through December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Main Memorial Park Flea Market
Memorial Park, Clifton
Second Saturday of every month, through December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Blue Whale: The World’s Biggest Animal
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through January 5, 2025
The exhibition tells the story of the 60-ton whale that washed ashore in Trout River, Newfoundland, in 2014. You’ll see the enormous skeleton of a recovered blue whale and discover how whales evolved, the size of their heart, how they communicate, their decline, what’s being done to protect them, and how scientists are using DNA to unlock some of the secrets of these elusive creatures.
Morven Revealed: Untold Stories From New Jersey’s Most Historic Home
Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
Wednesdays – Sundays, through March 2, 2025
This special exhibit is part of Morven’s 20th-anniversary celebration and will shed light on lesser-known stories of this historic home and its residents. You’ll see rarely-seen objects and newly discovered photos about American life: childhood, hosting guests, pets, fashion, and more.
Slow Motion
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton
Through September 1, 2025
Five artists from Monument Lab in Philadelphia created gigantic, creative, introspective monuments that will be on display for their beauty, but also to address political, cultural and social issues.
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