Grab your sunglasses, the kids’ swimmies and all those summer vibes – it’s Memorial Day weekend, and #NJMOM is helping you get this season started! In addition to taking time to share the true meaning of this holiday weekend with the kids, you can celebrate the men and women serving our country at sea at the 4th Annual Fleet Week at Liberty State Park in Jersey City, watch kites of all shapes, sizes, and colors soar high above the coast at the Wildwoods International Kite Festival in Wildwood, or kick off summer at the shore with the annual Bradley Beach Memorial Day Festival in Bradley Beach.
Psst! We love to feature your adventures around New Jersey! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are 10 kid-friendly things to do this Memorial Day weekend:
4th Annual Fleet Week at Liberty State Park
May 26, 12PM-5PM
Celebrate the sea services and meet sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen at the 4th Annual Fleet Week in beautiful Liberty State Park. The event draws thousands of people, featuring a 1-mile race, 5K Fun Run, and Youth Challenge Obstacle Course in addition to demonstrations, displays, and performances from various men and women in the sea service. Stick around for live music, food trucks, kids activities, bounce houses, and face painting.
1 Audrey Zapp Dr.
Jersey City, NJ
Cost: free
Wildwoods International Kite Festival
May 24 – May 27
Make your way to Wildwood Crest for an unforgettable weekend of high-flying fun, as kites of all shapes, sizes, and colors soar high above Wildwood. Friday night your family can marvel at the illuminated kite fly, and on Saturday enjoy sport kite demos, team flying, and family games. This all takes place along our beautiful coastline, so it’s perfect for you and your littles to enjoy the beach as you mark the unofficial start to summer.
4600 Ocean Ave.
Wildwood, NJ
Cost: free
Bradley Beach Memorial Day Festival
May 25 – 27
Families love kicking off summer at this annual event, featuring children’s activities like a water slide, rides, face painters and sand art. You can shop over 180 craft and specialty vendors and 25 food vendors, right along the beachfront. And don’t forget the Memorial Day parade, Saturday at 10AM!
Ocean Ave.
Bradley Beach, NJ
Cost: free
Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
May 25 – 27, Gates open at 8AM
The Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival returns with over 40 unique food trucks to choose from, in an amazing festival space, Monmouth Park Racetrack. There will be three days to sample fan favorites, like ocean-fresh lobster rolls, savory empanadas, ice-cold lemonade and decadent desserts (Belgian waffle sundaes, we’re coming for ya). While you’re eating your way though the fest, enjoy live music and family activities. The event features pony rides, face-painting, clowns and a bounce house for the kiddos.
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Oceanport, NJ
Cost: $5, Kids 12 and under free, Parking $5
Tour of Somerville Festival
May 23 – 27
Downtown Somerville is hoppin’ this Memorial Day weekend for the Tour of Somerville, the oldest bike race in the U.S., and the corresponding festival. Friday night features Cruise Night, where classic cars line the streets downtown. Then the cycling action begins Saturday, with the big race at 10:30AM Monday. There’s also a Family Fun Bike Ride at 9:45AM. Don’t miss the annual Memorial Day Parade, check out loads of live entertainment, kids activities, and demonstrations. At the Court House, kids can enjoy face painting, arts and crafts, and watch sports demonstrations.
Somerville Court House and the Division Street Mall
Somerville, NJ
Cost: free
Collingswood May Fair
May 25, 10AM – 1PM
Collingswood will be bursting with art, music and activities for all ages at the 40th Annual May Fair. Enjoy all kinds of food, shop from over 200 artists and vendors, and let the kids run free in the KidZone, which features pony rides, carnival games, rides, and crafts. Listen to live music and stop by the Collingswood Farmers Market for Jersey Fresh produce and flowers before you head home.
Haddon Ave.
Collingswood, NJ
Cost: free
The 10th Annual Memorial Weekend Cook Out
May 26, 2PM-7:30PM
If you love jerk chicken, you need to make your way to the 10th Annual Memorial Weekend Cook Out – the largest Caribbean cook out festival in Central Jersey. Chow down on all the jerk-style food you can imagine, enjoy the spicy food and cool festival vibes, and listen to live music for this event’s 10th year.
Johnson Park – Grove 5
River Rd.
Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $0-$15
Memorial Day at The Historic Village at Allaire
May 27, 11AM-4PM
Step back in time with your family and learn about the origination of Memorial Day. Originally known as Decoration Day, starting after the Civil War to honor those who fell in battle, the holiday began with people decorating graves with flowers, saying prayers, and holding springtime tributes for the fallen. The Historic Village at Allaire, which will be Decoration Day ready, offering a history lesson for the whole family in this beautiful setting.
The Historic Village at Allaire
Farmingdale, NJ
Cost: free
Woodland Park’s Annual Memorial Day Parade & Street Fair
May 27, 11AM-6PM
Pay tribute at the Memorial Day parade in Woodland Park, then head over to the street fair for a great day with the family. The street will be packed with fun including live music, food trucks, local vendors for shopping, and the JC Kids Zone. There your little ones can check out kid-friendly rides, bouncy inflatables, temporary tattoos, face painting, carnival games, and pony rides.
1150 McBride Ave.
Woodland Park, NJ
Cost: free
The Original Music Fest
May 27, 12PM-3PM
Enjoy a day with your family at The Original Music Fest in Morristown. Immediately following the Memorial Day Parade, listen to live music from local bands and musicians, grab some grub from the food trucks, and play family-friendly games and activities.
Ginty Field and Gazebo
45 Woodland Ave.
Morristown, NJ
Cost: free
Here are some other Memorial Day parades around New Jersey:
Memorial Day Parade in Fair Haven
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony in Metuchen
100th Memorial Day Parade in Nutley
Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony in Red Bank
Memorial Day Parade and Candlelight Vigil in Wildwood
Psst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
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