Local summer is finally here in the Garden State. Time to enjoy kites at the Annual Kites at the Pier Festival in Long Branch, release your creative side at the Makers Festival in Manahawkin, or race rubber ducks at the Raritan River Festival and Rubber Duck Race in New Brunswick. Bonus: admission is free.
Pssst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
Here are 27 free NJ events in September:
Roar to the Shore
September 6 – 9, 2018
Have a little motorcycle lover on your hands? Bring them to the free motorcycle rally “Roar to the Shore” that’s visiting central Wildwood again. Enjoy the beach, amusement rides, bike shows all day and night, live music, and join the Rubber Duck Ride – a scenic ride through Wildwood.
Wildwood, NJ 08260
Sunflower September
September 8 – 9 , 9AM – 5PM
What a better way to celebrate the beautiful month of September than with acres of sunflowers? Head over to Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm for picking sunflowers, a sunflower photo trail for those picturesque moments, a Tomasello wine tasting, live music, farm market, hay rides, and animal farm.
Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm
2691 Monmouth Rd
Jobstown, NJ 08041
Sea Isle City Food Truck Fest
September 7 – 9, 2018, Fri. 4PM – 9PM, Sat. 12PM – 9PM, Sun. 12PM – 5PM
The annual Sea Isle City Food Truck Festival returns for its fourth year in a row with an exciting collection of food trucks that are sure to fill your family’s’ tummies. Enjoy one more day of endless french fries, tacos, cupcakes, and festival food before you hit your fall meal plan.
Kix McNutley’s
63rd and Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ
Ocean Grove Giant Fall Flea Market
September 8, 9AM – 4PM
One of the biggest flea markets in NJ, the Ocean Grove Giant Fall Flea Market has over 300 vendors and over 15 food establishments available. You have a lot to look through – make sure you start the day early.
Ocean Grove Chamber of Commerce
81 Main Avenue, Ocean Grove, NJ
Duffield’s Food Truck/Apple Festival
September 8, 11AM – 5PM
The second annual Food Truck/Apple Festival is coming exclusively to Duffield’s farm – a larger venue than last year. The event features live music by Tidal Wave, food trucks, hayrides, pony rides, apple cider donuts, cold apple cider, and face painting. Stop by to feast on all the apple related desserts you’re starting to crave.
Duffield’s Farm
280 Chapel Heights Rd, Sewell, NJ
Bridge Arts Festival
September 8, 11AM – 6:30PM
The Bridge Arts Festival is bringing your family a celebration of creative arts in Bayonne. The creative arts festival features an artist market, kids craft corner, live musical performances, a row of delectable food trucks, and dance performances on stage. Release your inner child and get creative with the family.
Mayor Dennis P Collins Park
W 1st St, Bayonne, NJ
Annual Kites at the Pier Festival
September 8, 9AM
As if Pier Village isn’t fun enough, there’s a day dedicated to kites and kite flying. All kinds of kites will fly over Long Branch beach – different colors, shapes, and sizes. Check out the Running of the Bols competition – where families compete by latching onto an 8-foot parachute-kite and running into the wind, both fun and exhausting.
Beach between Avenue and McLoone’s Pier House
Long Branch, N
Roselle’s Sweet & Savory Beer, Wine & Food Truck Festival
September 8, 12PM – 9PM
Two events in one day?! Yes please. After you visit the Kite Fest, bounce over to Roselle for 20 mobile cuisine vendors and an exclusive beer and wine garden. This event features bounce houses, face painting and mechanical bull rides. Shop the Artisan Pop-Up Marketplace for art, jewelry, clothing, bath, beauty and more.
Chestnut St (between 1st & 3rd Ave), Roselle, NJ
Sailfest
September 9, 10AM – 10PM
Can you believe that this year marks the 27th anniversary of one of the largest fundraisers sponsored by The Rotary Club of Toms River? Sailfest 2018 is a Sailing Regatta, street fair with arts, crafts, 50/50, and a kids zone all rolled into one – to benefit local programs serving the community.
River Ave, Island Heights, NJ
The FALL Big Kid Toy Show
September 9, 8AM to 4PM
The Fall Big Kid Toy Show is a pop culture yard sale for collectors and vendors alike. Whether you’re a pro or a collector, bring your buckets, your bins, your boxes, and totes. At the cost of the space, you can bring it all.
New Egypt Flea Market
933 Monmouth Road, Cream Ridge, NJ
Arts in the Park Festival
September 9, 10:30AM – 4PM
The annual Arts in the Park celebration at Smithville Park features a beer garden, live music, paper making, basket weaving, slime, sand art, interactive improv comedy, arts, and crafts. Bonus: Take a photo with some jurassic critters by the Jurassic Jeep.
Historic Smithville Park Events
803 Smithville Road, Eastampton Township, NJ
Montgomery FunFest
September 9, 12PM – 5PM
Montgomery FunFest is a day of food, fun, music, dance, and lots of laughter. Kids will love the inflatable obstacle course, rock climbing, inflatable twister, and human bowling. Race your friends or the family and earn those bragging rights.
Princeton Airport
41 Airpark Rd, Princeton, NJ
Boots at the Beach Festival
September 14 – 16
Looking to bring the country to the beach? Make your way to the Boots at the Beach Festival – the largest country festival around with plenty of country vendors, crafts, wares, and live country bands. Shop jewelry, eat BBQ, kick up your boots at this fest.
Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood NJ
The Great Inflatable Race and Food Truck Festival
September 15, 9AM – 12PM; Food Truck Festival from 11AM – 5PM
The Mayor and Committee of the Township of Union are proud to partner with Union High School to present the Great Inflatable Race and Food Truck Festival to benefit Union High School’s Project Graduation. For a fee, your little ones receive a race t shirt, the ability to run through the inflatable race, a wristband, temporary tattoo, and race medal. Looking to just hangout? Enjoy the food truck festival and chow down with your favorites.
Union High School
2350 N 3rd St, Union, NJ
The Makers Festival
September 15, 10AM – 6PM
The MakeShift Union is hosting the 4th Annual Makers Festival, the mission of the festival is to highlight the underground current of Makers who are changing the landscape of production and consumerism in America. What does that mean? It means we celebrate the collective artistic endeavors of homegrown talent locally and beyond by featuring over ten dozen Makers. Their crafts include everything from handmade and vintage fashion, sculpting and woodworking, photography and fine art, craft beer, food and music.
Manahawkin Lake Park
Manahawkin, NJ
Festival of the Sea
September, 15, 10AM – 7PM (Rain Date: September 16)
The grandest of seafood festivals is finally back and ready to celebrate 40 great years of seafood fare with live music, games, a wine garden, family activities, and over 200 vendors. Some of the best and brightest Point Pleasant Beach area restaurants will be present and selling their food.
Downtown Point Pleasant Beach
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Bound Brook 2018 RiverFest Music and Arts Festival
September 15, 11AM – 5PM
Bound Brook is the spot for world music and dance this September. Celebrate these beautiful versions of artistic expression with dozens of performers and over 100 vendors to shop your heart out.
Main Street & Van Horn Plaza, Bound Brook, NJ
Latino Festival of Monmouth County
September 15, 12PM – 7PM
The Latino Festival of Monmouth County is a family-oriented event displaying the cultural flavors of the Latino communities in the United States. It seeks to unite people from all backgrounds and cultures with food, live entertainment, music, and cultural traditions.
1 E Main St, Freehold, NJ
Annual All About Downtown Street Fair
September 15, 12PM – 8PM
The Annual All About Downtown Street Fair is back with over 250 vendors and live music. There will be a shuttle to escort families back and forth to the venue so there is no reason to miss out. Kids will love the rides, face painting, games and shops. Keeping up with tradition, the fair will end with an amazing Grassroots Drum Parade.
The Grove Path Plaza to Coles Street, Jersey City
Sea Isle City’s Annual Fall Family Festival
September 15 & 16, 9AM – 4PM
Sea Isle City’s Fall Family Festival is back in its 29th year with 300 vendors, 15 food vendors, amusements rides, children’s activities, face painting, live entertainment, a moon bounce, old-time photos, and sand art.
JFK Blvd. & Promenade
Sea Isle City, NJ
Asbury Park Fall Bazaar & Indian Summer
September 15 – 16, 2018
A live music festival and a pop-up market featuring vintage and handcrafted items make this fall bazaar a unique event you can’t miss. Camp on the beach that weekend, wake up and shop, and enjoy a free yoga class. Kids can enjoy craft workshops throughout the day and you can too.
Grand Arcade of Convention Hall
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Sussex County Day
September 16, 12PM – 5PM
This fun fest features a grilling competition, Sussex County Idol singing contest, art and crafts, a classic car show, and free barbeque sampling. Kid-friendly events include a Pie in the Face contest, an egg toss event, a pie baking contest, and a family scavenger hunt. TransOptions will be giving out free children’s bike helmets. The best part – there’s so much more than this.
The Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Rd, Augusta, NJ
Princeton Music Fest
September 16, 11AM – 6:30PM
Prepare to be blown away by an eclectic musical lineup from exceptional bands across the tri state area in beautiful downtown Princeton. Enjoy a fabulous Sunday outside eating, drinking and shopping around this cozy town.
Palmer Square – Princeton NJ
40 Nassau St, North Princeton, NJ
Arts in the Park: Highland Park’s Arts Street Festival
September 16, 11:30AM – 4:30PM
Join Main Street Highland Park for the 13th annual Arts in the Park street festival, an art show, and arts and crafts sale in downtown Highland Park. The festival draws thousands of art enthusiasts and visitors from around the region to enjoy artistic offerings, live music and other entertainment, food from local restaurants, children’s activities, promotional booths, and much more.
Main Street Highland Park
212 Raritan Ave, Highland Park, NJ
West Windsor Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
September 23, 11AM – 5PM
A fun-filled day of food trucks, kids activities, live music, craft vendors and an alien parade for people and pets celebrating the 80th anniversary of “War of the Worlds.” This day is sure to be out of this world.
877 Alexander Rd, Princeton, NJ
Raritan River Festival and Rubber Duck Race
September 30, 11AM – 5:30PM
The Annual Raritan River Festival and Rubber Duck Race will be a day of live music, environmental exhibitors and activities, cardboard canoe races, pony rides, a beer garden, food vendors and more. The day is capped off with The Beez Foundation’s Rubber Duck Race into the Raritan River to raise money for pediatric brain cancer research.
Boyd Park
Memorial Pkwy, New Brunswick, NJ
Annual Parsippany Fall Festival Street Fair
September 30, 12PM – 5PM
The Parsippany Fall Festival is back for its 17th straight year and will provide your family with entertainment, rides, and other attractions.
1 Knoll St, Lake Hiawatha NJ
Pssst! Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmom and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.
