Summer days are slowly slipping away, but with a bunch of family-friendly things to do this weekend, you’ll barely notice. Take a boat ride or listen to music at the Canal Day Music & Craft Festival in Wharton, celebrate with song and dance at the Pakistan Day Parade and Celebration in Edison, or watch daring air shows in the skies at the Atlantic City Air Show in Atlantic City. And if you are looking for more summer fun, there’s still time to fill your summer bucket list. (feature photo taken at istock/Aneese)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
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Kenilworth Fire Department Carnival
August 15-20
Bring the whole family to this multi-day carnival with rides for all ages, a variety of festival food and treats, carnival games, prizes, 50/50 raffles, and more.
Cost: pay one Price ride wristbands, good for unlimited rides on the day of purchase, will be available on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
St. Theresa’s School parking lot on Monroe Ave., Kenilworth, NJ 07033
Hillsborough Rotary Fair
August 16-20, fireworks on August 20
The Annual Hillsborough Rotary Fair is back with fun for the whole family. Visit vendors, play games, grab some grub, and take advantage of unlimited rides every night.
Cost: Free
In the lot adjacent to Lowe’s, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844
(908) 334-9304
St. Ann’s Annual Carnival
August 16-20
St. Ann’s Church of Browns Mills will hold its annual five-day carnival featuring rides for all ages, food and treats, raffles, games, and prizes.
Cost: Pay one Price ride wristbands, good for unlimited rides on the night of purchase, are $25 each on Tuesday and Wednesday and $30 each on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Pemberton Municipal Building Grounds, Pemberton, NJ 08068
St. Philip’s Festival of Fun
August 17-21
It’s the 63rd annual Festival of Fun with amusement rides, games of chance, raffles, food stands, and lots of fun for the whole family.
Cost: Free
588 Saddle River Road, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
Church of Epiphany Italian Festival
August 19 at 5 PM
Come together with 107.1 The Boss at The Church of Epiphany for their 21st Annual Italian Festival. Enjoy live music, arcade games, food trucks, homemade cannolis, and the chance to win 107.1 The Boss swag and prizes.
Cost: Free
615 Thiele Road, Brick, NJ 08724
Bayshore Bazaar Boat Cruise – Parent’s Night Out
August 19 at 6:30 PM (boarding at 6 PM)
It’s the 1st annual Bayshore Bazaar Boat Cruise, perfect for a fun moms’ night out or a date night out. Shop from local makers, feast on passed hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary cocktail hour with snap selfies in a nautical-themed photo station, and dance the night away on the dance floor to a curated playlist.
Cost: $85 per person
Teal Cruises – Atlantic Highlands Municipal Marina, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Brigantine Food Truck Festival
August 19-21
Bring the whole family out for food trucks while at the beach. Beach badge fees will be waived at 38th Street beaches.
Cost: Free
38th Street Beach Brigantine, NJ 08203
Red Bank Boardwalk Kids Takeover
August 19 and 26 at 4 PM
Families with children ages 2-8 can meet up with friends and bring their trikes, scooters, helmets, and chalk. Stay for dinner with many outdoor dining options in the area and around town.
Cost: Free
The Broadwalk Pedestrian Plaza Zone – Broad Street between Front St. and White St, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Beachfest II Arts & Crafts Festival
August 20 at 9 AM
Get ready to shop by the shore when artists, makers, and food come to the seaside town of Beach Haven.
Cost: Free
Veteran’s Bicentennial Park, 100 Engelside Avenue, Beach Haven, NJ 08008
Black Artisan and Farmers Market
August 20 at 9 AM
BrickNKulture Black Artisan & Farmers’ Market provides a community that supports and values the opportunity for individuals that are creators, makers, and for those that eat the food that they grow. This space supports Black local growers, makers, and entrepreneurs, and the market is open rain or shine.
Cost: Free
The Cultural Collective Cafe & BrickNKulture Event Space 65 North Broad Street Woodbury, NJ 08096
Canal Day Music & Craft Festival
August 20 at 10 AM
Teach the fam some history—take a guided walking tour of the Morris Canal, travel down the waterway on a free boat ride, or prove your prowess by paddling a kayak. Enjoy listening to some of New Jersey’s best musical performers and watch the gorgeous fireworks display over the water.
Cost: Free
Hugh Force Canal Park, 180 West Central Avenue, Wharton, NJ 07885
(973) 361-8444
Pinelands Storytime
August 20 at 10 AM
Bring something comfortable to sit on and listen to some of Pineland’s Folklore told from the porch of the century-old Cranberry Packing House. This event is for all ages and will be held in sun or very light drizzle.
Cost: Free
Double Trouble Village State Historic Site, 581 Pinewald Keswick Road Bayville, NJ 08721
Bridgeton Peach Festival
August 20-21 at 10 AM
It’s peach time! Come out for everything peach, including vendors, food trucks, entertainment, train rides, and activities for the kids.
Cost: Parking $2 per car
97 Trench Road, Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Edison’s Food, Wine & Beer Festival
August 20 at 4 PM
Come out to this lively festival with food trucks, wine, craft beer, sangria, live bands, and local vendors. There will also be rides for the kids. This event is rain or shine.
Cost: $5, and 10 and under are free.
Under the Big Tent, 926 Amboy Ave, Edison, NJ 08837
27th Annual Antique Rolling Iron Auto Show
August 21 at 9 AM
It’s an antique car show at the Jersey Shore with vintage family cars, fire trucks, motorcycles, and more. There will be awards and family fun with activities at the Historic Village.
Cost: patrons $5 per car, $2 per person over 12
The Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall Township, NJ 07727
South Jersey Nerd Fest
August 21 at 10 AM
NERD FEST will return to the Holiday Inn in Swedesboro, New Jersey, as Nerds, Geeks, Comic, and Anime fans unite for a day of everything Nerdy. Special guests, artists, writers, creators, cosplayers, and vendors will be there. There will also be kid-friendly interactive activities, including Saber Training, where kids can learn to be a Jedi.
Cost: Admission is $10; kids 10 and under are free with a paying adult, cash only
Holiday Inn Philadelphia South-Swedesboro, 1 Pureland Drive Swedesboro, NJ 08085
5th Annual Food Truck Festival on the Ave
August 21 at 11 AM
Head out to this festival featuring 25 food trucks, kids’ games and activities, and music and entertainment.
Cost: Free
Mini Parks @ Landis ave and SW BLVD, Vineland, NJ 08360
Family History Day – African American History
August 21 at 12 PM
Rain or shine, celebrate Family History Day with special battlefield tours highlighting African Americans’ role at the Battle of Red Bank. The Whitall House will be open for tours with a hearth cooking demonstration. Cost: Free
Red Bank Battlefield Park, 100 Hessian Ave, National Park, NJ 08063
Pakistan Day Parade and Celebration
August 21 at 1 PM
To commemorate the 76th Independence Day of Pakistan, a parade and day featuring a cultural exhibition, live performances of dance, kids activities, and an initial breakfast of “Halwa Poori.” The parade will start at 4:30 PM sharp.
Cost: Varies per event
Papaianni Park, 100 Municipal Boulevard, Edison, NJ 08817
Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert
August 21 at 7:30 PM
Disney Concerts and Live Nation are bringing together Encanto: The Sing-Along Film Concert Tour, where Walt Disney Animation Studios Academy Award®-winning film comes to life in a one-of-a-kind concert event, featuring the entire feature-length film and an on-stage band celebrating all the hit songs from the soundtrack.
Cost: $25-$99 per ticket
PNC Bank Arts Center, 116 Garden State Parkway, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Atlantic City Air Show
August 24 at 11 AM
Watch from the water or the land as Chris Thomas Air Shows, the Full Throttle Formation Team, the F-18 Super Hornet, Dougherty Airshows, the Jim Beasley P-51 Mustang, USAF Thunderbirds, and the US Army Golden Knights come together to put on a fantastic show in the sky. Can’t make it on the 24th? August 23 is practice day.
Cost: Free; there is a fee to sit in VIP areas; no rain date.
Along the Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Ongoing Events
Family Fun Days Crafts & Collectibles Show at the Cape May Lighthouse
August 17, 24, from 9 AM-2 PM
Head to Cape May for a crafts and collectibles show featuring vendors and crafters from the northeast in July and August.
Cost: Free
Cape May Lighthouse, 215 Lighthouse Ave., Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 224-6066
Somerset Patriots Post-Game Fireworks
August 24, 27, September 17
Enjoy a ball game with the fam and cap off the night with a colorful show in the sky. Cheer on the Somerset Patriots as the sun goes down, and watch the fireworks light up over the stadium.
Cost: Included in Patriot Tickets
TD Bank Ballpark, 1 Patriots Park, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Jenkinson’s Movies on the Beach
Tuesdays, Now-August 30
Grab your beach towel and chairs and get ready for free movies on the beach at Jenkinson’s. Films include Paw Patrol: The Movie, Encanto, and Cars 3.
Cost: Free
300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Friday Night Fireworks in Wildwood
Every Friday at 10 PM
Is there a better way to end a fun-filled week of summer in Wildwood than with free fireworks? Every Friday night, watch a spectacular display exploding to a musical score played along the Boardwalk and simulcast on 98.7 The Coast. Grab a beach chair to relax on the sand, or you can see them from anywhere on the boardwalk. Rain dates are every Sunday at 10 PM.
Cost: Free
Wildwood Boardwalk, On the Beach at Pine Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Pier Village Family Fun Night
Every Sunday in the summer at 5 PM
Try everything from Miniature Golf, Rockwall Climbing, Trampoline Bungee Jumping, Rides, and Games. Come early and join the Pier Village Carousel Stage for the “Oceans of Possibilities” themed complementary story time by the sea at 1 PM.
Cost: $4 per ticket, sheets of 7 tickets for $25, wristbands are $35pp
Festival Plaza, Pier Village, 68 Ocean Ave. N., Long Branch, NJ 07740
Tropicana’s Free Fireworks Series
Every Saturday at 10 PM until September
This dazzling 10-minute show is part of Tropicana’s Summer Celebration Fireworks Series. The performances are displayed from the beachfront and include intricately designed scenes and vivid effects.
Cost: Free
Tropicana Atlantic City, 2831 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Wednesday Night Fireworks at Seaside Heights
Every Wednesday at 9:30 PM Now-August 24
Head to the boards to hop on the rides, pop into the arcades, indulge in some ice cream, and win prizes with your kiddos. When the sun sets, find your favorite spot on the boardwalk to enjoy fireworks at 9:30 PM.
Cost: Free
Seaside Heights Boardwalk, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
Thursday Night Fireworks at Jenkinson’s
Every Thursday at dark until August 25
This dazzling display at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant is a local tradition—catch the fireworks show on the beach every Thursday night. Before the show, stop by the aquarium or hit up everything else this fave boardwalk has to offer, then take a seat on the sand for the colorful display starting at dark.
Cost: Free
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Super American Circus Atlantic City
Now-September 5, Thursday-Sunday
Catch this fantastic show with acts, thrills, and laughs that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Some of the highlights include America’s Got Talent superstars, Cirque Du Soleil performers, and talent from Ringling Bros.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Showboat Atlantic City, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401
(609) 487-4600
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