It’s the 4th of July weekend, and we’re celebrating America’s birthday with lots of family-friendly things to do all over NJ. Watch fireworks like an Admiral at Fireworks at the Battleship NJ in Camden, see performances and characters at 30th Annual Oceanfest in Long Branch, or test your batting skills at the Independence Day Homerun Derby in Colts Neck. And if you want more to do on this 4th of July weekend, check out our 4th of July fireworks in NJ guide. (feature photo credit: istock/flySnow taken at Snyder’s Farm)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
2022 Randolph Freedom Festival
June 30, July 1, 2
Vendors, food trucks, and rides too. On July 2, there will be a parade at 10 AM and fireworks at 9:45 PM.
Cost: Free
County College of Morris, 214 Center Grove Road, Randolph, NJ 07869
Atlantic City Fireworks
July 1 at 9:30 PM
It’s the official kick-off to summer at North Beach in Atlantic City. This event is free and open to the public. Watch the show from Hard Rock, Ocean Casino, Resorts, Showboat, Steel Pier, or Tennessee Avenue restaurants.
Cost: Free
Various locations in Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Fireworks at the Battleship NJ
July 1, 2, and 4 at 7 PM
Step aboard the Battleship NJ to view fireworks from a different perspective right aboard the deck. There will be face painting, live music, food, and adult bar service. Or watch the Admiral’s fireworks from the Admiral’s or Captain’s deck with BBQ snacks and dessert.
Cost: $10 donation, $100 donation for the Admiral’s Fireworks
62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ 08103
Red, White, and Blue Food Truck and Music Festival in Teaneck
July 2 at 11 AM
Dogs are welcome at this festival filled with live music, pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, vendors, face painting, and children’s activities. Don’t forget your chairs and blankets. The rain date is July 3.
Cost: $5, kids under 5 are free.
Teaneck Armory Lawn, 1799 Teaneck Ave, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Maple Shade Independence Day Parade and Fireworks
July 2 at 12 PM
It’s the 100th anniversary Independence Day parade and fireworks events with a parade at noon on Main Street. Fireworks will take place at Maple Shade High School at dusk.
Cost: Free
Main Street, Maple Shade, NJ 08052
Independence Weekend in Ocean Grove
July 2
The parade is on rain or shine at 10:30 AM, and at 7:30 PM, there will be a Patriotic Concert in the Great Auditorium.
Cost: Free
Ocean Grove, NJ 07756
Cape May City Independence Day Parade 2022
July 2 at 1 PM
Watch the parade down Beach Avenue with string bands and other performing groups. Also, see decorated golf carts, bicycles, and baby carriages and who wins the “Best Decorated” Contest this year.
Cost: Free
Beach Avenue in Cape May City, NJ 08204
Independence Day Weekend at Historic Cold Spring Village
July 2-3 at 11 AM
Teach your kids history with these interactive patriotic family activities, programs, and music while exploring the Village’s restored historic buildings. Activities include a Militia Muster for children ages 5 to 12, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and the history of the American Flag. Kids can also participate in the “Patriot Spy Game,” visiting Village buildings to look for clues using an actual Revolutionary War cipher.
Cost: $12-$14
720 US 9, Cape May, NJ 08204
Coca-Cola 4th of July Fest Great Adventure
July 2-4
It’s a three-day party with rides, music, fireworks, and discounted tickets at Great Adventure.
Cost: Price of admission ticket
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 928-2000
Paramus 4th of July Pre Fireworks & Food Truck & Music Fest
July 3 at 11 AM
Before the fireworks, head to Garden State Plaza for a bounce house, Extreme Racing Grand Prix, and Extreme Bubble Ball. There will be lots of food, live music, and games until 7 PM when the Paramus town party begins.
Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for children, $6 for adults, and $4 for children in advance
Garden State Plaza Boulevard- Paramus, NJ 07652
Livingston’s 29th Annual Auto Fest
July 4 at 9 AM
Bring the whole family to see muscle cars, antique cars, motorcycles, and collector cars. There will also be food, fun, and a DJ too.
Cost: Spectators are free
Livingston High School Parking Lot, 30 Robert Harp Drive, Livingston, NJ 07039
30th Annual Oceanfest at Long Branch
July 4 at 10 AM
Come to NJ’s largest 4th of July celebration to see dancers, musicians, clowns, and food vendors. There will be costumed characters and even sand sculptures. Fireworks will be at 9 PM.
Cost: Free
228 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740
Morristown Hike to Revolutionary War Powder Hill
July 4 at 11 AM
Visit the archaeological site of the oldest remaining Revolutionary-Era powder mill site located along the Whippany River. The mill was used for the critical remanufacturing of damaged gun powder during the Revolutionary War. This event will meet at Acorn Hall, and the walk will be about one-quarter of a mile to the site of the mill and return.
Cost: Free
68 Lafayette Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960
Independence Day Longstreet Farm
July 4 at 12 PM
Have an Independence Day celebration like it’s the 1890s when patriotism was celebrated with music and games. Join the staff at Longstreet Farm as they celebrate the holiday with games and contests.
Cost: Free
44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Princeton July 4th Jubilee at Historic Morven
July 4 at 12 PM
Swing to the 1960s in celebration of the current exhibition: Ma Bell: The Mother of Invention in New Jersey, which features the original Telstar satellite and many other technological innovations made in New Jersey that affected the entire world for generations. There will be presentations and interactive exhibits for the whole family, with food trucks and live music.
Cost: family tickets are available for $25 to view inside the museum and visit the gardens
Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton St., Princeton, NJ 08540
Colts Neck Independence Day Home Run Derby 2022
July 3 at 4 PM
Compete against your son or daughter, and they can compete against other former professional baseball players and their siblings and peers. Each age group will have one winner, and there will be one overall winner. There will be food, games, vendors, music and entertainment, and fireworks.
Cost: Free; competition for ages 7 and up.
Bucks Mill Park Bucks, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Camden July 4th Freedom Festival
July 4 at 5 PM
The Tri-County Symphonic Band will kick off the event with a salute to Americans and our Veterans. After, there will be musical guests and fireworks on the Delaware.
Cost: Free
2 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
Ocean City Skate Bash
July 4 at 5:30 PM
The Ocean City Skate Park will host a free Fourth of July Skate Bash with a DJ, snacks, giveaways, and a patriotic costume contest. The skateboard park is located at Fifth Street and Asbury Avenue.
Cost: Free
Fifth Street and Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Tropicana’s Free Fireworks Series Tropicana Casino & Resort
July 4 at 10 PM
Watch the fireworks show along the beach and boardwalk in Atlantic City. In addition to the July 4th weekend boardwalk fireworks display, Tropicana Hotel & Casino lights off fireworks every Saturday night in the summer.
Cost: Free
2831 Boardwalk Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Ongoing Events
Family Ag Days
June 26, July 10, 24, August 7, 21, and September 11 at 9 AM
The County of Passaic and the township of Wayne present Family Ag days to connect families with agriculture through activities, music, and programs. Don’t miss the therapy bunnies and petting zoo.
Cost: Free
Van Ripper Hopper Museum, 533 Berdan Avenue, Wayne, NJ 07470
(973) 706-6640
International Sandsculpting Contest
Now-June 29 at 9 AM – 9 PM
Six International award-winning sculptors will compete, and they will provide each sculptor with ten tons of sand to make their creations. The public can vote for their favorite sculpture and watch the sculpting each day leading up to the award ceremony on June 29.
Cost: daily tickets are required, $5 per day for 12 years of age and over and $2.50 for children ages 6-11, under 5 are free An Event Pass is $10 for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 6-11 which allows unlimited access for all days of the competition
1415 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
Brick Summerfest 2022
June 30, July 7, 14, 21
Check out the bands and fireworks of this popular festival, with SuperTransAM, The Benjamins, and Jessie’s Girl. All events are free to attend and take place at Windward Beach Park. An adult must accompany all children 17 years old or under.
Cost: Free
265 Princeton Ave., Brick, NJ 08724
(732) 262-1000
Saint Mary’s Great Fair
Now-July 2
Head to this fair for the Kiddie Zone and lots of fun. There will be rides, games, 50/50’s, and boardwalk games.
Cost: $30 after mass, $35 at the fair
18 Cherry Tree Farm Rd, Middletown Township, NJ 07748
Saint Ambrose Parish Carnival
Now–July 2
Kids will love the pony rides, face painting, glitter tattoos, games, food, rides, and even nightly character visits.
Cost: $32 and up for wristbands
St. Ambrose Parish Carnival St Ambrose 61 Throckmorton Lane Old Bridge, NJ 08857
U-pick Raspberries and Lavender Viewing at Happy Day Farm
Now-July 3
Get ready to pick four types of raspberries at Happy Day Farm, where you can snap photos for the ‘gram at any photo op spots and pick berries that span over 4 acres. Kids will love feeding the goats and chickens after snacking on shaved ice and lemonade. Lavender viewing will be available too.
Cost: $4 per person, and 1 and under are free, $4 (1/2 pound) and $6 for 1 pound
106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
LEAD Fest State Fair
Now-July 4
Get ready for food, fun, rides, and more for the whole family at the Law Enforcement Agents Drugs and Violence (LEAD) Fair. There will be nightly entertainment, a petting farm, rides, Cowtown USA, and a pie-eating contest.
Cost: $5 during the week and $8 on weekends; several activities are an additional cost
1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
(609) 259-2500
North Brunswick Youth Sports Festival
Now-July 4, select days
Over the next three weekends, this festival will feature carnival rides, fireworks, Rosaire’s Royal Racers, High Flying Pages Thrill Show, Wild Wheels Thrill Motorcycle Show, a magic show, and a petting zoo.
Cost: $13-$35; prices vary on select dates
US-1, Milltown, NJ 08850
State Fair Meadowlands
Now-July 10, hours vary
Can you smell that oh-so-delicious fried Oreo waiting for you at the State Fair (and did we mention free parking?) Don’t miss rides and attractions and the largest Kiddie Land in the Garden State with rides like Fire Chief, Monkey Maze, and the Pop-A-Wheelie. There will also be extreme illusionists, acrobats, and live music shows.
Cost: Tickets must be purchased online; the Fun Pass starts at $38.99
State Fair Meadowlands, 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073
(201) 355-5911
Blueberry Festival at Argos Farm
Now-July 10, Friday-Sunday at 10 AM
It’s the annual Argos Farm Blueberry Festival with live music, blueberry treats, photo ops, and hand-picked farm-fresh blueberries. The kids will love the double hay slide, bee zip line, and jumbo jumper air pillow.
Cost: $13.95 online and $18.95 at the gate
1250 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ 08731
Blueberry Summer Fest
Now-July 23 at 10 AM
The whole family can pick blueberries, take a wagon ride, enjoy locally made blueberry treats, tour the home of The Blueberry Queen, Elizabeth Coleman White, and shop handmade vendors while enjoying the sounds of music on the Whitesbog stage.
Cost: no fee, but donations are appreciated
Whitesbog Preservation Trust, 120 West Whites Bog Road #34, Browns Mills, NJ 08015
Jenkinson’s Movies on the Beach
Tuesdays, June 28-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.
300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Super American Circus Atlantic City
Now-September 5, Thursday-Sunday
Catch this amazing 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
Delaware and Raritan Canal Park Run
Every Saturday at 9 AM
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 5K community event. Walk, jog, run, volunteer, or cheer on participants at this fun event. This run is free, but make sure to register before attending.
Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail, 156 Mettlers Rd, Somerset, NJ 08873
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