Hot air balloon rides, food truck festivals, beachside water slides, corn husking contests – it’s all happening here in New Jersey this weekend. Shop locally at Asbury Fresh Evening Farmers Market, participate in 106 years of tradition at St. Ann’s Italian Festival in Hoboken, or climb aboard Historic Cold Spring Railroad Days in Cape May.
Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured on our next photo round-up.
Here are our top picks of things to do this weekend with your family:
1. Morris County 4-H Fair
July 22 – 24, 2016 | Friday & Saturday 10:00AM – 10:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM – 4:00PM
Animal shows, hot air balloon rides, delicious food, live entertainment, cake decorating and watermelon eating contests, amusement and pony rides, a car and motorcycle show, fireworks… the members of Morris County 4-H know how to throw a fair! These attractions and more will make for a fantastic weekend with your family.
Chubb Park
West Main Street, Chester, NJ
Cost: Free admission, $5 Parking, $10 Parking for Firework Show
2. Asbury Park Fresh Evening Farmers & Makers Market
July 22, 2016 | 5:30PM – 8:30PM
Stop by New Jersey’s fastest growing farmers and makers market and discover the best vendors in the state, selling the freshest local produce, most creative artisan crafts and gifts, and tastiest food vendors to enjoy dinner while you shop in one of New Jersey’s most creative cities.
Kennedy Park
Cookman Avenue & Grand Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: Free
3. Family Fun Beach Night
July 22, 2016 | 6:30PM – 8:30PM
Every Friday night is a themed Family Fun Night at Sea Isle City’s Excursion Park, and this week is Beach Night! Your kids will have an exciting night riding the water slide, listening to beach music, and picking their own balloon animal made especially for them.
Excursion Park
JFK Boulevard & Pleasure Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ
Cost: Free
4. Illumination Night in Ocean Grove
July 22, 2016 | 8:00PM – 10:00PM
With your family by your side, stroll the charming Victorian town of Ocean Grove as it illuminates your path. Enjoy the lights on a lovely summer evening while enjoying live music and food from local eateries.
The Hub
27 Pilgrim Pathway, Ocean Grove, NJ
Cost: Free
5. Corntastic Weekend
July 22 – 23, 2016 | 5:00PM – 10:00PM
New Jersey is celebrating its favorite vegetable this weekend at Meadowlands Racetrack. All guests will receive a free ear of fresh, grilled corn. Get your friendly competition going by signing up for the Corn Carrying and Corn Husking contests, and earn a $25 bidding voucher just for participating.
Meadowlands Racetrack
1 Racetrack Drive, East Rutherford, NJ
Cost: Free
6. St. Ann’s Italian Festival
July 22 – 26 | Friday 1:00PM – 11:00PM, Saturday & Sunday 1:00PM – 11:00PM, Monday 6:00PM – 11:00PM, Tuesday 1:00PM – 11:00PM
All are welcome to Hoboken’s citywide tradition, St. Ann’s Italian Festival, as they celebrate 106 years with Italian food, entertainment, and culture. This family celebration held at St. Ann’s Square features a Best Pizza Contest, Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band, St. Ann’s Famous Zeppoles, and Feast Day Mass.
St. Ann’s Square
7th & Jefferson Streets, Hoboken, NJ
Cost: Free
7. National Cowboy Tribute Day
July 23, 2016 | 10:30AM – 6:00PM
Wild West City, New Jersey’s beloved western themed family park, is hosting a celebration for American cowboys. Bring the whole family to join Cowboy Larry and Brave Beth as they entertain and educate through roping demonstrations and additional cowboy activities that will leave your little cowboys smiling and happy.
Wild West City
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ
Cost: Adults $17.25, Children Ages 2 – 11 $15.25
8. 11th Annual Duck Derby
July 23, 2016 | 11:00AM – 3:00PM
This special fundraiser features children’s rubber duck races down the babbling stream in Historic Allaire Village. Your kids will have a blast seeing the colorful ducks swimming together in a bunch. The winner of each race will receive a prize, and the fastest duck of them all will receive a special grand prize. Little ones can fish for ducks in the mill pond for prizes and get their face painted.
The Historic Village at Allaire
4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale, NJ
Cost: Free
9. Fanwood Green Fair
July 23, 2016 | 11:00AM – 4:00PM
Celebrate a sustainable lifestyle without breaking the bank. Fanwood Green Fair aims to educate the public that shopping green and locally can be affordable. Supporting these talented vendors will also help support the Green Fair by assisting the Borough of Fanwood to earn points towards the Sustainable Jersey Certificate.
Fanwood Town Hall
75 North Martine Avenue, Fanwood, NJ
Cost: Free
10. Food Truck Festival
July 23, 2016 | 11:00AM – 6:00PM
The whole family will find something delicious to eat at the Food Truck Festival this weekend at The Hermitage Museum. Taxi Cab Burger, Empanada Lady, Luke’s Lobster, The Thai Elephant, and Polkadot Cupcake Shop are just some of the reasons why this festival is perfect for all New Jersey foodie families.
The Hermitage Museum
335 North Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ
Cost: $5, Children under 2 are free.
11. Middlesex Borough Community Day
July 23, 2016 | 1:00PM – 9:00PM
Join the community of Middlesex at this family event filled with live music, amazing food vendors, and games and activities for your little ones. Welcome nightfall with a fireworks show while cuddling up with the whole family.
Mountain View Park at Middlesex High School
300 John F Kennedy Drive, Middlesex, NJ
12. Village Block Party in Jersey City
July 23, 2016 | 1:00PM – 10:00PM
This family festival is bursting with fun activities and entertainment for children and adults of all ages. Sign up your team for the kickball tournament, participate in relay races, hoola hoop contest, limbo, and freeze dance. Little ones will have fun with parachutes and songs during Toddler Time, and parents will enjoy live music while visiting the awesome food and drink vendors.
Mary Benson Park
369 3rd Street, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Free
13. Historic Cold Spring Railroad Days
July 23 – 24, 2016 | 10:00AM – 4:30PM
This family event is all things locomotive. Take a step back in time as Cape May’s beautifully charming Historic Cold Spring Village is lined with model railroads, locomotives, garden displays, vendors, and more kid friendly activities.
Historic Cold Spring Village
720 Route 9 South, Cape May, NJ
Cost: Free
14. Meet Mickey Mouse
July 24, 2016 | 11:00AM – 12:00PM
Pick out the cutest outfits for your little ones and bring them to meet the most loved mouse of all time! Mickey Mouse will be hanging out at Learning Express in Holmdel and ready to smile for the camera with your cuties.
Learning Express
2107 State Route 35, Holmdel, NJ
Cost: Free
15. Freehold Township Day
July 24, 2016 | 4:00PM – 10:00PM
This family event has something for everybody. Younger children will love the free rides, teens can have fun dancing to a DJ at the Teen Center with a rock climbing wall, and parents will enjoy the performances from live bands and the “Don’t Forget the Vet” car show. Enjoy dinner from one of many food vendors, before gathering the whole family together to watch the firework show at dusk.
Michael J. Tighre Park
65 Georgia Road, Freehold, NJ
Cost: Free
