Top 15 {kid-friendly} Things To Do in NJ, September 1-3

This weekend, celebrate our New Jersey melting pot at the St. Bartholomew Italian Festival in Scotch Plains or the ScandinavianFest in Hackettstown, be a pilot for the day at the 2017 Airfest Rio Grande, dance the night away at Boots on the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, plus many more kid-friendly fairs and festivals in New Jersey this weekend.

Here are 15+ Things To Do This Weekend in NJ:

Don’t forget to hashtag #NJMOM and tag @njmomhq and your little cuties could be featured in our next photo round-up.

Labor Day Carnival in Boonton. via BoontonFD.com and PeterAlessandriaPhotography.com

1. Boonton Fireman’s Labor Day Carnival & Parade
Thursday, August 31 – Sunday, September 3, 2017 | Thursday & Friday 6:00PM to 11:59PM, Saturday & Sunday 3:00PM to 11:59PM, Saturday Parade 1:30PM to 4:00PM
Boonton High School will be hosting a Labor Day Carnival & Parade that ensures a family outing full of fun. The event includes: carnival rides, food, and lots of activities will help your family close out summer in style. This event also celebrates the Boonton Fire Department’s 126th anniversary with nightly, as entertainment from live bands and a full-fledged parade will be available to all family’s who attend.
Boonton High School
306 Lathrop Ave, Boonton, NJ 07005
Cost: Free Admission, Ride Wristbands $25 – $28

2. Boots on the Boardwalk
Friday, September 1, 2017 | 4:00PM to 7:00PM
Come celebrate the Best Summer Ever with NASH FM 94.7 & Jenkinson’s on Friday,
Boots on the Boardwalk is free concert that kicks off Labor Day Weekend with special appearances from Scotty McCreery, A Thousand Horses, and Todd O’Neill. Make sure to stop by and enjoy the entertainment that the Jersey Shore and Jenkinson’s Boardwalk has to offer.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk
300 Ocean Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey 08742
Cost: Free

3. Glassboro Cruise Nite Car Show & Food Truck Festival
Friday, September 1, 2017 | 5:00PM to 9:00PM
Glassboro’s own Car Shower & Food Truck Festival is a jam packed event your family will not want to miss. All the bests cars, food trucks, live music, artisan vendors, beer selections, and activities will be on display for all ages. The live music from TK & The Howlers and DJ Pepper Paul from WVLT Cruisin’ 92.1 will be keeping the atmosphere jammin’ as your family munches on an assortment of food. Featured Food Trucks include: T&N HomeMade Kitchen, Tacos Al Carbon, Aunt Martha’s Funnel Cakes, Carolina Blue Smokehouse & Taproom (Baby Blue), Philly Fry, Grilled Cheez Factory, Famous Sgt. BOB Smoke BBQ and Grill, Kono Pizza On Wheels, Cannoli World, Woodbury Polish Water Ice, Mannino’s Pizzeria Express “Wood Fired Brick Oven”, House of Cupcakes, and Wilson’s Kettle Corn of NJ.
College Ave, Glassboro, NJ 08028
Cost: Free

Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival in Woodstown. via

4. 46th Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival
Friday, September 1 – Sunday, September 3, 2017 | Friday 12:00PM to 11:15PM, Saturday 12:00PM to 11:10PM, Sunday 11:00AM to 5:00PM
The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival invites your family to join many other families as music lovers seek and enjoy the finest and most accomplished bluegrass bands and performers. These great talents will not only from the United States, but from around the world as well. True to their organizational name, the lineup always includes old time music and related genres that will resonate with bluegrass and country lovers. The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival is a family-friendly event, with plenty of events for your children, and will include a separate afternoon “Kid’s Stage” on Friday and Saturday.
Salem County Fair Grounds
735 Route 40, Woodstown, New Jersey 08098
Cost: Free for Kids Under 12, when accompanied by a paying adult, $45+ Adult, Tickets can be purchased here

5. Shore Stop Dance Convention
Friday, September 1 – Sunday, September 3, 2017 | 9:00AM
If there is a dancer amongst your family, then the Shore Stop Dance Convention is the event for you. Morey’s Piers will lay host to dancers from area and have studios to perform in at this unique event. Shore Stop Dance Convention will expose your family’s dancers to the highest level of performance while incorporating technique, team building, discipline, and developing growth for the arts. The Shore Stop Dance Convention weekend offers the dancers and families a family fun weekend at the Wildwoods Convention Center.
The Wildwoods Convention Center
4501 Boardwalk, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Cost: $129 One Day Rate, $209 Early Bird, $249 Regular Rate, Tickets can be purchased here

6. AirFest 2017
Friday, September 1 – Monday, September 4, 2017 | Friday, September 1 – Monday, September 4, 2017 | Friday 2:00PM to 5:00PM, Saturday 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Sunday 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday 9:00AM to 5:00PM
AirFest is NASW’s largest annual event to date, and your family will not want to miss out. Many new and exciting events have been added to the already stellar lineup this year, and everyone cannot wait to see what is in store. The Collings Foundation flies in with WWII bombers, including: B-24 Liberator, B-17 Flying Fortress, and P-51Mustang. For flight reservations, please call 800-568-8924 or visit the Collings Foundation website. Of course, along with the daring aerials there will be: live music, food trucks, beer selections, vendors, exhibits, kid friends activities, NASW’s 27 historic aircrafts, and other fascinating exhibits. Food trucks will be serving eclectic menus that range from gourmet sandwiches, classic cheese steaks, tacos and crepes.
Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum
500 Forrestal Rd, Rio Grande, NJ 08242
Cost: $10 Children, $14 Adult, Tickets can be purchased here

St. Bartholomew Italian Festival in Scotch Plains. via

7. St. Bartholomew Italian Festival
Friday, September 1 – Monday, September 4, 2017 | Friday – Sunday 4:30PM to 10:30PM, Monday 1:00PM to 8:00PM
The much anticipated Italian Festival of the Summer includes a feast that is truly a great family event with plenty for the whole family to enjoy. Music will be played nightly, along with various: rides, games, and great food. The mouth watering Italian cuisine includes crowd favorites like: pizza, pasta, zeppoles, clams, mussels, and calzones. In addition, there are nightly 50/50 drawings and a super 50/50 raffle on Monday, so make sure your family stops by to celebrate their inner Italian.
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church
2032 Westfield Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076
Cost: Free

8. Canterbury Art Show
Friday, September 1 – Monday, September 4, 2017 | Friday 7:00PM to 9:00PM, Saturday 10:00AM to 6:00PM, Sunday 12:00PM to 6:00PM, Monday 10:00AM to 6:00PM
A Tapestry of the Arts of this level can only be found at the Canterbury Art Show. This premier local exhibition and art sale will show during the daytime; it features artists that will be painting and drawing on the church premises so that patrons are able to see the creative process in action. Along with all of the art being created, there will be: art work on raffle, an art auction of of paintings, photos, sculpture, glassworks, jewelry, ceramics, wood and metal items and mixed-media. The auction will take place on Sunday, September 3, 4pm – 6pm. A tour of the impressive art and architecture of St. George’s-by-the-River will take place Saturday, Sunday and Monday at 11:15 and 1:15. This 30 minute free tour starts from the rear pews of the center aisle (nave) of the Church.
St. George’s-by-the-River Episcopal Church
7 Lincoln Ave, Rumson, NJ 07760
Cost: $10

9. The Tomato Festival
Saturday, September 2, 2017 | 9:00AM to 5:00PM
The Tomato Festival celebrates the Jersey Fresh Tomato and the end of the summer season. This extremely unique event shares to benefit the WCM Shade Tree Commission in their endeavor to protect and improve the tree canopy of WCM. Come on out and share in the spirit of community, and embrace all the greatness of the Jersey Tomato.
Wilbraham Park
W Perry St, West Cape May, NJ 08204
Cost: Free

BBQ & Craft Beer Festival in Oceanport. via

10. BBQ & Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, September 2 – Monday, September 4, 2017 | 11:30AM to 5:30PM Each Day
It’s time for the juiciest weekend of the year, and it could not come at a better time than at the close of Summer. The annual BBQ & Craft Beer Festival will be three days of fall-off-the-bone ribs, tender pulled pork, melt-in-your-mouth brisket, great selection of brews, and live music. Saturday is country day with music presented by Thunder 106.3FM, and Sunday will featuree music from the Sundries; followed by Pez Head on Monday. Kids will especially love the free pony rides, bounce house, face painting, clowns and more. This is not an event to miss, so make sure your family stops on by Monmouth Park Racetrack.
Monmouth Park Racetrack
175 Oceanport Ave, Oceanport, New Jersey 07757
Cost: Free for Kids 12 & Under, $5 Grandstand/General Admission, $5 Parking

11. Ducktown Bacon Fest
Saturday, September 2, 2017 | 12:00PM to 8:00PM
Can you think of anything better than Bacon, well how about a festival full of Bacon. The Ducktown Bacon Fest will feature amazing vendors with great bacon items, bacon inspired drinks, music, and lots of family fun. Make sure your family makes an appearance in this great event.
Ducktown Atlantic City Bacon Fest
2400 Atlantic Ave., Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401
Cost: Free

12. Bikes and Brews
Saturday, September 2 – Sunday, September 3, 2017 | 11:00AM to 5:00PM (Rain or Shine)
All families and friends that love everything about Bacon, Bikes, and Brews, this event at Allaire State Park will be the perfect place for you. Allaire Bacon, Bikes & Brews will feature: Beer Tent with high top tables (Only 21 yrs old and older in the beer tent), award winning food trucks featuring the best of sizzling Bacon menu items, children play activities, tours of historic buildings, and popular craft vendors. Food trucks in attendance include: Dogs Gone Wild, Fed by Ed, Five Sisters Food Co., Good Food=Good Mood, House of Cupcakes, Jersey Johnny’s, Lexylicious, The Flying Pie Guy, Pompier Pierogi Flats, Shore Good Eats N Treats, and Waffle De Lys. That;s not it, however, on Saturday-The NJ Wheelmen will be showcasing an exhibit of 19th Century bicycles, their history, high wheel bicycles from the 1880s, and demonstrations on how to ride a high wheel bicycle and other 19th Century bicycles.
Allaire State Park
Farmingdale, New Jersey 07727
Cost: Free for Everyone 18 & Under, $10 Adults, Tickets can be purchased here

ScandinavianFest in Hackettstown. via

13. Scandinavian Fest
Sunday, September 3, 2017 | 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Vasa Park invites your family to experience the very best of Scandinavia. As a family, you will get a chance to discover the customs, coveted history, the ethnic variety of the six Nordic nations (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), hear music, see artisans, find child-friendly activities, and witness historical re-enactments. There will not be an event like this anytime soon, so come down to indulge in a cultural wonder.
Vasa Park
1 Vasa Dr, Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Cost: Free for Kids 12 & Under, $14 Adult

14. Pompton Day
Sunday, September 3, 2017 | 11:30AM, Fireworks at 8:30PM (Rain Date: September 4)
Pompton Day at Pompton Lakes is finally here, and will feature live bands, DJs, food trucks, face painting, balloon animals, craft vendors, a dunk tank, a bounce house, and plenty of more. Your family will not want to miss out on the epic scenery and activities offered at this great event.
Lakeside Ave, Pompton Lakes, NJ
Cost: Free

15. Boardwalk Blast
Sunday, September 3, 2017 | 12:00PM to 4:00PM (Rain Date: Sunday, September 10)
Nolan’s Point Boardwalk will be the location for this love day out with your family. The event will featuring food vendors, musical entertainment, activities for kids and parents, and local artisan vendors. Close out summer with a dreamy lakeside view accompanied by your most beloved friends and family.
The Boardwalk at Nolan’s Point
37 Nolan”s Point Park Road, Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey 07849
Cost: Free