How is it already the last weekend before Labor Day? Soak up the last regular weekend of summer fun before the new school year starts at a festival, outdoor concert, ag fair, a local market and more.
WEEKEND
Disney’s Beauty And The Beast JR.
First Methodist Church, Moorestown
Wednesday – Friday
Moorestown Theater Company put together a cast of first through 11th graders to bring the kid-friendly movie to life on stage.
Cinderella
Surflight Theatre, Beach Haven
Wednesday – Sunday
Your favorite children’s story comes to life on stage in a performance geared toward 3-10-year-olds.
Indie Street Film Festival
Red Bank
Wednesday – Sunday
The festival will screen dramas, comedies, documentaries and short films, but also add community events so that everyone can get involved.
Thursday – Sunday
South County Park, 1207 Rte. 179, Ringoes (Lambertville)
Visit the cow barn, horse barn, sheep barn, and the goat and pig barn. There will be a midway with food, vendors and amusem*nts. Check out the 4-H robotics tent, dairy den, agri-puppet show, shooting sports, NJ beekeepers and antique tractors.
Jones Sings Jones!
Bell Theater at Bell Works, Holmdel
Thursday – Sunday
Remember Jones will be joined on stage by a 17-piece band to sing the classic hits of Tom Jones.
Cretaceous Campout
Field Station: Dinosaurs, Leonia
Friday – Saturday
You and your family can sleep under the stars with the dinosaurs. Take a lantern-lit tour of the trails, have some snacks and play games.
Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Friday – Sunday
The show will have over 200 tables of the hottest collectibles, including sports cards, non-sports cards, old and new toys, comic books, Pokemon sets, supplies, unopened packs and boxes, Funko Pops, non-sports cards, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic, Beanie Babies, videos, jerseys, books, posters, coins, T-shirts, LEGOs, antiques and more.
Wine Down Summer at Riverwinds
Riverwinds Community Center, West Deptford
Saturday – Sunday
There will be dozens of wineries and food trucks showcasing local Jersey fare, plus vendors and crafters, and live music both days.
FRIDAY
Free Fridays
Intrepid Museum, New York, NY
The museum will be open late until 9 pm, with free admission starting at 5 pm, so you can see all the astronomy-themed programs and exhibits the museum has to offer.
Kids Night Out: Before School Begins
ACACNJ, Denville
There will be pizza, art, karaoke, slime, a movie, a game room, jewelry making, dancing and more.
Mr. Speed: A Night of KISS
Levoy Theater, Millville
Listen to your favorite KISS hits performed by a tribute band.
$5 Friday Summer Concert Series
Festival Grounds, Mercer County Park, West Windsor
Two bands play each Friday at sunset.
STAFF PHOTO / Alice Paul Institute
SATURDAY
Women’s Equality Day Festival
Alice Paul Institute, Mount Laurel
This family-friendly festival will feature craft vendors, live music, food trucks, a beer garden, lawn games, activities, and more.
Caribbean Festival
Donaldson Park, Highland Park
There will be lots of island vibes with Caribbean food, music, and dance performances (reggae, soca, and calypso); an epic Jerk chicken tasting cookoff; and info about the English, Spanish, French, and Dutch speaking Caribbean.
Summer Festival & Craft Show
Squan Plaza, Manasquan
Food, music, vendors and local art celebrate this Jersey Shore town.
Harding Highway, Richland
Store vendors and show vendors will be selling everything from toys, comics, antiques, records, memorabilia, pop culture and video games to art, trading cards, collectibles and retro items.
Fiddlin Day
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
The annual contest sponsored by the Hunterdon Folk Exchange brings together the area’s best fiddlers. There will be fiddlers, guitarists, mandolinists and other musicians on porches, under trees, and on the lawn playing traditional folk and bluegrass music. The day will also feature homemade food, ice cream, horse-drawn wagon rides, a children’s craft, and a closing performance featuring 30 fiddlers.
Picket Fence Art Show
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
The fence lines of Howell Farm will be transformed into gallery walls as local artists display their work. Children can try their hand at painting farm still-life subjects, under the direction of fine artist and children’s book illustrator Mary Watson.
Haddon Square, Haddon Twp.
Summer of Love is a groovy festival featuring music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. Eddie Berner, of the iconic band A Flock of Seagulls, will perform along with a lineup of musicians from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The festival also features a beer garden, food trucks, a kids zone, trivia contest, glow party, Mamma Mia flash mob and more.
Long Branch Jazz and Blues Festival
The Great Lawn / Boardwalk, Long Branch
Aside from incredible music, enjoy crafters, vendors and food trucks, plus fireworks at 9 pm.
Tri the Wildwoods Triathlon
Matador Oceanfront Resort, North Wildwood
The 21st annual Stampone O’Brien Dilsheimer Law Tri the Wildwoods Triathlon is a Jersey Shore tradition. Distance options include a sprint, aquabike, relay, Olympic-ish triathlon, and Wild Child Kids’ Triathlon.
Touch-a-Truck
TRIAD 1828 Centre, Camden
Along Camden’s waterfront, several police, law enforcement and construction vehicles will be set up so kids can touch and play. There will be food and music, plus a free stuffed backpack giveaway while supplies last.
EARTH Center, Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, North Brunswick
Enjoy nature while meeting the Master Gardeners, touring the grounds, listening to live music, bringing the kids to their own activities, and visiting the food trucks.
Summer BBQ & Cask Festival
Harvest Moon Brewery, New Brunswick
The outdoor summer BBQ includes live bands, their own cask beers, and other great NJ Breweries.
Summer Theater Festival and Benefit Concert
Sovereign Grace Church, Marlton
A nonprofit Christian children’s theater, Triple Threat Theater Productions, will hold a family-friendly festival for the community, with food, games, raffles, character meet-and-greets, pony rides, mini golf, and other festivities. The benefit concert will feature Triple Threat students and pros singing Broadway tunes.
Denise Whalen Crab Race
Breakwater Beach Waterpark, Seaside Heights
Artificial plastic crabs are released from Patriot’s Plunge into the Revolutionary River in a race to benefit Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Party Like a Housewife
Starland Ballroom, Sayreville
The Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Danielle Cabral will hold a fundraiserfor Sunrise Day Camp in Staten Island, with special guests Melissa Gorga and Rachel Fuda.
SUNDAY
Hopewell Valley Arts Council 10th Anniversary Celebration
Brick Farm Tavern, Hopewell
Highlights of the celebration include farm-to-table food stations with flexible seating; wine, beer and co*cktails; live music and dancing; the auction of several Stampede oxen; an auction of artwork and art-related experiences; and an informal bocce demo and tournament.
IndoAmerican: Janmashtami Festival
Monument Square, New Brunswick
Offering food, music and dance performances inspired by the culture and traditions from Northern and Southern India, there will also be educational dance and theater presentations and Zumba Bollywood.
Veterans Memorial Park, Westwood
Shop at the booths of 125+ talented artists and crafters who will be highlighting stained glass, woodwork, jewelry, florals, pottery, ceramics, apparel, photography, folk art, birdhouses, garden and children’s items, resin art, bonsai, soaps, candles and pumpkins. At the Antique Corner you will find vintage toys, pottery, silver, prints, vintage paper, linens, primitives, Americana, lamps, glassware and so more. Appraisals will be conducted for a $5 per item fee.
Hoboken Artisan Market
Adams Street, Hoboken
Aside from 70+ vendors lining the street and outdoor lawn games, you can join a dance party with members of Fred Astaire Dance Studio.
Medieval Fest
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair
Watch armored knights spar, play Viking lawn games, create enchanting jewelry, learn to dance a merry jig, and get styled with fairy hair, Enjoy live Renaissance and Medieval music by Montclair Early Music–including the children’s group DragonBards. Try a frosty tankard of MedievalFest Ale, concocted by the brewmaster at Montclair Brewery.
ONGOING
Friday Night Live
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream
Every Friday
Harlem band The Nate Lucas All-Stars will perform every Friday night at Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant.
Girls Day Out
Renault Winery & Resort, Egg Harbor City
Last Saturday of the month
Live music by John King includes your boy band favorites. There will be drink specials at TASTE 1864. You can also purchase a Wine Tower with chocolate-covered strawberries or Renault Barrel Stave Shotski.
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
Every Sunday
Take a self-guided tour to learn about the women of the Historic YWCA and the Crane family at your own pace. Take some time to walk through the gardens and meadow on site.
Vegan in NJ Monthly Market
American Legion Post 346, Neptune
First Sunday of every month
More than 20 vegan vendors will be set up indoors and outdoors, selling food, sweets and retail items.
Fairy Tale Forest
Fairy Tale Forest, Oak Ridge
Regular hours starting this weekend
Kids can once again explore the park as it’s reopened after several years of closure. Attractions are based on The Old Woman in the Shoe, Robin Hood, Snow White, Humpty Dumpty, the Gingerbread Man, and other tales and nursery rhymes from our childhood.
Wildwoods Restaurant Week
Throughout the Wildwoods
August 25-29
A select group of the top restaurants in the area will each offer a complete three-course prix fixe menu for $40 per person, plus tax and gratuity, including an appetizer, entrée and dessert.
Back to School Bash
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
August 26-30
Join Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and Count von Count as they share all of their favorite parts of going to school and celebrate all the ways that school rules. Include the Back to School Bash Dine in your plans for lunch or dinner.
Friday Night Fireworks
The Wildwoods
Fridays, through August 30
Look high above the beach and boardwalk for a spectacular nighttime display of fireworks synched to music that will be played via a sound system and simulcast on 98.7 The Coast. You can tap into the livestream to view from anywhere outside of Wildwood, too.
Rootstock Vineyard Summer Concert Series
Hawk Haven Vineyard & Winery, Rio Grande
Fridays, through August 30
Listen to musicians while watching the sunset. Food and wine will be available for purchase.
Sangria Weekends
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturdays – Sundays, through August 31
The focus of the festival is Terhune’s sangria, but the whole family can listen to live music.
Summer in Sand
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Through August 31
Five incredible sand sculptures designed by John Gowdy and Team Sandtastic depict favorite summer activities like watching baseball, camping, embarking on an overseas adventure, playing games and solving puzzles, and lounging at the beach. You can enjoy sandboxes designed for play, as well as a family-friendly scavenger hunt beginning on July 12 that will feature the colorful, quirky beach-themed character “Shelly Shovel.”
Master Gardener Butterfly House Grand Opening
EARTH Center, Davidson’s Mill Pond Park, North Brunswick
Saturdays and Sundays, through August 31
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Middlesex County is hosting a series of community events at their “hoop house,” where Master Gardeners have nurtured butterflies throughout the growing season. You can learn about butterfly host plants and participate in capturing butterflies for the house.
Sesame Place Summer Nights
Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA
Fridays – Sundays, through September 1
During extended hours on special nights, extra activities include the DJ Dance Party at Oscar’s Wacky Taxi Stage and an encore of the Sesame Street Party Parade.
Luxury Glamping
Six Flags Great Adventure – Savannah Sunset Resort & Spa, Jackson
Weekends through September 2, with select dates through December 1
Instead of braving the wild outdoors, you’ll experience luxury camping, where you and up to five other people can sleep in one of 20 glamping suites that overlook the safari grounds. You can also book a treatment at the spa.
Barbie You Can Be Anything: The Experience
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through September 2
You’ll be able to see role models from every era of Barbie’s history. You’ll learn about the dolls as if they were real, including their backgrounds, struggles and accomplishments. Each area will highlight a particular role type – leader, problem solver, creator, nurturer or adventurer – and you can try each career option for yourself.
Apollo: When We Went to The Moon
Intrepid Museum, New York, NY
Through September 2
Climb aboard a lunar rover model, leave your footprints on the Moon and learn about the Space Race through this exhibit at the sea, air and space museum. Starting April 4, you can check out the Concorde Superjet that recently underwent renovations and returned to the museum.
Delsea Drive-In 2024 Season
Delsea Drive-In Movie Theatre, Vineland
Fridays – Sundays, through September 3
Watch two movies back-to-back while sitting in your car, just like they did in the ’50s.
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Fridays, through September 6
Come to the historic apple orchard after work for Terhune wine, music, light bites and friend-filled evenings.
Roller Skating
The Rink, American Dream
Through September 7
This summer, trade your ice skates for rollerblades. Every Friday and Saturday will be Retro Nights, where you can skate to your favorite tunes from the past. Ice skating returns on September 8.
Wellmont Arts Plaza Outdoor Concert Series
Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
Select dates, through September 8
A series of free, all-ages, outdoor shows will take place, courtesy of Montclair Jazz Festival and Jazz House Kids. Some of the newly announced shows include Spafford, Prince/Bowie, Wallace Roney Jr. and Vanessa Perea, as well as the annual return of the Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree.
Black River Limited Train Ride
Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington or Ringoes station
Select dates, through September 14
This 90-minute trip takes you through Hunterdon County aboard a train, with stops at both historic train stations.
Hunterdon Wine Express
Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington
Select dates, through September 14
The round-trip excursion goes from the Flemington station to Old York Cellars Winery, where you’ll be treated to a wine tasting, chocolate and cheese pairing, and lunch. You’ll have time to walk through the vineyards before heading back.
SpongeBob Experiences
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Through September 15
Adventure Aquarium has partnered with Nickelodeon for photo ops, Spongebob-themed kids’ activities, activity sheets, episode screenings, and more in celebration of the show’s 25th anniversary.
Like Clockwork! Guinness Collection Conservation
Morris Museum, Morristown
Wednesdays – Sundays, through September 22
Learn how the Morris Museum keeps hundreds of mechanical objects running like clockwork for twenty years.
The BEAST NYC Speedboat Ride
Pier 83, New York, NY
Tuesdays – Sundays, through September 29
Roar down the Hudson River from Pier 83 to The Statue of Liberty on this high-speed boat.
Yoga on the Beach
Burk Avenue, behind the Wildwoods Convention Center
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through September 29
A traditional Hatha yoga-style class will be infused with Qi Gong, a variety of healing therapies and lots of modifications.
Free Guided Garden Tours
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Sundays, through the end of October
NJBG docents take you on a tour of what’s blooming around the Botanical Garden.
Friday Night Bites
The Hungry Puppy Dog Park, Farmingdale
Fridays, through October 25
Bring your pup and your friends to the double-gated, specially-designed dog park, where you can relax and listen to some music while mingling with other pet parents. There will be free snacks and treats from a sponsoring pet food manufacturer each week.
Festival of Fountains
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Through October 27
There are new garden spaces, the return of the Fireworks & Fountains Shows, performances in front of the Illuminated Fountain, a beer garden, Festive Fridays with live music, and a Wine & Jazz Festival (September 14), plus all the gorgeous landscapes we can’t get enough of.
We All Scream For Ice Cream
Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May
Through November 3
Learn about the history of ice cream dating back to the Victorian era. It started as an elite and expensive dish but by the end of the 1800s came in simpler flavors and was used in cones, sundaes and banana splits. You’ll see an authentic ice cream maker and other equipment, plus a Victorian ice cream wagon.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Overpeck County Park, Leonia
Select dates through November 10
New for the season is the Feathered and Fearless exhibition, three new dinosaurs and tons of new games, activities, and shows featuring T-Rex, Toddlersaurus, dinosaur hatchlings and the park’s Dinosaur Troubadour.
Frank V. Marina Flea Market
Frank A. Vincent Marina, Kearny
Second Sunday of every month, through December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Main Memorial Park Flea Market
Memorial Park, Clifton
Second Saturday of every month, through December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Blue Whale: The World’s Biggest Animal
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through January 5, 2025
The exhibition tells the story of the 60-ton whale that washed ashore in Trout River, Newfoundland, in 2014. You’ll see the enormous skeleton of a recovered blue whale and discover how whales evolved, the size of their heart, how they communicate, their decline, what’s being done to protect them, and how scientists are using DNA to unlock some of the secrets of these elusive creatures.
Morven Revealed: Untold Stories From New Jersey’s Most Historic Home
Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
Wednesdays – Sundays, through March 2, 2025
This special exhibit is part of Morven’s 20th-anniversary celebration and will shed light on lesser-known stories of this historic home and its residents. You’ll see rarely-seen objects and newly discovered photos about American life: childhood, hosting guests, pets, fashion, and more.
Slow Motion
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton
Through September 1, 2025
Five artists from Monument Lab in Philadelphia created gigantic, creative, introspective monuments that will be on display for their beauty, but also to address political, cultural and social issues.
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