Things to Do in NJ This Weekend

Looking for something fun to do this weekend in New Jersey? New Jersey Monthly has you covered! Below we highlight recommendations for events across the state, from festivals to concerts to family-friendly events and more.

If you’re looking to make the most of fall in New Jersey, check out our guide to fall day trips, a list of can’t-miss seasonal festivals and fairs, and a roundup of places to go pumpkin picking and apple picking. And don’t forget to check out our list of the 52 things you must do in New Jersey all year, no matter the season or weather.

Our picks for November 21-24:

MUSIC

Chayanne
📅: Friday, November 22 (8 pm)
📍: Prudential Center • Newark
ℹ️: Celebrating his first album in nearly a decade, the acclaimed Latin artist is out on his Bailemos Otra Vez tour.
💸: $67+

TD James Moody Jazz Festival
📅: Thru Sunday, November 24
📍: NJPAC • Newark
ℹ️: Presented by NJPAC, this festival at venues across Newark celebrates many modern jazz artists, including Christian McBride, Dave Crawford and Cindy Blackman. The festival ends with the 13th annual Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition.
💸: $29+

SPECIAL EVENTS

Chelsea Handler
📅: Saturday, November 23 (7 & 9:30 pm)
📍: Wellmont Theater • Montclair
ℹ️: The comedian, TV host and author, who grew up in Livingston, returns to her home state for two shows at the Wellmont, which are being recorded for her upcoming Netflix stand-up special.
💸: $59+

FOOD EVENTS

Miracle Pop-Up Bar

📅: Through January 1
📍: Franklin Social in Jersey City, Cowan’s Public in Nutley, The Parkside Social in Verona and Gus’s Last Word in Wood-Ridge
ℹ️: Indulge in holiday cocktails and enjoy festive and nostalgic decor at your favorite bars, transformed with holiday cheer.

Jersey City Wine Fest
📅: Saturday, November 23, 6-9:30 pm
📍: Harborside Atrium, Jersey City
ℹ️: Sip vino samples from nearby and around the world at this ultimate tasting event, complete with food and live entertainment.
💸: $60 for general admission

Give Thanks Food & Wine Festival

📅: Saturday, November 23, 11 am-9 pm; Sunday, November 24, 11 am-7 pm
📍: Laurita Winery in New Egypt
ℹ️: This day full of wine and food at Laurita Winery offers food trucks from a diverse selection of vendors, live music, games and activities such as face-painting, wagon tours and more.
💸: Tickets $13 in advance; $15 at gate. Free admission for everyone under 21.

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

New Sculpture/New Jersey
📅: Ongoing
📍: Morris Museum • Morristown
ℹ️: Eleven New Jersey sculptors display work made from an array of materials, from cold-worked glass to industrial robotics to forged iron to ceramics.
💸: Free-$12

Bark! Indigenous Cultural Expression
📅: Ongoing
📍: New Jersey State Museum • Trenton
ℹ️: The ancient uses of bark are highlighted with items from indigenous communities.
💸: Free

Interwoven Power
📅: Ongoing
📍: Montclair Art Museum • Montclair
ℹ️: A reinstallation of the Montclair Art Museum’s’s indigenous-art exhibition explores themes of human connection to nature, sovereignty and more.
💸: Free-$17

Slow Motion
📅: Ongoing
📍: Grounds for Sculpture • Hamilton
ℹ️: This exhibition seeks to reevaluate our understanding of monuments and their place in our collective memories.
💸: Free-$30

Animal Kingdom
📅: Ongoing
📍: Newark Museum of Art • Newark
ℹ️: Immersive and interactive experiences teach visitors of all ages about animals living in a variety of habitats.
💸: Free-$10

Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed

📅: Ongoing
📍: Monmouth Museum • Middletown
ℹ️: Take the kids to this interactive exhibit featuring life-sized dinosaur skeletons and a paleontological dig. Various special events will take place throughout the exhibit’s duration.
💸: Free-$14

Elisa D’Arrigo: Making Moves

📅: Runs through 2025
📍: Hunterdon Art Museum • Clinton
ℹ️: Sculptor Elisa D’Arrigo explores form and color through her clay figures.
💸: Free

Find More Events

Want to find even more events? Browse additional events by date and category using our calendar below. And to submit your own event to the calendar, click here.