Looking for fun this April? Check out these events happening all over New Jersey. For hundreds more activities this month and beyond, check out our events calendar.

Please note that all schedules are subject to change; visit each venue’s website for more information.

[RELATED: The Best Food Events in NJ]

ART

Night Forms

📅: Thru Sunday, April 7
📍: Grounds for Sculpture • Hamilton
ℹ️: Experience Grounds for Sculpture in a new way, with an after-hours light- and-sound experience that works in conjunction with the art pieces and horticulture collection.
💸: Free-$30

Bony Ramirez: Cattleya

📅: Thru Thursday, April 18
📍: The Newark Museum of Art • Newark
ℹ️: Large-scale paintings and installations are informed by the artist’s childhood in the Dominican Republic and the history of the region.
💸: Free-$10

Kate Dodd: New Work

📅: Thru Sunday, April 28
📍: Hunterdon Art Museum • Clinton
ℹ️: The artist takes items that were once manufactured in large quantities and then abandoned, such as paper from encyclopedias, and repurposes them in her pieces.
💸: Free-$7

Century: 100 Years of Black Art at MAM

📅: Thru Sunday, July 7
📍: Montclair Art Museum • Montclair
ℹ️: Pieces from the Montclair Art Museum’s collection of Black artwork, from 1920s photographs to paintings from the past few years.
💸: Free-$30

COMEDY

Photo: Courtesy of United Talent Agency/Clayton Hawkins

Ali Wong

📅: Monday, April 1 (7:30 pm)
📍: NJPAC • Newark
ℹ️: Ali Wong, a stand-up comedian and Emmy-winning actress, beloved for her Netflix specials (Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife and Don Wong) and projects like the hit new Netflix comedy Beef, brings the laughs to NJPAC.
💸: $59.50+

Deon Cole

📅: Friday, April 12 (8 pm)
📍: The Music Box at Borgata • Atlantic City
ℹ️: The Emmy-nominated comedian and star of BET’s Average Joe is bringing his My New Normal tour to Jersey.
💸: $65+

Tim Meadows

📅: Thursday, April 25-Saturday, April 27 (7 pm)
📍: Stress Factor Comedy Club • New Brunswick
ℹ️: The hilarious, longtime SNL star, also known for movies like Mean Girls and The Ladies Man, takes the stage.
💸: $25+

DANCE

Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo

📅: Wednesday, April 17 (7:30 pm)
📍: McCarter Theatre Center • Princeton
ℹ️: The gender-skewering comic ballet company, which parodies the conventions of ballet, performs in its 50th year.
💸: $25+

A Night on the Town

📅: Wednesday, April 17 (7:30 pm)
📍: New Brunswick Performing Arts Center • New Brunswick
ℹ️: This evening with New Jersey Ballet features Jerome Robbins’s Fancy Free and George Balanchine’s Rubies.
💸: $39+

FESTIVALS

Exit Zero Jazz Fest

📅: Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 21 (11 am-6 pm)
📍: Various Venues • Cape May
ℹ️: This three-day celebration of jazz brings musicians to various venues in Cape May.
💸: $60-$280

Renaissance Faire

📅: Saturday, April 20-Sunday, April 21 (11 am-6 pm)
📍: Village Greene at Historic Smithville • Galloway
ℹ️: The historic village of Smithville transforms into a Renaissance Faire with knights, jesters, dance, song and fun for the whole family,
💸: Free

ShadFest

📅: Saturday, April 20-Sunday, April 21 (11 am-5 pm)
📍: Lambertville
ℹ️: Two days of food, music, crafts, kids’ activities and more—all in celebration of the shad fish returning to the Delaware River in Lambertville each spring.
💸: Free

New Jersey Folk Festival

📅: Saturday, April 27 (10 am-4 pm)
📍: Rutgers Passion Puddle • located between the Cook and Douglas campuses off Red Oak Lane
ℹ️: As part of Rutgers Day, music, dance and art come together under the theme of “Garden State: Cultures of Cultivation.”
💸: Free

Princeton Porchfest

📅: Saturday, April 27 (Noon-6 pm)
📍: Princeton
ℹ️: Princeton front porches become performance spaces as musicians play downtown and in nearby residential neighborhoods. Exact locations are available online.
💸: Free

FOOD & DRINKS

Atlantic City Beer & Music Fest

Photo: Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images

📅: Friday, April 12-Saturday, April 13
📍: Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City
ℹ️: Enjoy beer and tunes from Hot Mulligan, Saves the Day and Goldfinger.
💸: $75+

Morristown Restaurant Week

📅: Monday, April 15-Friday, April 19
📍: Morristown
ℹ️: More than 30 restaurants in Morristown, one of NJM’s favorite restaurant towns, host special events, discounts and menus.
💸: Free

MudHen Brewing Co. IPA 5K and Beer Mile

📅: Friday, April 19 (6:30 pm)
📍: Wildwood
ℹ️: Run a 5K or “beer mile” through Wildwood and end up at MudHen Brewing Co. for a celebration.
💸: Various Prices

Jersey Shore Restaurant Week

📅: Friday, April 19-Sunday, April 28 (6:30 pm)
📍: Various Locations
ℹ️: Order a three-course meal at a variety of Shore restaurants for either $32.24 or $42.24.
💸: $32.24-$42.24

KIDS

Brains On! Live

📅: Saturday, April 6 (3 pm)
📍: McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton
ℹ️: The popular kids’ podcast hits the road with a fun science show complete with magic tricks, a game show and more.
💸: $25+

Bluey’s Big Play

Photo: Shutterstock/Itsissen

📅: Friday, April 12-Sunday, April 14
📍: Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
ℹ️: A stage musical based on the beloved, Emmy-winning Australian kids’ TV series Bluey.
💸: $29+

Cinderella

📅: Saturday, April 13 (11 am)
📍: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Madison
ℹ️: The classic tale is reimagined and features lavishly costumed, 30-inch marionettes by Tanglewood Marionettes.
💸: $15-$20

The Science Behind Pixar

📅: Thru Tuesday, May 7
📍: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
ℹ️: An interactive exhibit takes visitors behind the scenes of Pixar’s unique filmmaking process and some of its most popular movies, like Toy Story and Monsters University.
💸: $10 (plus admission)

MUSIC

Rufus Wainwright

📅: Saturday, April 6 (8 pm)
📍: South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange
ℹ️: The singer-songwriter performs his soulful tunes.
💸: $65+

Lit in AC

📅: Saturday, April 6 (8 pm)
📍: Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
ℹ️: Remy Ma, Rick Ross, Jeezy and others perform.
💸: $65+

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes

Photo: Shutterstock/Glynnis Jones

📅: Friday, April 12 (8 pm)
📍: Newton Theatre, Newton
ℹ️: The Neptune native and Shore legend plays his horn-centric mix of rock ’n’ roll, soul and blues.
💸: $59+

The Science Behind Pixar

📅: Friday, April 12 (7 pm)
📍: Prudential Center, Newark
ℹ️: The Grammy-winning pair perform as part of their Heartbreak on the Map tour.
💸: $39+

Los Lobos

📅: Saturday, April 13 (8 pm)
📍: Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood
ℹ️: The Grammy-winning band of more than 50 years hits the stage.
💸: $49.50+

Ben Folds

📅: Saturday, April 20 (9 pm)
📍: Music Box at the Borgata, Atlantic City
ℹ️: The acclaimed singer and pianist shows off his musical chops.
💸: $76+

Allah-Las

📅: Saturday, April 20 (8 pm)
📍: White Eagle Hall, Jersey City
ℹ️: The indie rockers bring laid-back California cool to Jersey City.
💸: $79+

Dionne Warwick

📅: Thursday, April 25 (8 pm)
📍: Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
ℹ️: The Jersey legend is the voice behind hits like “I Say a Little Prayer” and “That’s What Friends Are For.”
💸: $79+

SPECIAL EVENTS

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi in Concert

ℹ️: The New Jersey Symphony performs John Williams’s iconic score live to the movie.

📅: Thursday, April 4 (7 pm)
📍: Mayo Performing Arts Center • Morristown
💸: $65+

📅: Friday, April 5 (8 pm)
📍: Count Basie Center for the Arts • Red Bank
💸: $35+

📅: Saturday, April 6 (8 pm)
📍: State Theater New Jersey • New Brunswick
💸: $35+

📅: Sunday, April 7 (3 pm)
📍: NJPAC • Newark
💸: $35+

Wheaton Springs

📅: Saturday, April 6 (10 am-4 pm)
📍: Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, Millville
ℹ️: WheatonArts kicks off its creative season with access to exhibits in the Museum of American Glass and Down Jersey Folklife Center, plus music, food vendors and more activities to enjoy for the day.
💸: Free

Crossing Over With John Edward

📅: Saturday, April 6 (7 pm)
📍: Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center, Carteret
ℹ️: The famed psychic/medium and TV personality interacts with audience members to connect them with loved ones who are no longer with us.
💸: $99+

iLuminate

ℹ️: Technology and dance fuse in this unique act that was crowned best new act on America’s Got Talent in 2011.

📅: Thursday, April 11 (7 pm)
📍: Mayo Performing Arts Center • Morristown
💸: $29+

📅: Friday, April 12 (8 pm)
📍: Bergen Performing Arts Center • Englewood
💸: $45+

Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market Spring Fling

📅: Saturday, April 6-Sunday, April 7 (10 am-5 pm)
📍: CURE Insurance Arena, Trenton
ℹ️: Hundreds of vendors sell vintage clothing, records, oddities, taxidermy and other goods—and embrace the spirit of punk rock and hardcore while doing it.
💸: $15+

Justin Willman: Magic for Humans

📅: Friday, April 12 (7:30 pm)
📍: Wellmont Theater, Montclair
ℹ️: The star of the Netflix hit Magic for Humans has more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
💸: $29.50+

Collingswood Green Day

📅: Saturday, April 20 (9 am-2 pm)
📍: Haddon and Irvin Aves, Downtown Collingswood
ℹ️: Learn about sustainable living while enjoying live music and refreshments.
💸: Free

Kevin Kelly’s Salon 4th Annual Charitable Fashion Show and Brunch

📅: Sunday, April 21 (1-6 pm)
📍: Piazza Di Roma • Aberdeen
ℹ️: Hosted by salon owner and stylist Kevin Kelly and New Jersey housewife Danielle Cabral, this Vegas-themed brunch and fashion show will benefit Hazlet’s Hope Network, a non-profit helping those struggling with substance abuse. Tickets include an open bar, buffet, live entertainment and more.
💸: $150

Montclair Film + StorySlam: Fooled

📅: Thursday, April 25 (7:30 pm)
📍: Cinema505, Montclair
ℹ️: Each participant has six minutes to relay their take on the theme, followed by scoring from judges. Apply by April 12.
💸: $11-$15

Spring Craft Show

📅: Saturday, April 27 (10 am)
📍: Historic Village at Allaire, Farmingdale
ℹ️: The Historic Village at Allaire hosts crafters, artisans, historic demonstrations and more.
💸: $5

Montclair Film + StorySlam: Fooled

📅: Saturday, April 27 (10 am-5 pm)
📍: Village Greene at Historic Smithville, Galloway
ℹ️: More than 75 local artists have their wares and works on display and for sale.
💸: Free

TALKS

Fran Lebowitz

📅: Friday, April 12 (7:30 pm)
📍: Stockton University Performing Arts Center, Stockton
ℹ️: An interview and Q&A with the writer and Morristown native.
💸: $33+

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