The Best Things to Do in NJ in March: St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations, Festivals and More

This month's hottest happenings include holiday celebrations and fun festivals.

The Champions of Magic
The Champions of Magic are renowned for their astonishing tricks and stunts. Photo courtesy of State Theatre NJ

Looking for fun this March? Check out these events and activities happening all over New Jersey.

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

Art

Tricia Zimic statue

Tricia Zimic uses Chacma baboons as muses in her latest exhibition. Photo courtesy of Tricia Zimic

Tricia Zimic: Sins & Virtues
Thru March 5
Tricia Zimic is a Long Island-born, Pennsylvania-based painter and sculptor whose works can be found in public and private collections across the United States and Europe. Her latest exhibition, Sins and Virtues, uses Chacma baboons as characters in dramatic narratives and scenes. Wednesday-Sunday, 11 am-5 pm; $5-$7. Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton. hunterdonartmuseum.org

Community Day: Her Story/Our Story
March 11
This free event celebrates the Newark Museum of Art’s newly unveiled Harriet Tubman monument and the reopening of its Seeing America, 18th and 19th Centuries gallery. The day honors women past and present and features live performances, art-making activities, a fashion show, tours of the artworks and more. 11:30 am-5 pm. Newark Museum of Art, Newark. newarkmuseumart.org

Comedy

Comedian Pinky Patel

See Pinky Patel perform in Newark this month. Photo courtesy of NJPAC

Pinky Patel
March 11
TikTok comedian Pinky Patel has gone viral and amassed more than 5 million followers with her hilarious rants and observations. Now, she’s traveling the country on her New Crown, Who Dhis tour. 8 pm; $37.50-$65.50. New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark. njpac.org

Music

Musician Marco Benevento

Marco Benevento performs at White Eagle Hall this March. Photo courtesy of Seth Olenick

Marco Benevento
March 10
Marco Benevento is an experimental musician born and raised in Jersey whose music has explored and combined elements of jazz, indie pop and psychedelic rock. Benevento is bringing his distinct sound and high-energy performance to Jersey City while touring his latest album, Benevento. 8 pm; $20. White Eagle Hall, Jersey City. whiteeaglehalljc.com

Leslie Odom Jr.

Leslie Odom Jr. is best known for his role as Aaron Burr in the hit musical Hamilton. Photo courtesy of MPAC

Leslie Odom Jr.
March 31
Leslie Odom Jr. is best known for his breakout role as Aaron Burr in the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, as well as memorable film turns like his Oscar-nominated role in One Night in Miami and his recent appearance in the mystery-comedy Glass Onion. The star shows off his musical chops in Morristown this month, performing a mix of jazz, soul and pop. 8 pm; $69-$129. Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown. mayoarts.org

Stage

Tayler Harris plays Grizabella in "Cats"

One of the longest-running shows in Broadway history, Cats, is coming to Morristown. Photo courtesy of Matthew Murphy

Cats
March 10-12
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical Cats won seven Tony Awards and ran for 18 years, making it one of the longest runs in Broadway history. Now, the cast of Cats is looking to make more memories in Morristown. Various showtimes; $69-$109. Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown. mayoarts.org

Special Events

Jurassic World Live

The Jurassic World universe will come to life from March 3-5 at the Prudential Center. Photo courtesy of Feld Entertainment

Jurassic World Live
March 3-5
The Jurassic World universe and the island of Isla Nublar come to life in a one-of-a-kind theatrical show called Jurassic World Live. Adapted from the hit movie franchise, this adventure features some of the biggest dinos that once roamed the planet, including the velociraptor, stegosaurus, triceratops and Tyrannosaurus rex. Book your seats for this production, which is fun for the whole family. Showtimes vary; $20-$235. Prudential Center, Newark. prucenter.com

Champions of Magic
March 4
The Champions of Magic, a quintet of magicians and illusionists, have been selling out shows all over the world and garnering millions of views on YouTube and social media for the past decade. Now the team is taking its astonishing tricks, daring escape acts and physics-defying stunts on the road. 8pm; $29-$99. State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick. stnj.org

Festivals

Beer in glasses

Enjoy a day of imbibing at the Morristown Armory. Photo: Shutterstock

Big Brew Beer Festival
March 4
With more than 200 craft beers on tap, the Big Brew Beer Festival at the Morristown Armory is a fantastic way to spend a day filled with beer, food and live music. A free shuttle is running between the venue and the Morristown train station. Noon-4 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm; Morristown Armory, Morristown. bigbrewnj.com/morristown

Black-and-white headshot of Philip Roth

The Philip Roth Unbound festival will celebrate the work of the late Newark author. Photo courtesy of NJPAC

Philip Roth Festival
March 17-19
Celebrate Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and Newark native Philip Roth at the Philip Roth Unbound festival. Writers and artists, including Chisa Hutchinson and John Turturro, are set to discuss Roth’s work. Event times vary; $10-$40. New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark. njpac.org

Bags of popcorn at movie theater

Choose from 235 films at this year’s Garden State Film Festival. Photo: Unsplash/Corina Rainer

Garden State Film Festival
March 23-26
The 21st annual Garden State Film Festival is screening 235 films from 23 different countries over the course of four days. The festival has been supported in the past by big names such as Bruce Springsteen, James Gandolfini, Glenn Close and Ed Asner. It’s taking place across nine venues in Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Cranford. Screening times vary; $15-$135. Various venues and towns. gsff.org

St. Patrick’s Day Events

Friends dressed in St. Patrick's Day garb toasting beers

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with plenty of imbibing. Photo: Shutterstock/Lordn

March 16
Take an Irish whiskey cocktail class with refreshments at 618 Restaurant. 6:30 pm; $129. 618 Park Ave, Freehold. 618nj.com

March 16
This 21-and-over party has dancing, a buffet dinner, beer and wine at Jacques Reception Center. 6:30 pm; $75. 500 Palmer Ave, Middletown. middletownnj.org

March 17–18
Classic bar crawls are moving through Atlantic City on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Atlantic City. pubcrawls.com/city/atlantic-city-nj

March 19
Enjoy family-friendly fun at Morris County’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade (rescheduled from March 11). Noon. Downtown Morristown. morristown-nj.org

Benefits

NAACP Cape May County 3rd Annual Freedom Fund Gala
March 11
The Cape May County Branch of the NAACP is hosting a gala to raise funds for their programs and services, such as their scholarship program, clothing drive, community clean-up and holiday gifting program. Tickets to the gala will include a night of cocktails, dinner and plenty of dancing. 5 pm; $150. Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood. cmcnaacp.org

Theater stage with red curtains and spotlight

Hear music from your favorite Broadway shows at this fundraiser for the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey. Photo: Shutterstock/Lidiia

Harmonium Broadway Cabaret Troupe
March 25
The Harmonium Broadway Cabaret Troupe is performing hit songs from such classic Broadway shows as Into the Woods, Guy and Dolls and Wicked in this musical theater show. There’s also going to be a silent auction and wine pull. Proceeds benefit the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey. 7 pm; $50. Whippany. uaccnj.org/event/harmonium-choral-society


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