Things to Do in NJ This Weekend

Are you looking for something 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.

Looking to make the most of the Jersey Shore this summer? Check out what’s new for the 2026 season, our editors’ favorite water activities, the best bay beaches, and our deep dive on the brand-new Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music.

Want to cool off without heading to the coast? Lake Hopatcong is a top-notch summer escape, as are these other great lakes around the state.

Hungry? Check out this month’s best food events.

And don’t forget to peruse our list of the 52 things you must do in New Jersey all year, no matter the season!

Our editors’ picks for this week & weekend:

Free Summer Movies
📅: Tuesdays through August 4 (8:30 pm) 
📍: State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
ℹ️: Family-friendly films (including A Minecraft Movie, Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon) are screening every Tuesday night. Movie-themed arts and crafts activities begin at 6 pm, followed by the movie at 7 pm.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants
📅: Tuesday, August 4
📍: State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
ℹ️: Themed arts & crafts take place at 5:30 pm, followed by the movie at 6:30 pm.

The Taming of the Shrew: Shakespeare in the Park
📅: Wednesday, August 5 (7:30 pm)
📍: Atlantic Street Park, Hackensack
ℹ️: Hackensack Performing Arts Center presents this al-fresco telling of the Shakespearean comedy.

Free Movies on Belmar Beach
📅: Every Wednesday through August 26
📍: State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
ℹ️: Movies start at dusk and this month include Footloose (August 5) and The Incredibles (August 12).

Chelsea Handler
📅: Thursday, August 6 (8 pm) & Friday, August 7 (8 pm)
📍: Hackensack Meridian Health Theatre, Red Bank & Wellmont Theater, Montclair
ℹ️: The Livingston native returns to her home state for two stand-up shows.

Lion Heart Music Fest
📅: Friday, August 7 & Saturday, August 8 
📍: Paradise Lakes Campground, Hammonton
ℹ️: Love, harmony and reggae music are on tap with this year’s headliners including Fortunate Youth and the Expendables.

New Jersey State Fair
📅: Now through Sunday, August 8 
📍: Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta 
ℹ️: The entire family will have fun at this old-fashioned state fair.

Burlington County Restaurant Week
📅: Now through Saturday, August 8
📍: Various Burlington County locations
ℹ️: Restaurants in towns including Bordentown, Mount Laurel and Medford offer special discounts and restaurant-week menus.

Drone Show
📅: Friday, August 7
📍: The Park at Ocean Casino Resort, Atlantic City
ℹ️: Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a patriotic-themed drone show overlooking the ocean.

Hair
📅: Select dates from Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 16 
📍: Algonquin Arts Theatre, Manasquan
ℹ️: The electric, Vietnam-era rock musical is as powerful today as when it debuted.

Chester Food Truck & Music Festival
📅: Saturday, August 8 (11 am-7 pm)
📍: Municipal Field, Chester
ℹ️: Dogs are welcome at this daylong event that benefits the Chester First Aid Squad.

New Brunswick Heart Festival
📅: Saturday, August 8 (2-6 pm)
📍: Monument Square Park, New Brunswick
ℹ️: The arts and history of New Brunswick are on display all day with music, dance and more fun for the whole family.

Nate Bargatze
📅: Saturday, August 8 (7 pm)
📍: Prudential Center, Newark
ℹ️: The Grammy-winning comic steps out on his Big Dumb Eyes tour.

Todd Rundgren
📅: Saturday, August 8 (8 pm)
📍: Bergen PAC, Englewood
ℹ️: The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who spent part of his childhood in South Jersey, is back for his Damned If I Do tour.

5 Seconds of Summer
📅: Saturday, August 8 (8 pm)
📍: Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, Camden
ℹ️: The Australian pop rockers take the stage.

Jessica Kirson
📅: Saturday, August 8 (8 pm)
📍: Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
ℹ️: The brutally honest stand-up comedian from South Orange (whose stepbrother is Scrubs star Zach Braff) performs.

Henri Matisse: Beyond Color
📅: Now through Sunday, August 9 
📍: Morris Museum, Morristown
ℹ️: This exhibition features drawings by Matisse produced with master lithographer Fernand Mourlot.

Disney’s Aladdin Kids
📅: Select dates now through Saturday, August 15
📍: Music Mountain Theatre, Lambertville
ℹ️: This 45-minute show of the beloved Disney story is recommended for ages 5 and up.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
📅: Select dates from Friday, August 7 through Sunday, August 16 
📍: The Levoy Theatre, Millville
ℹ️: Carole King’s story comes to life with her music as the backdrop.

All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain
📅: Select dates from Wednesday, August 19 through Sunday, August 30
📍: McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton
ℹ️: Show creator and performer Patrick Page (Hadestown), embodies Shakespeare’s greatest villains.

Kalamazoo
📅: Select dates now through Sunday, August 23
📍: Cape May Stage, Cape May
ℹ️: Two strangers forge an unexpected connection in this romantic comedy.

Movies on the Beach
📅: Tuesdays through September 1 (8:30 pm)
📍: Jenkinson’s Boardwalk (in front of the aquarium), Point Pleasant Beach
ℹ️: Family-friendly movies play outdoors every Tuesday, including Elio on August 11, Wicked: For Good on August 18, and Jaws on September 1. Bring a blanket or chair.