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.

Now that it’s officially spring, check out our list of fun things to do outside. We’ve also got a guide to the best outdoor activities in the Garden State—from scenic biking trails to unique hiking spots to luxurious glamping sites.

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!

Our picks for April 24-27:

Melissa Etheridge
📅: Thursday, April 24 (7:30 pm)
📍: NJPAC, Newark
ℹ️: The musical icon teams up with fellow Grammy winner Joss Stone.
💸: $59+

Sarah Silverman
📅: Thursday, April 24 (8 pm)
📍: Wellmont Theater, Montclair
ℹ️: The comedian/actress/podcaster stops in New Jersey on her Postmortem tour.
💸: $42.50+

Pinelands Preservation Alliance Native Plant Sale
📅: Friday, April 25 (members only, 3-6 pm); Saturday, April 26 (open to the public, 9 am-noon)
📍: Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton
ℹ️: Buy native plants and learn about the Pinelands.

Clue
📅: Friday, April 25-Sunday, April 27
📍: Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
ℹ️: This whodunit play was inspired by the 1985 whodunit film, itself an adaptation of the whodunit board game.
💸: $79+

West Side Story
📅: Friday, April 25-Sunday, May 18 
📍: Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Pitman
ℹ️: Stephen Sondheim’s iconic musical tells the story of star-crossed romance amid a gang war between the Jets and Sharks.
💸: $40

Peony Display Garden
📅: Friday, April 25-Sunday, June 8 (10 am-5 pm daily; Friday-night picnics are hosted starting May 3, from 5:30-7:30 pm)
📍: Peony’s Envy, Bernardsville
ℹ️: Meander through this 7-acre peony garden, shop and get expert advice.
💸: $10-$20

Art Walk
📅: Saturday, April 26 (10 am-5 pm)
📍: Historic Smithville, Galloway
ℹ️: More than 75 artists set up their wares; also enjoy food trucks, music and more.
💸: Free

Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock Live
📅: Saturday, April 26 (1 & 5 pm)
📍: State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
ℹ️: The Jim Henson characters embark on a new adventure.
💸: $25+

Cranford Film Festival
📅: Saturday, April 26 (6-10 pm)
📍: Cranford Theater, Cranford
ℹ️: Short films in a variety of categories are screened; movies are also available virtually from April 27-May 11.
💸: $25-$45

Brick Fest Live
📅: Saturday, April 26 (9 am-5 pm); Sunday, April 27 (10 am-4 pm)
📍: New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison
ℹ️: Show your building skills at this hands-on LEGO event.
💸: $19.99+ (free for kids 2 and under)

Super Jersey Comic Expo
📅: Saturday, April 26 (9 am-6 pm); Sunday, April 27 (9 am-4 pm)
📍: The Dome at Adventure Crossing, Jackson Township
ℹ️: Shop for comics, check out artist galleries, and meet the actors behind X-Men characters.
💸: $20+

Red Bank Street Fair and Craft Show
📅: Sunday, April 27 (11 am-5 pm)
📍: Monmouth and Broad streets, Red Bank
ℹ️: Enjoy food, art, music and more at this outdoor festival.
💸: Free

Tulip & Dinosaur Festival
📅: Thru Sunday, April 27
📍: Arrowhead Farmstead, Manalapan
ℹ️: At this unique spring experience, pick tulips amid massive dinosaurs placed on the grounds.
💸: $27.50

Take the Lead
📅: Thru Sunday, April 27
📍: Paper Mill Playhouse, Millburn
ℹ️: This exuberant new musical, set in New York City, is based on the 2006 film starring Antonio Banderas.
💸: $50+

“Academic Visions”: Southern NJ University and College Art Professors Showcase
📅: Thru Saturday, May 3
📍: Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City
ℹ️: From sculptures to paintings, art from professors at southern New Jersey’s institutes of higher education is on display.
💸: Free

Ellen Kozak and Scott D. Miller: “River-Rising”
📅:  Thru Sunday, May 4
📍: Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton
ℹ️: This video installation fuses compositions and video of three river shorelines to explore the waters.
💸: Free-$7

U-Pick Tulips: Spring Spectacular
📅: Thru May
📍: Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge
ℹ️: Stroll fields of tulips and pick your own from Jersey’s largest tulip display. There are also food trucks daily, plus a weekend farmers market and more.
💸: $15-$20 plus 50 cents per stem on weekdays, or $1 per stem on weekends (kids 2 and under free)

Alex Callender: “American Lawn”
📅:  Thru Sunday, May 25
📍: ArtYard, Frenchtown
ℹ️: The artist imagines lawn grass as a conflicted terrain, touching on themes of public and private space and climate change.
💸: Free

“Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit”
📅: Thru Monday, September 1
📍: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
ℹ️: Observe more than 130 recovered Titanic artifacts at this Liberty Science Center exhibit. Learn the story behind the “unsinkable ship” and its tragic fate.
💸: Free-$36+

[RELATED: The Best Food Events in NJ]

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.