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 editors’ picks for May 15-18:

The Importance of Being Earnest
📅: Select dates through Sunday, June 1
📍: F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, Madison
ℹ️: The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey puts on the uproarious Oscar Wilde comedy.

Shakira
📅: Thursday, May 15 & Friday, May 16 (7:30 pm)
📍: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
ℹ️: The “Hips Don’t Lie” singer performs. (Note: NJ Transit has announced that it is not providing service to and from these concerts.)

Exit Zero Jazz Festival
📅: Friday, May 16-Sunday, May 18
📍: Cape May Convention Hall, Cape May
ℹ️: Samara Joy Octet, Brandee Younger Trio and others perform.

David Foster and Katharine McPhee
📅: Saturday, May 17 (8 pm)
📍: State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
ℹ️: The very musically inclined married couple performs together.

New Jersey Renaissance Faire
📅: Saturday, May 17-Sunday, May 18 (10 am-6 pm)
📍: Burlington County Fairgrounds, Columbus
ℹ️: Step back in time with medieval activities, food, drink and live shows.

New Jersey Horror Con and Film Festival
📅: Saturday, May 17-Sunday, May 18
📍: Showboat, Atlantic City
ℹ️: Meet stars from some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror franchises, attend Q&A sessions, try your hand at a trivia contest, shop from 100 vendors, and more.

Hoboken Spring Arts and Music Festival
📅: Sunday, May 18 (11 am-6 pm)
📍: Washington Street, between Observer Highway and Seventh Street, Hoboken
ℹ️: Expect food, vendors and a performance from “I Still Believe” singer Brenda K. Starr and others.

West Side Story
📅: Select dates thru 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

Mansion in May
📅: Through Saturday, May 31
📍: Wildfair, Chester
ℹ️: Explore the region’s top designer showhouse at Wildfair in Chester Township, the signature fundraiser for the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center.
💸: $50+

MUSEUM EXHIBITS:

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

Harmony, Balance & Symmetry
📅: Thru Sunday, June 1
📍: Monmouth Museum, Lincroft
ℹ️: Artist Carol Nussbaum creates mandala art using familiar and ordinary workday objects.
💸: Free-$14

Peony Display Garden
📅: Thru 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

“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 and up

Slow Motion
📅: Thru Monday, September 1
📍: 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
📅: Thru Wednesday, December 31
📍: Newark Museum of Art, Newark
ℹ️: Immersive and interactive experiences teach visitors of all ages about animals.
💸: Free-$10

Morven Revealed: Untold Stories from New Jersey’s Most Historic Home
📅: Thru March 2026
📍: Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
ℹ️: Explore the historic home at the center of the Morven Museum & Garden.
💸: Free-$10

[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.