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 each week for events across the state, from festivals to concerts to family-friendly happenings and more.

If you’re looking to make the most of autumn, check out our guide to fall day trips, which includes a glorious bike trail, behind-the-scenes tours of Hamilton’s Grounds for Sculpture, a charming farm visit, ghost tours and other haunted attractions, fall festivals and so much more. And don’t forget to check out our list of the 52 things you must do in New Jersey all year.

Our picks for October 3-6:

FESTIVALS & FAMILY FUN:

Hub City Jazz Festival

📅: Thursday, October 3-Sunday, October 6
📍: Hyatt Regency • New Brunswick
ℹ️: Boasting a lineup of accomplished musicians, this annual festival celebrates all the varied stylings of jazz.
💸: $20+

Jersey City Art & Studio Tour

📅: Friday, October 4-Sunday, October 6
📍: Newport Centre • Jersey City
ℹ️: This celebration of Jersey City’s thriving art scene brings together artists, galleries, studios, and creative spaces across the city. Wander through open studios, discover emerging and established artists, and experience the creative energy that makes Jersey City a hub for artistic innovation.
💸: Free, self-guided tour across the city; spots must be reserved ahead of time online

Bottle Hill Day

📅: Saturday, October 5 (10 am-5 pm)
📍: Downtown District • Madison
ℹ️: Spend the day in charming downtown Madison for the borough’s annual fall festival, with food, drinks, live music, kids’ activities and more.
💸: Free

LIVE MUSIC

P!nk

📅: Thursday, October 3 (6:30 pm)
📍: MetLife Stadium • East Rutherford
ℹ️: The global pop superstar behind chart-topping hits such as “So What” and “Just Give Me a Reason” is joined on stage by country-rock icon Sheryl Crow and Irish rock group the Script.
💸: $56+

Kirk Franklin

📅: Thursday, October 3 (7 pm)
📍: Prudential Center • Newark
ℹ️: Named the King of Urban Gospel by Variety, this Grammy-winning choir leader and producer unites with a group of gospel heavyweights.
💸: $69+

Luis Fonsi

📅: Sunday, October 6 (8 pm)
📍: Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena • Atlantic City
ℹ️: One of the most influential Latin musicians of all time, thanks to megahits such as 2017’s “Despacito,” Fonsi is celebrating 25 years in the business.
💸: $39+

SPECIAL EVENTS

Connie Chung
📅: Sunday, October 6 (1 pm)
📍: Books & Greetings • Northvale
ℹ️: The trailblazing news anchor and former New Jersey resident signs copies of her new memoir, Connie.
💸: $32.50 (book included)

FILM

New Jersey Film Festival

📅: Through Friday, October 18
📍: Rutgers University • New Brunswick
ℹ️: Film fans can savor a smorgasbord of independent pictures at this celebration of movies.
💸: $10-$120

THEATER

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

📅: Thursday, October 3-Saturday, October 5
📍: State Theatre New Jersey • New Brunswick
ℹ️: Telling the thrilling life story of Tina Turner, this rock musical celebrates a true icon of the stage through her triumphs and tribulations.
💸: $58+

Empire Records: The Musical

📅: Through Sunday, October 6
📍: McCarter Theatre Center • Princeton
ℹ️: Based on the 1995 cult-classic movie, this brand-new punk-rock musical tells the story of a record store fighting against an attempted corporate takeover.
💸: $58+

BENEFITS

Lake Loop

📅: Sunday, October 6 (registration starts at 7:15 am)
📍: Hopatcong State Park • Hopatcong
ℹ️: Enjoy the cooler weather and changing leaves on a running or bike trail or on the water at the annual Lake Loop to benefit the Lake Hopatcong Foundation.
💸: $50 ($15 for kids)

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

Poland: Our Heritage & Culture

📅: Through Saturday, October 26 
📍: Clifton Arts Center • Clifton
ℹ️: Polish artwork, craftsmanship, cuisine, music and more are on display at this annual exhibition.
💸: Free

Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed

📅: Runs through 2025
📍: Monmouth Museum • Middletown
ℹ️: Take the kids to this interactive exhibit featuring life-sized dinosaur skeletons and a paleontological dig. Various special events will take place throughout the exhibit’s duration.
💸: Free-$14

Elisa D’Arrigo: Making Moves

📅: Runs through 2025
📍: Hunterdon Art Museum • Clinton
ℹ️: Sculptor Elisa D’Arrigo explores form and color through her clay figures.
💸: Free

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.