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 for fun autumn-centric activities, check out the state’s best fall festivals and fairs. And don’t forget to check out our list of the 52 things you must do in New Jersey all year.

Our picks for September 19-22:

FESTIVALS & FAMILY FUN:

Comfort Food Festival
📅: Saturday, September 21 (noon-6 pm)
📍: Washington Street • Toms River
ℹ️: Comfort food from local restaurants and vendors will be at this festival, as well as a beer and wine garden, craft vendors, live music and more.
💸: Free admission

Pet Palooza & Food Truck Festival
📅: Saturday, September 21 (noon-6 pm)
📍: 21 Whippany Road • Whippany
ℹ️: Help the Mount Pleasant Animal Shelter find forever homes for its dogs at this event, which will feature more than 12 food trucks, live music, family-friendly activities and a pet fashion show. Pets welcome!
💸:$6 admission; children under 5 free

Red Bank Oktoberfest
📅: Saturday, September 21 (1-5 pm)
📍: Edmund Wilson Plaza • Red Bank
ℹ️: At this Oktoberfest celebration, guests can enjoy food, beer, spirits, crafts and music. While open to guests of all ages, those 21+ can get beer sampling packages and sip on craft beers from local breweries.
💸: $25-$55

Jersey City Night Market
📅: Saturday, September 21 (2-8 pm)
📍: Journal Square – Magnolia Landing • Jersey City
ℹ️: At this monthly night market, indulge in various food and treats from vendors and trucks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, craft vendors, live music and more.
💸: Free admission

WineFestNJ
📅: Saturday, September 21-Sunday, September 22 (11 am-5 pm)
📍: Valenzano Winery Festival Grounds • Shamong
ℹ️: Wine down at this huge wine festival. Featuring 200+ wines from 14 New Jersey wineries, attendees will have access to wine samplings and a souvenir wine glass with their tickets. Plus, enjoy dozens of food trucks, craft vendors, live music and more.
💸: $45; $15 for anyone under 21

Hot Air Balloons, Fun & Games Festival

📅: Saturday, September 21-Sunday, September 22 (2 pm)
📍: Warren County Community College • Washington
ℹ️: Take a ride in a hot air balloon or watch a massive balloon launch in the evening.
💸: $4-$8

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

LIVE MUSIC

Norm Lewis

📅: Friday, September 20 (8 pm)
📍: Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena • Atlantic City
ℹ️: This legend of the stage opens Mayo Performing Arts Center’s 30th anniversary season.
💸: $39+

THEATER

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+

Groundhog Day

📅: Friday, September 20-Sunday, September 29
📍: Kelsey Theatre • West Windsor
ℹ️: This musical take on the classic Bill Murray time loop comedy about a disgruntled weatherman stuck reliving February 2 features songs from Tony-nominated artist Tim Minchin.
💸: $30

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed

📅: Opens Saturday, September 7; 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

📅: Opens Sunday, September 22, 2024; runs through 2025
📍: Hunterdon Art Museum • Clinton
ℹ️: Sculptor Elisa D’Arrigo explores form and color through her clay figures.
💸: Free

FOOD

Fall Harvest Beer Dinner
📅: Thursday, September 19 (6 pm)
📍: Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant • Voorhees & Maple Shade locations
ℹ️: Taste the flavors of fall at these special harvest-themed dinners. This five-course meal includes a brussles and beets salad, charred cauliflower, pumpkin gnocchi, seared duck breast and warm apple coffee cake, and each course is paired with a beer.
💸: $75 per person

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.