Spring is in full swing in New Jersey. There are plenty of glorious and exciting things to do outdoors, plus festivals and weekend events. Whether you’re a foodie, a wine lover, a flower lover, or a music lover, plenty to notice in the Garden State.
Friday, May – Sunday, May 5
Crystal Springs Resort, 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg
Tickets: Various
Guests are invited to meet and rub shoulders with the world’s chefs and winemakers, and sample food and wine.
The occasion kicks off with a champagne reception on Friday at 7 p. m. Enjoy champagne and hors d’oeuvres and toast to the opening night of this year’s festival. Then the Sunset Cabaret at 8 p. m.
The recent Top Chef stars will collaborate with Latour Restaurant to serve a 5-course dinner on Friday, May 3rd, accompanied by wines from some of the winemakers. Guests can charge the front desk with champagne for a separate fee.
The rest of the weekend, events such as Pioneering Culinary Women, Whiskey, Honey and Saving the Bees, A Taste of Provence with Peyrassol Roses, Lunch at the Market, Back to Nature, The World of Botany with Hendrick’s Gin, Winemaking and Regenerative Agriculture with Eric Jensen. , Rum & Chocolate, more than 90 wines, Under the Tuscan Sky and much more.
Saturday, May 4
Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater
Time: p. m. to 8 p. m. Tickets: $5
Sample more than 40 beers from breweries across the state and beyond. Plus, there will be tequila and bourbon tastings, live music, food trucks, entry prizes, beer pong tournaments, and much more. All earnings will get special needs advantages.
Saturday, May – Sunday, May 5
Laurita Winery, Archertown Road, New Egypt
Hours: Saturday from 11 a. m. to 9 p. m. and Sunday from 11 a. m. to 7 p. m.
Tickets: $13 in advance and $15 at the door
Spend time outdoors at Laurita Winery with friends and family as you pair wines with a variety of dishes from on-site food trucks. Sip wine and dine while listening to live music throughout the weekend. Wagon tours of the vineyards and fireworks will be featured on Saturday night. Jeep homeowners and visitors: Be sure to check into your Jeep. There is a $30 payment for Jeep homeowners, which includes a t-shirt, a demonstration of your Jeep at the festival, and admission for either day. There is a $5 fee paid for visitors 21 years of age and older from Jeep homeowners (arriving in the Jeep), which covers admission only for either day.
Saturday, May 11
Sayen Botanical Garden, Hughes Drive, Hamilton
Time: 10 a. m. (Rainy date: Sunday, May 12)
What a wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day weekend surrounded by flowers. The occasion features vendors of local crafts, music, and food trucks as you walk through the botanical gardens with blooming azaleas.
Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy an amazing display of more than 250,000 flower bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons, scenic walking trails, fountains, bridges, lakes, lookouts, and beautiful landscaping, all of which deserve a photo or two. On-site food vendors will come with Twisted Steaks, Camille’s Cucina, Buzzetta’s, Karen and the Nut, Lilla Vanilla, Chic Gourmet Empanadas, Yoo Cuz, Aunt Martha’s Funnel Cake, Swal Dairy, KK Sweets, D
Mothers can receive free family portraits starting at 10 a. m. at 4 p. m. with photographs provided through Group Ventures Unlimited.
Thursday, May – Sunday, May 19
Cape May Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Ave, Cape May
Check-in at the Grand Hotel’s Wicker Room will begin at noon on May 16. Pick up your badge and price ticket to participate in the weekend’s events. The festivities kick off with a launch party at the Nature Center in Cape May. There will be live music, food trucks, and beer and wine available. Starting Friday morning, excursions, boating, and more will be arranged through local naturalists.
On Saturday, there will be a performance with refreshments and bird-inspired music “What We Owe to Birds,” composed through the Princeton-based Consonance Collective and led by the BlackBox ensemble. The music explores topics ranging from the evolution of flight, the migratory behavior of flocks, birds of urban landscapes, birds threatened by wildfires, and shorebird conservation.
Finish the festival experience with a three-hour ride on the Rips Boat Ride, which explores the coast of Cape May, or drive to the Edwin B National Wildlife Refuge. Forsythe.
Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19
Silver Lake Park and Ocean Avenue, Belmar
Hours: Friday from 2 p. m. to 2 p. m. , Saturday from 12 p. m. 8 p. m. to 8 p. m. and Sunday, 12 p. m. to 2 p. m. to 6 p. m.
A seafood festival on the Jersey Shore? Of course. This 3-decade-old birthday party allows seafood lovers and local communities to combine for a weekend of culinary delights and live entertainment. Savor a diversity of seafood dishes, made with new catches from the Atlantic Ocean, prepared by local chefs and vendors. From lobster and clams to shrimp and mussels, there’s everything to satisfy the taste buds. There will also be live music, family activities, arts and crafts and much more. This occasion attracts thousands of people every year.
Saturday, May 18
Mennen Arena Field, 161 Hanover Avenue, Morris Plains
Time: 12 p. m. at five o’clock in the afternoon
Tickets: $90 VIP (before May 4th) and $60 General Admission (before May 4th)
Beer and bacon? Beer BBQ Bacon Showdown is New Jersey’s premier festival, featuring only New Jersey beer, in partnership with restaurants, gourmet food trucks, and chefs, offering a diversity of fried fish and bacon creations, all available for purchase. There will be a festival to showcase their culinary talents, with a panel of celebrity judges choosing the most productive from the most productive. 30 New Jersey breweries will be in attendance, each bringing 3 flavors of beer. A flavor will be a rare beer or a beer. made in particular for that event.
The general admission price includes a mason jar mug, beer samples, wonderful music, and a public vote for the beer and food.
VIP ticket value includes one-hour (noon) early access, a one-hour five-course buffet, all included in general admission, as well as meet-and-greets with brewers, pit leaders, and chefs, as well as early to infrequent and special beer.
Proceeds get advantages for Chester’s first aid team.
Saturday, May 18
Les Boutiques de Lafayette, Route 15, Lafayette
Hours: A. M. –3 P. M.
Pet Lover’s Fest is just that: a pet birthday party to raise cash for Father John’s homeless animals, whose project is to care for and rehouse homeless dogs and cats. This kid-friendly and pet-friendly occasion includes vendors, food, music, cats. yoga and a peanut butter dog food contest.
Register your dog for the Peanut Butter Dog Contest or sign up for one of the cat yoga sessions. There will be other games like Cornhole and Twister. Don’t have a pet?Adoptable cats and dogs will be present.
Dogs should be kept on a non-retractable leash and cats should also be on a leash for everyone’s safety.
No pre-registration is required, but anyone who does will get a loose goodie bag at the event. If you are unable to attend, donations are welcome.
Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19
Bradley Park, 101-199 Avenue, Asbury Park
Hours: 11 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Tickets: $20-$30
This two-day birthday party features vegan and plant-based foods prepared by local chefs, as well as vegan produce, plant-based fashions, live music, and much more. The occasion was so great last year that this year it will be expanded to a second park. There will be tons of vendors in Bradley Park and Atlantic Square Park.
Some vendors come with 24 Karrot Spread, Betty’s Icebox, Denis Creations, Henna Squad, Flora Vegetarian, Little Loaf Bakeshop, Nessie’s Tea, Ferrets and Friends, Secret Vegan Kitchen, Lovers Rock Sea Moss, Twisted Potato, Sprout House, Two River Mushroom, and much more.
Sunday, May 19
10 E. Main Street, Freehold
Time: 12 p. m. at p. m.
Join the Freehold Borough Arts Council for a day of music and entertainment in the township. Bands, duos and solos will perform at various venues in downtown Freehold. A map of the exhibits will be distributed on the porch at the Freehold downtown gazebo. Vendors and artists will also be present.
Friday, May 24 – Monday, May 27
On Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood
Billed as “a full-blown steroid kite festival,” the 37th Wildwoods International Kite Festival will kick off at 7 a. m. Friday, May 24. The four-day festival begins with the opening of the beach rite and continues on Monday with the opening of the World Dance Ceremony. Indoor kite festival and show.
The annual Nite Kite Show will take place on the beach on Friday night at nine o’clock in the evening. Bring your strobes, spotlights, and of course, your kites. Other weekend activities include team flying, stack flying, mystery ballet, four-lane performers, and much more. .
Sunday, May 26
Boyd Park, New Brunswick
Time: 1:00 p. m. at p. m.
Tickets: $10-$20
Enjoy Caribbean food, live music, and a wonderful atmosphere at Jerk Fest 2024. It’s a birthday party of all things Jerk. That means everything from heavily spiced jerk to red meat jerk, jerk fish, goat jerk, oxtail jerk, and even jerk ice. cream. There will be tons of food trucks, food and drink vendors, crafts, merchandise for sale, live music, children’s activities, and much more.
This list of a dozen festivals is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to May occasions in New Jersey in 2024. Attend one, 10, 20 or more.
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Gallery Credit: Mike Brant
Here’s a list of a dozen unique and fun festivals to attend in New Jersey in May 2024.
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Spring is in full swing in New Jersey. There are plenty of glorious and exciting things to do outdoors, plus festivals and weekend events. Whether you’re a foodie, a wine lover, a flower lover, or a music lover, plenty to notice in the Garden State.
Friday, May – Sunday, May 5
Crystal Springs Resort, 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg
Tickets: Various
Guests are invited to meet and rub shoulders with the world’s chefs and winemakers, and sample food and wine.
The occasion kicks off with a champagne reception on Friday at 7 p. m. Enjoy champagne and hors d’oeuvres and toast to the opening night of this year’s festival. Then the Sunset Cabaret at 8 p. m.
The recent Top Chef stars will collaborate with Latour Restaurant to serve a 5-course dinner on Friday, May 3rd, accompanied by wines from some of the winemakers. Guests can charge the front desk with champagne for a separate fee.
The rest of the weekend, events such as Pioneering Culinary Women, Whiskey, Honey and Saving the Bees, A Taste of Provence with Peyrassol Roses, Lunch at the Market, Back to Nature, The World of Botany with Hendrick’s Gin, Winemaking and Regenerative Agriculture with Eric Jensen. , Rum & Chocolate, more than 90 wines, Under the Tuscan Sky and much more.
Saturday, May 4
Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater
Time: p. m. to 8 p. m. Tickets: $5
Sample more than 40 beers from breweries across the state and beyond. Plus, there will be tequila and bourbon tastings, live music, food trucks, entry prizes, beer pong tournaments, and much more. All earnings will get special needs advantages.
Saturday, May – Sunday, May 5
Laurita Winery, Archertown Road, New Egypt
Hours: Saturday from 11 a. m. to 9 p. m. and Sunday from 11 a. m. to 7 p. m.
Tickets: $13 in advance and $15 at the door
Spend time outdoors at Laurita Winery with friends and family as you pair wines with a variety of dishes from on-site food trucks. Sip wine and dine while listening to live music throughout the weekend. Wagon tours of the vineyards and fireworks will be featured on Saturday night. Jeep homeowners and visitors: Be sure to check into your Jeep. There is a $30 payment for Jeep homeowners, which includes a t-shirt, a demonstration of your Jeep at the festival, and admission for either day. There is a $5 fee paid for visitors 21 years of age and older from Jeep homeowners (arriving in the Jeep), which covers admission only for either day.
Saturday, May 11
Sayen Botanical Garden, Hughes Drive, Hamilton
Time: 10 a. m. (Rainy date: Sunday, May 12)
What a wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day weekend surrounded by flowers. The occasion features vendors of local crafts, music, and food trucks as you walk through the botanical gardens with blooming azaleas.
Residents and visitors will be able to enjoy an amazing display of more than 250,000 flower bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons, scenic walking trails, fountains, bridges, lakes, lookouts, and beautiful landscaping, all of which deserve a photo or two. On-site food vendors will come with Twisted Steaks, Camille’s Cucina, Buzzetta’s, Karen and the Nut, Lilla Vanilla, Chic Gourmet Empanadas, Yoo Cuz, Aunt Martha’s Funnel Cake, Swal Dairy, KK Sweets, D
Mothers can receive free family portraits starting at 10 a. m. at 4 p. m. with photographs provided through Group Ventures Unlimited.
Thursday, May – Sunday, May 19
Cape May Nature Center, 1600 Delaware Ave, Cape May
Check-in at the Grand Hotel’s Wicker Room will begin at noon on May 16. Pick up your badge and price ticket to participate in the weekend’s events. The festivities kick off with a launch party at the Nature Center in Cape May. There will be live music, food trucks, and beer and wine available. Starting Friday morning, excursions, boating, and more will be arranged through local naturalists.
On Saturday, there will be a performance with refreshments and bird-inspired music “What We Owe to Birds,” composed through the Princeton-based Consonance Collective and led by the BlackBox ensemble. The music explores topics ranging from the evolution of flight, the migratory behavior of flocks, birds of urban landscapes, birds threatened by wildfires, and shorebird conservation.
Finish the festival experience with a three-hour ride on the Rips Boat Ride, which explores the coast of Cape May, or drive to the Edwin B National Wildlife Refuge. Forsythe.
Friday, May 17 – Sunday, May 19
Silver Lake Park and Ocean Avenue, Belmar
Hours: Friday from 2 p. m. to 2 p. m. , Saturday from 12 p. m. 8 p. m. to 8 p. m. and Sunday, 12 p. m. to 2 p. m. to 6 p. m.
A seafood festival on the Jersey Shore? Of course. This 3-decade-old birthday party allows seafood lovers and local communities to combine for a weekend of culinary delights and live entertainment. Savor a diversity of seafood dishes, made with new catches from the Atlantic Ocean, prepared by local chefs and vendors. From lobster and clams to shrimp and mussels, there’s everything to satisfy the taste buds. There will also be live music, family activities, arts and crafts and much more. This occasion attracts thousands of people every year.
Saturday, May 18
Mennen Arena Field, 161 Hanover Avenue, Morris Plains
Time: 12 p. m. at five o’clock in the afternoon
Tickets: $90 VIP (before May 4th) and $60 General Admission (before May 4th)
Beer and bacon? Beer BBQ Bacon Showdown is New Jersey’s premier festival, featuring only New Jersey beer, in partnership with restaurants, gourmet food trucks, and chefs, offering a diversity of fried fish and bacon creations, all available for purchase. There will be a festival to showcase their culinary talents, with a panel of celebrity judges choosing the most productive from the most productive. 30 New Jersey breweries will be in attendance, each bringing 3 flavors of beer. A flavor will be a rare beer or a beer. made in particular for that event.
The general admission price includes a mason jar mug, beer samples, wonderful music, and a public vote for the beer and food.
VIP ticket value includes one-hour (noon) early access, a one-hour five-course buffet, all included in general admission, as well as meet-and-greets with brewers, pit leaders, and chefs, as well as early to infrequent and special beer.
Proceeds get advantages for Chester’s first aid team.
Saturday, May 18
Les Boutiques de Lafayette, Route 15, Lafayette
Hours: A. M. –3 P. M.
Pet Lover’s Fest is just that: a pet birthday party to raise money for Father John’s Homeless Animals, whose project is to care for and rehouse homeless dogs and cats. This occasion, suitable for children and pets, features vendors, food, music, yoga for cats, and a peanut butter eating contest for dogs.
Register your dog for the Peanut Butter Dog Contest or sign up for one of the cat yoga sessions. There will be other games like Cornhole and Twister. Don’t have a pet?Adopted dogs and cats will be present.
Dogs should be kept on a non-retractable leash and cats should also be on a leash for everyone’s safety.
No pre-registration is required, but anyone who does will get a loose goodie bag at the event. If you are unable to attend, donations are welcome.
Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19
Bradley Park, 101-199 Avenue, Asbury Park
Hours: 11 a. m. to 5 p. m.
Tickets: $20-$30
This two-day birthday party features vegan and plant-based foods prepared by local chefs, as well as vegan produce, plant-based fashions, live music, and much more. The occasion was so big last year that this year it’s expanding to a park moment. There will be tons of vendors in Bradley Park and Atlantic Square Park.
Some vendors come with 24 Karrot Spread, Betty’s Icebox, Denis Creations, Henna Squad, Flora Vegetarian, Little Loaf Bakeshop, Nessie’s Tea, Ferrets and Friends, Secret Vegan Kitchen, Lovers Rock Sea Moss, Twisted Potato, Sprout House, Two River Mushroom, and much more.
Sunday, May 19
10 E. Main Street, Freehold
Time: 12 p. m. at p. m.
Join the Freehold Borough Arts Council for a day of music and entertainment in the township. Bands, duos and solos will perform at various venues in downtown Freehold. A map of the exhibits will be distributed on the porch at the Freehold downtown gazebo. Vendors and artists will also be present.
Friday, May 24 – Monday, May 27
On Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood
Billed as “a full-blown steroid kite festival,” the 37th Wildwoods International Kite Festival will kick off at 7 a. m. Friday, May 24. The four-day festival begins with the opening of the beach rite and continues on Monday with the opening of the World Dance Ceremony. Indoor kite festival and show.
The annual Nite Kite Show will take place on the beach on Friday night at nine o’clock in the evening. Bring your strobes, spotlights, and of course, your kites. Other weekend activities include team flying, stack flying, mystery ballet, four-lane performers, and much more. .
Sunday, May 26
Boyd Park, New Brunswick
Time: 1:00 p. m. at p. m.
Tickets: $10-$20
Enjoy Caribbean food, live music, and a wonderful atmosphere at Jerk Fest 2024. It’s a birthday party of all things Jerk. That means everything from heavily spiced jerk to red meat jerk, jerk fish, goat jerk, oxtail jerk, and even jerk ice. cream. There will be tons of food trucks, food and drink vendors, crafts, merchandise for sale, live music, children’s activities, and much more.
This list of a dozen festivals is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to May occasions in New Jersey in 2024. Attend one, 10, 20 or more.
Report a Correction ? | ? Contact our editorial team