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Treat mom to a special Mother's Day brunch this year. Photo by Elsa Simcik
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The Wildwoods International Kite Festival takes to the skies on Memorial Day weekend. Photo courtesy of the festival
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Admission to the Cohanzick Zoo in Bridgeton is completely free. Photo by Lisa Warden
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The Battkeship New Jersey is an amazing hands on experience for families. Photo by Lisa Warden
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Get drawn into the art at the Morris Museum next time you're looking for indoor activities for kids in New Jersey. Photo by Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
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The accessible playground at Watsessing Park works for children of all abilities. Photo by Margaret Hargrove
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Pet baby goats on a visit to Brookhollow's Barnyard in Boonton. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner
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Palmer Square is a great place to relax in the heart of Princeton. Photo courtesy of Palmer Square
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Nickelodeon Universe is one of the can't-miss destinations at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the venue
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Wander through the annual Fairy Trail Day at the South Mountain Conservancy this month. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Wander through the annual Fairy Trail Day at the South Mountain Conservancy this month. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
4/29/25 - By Laurie Rein

Hooray for May! Bring on the outdoor festivals, including the Creative Arts Festival in Lincroft. Hit the Shore for free fun at the Annual Seafood Festival in Belmar.  And if you're budgeting for summer vacations and camp, there's no need to skimp on the May fun, because these 61 activities and events are all FREE to attend.

Read on for this month's picks! For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Free Things To Do in May 2025

Gloucester County Movies in the Park

Various Locations
Select dates from Friday, May 2-August 29, 2025
Screenings are held throughout the county on select nights through August.  READ MORE

Annual Kites at the Pier Festival

Long Branch
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Kites of all shapes and sizes soar over the beach in Long Branch. A dazzling display of giant kites is visible for miles. The fun includes inflatable rides, entertainment, food vendors, and crafts. READ MORE

Secaucus 14th Annual Green Festival

Secaucus
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Calling all eco-enthusiasts! Secaucus is gearing up for its highly anticipated 14th Annual Green Festival, complete with environmental exhibits, workshops, interactive family activities, food trucks and more. READ MORE

Ocean City Spring Block Party

Ocean City
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Head to the Jersey Shore for this spring street fair with more than 350 crafters, vendors, fair food, live music, and some fresh, salty air.  READ MORE

Ocean Grove Spring Fling

Ocean Grove
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Get a jump-start on summer with an early trip to the Jersey Shore. Ocean Grove holds this annual celebration with vendors, artisans, music, and more.  READ MORE

Free Comic Book Day 2025

Various Locations
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Pow! Crash! Boom! Getting comic books for free is...super! Free Comic Book Day is again held on the first Saturday in May. Free Comic Book Day is a nationwide event, and kids (small and grown) can stop by any participating comic store to receive their free comics. READ MORE

South Mountain Conservancy Fairy Trail Day

Millburn
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Spread your wings and stop by the third annual Fairy Trail Day. The fun includes storytelling, music, fairy hair, wand making, and a scavenger hunt. READ MORE

Eco Fair at WheatonArts

Millville
Saturday, May 3, 2025
The 18th annual Eco Fair at WheatonArts is a free family day inspired by natural and artful living. Eco Fair features local gardening clubs, including Rutgers Master Gardeners. There are various plants, herbs, and crafts for sale. READ MORE

Baker Street Spring Flea

Maplewood
Saturday, May 3, 2025
The beloved Baker Street Spring Flea is back, transforming Baker Street into a lively open-air market filled with over 70 local vendors, vintage finds, permanent bracelets, food trucks, a Tap Yard, live music, and free activities for kids. READ MORE

Elmwood Park's Spring Festival

Elmwood Park
Saturday, May 3, 2025
If you like shopping outdoors, this festival is the place to be. Find quality exhibitors selling a selection of assorted items, a special arts & crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie zone, great festival foods and food trucks, and so much more.  READ MORE

Cinco De Mayo Festival in Toms River

Toms River
Saturday, May 3, 2025
The Downtown Toms River Business Improvement District presents its Second Annual Cinco de Mayo Festival, featuring merchandise vendors, handcrafters, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Founders Day in Plainsboro

Plainsboro
Saturday, May 3, 2025
All are invited to join in the fun at this annual Founders Day event.  Enjoy a variety of activities, games, live entertainment, museum tours, inflatables, and food and drinks for purchase. READ MORE

Highland Park 5k Race and Spring Street Fair

Highland Park
Sunday, May 4, 2025
It's time for the annual Highland Park Run in the Park 5k race and Spring Street Fair. Starting at 9am, come take a run, walk, or roll through the downtown and beautiful neighborhoods of Highland Park and then stick around for the annual street fair. READ MORE

Bridgewater Spring Carnival

Bridgewater
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Bring family and friends to this free carnival with no-fee admission to rides, inflatables, carnival games and DJ music. Plus, enjoy a petting zoo, crafts tent, face painting, food trucks and more. READ MORE

Springfest Craft Show & Antique Corner in Westwood

Westwood
Sunday, May 4, 2025
This exciting shopping event is held in picturesque Veterans Park, where 125 exhibitors are set up on the grass selling handcrafted items, art, and gifts.Festival foods are available as well as home made pretzels, pickles, popcorn, sweets, and beef jerky. READ MORE

Westfield Spring Fling

Westfield
Sunday, May 4, 2025
More than 300 vendors line the streets of downtown Westfield for this springtime festival, which is chock full of all-ages fun. There are yummy festival eats on offer, and children's entertainment abounds.  READ MORE

2025 Walnut Street Fair

Montclair
Sunday, May 4, 2025
Spread throughout the heart of Walnut Street in beautiful Montclair, the Walnut Street Fair features 250+ vendors and displays, food trucks, live music and performances, a family fun zone with Touch-A-Truck, and much more. READ MORE

Mother’s Day Celebration in Jersey City

Jersey City
Friday, May 9, 2025
Jersey City welcomes families to celebrate Mother's Day at a fun-filled festival that includes a picture corner to capture sweet memories, arts & crafts, music for kids, cookie decorating, delicious food vendors, performances, and more. READ MORE

Creative Arts Festival in Lincroft

Lincroft
Saturday, May 10, 2025
The annual Creative Arts Festival features artists selling offerings such as mixed-media pieces, paintings, photography, jewelry, pottery, and more. READ MORE

Touch-a-Truck at Rockaway Townsquare

Rockaway
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Join the fun at this Touch a Truck event in the outer parking lot, featuring trucks and vehicles from local organizations, plus a DJ, bubble show and giveaways. READ MORE

Career Carnival for Kids: All Careers Tour at Montclair Public Library

Montclair
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Families in Montclair and neighboring communities are invited to the Career Carnival for Kids: All Careers Tour, a hands-on program designed to introduce young people to a variety of exciting professions in a fun and engaging way. READ MORE

Azalea Festival at Sayen Gardens

Hamilton
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Sayen Botanical Gardens welcomes you to this magnificent display of more than 250,000 flowering bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Enjoy the landscaped walking paths, fountains, bridges, lakes, gazebos, and breathtaking scenery. READ MORE

National Public Gardens Day at Macculloch Hall

Morristown
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Celebrate National Public Gardens Day in the historic gardens on Macculloch Hall's grounds. Enjoy special presentations, scavenger hunts, and art activities. READ MORE

Maywood's Chow Down Food Truck Fest & Vendor Pop-Up

Maywood
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Maywood’s Food Truck Festival hosts a variety of the best food trucks from the New Jersey area. Outdoor seating is available. The vendor pop-up provides lots of fun shopping. Plus, enjoy live music, a kids zone, and a beer garden. READ MORE

Asbury Park Spring Bazaar 2025

Asbury Park
Saturday, May 10-Sunday, May 11, 2025
Celebrate Mother's Day Weekend at the Asbury Park Spring Bazaar. Relish in a day filled with local vendors, live music, and delicious food. Shop for unique crafts, art, and vintage finds while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of Asbury Park. READ MORE

Hackettstown International Day and Maifest

Hackettstown
Saturday, May 10, 2025
Come support your local artists, crafters, shops, eateries, and beer brewers during the 2025 Hackettstown Maifest & International Day celebration, a family-friendly traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Various businesses host an assortment of live entertainment, activities, cuisine, and craft beers. READ MORE

JCPenney Kids Zone

Various Locations
Saturday, May 10, 2024
Stop by New Jersey JCPenney stores on the second Saturday of every month for free and fun crafts. Children receive a lanyard and collector's pin. Six pins earn a Project Master Medallion. READ MORE

New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar

Belmar
Friday, May 16-Sunday, May 18, 2025
Head over to Belmar for one of the largest seafood festivals in the country. Sample yummy dishes from area restaurants, enjoy live music, and visit the children's activity area for special games and entertainment. READ MORE

Lake Hopatcong Block Party

Landing
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Celebrate New Jersey’s largest lake during this day-long festival. Connect with community groups, crafters, and food vendors while enjoying activities, raffles, giveaways, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more. READ MORE

Fairy and Pirate Festival at Turkey Brook Park

Budd Lake
Saturday, May 17, 2025
The wee folk and swashbuckling buccaneers are back at Turkey Brook Park, turning it into a magical wonderland of games, rides, entertainment, and activities. Costumes are encouraged. READ MORE

Kids Workshops at Lowes

Various locations
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Kids can get creative and learn to build at Lowes' mini-DIYers workshops. Reserve a spot online. Some walk-ins may be permitted. READ MORE

Ocean Fun Days in Berkeley

Berkeley
Saturday, May 17-Sunday, May 18, 2025
This two-day festival celebrates the ocean with exhibits, classes, nature tours, crab races and children’s activities focused on our coastal environment. READ MORE

Kids to Parks Day at Ocean County Parks

Various Locations
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Spend the day at Ocean County's parks as part of a national movement to encourage local park exploration. The fun activities include nature exploration, crafts and scavenger hunts.  READ MORE

Steel Mill Street Fair at Roebling Museum

Bordentown
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Now in its 46th year, this annual fair features diverse artisans, area merchants, live music, food, family fun, entertainment, and even a pet parade. READ MORE

Glen Ridge Arts and Eco Fair

Glen Ridge
Saturday, May 17, 2025
The Glen Ridge Arts and Eco Fair is a day of family-fun activities promoting both a healthier environment and the arts. The all-day fair and art show features arts, crafts, and wellness vendors. READ MORE

Pennington Day

Pennington
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Since 1980, this lively street fair featuring local businesses, artisans, activities, music, food vendors, and non-profits has become one of the most anticipated events in Pennington Borough and Hopewell Valley. The fun includes an art show and dog show.  READ MORE

Maplewood MayFest

Maplewood
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Enjoy a fun day in Maplewood at this fair, featuring artists, vendors, kids activities, and live entertainment. READ MORE

Kenilworth Street Fair & Classic Car Show

Kenilworth
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Hosted by the Borough of Kenilworth, the Boulevard is transformed into a giant block party, featuring quality exhibitors, a special crafts section, lots of great food, kiddie rides and a kids area, live music and performances, and local merchants and civic organizations. READ MORE

Cranford Street Fair

Cranford
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Delicious food, handcrafted items, live music, and so much more make for a memorable  festival at this walkable celebration in downtown Cranford.  READ MORE

Walnford Day

Upper Freehold
Sunday, May 18, 2025
Celebrate 200 years of Waln history with a day of family fun, including historical demonstrations and displays, a horse-drawn wagon ride, the gristmill in action, exploration of the 1773 Waln family home and more. READ MORE

Deptford Mall Kid's Mini Theater Show

Deptford
Thursday, May 22, 2025
Beloved story characters take the stage at Deptford Mall for FREE monthly shows. Enjoy singing, dancing, story time, fun giveaways, and a meet-and-greet with the character. Registration is required.  READ MORE

Wildwoods International Kite Festival

Wildwood
Friday, May 23-Monday, May 26, 2025
The annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival, the largest such festival in North America, features kite makers from around the world flying their most incredible and colorful creations. READ MORE

Riddlebrood’s The Magic of Merlin at Historic Smithville

Absecon
Saturday, May 24-Sunday, May 25, 2025
“Riddlesbrood’s The Magic of Merlin” is a mystical outdoor spectacle where enchantment takes center stage. This free-to-the-public show is a spellbinding adaptation of the tale of Harken, as originally written by Ryan Long, woven together with Riddlesbrood’s signature comic flair.      READ MORE

Freehold Memorial Day Parade

Freehold
Monday, May 26, 2025
Spend Memorial Day at the oldest and largest such Memorial Day parade in Western Monmouth County. More than 70 groups–including veterans, bands, fire departments, civilian, and youth organizations–participate each year. READ MORE

Glassboro Memorial Day Parade

Glassboro
Monday, May 26, 2025
The town of Glassboro shows its patriotic pride at its annual parade, featuring veteran and military groups, marching bands, mummers, motorcycles, scouts, fire trucks, patriotic floats and more. READ MORE

The Dog Market at Van Saun County Park

Paramus
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Bring your entire family and your furry friends to The Dog Market at Van Saun Park. Shop a wide variety of local vendors, watch demos, participate in crafts and contests, find an adorable rescue pup to adopt, and enjoy a fun-filled day with your four-legged family members.  READ MORE

Under Cover Music Fest

South Orange
Saturday, May 31, 2025
South Orange Downtown is turning up the volume for Under Cover Music Fest 2025 — a full day of epic cover band performances. From The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac to Erykah Badu and the Grateful Dead, eight phenomenal bands bring legendary hits to life and get the whole town dancing. READ MORE

Ongoing Free Things To Do in May 2025

Star Light Star Bright Installation in Hoboken

Hoboken
Daily
Experience Hoboken's brilliant and immersive exhibition, Star Light Star Bright,  a cheerful, eye-catching structure along the Hoboken waterfront, providing a burst of color and light to the public park. READ MORE

Barnes & Noble Storytime in Bridgewater

Bridgewater
Every Monday
Bring the little ones to Barnes & Noble in Bridgewater every Monday morning for stories and fun. READ MORE

Preschool Storytime at Bridgewater Library

Bridgewater
Every Monday
Swing by the library on Mondays with the little ones for books, songs, and activities. READ MORE

Music & Movement at Johnson Public Library

Hackensack
Every Tuesday
Children and caregivers are invited to sing and dance at this library music and movement time. The program takes place in the auditorium. READ MORE

Barnes & Noble Storytime in Livingston

Livingston
Every Tuesday and Thursday
Enjoy childhood classics and new favorites at Barnes & Noble in Livingston on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  READ MORE

Bookscape Babies at Cotsen Children's Library

Princeton
Every Tuesday
Cotsen’s youngest patrons get active, social, and build their vocabularies in a special play space in the Bookscape gallery. Soft ramps, tunnels, and plush alphabet letters await. READ MORE

Play Cafe at Ramsey Free Public Library

Ramsey
Every Wednesday
Pop in for playtime with lots of toys and fun guaranteed. Parents can relax with a warm cup of coffee. READ MORE

Barnes & Noble Storytime in Brick

Ramsey
Every Wednesday
Head over to Barnes & Noble every Wednesday for children's stories and fun. READ MORE

Tiger Tales at Cotsen Children's Library

Princeton
Every Friday
Join the staff at Cotsen Library for a special interactive weekly storytime. Tiger Tales begins with a story and ends with a hands-on project to take home. READ MORE

Cattus Island Nature Walks

Toms River
Every Saturday and Sunday
Join a park naturalist for a 40-year Ocean County tradition. Discover the fascinating and diverse wonders of the natural world. No registration is required. READ MORE

Live Animal Talks at Jakes Branch County Park

Beechwood
Every Saturday and Sunday
Head over to Jakes Branch County Park Nature Center every Sunday for an up-close look at the park's inhabitants. Visitors learn about the various species that call the Nature Center home. Talks last about 20 minutes. READ MORE

Drop in and Discover at Jakes Branch County Park

Beechwood
Every Saturday
Stop by Jakes Branch Nature Center on Saturdays for nature lessons and crafts. A new topic is explored each session. READ MORE

Storytime on the Green at Palmer Square

Princeton
Every Saturday
Stop by Palmer Square every Saturday this May for Spring Storytime on the Green. Bring the family to sing, dance, and explore the world of books with JaZams’ very own, Jeff Trainor. Keep an eye out for special guest readers too. READ MORE

Winery Weekend Music Series at Terhune Orchards

Princeton
Every Saturday and Sunday
Join Terhune for cheer in the winery with live music and time with family and friends. Enjoy indoor seating in the wine barn among the wine tanks and outdoor seating with fire pits. Sample hot mulled wine, tasting flights, and wine by the glass.  READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

South Mountain Reservation
Downtown Toms River
Veterans Park Westwood
Downtown Westfield
Asbury Park Convention Hall
various Lowes stores
Island Beach State Park (plus other location)
various Ocean County parks
Downtown Cranford
Beach Across from Wildwood Convention Center
Historic Smithville & the Village Greene
Cotsen Children's Library at Princeton University Library
Cotsen Library at Princeton University
Jake Branch County Park Nature Center

About the Author

Laurie Rein
Laurie Rein is passionate about finding fun (especially free!) activities for her twin daughters. Before joining Mommy Poppins New Jersey, Laurie worked in the television industry, with roles as an NBC page, copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and research manager for CBS.
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