Sunny weekends are perfect for family-fun festivals, and New Jersey has a variety this June. Whether your crew loves classic carnival games, art, music, or food, this month's festival lineup has something for everyone.
Little swashbucklers will enjoy National Marina Day, music lovers can dance the day away at Garwood Rocks, and Garden State kids can satisfy their sweet tooth at any one of the many farm-style strawberry fests this month. For carnival games and thrills, don't miss the 31st annual State Fair Meadowlands, and make sure to show Dad some love at several street and shore fairs fitting for Father’s Day.
Read on for 23 fairs and festivals happening throughout NJ in June. And be sure to check out our Event Calendar for even more family happenings this month.
Admission is free for many of the festivals listed below, but some may have fees for activities such as rides.
Big Greek Festival at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church – Randolph
Friday–Sunday, June 1–3
If you love Greek food and culture, then this is the festival for you. Explore Mediterranean cuisine, art, music, dance, vendors, and much more at this ‘Big Fat Greek Festival,’ where everyone is Greek… at least for a few days!
East Brunswick Art & Music Festival – East Brunswick
Saturday, June 2
The perfect way to jump into June, this busy festival promises plenty of live music, art, a family photo area, temporary tattoos, food trucks, and much more. And there's beer tasting for the adults. So you’ll be getting happy off the hops soon enough! FREE
XRootsFest – Maplewood
Saturday, June 2
Musicians, dancers, storytellers, and food and craft vendors will be on hand to celebrate a variety of world cultures at the fifth annual multicultural heritage festival sponsored by the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. In addition to a dynamic lineup of multicultural performances, the event features the popular "Big Edu-tainment Tent,” where kids can take part in activities like painting, storytelling, and cultural exchanges. FREE
Learn authentic folk dances at the 43rd annual Hungarian Festival.
Hungarian Festival – New Brunswick
Saturday, June 2
Enjoy Hungarian cuisine, learn authentic folk dances, and listen to live music at the 43rd annual festival. Kids' activities include a parade, crafts, stories, and plenty of performances throughout the day. FREE
West Orange Annual Street Fair – West Orange
Saturday, June 2
Classic food, games, and vendors all come together in this annual happening that spans Main Street in front of the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. FREE
New Jersey Renaissance Faire – Bordentown
Saturday–Sunday, June 2–3
Calling all lords and ladies! This is the final weekend to step back in time for a day of music, dance, juggling, jousting, comedy, wine, and food at the whimsical village of Crossford. Special children’s shows, including magic, archery, and falconry, are presented daily.
Strawberry Harvest Festival – Chester
Saturday–Sunday, June 2–3, 9–10, 16–17, 23–24
Alstede Farms is hosting its annual Strawberry Harvest Festival every weekend in June. Enjoy a fun day at the farm with children's activities such as pony rides, a moon bounce, petting zoo, and corn kingdom. And while you’re there, don’t forget to feast on the festival’s namesake: sample delicious strawberry treats like strawberry ice cream and shortcake, strawberry lemonade slushies, and fruity fudge, and take a hayride to the strawberry patch to pick your own.
Garwood Rocks – Garwood
Sunday, June 3
Music, vintage wheels, a petting zoo, and a kids' zone with rides of its own are highlights of this annual fest, which also features a beer and wine garden and festival food favorites. FREE
Maplewood-South Orange Book Festival – Maplewood
Friday–Saturday, June 8–9
Bring your budding bookworms to the 2nd annual book festival! The tale takes off at the Woodland in downtown Maplewood, and there will be an adventurous children’s area, with more than 40 children’s and young adult authors in attendance, and a fun zone featuring games, music, food, face painting, and general mayhem for kids of all ages. FREE
National Marina Day – Pirate Spirit! – Leonardo
Saturday, June 9
Yo ho, yo ho, you’ll have a pirate-worthy day of family fun at the Leonardo State Marina. Take part in a free youth fishing tournament, hunt for treasure at the flea market, or take a paddle boat out on the bay. There will also be a pirate parade, so make sure your little buccaneers are feeling brave enough to walk the plank dressed as their favorite privateer. Bonus points for eye patches and plush parrot partners! FREE
Metfest – Metuchen
Saturday, June 9
Formerly the Junebug Fest, the Metfest will focus even more on high-end art and music, with plenty of offerings for kids. While their parents jam out to indie, folk, and rock music on the mainstage, little beetles can jump right into the Junior Bug Zone to paint murals, blow bubbles, and snap selfies. There might even be some sand art, jewelry making, and a mini chocolate pizza party (call ahead for reservations for this one!). FREE
Kidchella – Montclair
Sunday, June 10
Flower crowns aren’t just for crochet-wearing flower children anymore! This event honors Montclair Community Pre-K’s 20th anniversary, and all proceeds will go toward a new playground. So come out for some live music, children’s activities, crafts, food, fun, and shopping.
RELATED: Pick-Your-Own Strawberry Farms and Festivals in New Jersey
Stick around after sunset for the fireworks at the Tri-County Fair.
Tri-County Fair – Rockaway
Thursday–Sunday, June 14–17
Enjoy a classic spring fair with all the fixins at this four-day family festival in Morris County. Activities include rides for all ages, games, food trucks, live music, classic cars, and fireworks. A few new amusements have been added to the roster this year: the Kent Family Magic Circus and Monster Truck Rides. Admission is FREE.
Skimmer Festival – Sea Isle City
Saturday–Sunday, June 16–17
With tons of food, a myriad of musicians, lots of fun activities for the tiny ones (like face painting, a photo booth, sand art, and wax hands, plus free amusement rides), and an out-of-this-world antique auto show, this summer session by the sea is just the thing to make Dad smile on Father’s Day. FREE
Nutley Annual Father’s Day Street Fair – Nutley
Sunday, June 17
Fingers crossed it’ll be a fair-weather day, because Franklin Ave will be transforming into a pedestrian marketplace for the masses. From crafts and handmade wares displayed by 100+ merchandise vendors, to nonstop music, pony rides, temporary tattoos, a sand art and face-painting station, and more, there’s no way Dad will be going home empty-handed. Especially if he can get in on some of the fried fare—cheesesteaks, zeppoles, sausage and peppers, and butterfly fries will be in no short supply. FREE
St. Gregory the Great Family Carnival – Hamilton
Monday–Saturday, June 18–23
Looking for some old-school carnival action? This 38th annual festival offers rides, games, raffles, street food, and more. Stay for the fireworks displays on Tuesday and Saturday night. There are plenty of rides for younger kids, too. FREE admission; prices vary for rides and games.
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State Fair Meadowlands is the biggest fair in the NY Metro area. Photo by Kevin Jarret/CC BY 2.0
State Fair Meadowlands – East Rutherford
Thursday, June 21 – Sunday, July 8
More than 150 rides and attractions provide hours of non-stop fun for the whole family. Try out classic carnival games, indulge in festive fair fare (funnel cakes, cotton candy, dipped ice cream cones), and enjoy live circus shows daily. Make sure you catch the Death-Defying High Dive Act, featuring daredevil acrobats, and the Racing Pigs, in case the #TripleCrown wasn’t enough to get your blood pumping!
Italian-American Festival – North Wildwood
Friday–Sunday, June 22–24
A Jersey Shore favorite, this annual celebration features vendors, doo-wop bands, kids’ games, meatball relay races, grape stomping, and an abundance of fine, saucy food. You’ll probably want to come with an empty stomach. Buon appetito! FREE
Lobsterfest offers plenty of kid-friendly fun including bounce houses, small rides, and more.
Lobsterfest – Bradley Beach
Saturday–Sunday, June 23–24
Seafood specialties abound at this beachfront festival, but it's more than just lobster rolls and a crustacean reputation: kid-friendly activities include a water slide, small rides, face painting, and sand art. There will be live music all day, as well as craft vendors set up along the boardwalk. FREE
RELATED: Best Jersey Shore Beaches for Families
Have some messy fun in the blueberry pie–eating contest at the Whitesbog Blueberry Festival.
Whitesbog Blueberry Festival – Browns Mills
Saturday–Sunday, June 23–24
Celebrate the birthplace of the blueberry at this old-fashioned event in historic Whitesbog Village. Enjoy blueberry picking, live music, children’s activities, wagon tours, and even a blueberry pie–eating contest. Sounds juicy, right?!! Violet Beauregarde would probably think so…
Terhune Orchards Firefly Festival – Princeton
Sunday, June 24
Fireflies are one of the surest signs that summer has arrived. Celebrate these magnificent creatures with an evening of outdoor fun, games, live music, and firefly foraging. Pony and wagon rides through the farm and orchards will also be available. Come wearing your wings or let your little ones light up with excitement at the opportunity to make their own at the festival. FREE
Shark Fest – Atlantic Highlands
Saturday, June 30
This shark-themed family fun festival is fin-tastic for kids and kids at heart. The Waterfront Promenade at the Atlantic Highlands Municipal Harbor Marina convenes dozens of interesting craft and marine life-themed vendors, snacks, live music, coloring, and a fishing derby for a day that anyone can sink their teeth into. FREE
Freedom Festival – West Windsor
Saturday, June 30
Live bands, a car show, games, rides, and food vendors are all part of the fun at this sprawling, 14th annual Mercer County Park festival. Try your luck at a pizza-eating contest, stick around for the wiener dog race, and cap off the day with a fireworks display. FREE
Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of the festivals/fairs.
Originally published May 2015; updated for 2018.
