Sunny weekends are perfect for family-fun festivals, and New Jersey has a variety this June. Whether your family loves art, music, food, or classic carnival games, this year's festival season has something for everyone.
Little swashbucklers will enjoy the Privateers & Pirates Festival, music lovers can dance the day away at Garwood Rocks, and Garden State kids can satisfy their sweet tooth at a farm-style blueberry or strawberry fest. For carnival games and thrills, don't miss the 30th annual State Fair Meadowlands and downtown street fairs in Summit and Red Bank.
Read on for 20 fairs and festivals happening throughout NJ in June. And be sure to check out our Event Calendar and June GoList for even more family happenings this month.
Edison Day and Street Fair – West Orange
June 3
Classic food, games, and vendors combine with a celebration of New Jersey's favorite inventor, Thomas Edison, at this festival. FREE
Learn folk dances at the Hungarian Festival.
Hungarian Festival – New Brunswick
June 3
Enjoy Hungarian food, learn folk dances, and listen to live music at the 42nd annual festival. Kids' activities include a parade, crafts, and stories.
RiverFest – Red Bank
June 3-5
Great food and music are highlights of this riverfront festival, with family-friendly performances all weekend and a kids' zone with games and rides just for little ones.
New Jersey Renaissance Faire – Bordentown
June 3-4, 10-11
Calling all lords and ladies! 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.
Junebug ArtFest – Metuchen
June 3, 10, 17, 24
Every Friday night in June, downtown Metuchen comes to life with an arts celebration featuring exhibits, window galleries, live performances, and special events. Children can create unique arts and crafts with the Metuchen Branch YMCA and enjoy special performances just for them. FREE
Strawberry Harvest Festival – Chester
June 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25
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. Sample delicious strawberry treats like strawberry ice cream and strawberry shortcake, and take a hayride to the strawberry patch to pick your own.
Garwood Rocks – Garwood
June 4
Music, classic cars, a petting zoo, and kids' zone are highlights of this annual fest, which also features a beer and wine garden and festival food favorites.
Climb aboard a pirate ship at the Privateers & Pirates Festival at the Tuckerton Seaport.
Privateers & Pirates Festival – Tuckerton
June 10
Ahoy, matey! Bring your pirate-obsessed kids to this fabulous festival at the Tuckerton Seaport, where they can take part in nautical activities such as a scavenger hunt, costume contest, pirate obstacle course, cannon demo, and crafts.
Big Greek Festival at St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church – Randolph
June 9-11
If you love Greek food and culture, this is the festival for you. Explore Greek cuisine, art, music, dance, vendors, and much more at this three-day celebration.
Tri-County Fair – Rockaway
June 15-18
Enjoy a spring fair with all the fixin's at this four-day family festival. Activities include rides for all ages, games, food trucks, live music, classic cars, and fireworks. Admission is FREE.
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival – North Wildwood
June 17-18
The grounds of the historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse are home to this wonderful family festival celebrating life by the sea. Artists, crafters, historians, performers, and even pirates will be on hand to delight the crowd. Kids can climb the lighthouse and check out antique boats. FREE
St. Gregory the Great Family Carnival – Hamilton
June 19-24
Looking for some old-school carnival action? Look no further! This 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, so it’s the perfect event for all ages. Free admission, prices vary for rides and games.
State Fair Meadowlands is the largest fair in the New York area. Photo by Kevin Jarret/CC BY 2.0
State Fair Meadowlands – East Rutherford
June 22 – July 19
More than 150 rides and attractions provide hours of non-stop fun for the whole family. Try out classic carnival games, indulge in “fair food” (funnel cake, anyone?), and enjoy live circus shows daily. Don't miss the Great American Thrill Show, featuring daredevil acrobats and aerialists.
Italian-American Festival – North Wildwood
June 23-26
A Jersey Shore favorite, this annual celebration features vendors, doo-wop bands, kids’ games, meatball relay races, and an abundance of food. You’ll probably want to come with an empty stomach. Buon appetito! FREE
Freedom Festival – West Windsor
June 24
Live bands, a car show, games, rides, and food vendors are part of the fun at this sprawling Mercer County Park festival. Try your luck at a hot dog–eating contest, and cap off the day with a fireworks display. FREE
XRootsFest – South Orange
June 24
Musicians, dancers, storytellers, and craft vendors will be on hand to celebrate a variety of world cultures at this family-friendly festival sponsored by the South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race. African, Native American, Japanese, Haitian, Indian, and Chinese cultural activities are planned, along with an "edu-tainment tent” featuring cultural ambassadors, fashions, language exchange, books, snacks, a sari-wrapping demo, a full-size teepee, and more. FREE
Lobsterfest – Bradley Beach
June 24-25
Seafood specialties abound at this beachfront festival, but it's more than just lobster rolls: 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
Whitesbog Blueberry Festival – Browns Mills
June 24-25
Celebrate everything 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. Yum!
Street Fair and Craft Show – Summit
June 25
Stroll downtown to enjoy music, games, rides, and food at this classic-style street festival. Food trucks, artisans, and community organizations will all be on hand. FREE
Terhune Orchards Firefly Festival – Princeton
June 25
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 hunting. Pony rides and wagon rides through the farm and orchards will also be available. Wear your wings or make them at the festival. FREE
Top photo: Cool down in a fire engine's mist at the Tri-County Fair. Unless otherwise noted, photos courtesy of the festivals/fairs.
Originally published May 2015; updated for 2017.
