30 Free Things to Do in New Jersey November 2019
My favorite four letter word is FREE, so combining it with New Jersey Events is a win-win. I have listed 30 FREE Things to Do in New Jersey that include shopping events, farmers markets, foodie events, Christmas Tree Lighting, art events, and more.
30 Free Things to Do in New Jersey November 2019:
Allaire Village Stocking Stuffer
November 1-3
Don’t forget to fill the stockings! The Allaire Auxiliary Members have been working as hard as elves to bring some of the Shore’s finest handmade crafters to Farmingdale. Pick up everything from ornaments to scarves at the craft show held in the main building of the historic village. Make sure to stop by the general store, enameling building and bakery.
The Historical Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall Township, NJ
Sparta Special Olympics Holiday Vendor & Craft Fair
November 2, 2019, 10AM – 3PM
60 local crafters and small business owners will be gathered at Sparta High School selling their products and sharing their talents. There will be food, face painting, music, a bulldog kissing booth and more to help with the fundraising efforts! Come support the Sparta Special Olympics and Special Olympics NJ Area 3 as we gather to spread the word of inclusion. Come meet our amazing Athletes of Determination and wish them luck for the 2019/2020 season!!
Sparta High School – 70 W. Mountain Rd, Sparta, NJ
Art All Day Trenton
November 2, 12PM – 6PM
Trenton’s arts scene is stronger than ever, and there’s no better opportunity to explore it than during Art All Day, Artworks’ free celebration of creativity throughout the city. Saturday, November 2 marks the eighth annual Art All Day, featuring open studio tours, demos, pop-up galleries, public art and more.Art All Day features convenient trolley routes, leaving from Artworks and connecting sites, food truck offerings, and a whole new free Art All Day map/program, available in advance from Artworks. Bike tours, live demonstrations, art and history talks, and other immersive activities will satisfy all levels of curiosity and adventurousness.
Artworks Trenton, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ
4th Annual Pitman Food Truck Fest
November 2, 3PM – 9PM
Support the Pitman K9 Unit for their Fourth Annual Food Truck Festival. This event will be bigger and better than last year so make sure your family doesn’t miss out.
Uptown Pitman, NJ
Cost: Free
Arts Council of Princeton and Princeton Shopping Centers’ Annual Day of the Dead Celebration
November 2, 3PM – 5PM
The Arts Council of Princeton and the Princeton Shopping Center present Princeton’s annual Day of the Dead celebration! Celebrate Mexico’s El Día de los Muertos with strolling mariachis, sugar skull decorating, face painting, and folk arts and crafts. Learn about the traditions of this rich cultural holiday at this free, family-friendly afternoon event. Day of the Dead is observed throughout the world at this time of year (in connection with Halloween and All Souls’ Day), where family and friends gather to remember and honor those who have died. Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars using sugar skulls, marigolds and favorite foods of the deceased, and then visiting graves with these as gifts.
Princeton Shopping Center, Princeton, NJ
Cost: Free
Scarecrows in the Garden
November 2, 2 9, 10 16, 17, 23, 24 & 30
Autumn is in the air, and festive scarecrows take over The Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Explore the gardens, and discover dozens of comical, historic, and colorful scarecrows designed by individuals, families, businesses, organizations, scout groups, and school classes.
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, 353 Hanover Ave, Morris Township, NJ
Short Hills-Millburn Street Fair & Craft Show
November 3, 10AM – 4PM
Artists, Crafters, Vendors, Delicious Food, Kids’ Rides, Games, Live Bands, DJ, , Dance and Martial Arts Performances & much more for the Entire Family!
Millburn Ave and Short Hills Ave, Short Hills, NJ
Morristown Farmers Market
November 3, 10, 17, 24, & 30, 8:30AM – 2PM
Since 1990 this premier Farmers Market has been ranked as one of Northern New Jersey’s best. Held on Sundays, 8:30 am – 2:00 pm, from mid-June to mid-November, 1,000+ attendees each week shop from fifteen NJ-based produce and specialty vendors offering flowers and plants, fruits and vegetables (including organic), herbs, baked goods, eggs, cheeses, honey, fish, poultry, grass-fed beef and pork. Area residents and visitors alike flock to the Market on Sundays to see, smell, sample and delight in everything Jersey Fresh.
Morris & Spring St., Morristown, NJ
Bell Works Fresh Farmers & Makers Market
November 6, 13, 20, & 27, 12PM – 5PM
A farmers and makers market is always a great opportunity to bond with the kids and expose them to new things. Shop over 20 local farmers, artists, and food makers. Your littles will love to watch the food demos, play the many kids activities, and visit the animal rescue.
Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ
Knit In the Pit
November 8, 6PM – 9PM
A relaxing night in a sunken living room to knit, crochet, and socialize. Bring a project or just a set of knitting needles (crochet hooks too!) for a community KNIT IN THE PIT. Hosted by Jon Giswold with sponsorship by Lion Brand Yarns, this event will be held in the spirit of the #hatnothate campaign. So come one and all crafters – there will be Raffle drawing highlighting Hand Dyers from around the world, as well as local yarn shops like our summer house BALZAC & Co of Ocean Grove. Join the Social Knitwork the season.
The Asbury, 210 5th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
Santa Arrival and Tree Lighting at the Quaker Bridge Mall!
November 8, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Santa arrives in style and lights the holiday tree before heading to his home in the Macy’s Court for the Holiday Season! The event takes place outside The Cheesecake Factory entrance.
3320 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ
The 54th Annual Apple Festival
November 9, 12PM – 4PM
The Apple Festival celebrates the fall harvest and everyone’s favorite fruit during fall: the apple. This event features crafters, local vendors, re-enactors, handmade apple pies and other apple goodies.
Old Bridge Civic Center, Old Bridge, NJ
Mount Holly Second Saturday Arts Crawl
November 9, 12PM – 6PM
Enjoy Second Saturdays in Mount Holly. Art, music, food and more. A great day to visit local galleries, restaurants, shops, museums and historic sites. Meet the artists in Mount Holly’s galleries. Fine food, craft beer, New Jersey wine. The second Saturday of every month, rain or shine.
High St Mt Holly, NJ
Ladies Night Out
November 14, 4PM – 8PM
The Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce would like to invite you to our 6th annual “Ladies Night Out”. Downtown Point Pleasant Beach will be bustling with in-store specials, raffles and discounts. Grab a friend and stroll Arnold and Bay Ave. Hors d’oervers and refreshments will be served at many locations.
Arnold Avenue & Bay Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Cook’s Market
November 15, 22, 29, 11AM – 5PM
The purpose of the Cook’s Market at Rutgers Gardens is to provide a well-managed and organized marketplace for both the local farmer/producer and patron. Their aim is to encourage the development of local agricultural and specialty products, as well as promote local economic development and community building through educational and family-friendly activities.
Rutgers Gardens, 112 Ryders Lane, New Brunswick, NJ
Middletown Comic Book Show
November 16, 10AM – 4PM
The Middletown Comic Show brings together comic books, toys, artists and cosplay under one roof in a laid back setting at the Middletown Arts Center on Church Street in Middletown, NJ. The November 16th 2019 event will be the fourth installment of this show which has grown with each passing year! General admission to the show is FREE, however for $10 you can enter one hour early and receive a special edition poster limited to just 50 and hand-numbered!
Skyland Stadium’s Christmas Village
November 16 – 30
Play games, skate on the outdoor rink, make s’mores, and warm up at the new hot chocolate bar. Round out the evening with holiday shopping and take photos with Santa inside his new workshop.
Skylands Stadium, Augusta, NJ
Cape May Holiday Preview Weekend
November 22 – 24
Santa and his elves have decked out the Physick Estate with thousands of lights and holiday trimmings, ghost tours, holiday lights, and trolley rides. Visit the free Carroll Gallery exhibit, An Old-Fashioned Christmas, and capture the feeling of Christmas past with model trains and a Dept. 56 Dickens Village beneath the Christmas tree (through Jan. 1, 2019). Visit the Estate on Saturday at 7PM as Santa arrives to flip the switch for the tree-lighting ceremony. Visitors are encouraged to share in the holiday spirit and bring a non-perishable food item for the Cape May Community Food Bank. Your littles will love Santa’s Trolley Rides and a chance to visit with old St. Nick himself.
1048 Washington St., Cape May, NJ
38th Annual Fall Craft Fair
November 23, 10AM – 4PM
Visit over 100 tables of juried artists and crafters featuring handcrafted items made using a variety of techniques and mediums. The craft fair will also be showcasing holiday décor items and unique everyday items to use year round in and around your home. Many crafters are willing to accept custom design orders to meet your individual gift and personal needs. Visit the bake sale area featuring a large selection of home baked goods, including the school’s famous homemade apple pies. Food concessions will be available all day providing homemade soups, chili, nachos, hot dogs, beverages and fresh baked desserts.
Sussex County Fairgrounds; 37 Plains Rd., Augusta, NJ
Cost: Free
Rancocas Woods Handmade Artisans Market
November 23, 10AM – 4PM
Made & Found is a monthly handmade, vintage & antique market set in rustic Rancocas Woods, NJ featuring an eclectic mix of local artisans and collectors, food trucks, live music & more!
118 Creek Rd, Mount Laurel, NJ
Geek Flea 18
November 23, 10AM – 5PM
Saturday, November 10, in Kearny, New Jersey…It’s Geek Flea 16! Munch on delicious snacks while you browse over 50 tables of toys and collectibles, knickknacks, videogames, crafts, art and more! Grab tickets for raffles and win the dorkiest things you can imagine! Get ready for the holidays with the coolest geeks in North Jersey.
First Presbyterian Church, 663 Kearny Ave, Kearny, NJ
6th Annual Handmade in America Professional Craft Show
November 23, 9AM – 3:30PM
Annual event to raise funds for local scholarships. Top rated show because of more than 50 top rated, juried crafters. Always held the Saturday before Thanksgiving to give you a head start on your holiday shopping. Free Admission, free parking, free Kids’ Craft area, food, live entertainment, and over 50 quality artisans. Huge 50/50 and enormous Tricky Tray Auction featuring items donated by most of the crafters.
Upper Twp. Community Center, 1790 Rt. 50, Tuckahoe, NJ
Ocean City Horse & Carriage Rides
November 23, 24, 29, 30 , 12PM – 3PM
Free horse and carriage rides! Shop and dine in Downtown Ocean City along Asbury Avenue before and after your ride!
City Hall, 9th & Asbury Ave, Ocean City, NJ
Princeton Annual Tree Lighting
November 23 at 5PM
Come kick-off the holiday season at the Green at Palmer Square and watch as 32,000 lights light up atop the 65-foot-tall Norwegian Spruce! Take a walk about town and catch the nightly musical performances and an appearance by the one, the jolly, Santa!
Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ
Tree Lighting and Santa’s Visit in Kings Court
November 29, 6:30PM
The Borough Christmas Tree-lighting Ceremony takes place at Library Point at 6:30 p.m. followed by a parade with Santa Claus to Kings Court.
Kings Hwy, Haddonfield, NJ
The Big Glass Blast!
November 29, 11AM – 4PM
Come down to the Glass Studio and be amazed as the Big Glass Blast Team designs and creates large holiday-themed glass objects throughout the day. Visitors see previous years objects on display as well, including the record-breaking giant glass ornament, glass fruitcake, and the world’s largest glass turkey drumstick.
Wheaton Arts, 1501 Glasstown Road, Millville, NJ
Sea Isle City Holiday Extravaganza
November 29 & 30 | Friday 4-9PM and Saturday 10AM – 3PM
Kick off the holiday season in style with two days of fun featuring ice skating, a tree lighting ceremony, caroling and refreshments. Get some holiday shopping done during small business Saturday as the kids enjoy various activities at Excursion Park. Santa will make a special appearance as he gears up for his busy holiday season. Bonus: customers who spend $20 at participating businesses on Small Business Saturday will be entered into a raffle to win a big screen TV.
Excursion Park, JFK Blvd. & Pleasure Ave, Sea Isle City, NJ
Jingle on Main
November 30, 10AM – 4PM
For more than a decade, this beloved holiday event has featured vendors, original artists, community groups, live music, free kids’ activities, and delicious local food.
Main St, Blairstown, NJ
Collingswood Holiday Parade
November 30, 10AM – 2PM
The 31st Annual Collingswood Holiday Parade will include string bands, sports mascots, school marching bands, decorated floats, dance groups and, of course, Santa.
Haddon Avenue, Downtown Collingswood NJ
Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar
November 30 & December 1
Don’t miss the most spectacular holiday market around! The Asbury Park Holiday Bazaar, taking place at historic Convention Hall on the beautiful beach in Asbury Park, NJ, will feature a curated roster of the best local and regional artists, vendors, and shops selling the cutest and coolest vintage, handmade, art, jewelry, home goods, foodstuffs, and more. Get all of your holiday shopping done while enjoying special musical performances, Photos with Santa Sundays, holiday photo booth pictures, a 30 foot Christmas tree, fireplace lounge, and beautiful holiday decor. Check out a seasonally-inspired menu and holiday drinks at the Anchors Bend and Asbury Oyster Bar. Bring a toy or gently used coat for the AP Toy & Coat Drive or donate what you can and you will receive a 4×6 print of your Photo with Santa on Sundays. Pets are invited to meet Santa as well! Event is indoors, rain or shine, free, all ages, and pet friendly!
Asbury Park Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
More Ideas of Things You Can Do this Fall:
- New Jersey Fall Events 2019
- 15+ Foodie Events for November 2019
- New Jersey Beer and Wine Events November 2019
- Wine, Craft Beer, Nerdy in NJ, and Food Truck events
- Apple Cider Donut Guide!!!
- New Jersey Day Trip Ideas (for all year round!)
- New Jersey Flea Markets to Explore
- New Jersey Lighthouses
- Zoos, Aquariums and Planetariums
- 100+ New Jersey Breweries and Brew Pubs
- 20+ NJ Distilleries to Taste and Tour
- 45+ NJ Vineyards and Wineries (perfect for dates, girls trips, etc!)
- New Jersey Arcades and Nerdy Museums
- Arts and Culture: Art Museums and Galleries and Theaters + Concert Venues
- A Full List of EVERY New Jersey Diner