35 Free New Jersey Events for September 2021

September 1, 2021September 1, 2021 newjerseyisntboring

Happy almost Fall ya’ll! Is your favorite four-letter word FREE? Of course, it is! Good thing there’s plenty of free, fun entertainment going on in NJ all month long in September. Be sure to put these free events (which include fireworks, free movies, festivals, and more) on your calendar.

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35 Free New Jersey Events in September 2021:

Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival
September 3rd, 5PM – 9PM
The Annual Car show drives into Glassboro on September 3,. For the 16th year in a row, car enthusiasts will gather in Glassboro, New Jersey at the Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival, the premier car show in South Jersey. The viewing area will be on Rowan Boulevard in Downtown Glassboro and an anticipated 5,000 attendees will have the opportunity to view over 300 vehicles while listening to live music, DJ Pepper Paul 92.1, and enjoying great food trucks and cold craft beer.
Downtown Glassboro, Glassboro, NJ

The Feast of St. Joseph of Lodi
September 3-6
St. Joseph Church in Lodi will hold their 106th Annual Saint Joseph Feast from Friday, September 3rd, through Labor Day, September 6th, located at the church grounds on Spring St.Come out for a weekend of fun featuring nightly entertainment, plenty of delicious festival food (including the best zeppole around!), exciting carnival rides for all ages, hourly and Super 50/50 raffles, carnival games & prizes, and much more! Entertainment at the 2021 Feast will be DJ Blurred Lines on Friday, the R3 Brothers Band on Saturday, Ciao USA on Sunday, and DJ Express Entertainment on Labor Day. The festival will also have traditional accordion music every night. On Labor Day, there will be a solemn Mass in English and Italian at 4pm followed by a procession with the statue of St Joseph through the streets of Lodi.
40 Spring Street, Lodi, NJ

St. Bartholomew Italian Festival
September 3 -6
The much anticipated Italian Festival of the Summer includes a feast that is truly a great family event with plenty for the whole family to enjoy. Music will be played nightly, along with various: rides, games, and great food. The mouth watering Italian cuisine includes crowd favorites like: pizza, pasta, zeppoles, clams, mussels, and calzones. In addition, there are nightly 50/50 drawings and a super 50/50 raffle on Monday, so make sure your family stops by to celebrate their inner Italian.
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church, 2032 Westfield Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ

Free Canoes and Kayaks at Scotland Run Park
September 4 & 5, 9AM-3 PM
Spend the day on the water—-the whole family can paddle a canoe or hop in a kayak this weekend for free. First come, first serve, and all children 14 or younger must be accompanied by an adult. They provide life jackets and paddles, but you must print out a waiver and fill it out before your visit.
980 E. Academy St., Clayton, NJ

Monmouth Park Racetrack BBQ & Craft Beer Festival
September 4 – 6, 11AM – 5PM
Dig in to the juiciest, most tender pulled pork, brisket and ribs the Jersey Shore has to offer and wash it down with an ice-cold beer! This Labor Day weekend from 11am to 5pm join for three days of delicious BBQ and a great selection of brews in the Craft Beer Garden featuring over 40 craft beers to choose from – the majority from right here in the Garden State. Enjoy 10 2-oz samples for just $12 if purchased in advance or $15 day-of.
Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceaport, NJ

20th Annual Sterling Community Street Fair
September 5, 10AM – 5PM
This event sponsored by the Long Hill Chamber of Commerce will be held along Main Avenue between Mercer & Somerset Streets from 10am-5pm rain or shine. The street will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event and will be transformed into a giant block party. If you like shopping outdoors then this is the place to be. Quality exhibitors selling a selection of assorted items, a special arts & crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie rides & games, great festival foods & food trucks, and so much more.
Main St, Stirling, NJ

Pier Village Family Fun Night
September 5, 12PM – 9PM
Pier Village is brimming with free activities every Sunday. Check out mini golf, a rock-climbing wall, trampoline bungee, games, rides, and more. The family fun night kicks off at noon and runs all afternoon and evening long.
Pier Village Festival Plaza, Chelsea Avenue, Long Branch, NJ

Annual Wildwood Block Party and Music Festival
September 5, 1PM – 10PM
It’s the 15th Anniversary Celebration in Wildwood. The end-of-summer celebration will take place from 1-10 p.m. at Fox Park, located on Ocean Avenue directly across from the Wildwoods Convention Center. The festivities will include hours of continuous entertainment, games, crafts, activities for kids, food, merchandise vendors, FREE live music, and much more!
Ocean Avenue, Wildwood, NJ

Riverdale’s Annual Labor Day Street Fair
September 6 from 10 AM-5 PM
Riverdale’s Annual Labor Day Street Fair hosted by the Borough of Riverdale will be held along the Newark Pompton Turnpike from Newbury Place to Cotluss Rd. from 10am-5pm. This annual event is held on Labor Day Monday. The street will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event and will be transformed into a giant block party. If you like shopping outdoors then this is the place to be. Vendors, food, live music, and plenty of activities for kids and families.
120 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Riverdale, NJ

New Year’s in North Wildwood
September 10 & 11, Rain date is Sunday, Sept 12th
Both the top Mummers Brigades AND top Mummers String Bands from the New Year’s Day Parade in Philadelphia will entertain crowds in the pub district of North Wildwood. The excitement kicks off Friday night at 6 p.m. with the Fancy Brigade Pub Crawl through local drinking establishments in the North Wildwood Entertainment District. A colorful Mummers parade will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday along Olde New Jersey Avenue where you can get up-close views of the beautiful costumes and intricate dance steps.
Olde New Jersey Ave, North Wildwood, NJ

Bridge Arts Festival
September 11, 11AM – 6PM
The Bridge Arts Festival is a celebration of art, music and dance in Bayonne, New Jersey. This September, Bayonne will host the Bridge Arts Festival with an expected crowd of several thousand people from Bayonne and beyond!
Dennis P. Collins Park, 1st Street, Bayonne, NJ

Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck
September 12, 11AM
Bridgewater Township and the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC present its annual Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck. The event is free and open to the entire community and includes music, trucks, inflatables, and more. Children may explore emergency vehicles, construction trucks, and a medical rescue helicopter. Kids’ activities include inflatables, a game truck, and kids’ crafts, including face painting. There are JCC fitness class demos, live music, and food is available for purchase. Dogs on leashes with current vaccinations are welcome to attend.
Bridgewater Commons, 400 Commons Way, Bridgewater, NJ

Boots at the Beach
September 17 – 19
Southern New Jersey’s largest country festival features Country bands, DJs, line dancing, food, and Country themed vendors. All in a great outdoor setting by the seaside in beautiful North Wildwood. A good Olde Time for the entire family. The event includes an open-air concert and vendors for people to choose from. The event is held on Olde New Jersey Avenue in the Entertainment District that allows many options for guests in the areas of beverages, food, and many other entertainment options.
Olde New Jersey Ave, North Wildwood, NJ

Smithville Artwalk #20
September 18, 10AM – 5PM
Founded and hosted by Underground since 2011, Smithville Artwalk is a curated biannual gathering of 75 artists celebrating pop and lowbrow art in all forms. But, it’s not just an art show – each event features music, entertainment, contests, and special guests. Join for what has become the largest assemblage of proudly off-beat artists in Jersey!
Village Greene, Smithville, NJ

43rd Annual Festival of the Sea
September 18, 10AM – 7PM. Rain Date September 19
Featuring 250 food and craft vendors with seafood dishes, entertainment, and much more! It’s being organized by the Point Pleasant Chamber of Commerce.
Downtown Point Pleasant Beach, 601 Arnold Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

8th Annual Manasquan Community Day
September 18, 11AM – 4PM
Join Manasquan Bank on Saturday, September 18th, from 11am-4pm for some endless summer entertainment at Squan Plaza in Downtown Manasquan. The 2021 Community Day celebration will feature complimentary food and refreshments, carnival games and prizes, and a live radio broadcast from 106.3 Thunder. Don’t miss out on this fun-filled afternoon.
Squan Plaza – Abe Voorhees Dr., Manasquan, NJ

Wind & Sea Festival
September 18, 11AM – 5PM
Join this celebration of all things water at Port Monmouth’s Bayshore Waterfront Park. Visitors can enjoy tons of beach- and water-themed seaside activities.
Activities include:
Kayaking
Shelling
Fishing/Crabbing
Sand Casting
Sailing
Children’s Crafts
Children’s Art Show
Face Painting (fee)
Historic House Tours
Kite Flying
Naturalist Activities
Food Vendors
Sandcastle Building
Bayshore Waterfront Park, Port Monmouth, NJ

Hot Rods & Harleys
September 18, 11AM – 6PM
Join 10,000+ of your closest friends at Hot Rods and Harleys! Custom motorcycles, antique cars, hot rods, street vendors, and CRAZY tasty food. Bring the family – check out the hundreds of cars, and all the local restaurants & taverns Rahway has to offer!
Downtown Rahway, NJ

Latino Festival of Monmouth County
September 18, 12PM – 7PM. Rain Date September 28
The Latino Festival of Monmouth County is a family-oriented event displaying the cultural flavors of the Latino communities in the United States. It seeks to unite people from all backgrounds and cultures during a day of celebration and fun. You can be certain the food and the exhilarating atmosphere is a great way to spend with the family of not just your own culture, but with families of different cultures as well.
1 E Main St, Freehold, NJ

Medford Oktoberfest & Music Festival
September 18, 12PM – 7PM
Enjoy Great Live Music from several local Rock, Folk, and Blues Bands. The event includes a Beer tent, Three tages of Live Music, Food trucks, German Food, Artisan Ciders, kids fun activities and more.
Medford’s Freedom Park, 86 Union Street, Medford, NJ

37th Annual Rose Squared at Anderson Park
September 18 & 19
The Rose Squared Art Shows have a long-standing reputation for showcasing high quality, hand-crafted, one-of-a-kind artwork in a gorgeous park setting. These shows provide an opportunity to engage directly with exceptional artists, who are juried into the show by a panel of art professionals. These unique open air events attract affluent patrons and knowledgeable collectors from New Jersey, New York and beyond.
Anderson Park, Upper Montclair, NJ

Fannywood Day Street Fair
September 19, 10AM – 5PM
Hosted by the Borough of Fanwood NJ & the Fanny Wood Day Committee, Fannywood Day is much more than just a street fair. Besides the many food and craft and retail vendors, this year’s Fannywood Day will host a wide array of activities including the return of kid-friendly activities in the KIDS ZONE such as a trackless train and kiddie rides.
200 South Ave and LaGrande Ave, Fanwood NJ

Sussex County Day 2021
September 19, 12PM – 5PM
Sussex County Day is a free family fun day celebrating everything that makes Sussex County, NJ special! This year’s event is dedicated to honoring community heroes. Compete in a Sussex County Idol singing contest for kids grades K-12, join a scavenger hunt, visit a mini petting zoo, explore exhibits, enjoy entertainment, food, and more.
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta, NJ

Oktoberfest
September 25, 9AM – 6PM
Celebrate the famous Bavarian tradition in Cape May the festival will be located on Carpenter Lane between Decatur & Jackson and continue down Jackson Street to Beach Ave. as it is transformed into a German promenade with authentic music and food. Visit the Beer Gardens and Food Courts browse the artisans tables selling crafts, antiques and collectibles.
Jackson St, Cape May, NJ

Shamrocks by the Sea Irish Festival
September 25, 10AM – 6PM
Listen to the Shamrock and Thistle Pipe Band or watch Devrin Academy of Irish Dance dancers. Taste the food available and check out the craft vendors too.
101 J Street, Seaside Park, NJ

Bound Brook RiverFest Art & Music Fair
September 25, 11AM – 5PM
The Bound Brook RiverFest Art & Music Fair is a lively, colorful, fun day of arts, crafts, kid rides, food, live music and dance on Main Street in downtown Bound Brook.
E Main St, Bound Brook, NJ

South Amboy Irish Festival
September 25, 2PM – 8PM
The City of South Amboy in conjunction with the South Amboy Parade Committee is proud to announce the First Annual South Amboy Irish Festival. Stroll through the beautiful Middlesex County waterfront park overlooking the Raritan Bay while visiting the many craft and food vendors or watch the wee ones enjoy the various children’s rides. Bands, step dancers, pipers, and lots of family-friendly activities culminating in fireworks at dusk. Rain Date September 26th
Middlesex County Raritan Bay Waterfront Park, South Amboy, NJ

Edison Fall Family Spectacular 2021
September 25, 11AM – 11PM
*8+ Blocks of Fun
*2 Food Courts – Food Trucks & Street Food Vendors
*Wine & Beer Garden (corner of 5th)
*Live Music on 2 Stages – regional and local bands including crowd favorite, John Eddie
*Professional Wrestling Ring (2nd St)
*Remote Control Car Track
*Kids Entertainment on Stage
*Kids Zone: inflatable kiddie rides, face painting, sand art, temporary tattoos, game trailers and more (Amboy Ave from 6th St. to Waltuma Ave)
*Shopping: Street Fair Vendors, Arts & Crafts & Local Shops open with special deals
*Civic Organization – freebies & more
Located along Amboy Ave in the Clara Barton Section from Waltuma Ave. to Jackson Ave., Edison, NJ

Galloway End Of Summer Bash
September 25, 2PM – 8PM
Grab your beach blankets & chairs and enjoy a night of food trucks, live music by Don’t Call Me Francis, and fireworks! DCMF will be playing the whole time and fireworks will go off at 8pm when they end their set.
300 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, NJ

Drive-in Movie Night at Camden County College
September 25, 5:30PM
Mayor David R. Mayer and Council are excited to announce that Gloucester Township will be hosting the fourth annual Drive-In Movie Night on September 25th at 5:30 pm. Admission is free. There will be food trucks, games, and activities for children. The movie: THE KARATE KID, will begin at dusk. In case of bad weather, the rain date is Sunday, September 26th.
200 College Dr, Blackwood, NJ

Hackettstown Oktoberfest 2021
September 25 & 26
Celebrate the 5th annual Hackettstown Oktoberfest!Czig Meister Brewing Company, Man Skirt Brewing and Bea McNally’s Irish Pub and Eatery will host activities, contests, craft vendors, music, drinks and food. This Oktoberfest is a family-friendly event; there will be kids activities and other non-alcohol related activities.
Main St, Hackettstown, NJ

Kites at the Pier Festival
Saturday, September 25 & 26, 9AM – 6PM
This two-day family event features kite flyers from all areas of the eastern seaboard flying their most incredible creations, craft and artisan vendors, inflatable rides, shopping and dining. Participants and visitors will get to experience a dazzling display of giant inflatable kites visible for miles; an array of vertical wind feathers and ground displays, with the kids and adults Running of the Bols competition; super-sized giant bubbles.
Pier Village, 50 Chelsea Avenue , Long Branch, NJ

Margate Fall Fun Fest by the Bay
September 25 & 26
This family event features food, music (on two stages), crafters, kid’s activities, character parade, and more. With over 125 booths and activities; a true celebration of the season, the beautiful bayfront, and the friendly spirit of the people of Margate! Fall Funfest is FREE and loaded with new entertainment and activities including music, games, back-bay nature tours and educational exhibits. New this year is a Saturday, Cornhole Tournament, open to everyone . There will be classic Fall Funfest decor throughout the city of Margate, focusing on business areas. Strolling acoustic musicians, characters for kids, entertainers, and virtual contests such as a Pumpkin Photo Contest and Receipts are All the Rage. In-person activities include a treasure hunt, The Pet Salon Pics with Pets with professional photos by PhotoGraphics Photography and Congo Falls Margate is open for family fun mini-golf!
Participating restaurants in Margate, NJ

Garfield Familly Family Street Fair
September 26, 10AM – 5PM
Hosted by the City of Garfield and the Garfield Events Committee held along Midland Ave. from 10am-5pm. This event brings the whole community together. The street will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event and will be transformed into a giant block party from Krakow Street to Elizabeth St. If you like shopping outdoors then this is the place to be. Quality exhibitors selling a selection of assorted items, a special arts & crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie rides & games, great festival foods & food trucks, and so much more. Don’t miss stopping by the many local merchants & civic organizations to see what goodies they are passing out.
Midland Ave, Garfield, NJ

Harvest Home Festival
September 26, 11AM – 5PM
This old-fashioned country fair at Longstreet Farm is reminiscent of the 1890s, taking visitors back in time to the period when neighbors gathered to accomplish work, harvest, and spend time socializing and enjoying each other’s company.See an exhibition of the best products that have been grown and the best needlework that has been done in the community, plus games, athletic contests, and similar features of recreational or educational value.
Historic Longstreet Farm, 44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ

More Ideas of Things You Can Do This Summer/Fall: