Events Family Friendly Activities/Events

35 Free New Jersey Events in August 2021

July 30, 2021 newjerseyisntboring

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 is August. 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 August 2021:

Lenape/Delaware Heritage Days
August 1, 12PM to Sunset
The Delaware tribe of Indians is a federally-recognized tribe based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. They are the modern day descendants of the Lenape, the original Indigenous people of the Passaic River Valley. Join member of the tribe for a weekend of exploring the history and traditional practices of the Lenape. Welcome them as they perform Lenape music, dances, and cultural practices of the tribe.
72 McBride Avenue Extension Paterson NJ 07501
Cost: Free

Mercer County 4-H Fair & Wheat Threshing at Howell Living History Farm
August 1, 10AM-4 PM
The Mercer County 4-H fair includes animal shows and exhibits, homemade ice cream, hayrides, pony rides, music, magic shows, and farm tours. Check out displays by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County, Mercer County Wildlife Center Friends, Mid-State Beekeepers Association, and many more! Free admission and parking for all; please bring a non-perishable food donation for Rutgers Against Hunger.
70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Twp, NJ

Hopatocong Marketplace
August 1, 7, 8,14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29; Saturdays, 10AM – 3PM, Sundays 12PM – 4PM
Enjoy this oversized Farmers Market that has a definite Street Fair vibe! Choose from a variety of local farms, food vendors, crafters, artisans, direct sales, local businesses, vintage & secondhand vendors plus different community groups! There truly is something for everyone!!
Commuter lot next to 47 Hopatchung Rd., Hopatcong, NJ

Free Canoes and Kayaks at Scotland Run Park
August 1, 7, 8,14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 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

Pier Village Family Fun Night
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 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

Big Joe Jersey Talent Show 2021 at Jenkinson’s
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 7PM-8 PM
Every Sunday night through August 29, you can live out your America’s Got Talent dreams, show off your skills on stage, or observe others showcasing their talents. The Talent Show champion will be crowned on September 5, 2021. You can enter the Talent Show here.
On the beach, by Jenkinson’s Aquarium, 300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ

Bordentown Farmer’s Market
August 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, Sundays, 9AM – 1PM
Committed to providing a venue where local farmers can directly distribute their fresh, locally grown produce to the community, as well as create an inviting space for food vendors, eco-friendly makers, local crafters, and musicians to promote and support sustainable food systems and the arts.
Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks Street, Bordentown, NJ

Bell Works Fresh – Farmers & Makers Market
August 4, 11, 18, 25, 11AM – 4PM
The Block inside Bell Works hosts a weekly Farmers’ and Makers’ market with over 20 local vendors.
101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ

Movie Nights at the Waterfront
August 4 & 18, 8PM
The Borough of Keyport and the Keyport Recreation Committee present Free Summer Outdoor Movie Nights at Waterfront Park. Footloose, The Secret Life of Pets 2, and Goonies are just some of the movie choices this summer.
Waterfront Park, American Legion Drive, Keyport, NJ

Thrilling Thursdays in Margate
August 5, 12, 19, 26
Get a head start on the weekend with this busy Thursday roster of activities in Margate. Start your day with a visit to the farmers market, shop at local sidewalk sales, play free cornhole and visit the beach free-of-charge. Top it off with a beachfront movie night.
8/5 The Goonies / PG
8/12 Godzilla vs. Kong / PG-13
8/19 Trolls (World Tour) / PG
8/26 Jumanji the Next Level / PG-13
South Decatur Ave, Margate, NJ

80’s Mix Tape Movie Series
August 5, 12, 19, 8PM
The ’80s are back in Ocean Grove—get your neons and leg warmers ready to go back in time with blockbusters like Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Don’t forget your lawn chairs and blankets.
Jersey Shore Arts Center – North Parking Area, 66 South Main Street, Ocean Grove, NJ

Makers + Shakers Pop Up Market
Every Thursday-Sunday from 11 AM – 6 PM
Kick-off the summer at this lively market where you can check out various local makers, artists, and designers selling handcrafted goods, clothing, jewelry & accessories, beauty products, art, photography, home goods, and so much more. The kids can also enjoy rides on the Carousel, and don’t forget to visit the beach, restaurants, shops, and the boardwalk.
52 Centennial Drive, Long Branch, NJ

Kites and Castles
August 5, 12, 19, 26, 7PM
Bring your kites to the Philadelphia Avenue beach every Thursday night for sandcastle building and kite flying. A first place prize is awarded each week, and prizes are given to all participants.
Philadephia Avenue Beach, 1200 Oceanfront, Lavallette, NJ

The NDD Downtown Market
August 5, 12, 19, 26, 11AM – 3PM
In 2021, the NDD Downtown Market will take place at PSE&G Plaza on Thursdays. In addition, to live music, a farm stand hosted by the Urban Agriculture Cooperative, curated arts and crafts vendors, physical fitness activations, and information tables highlighting local businesses and community-based organizations, the market will feature a seating area dedicated to food delivery services bringing food from downtown restaurants. Vendor selection featured restaurants, and programming will all be centered on downtown businesses.
PSE&G Plaza, 80 Park Place, Newark, NJ

Twilight Concert Series
August 5 & 26, 7PM
Free concert series! 8/5 – KATHY SLEDGE, 8/26 – JAZZ UNDER THE STARS WITH THE MATT CAPPY JAZZ QUARTET
Cooper River Park, Collingswood, NJ

Brigantine Food Truck Festival
August 6 – 8
The Brigantine Beach Food Truck Festival will be taking place at the 38th street beaches in Brigantine Friday, August 6th through Sunday, August 8th, 2021. The show begins at 11am each day and will feature delicious foods from almost 2 dozen of the best food trucks in the tri-state area.
38th Street Beach, Brigantine, NJ

Brick’s Summerfest
August 6, 13, 20, 27
Summerfest free movies will be held on four Fridays in August!
August 6: Drive-in movie, “Back to the Future.”
August 13: Drive-in movie, “Abominable.”
August 20: Drive-in movie, “The Avengers.”
August 27: Drive-in movie, “Tom and Jerry.”
Windward Beach Park, 265 Princeton Ave, Brick, NJ

Wildwoods Boardwalk Friday Night Fireworks
August 6, 13, 20, 27
The fireworks will be launched from the beach on Pine Avenue and visible from anywhere on the Wildwoods Boardwalk!
Wildwoods Boardwalk, Pine Ave, Wildwood, NJ

Somerville Cruise Nights
August 6, 13, 20, 27, 6PM – 9PM
Cruise Nights are Back in Downtown Somerville! Come out and enjoy the classic cars that line Main Street every Friday (weather permitting) from 6:00 – 9:00PM. Own a classic car? Come be a part of a downtown tradition that’s over 30 years in the making!
W Main St, Somerville, NJ

Blueberry Summer Fest Markets: Family Day
August 7, 10AM – 2PM
Blueberry Summer Fest Saturday Markets will run All Blueberry Season Long at Whitesbog! Order a plant, a flat of fresh local blueberries, local blueberry pie in advance. Live music, handmade crafts, and art, blueberry picking all on a smaller scale in the historic farm and village. No entry fee but donations are welcome, No overflow parking so entry will close once we reach capacity.
120 West Whites Bogs Road #34 Browns Mills, NJ

Crafts and Drafts at Jersey Girl Brewing
August 7, 1PM – 6PM
Marketspace returns to Jersey Girl Brewing Company for a crowd-favorite handmade market: Crafts and Drafts. This is an outdoor craft market alongside the Biergarten featuring local artisans. Patrons are welcome to bring or have delivered their own food into the Biergarten. Free admission to the brewery and the market. This is a family and dog-friendly event. Beer is available for purchase.
426 Sand Shore Rd Hackettstown, NJ

Trinidelphia Concert
August 7, 5PM – 7:30PM
West Windsor Arts are proud to present a summer concert series at Nassau Park Pavilion! Their second concert will feature the tropically melodic stylings of Trinidelphia.
Trinidelphia has been pleasing audiences with their distinct combination of Caribbean and American styles for over a decade, after meeting in Philadelphia in 2005. Fusing Trinidadian Soca and Calypso with Latin Jazz, Reggae, Salsa, and American top-40, they have developed a sound all their own. Their unique and rhythmic arrangements of jazz and popular songs cast the steelpan in a fresh new light, pushing the stylistic and artistic boundaries of an often type-cast instrument. Fronted by Steel Drummer/Trumpeter Chris Aschman and Lead Vocalist/Percussionist Shawn Hennessey, they are complemented by the dynamic rhythm section of Ian Rafalak on bass and Matt Chenery on drumset/vocals.
Opening the show will be eclectic, contemporary cellist Dan Kassel. The concert is located at the gazebo behind Panera Bread in Nassau Park Pavilion
US 1 & Quakerbridge Road, Princeton, NJ

Family Ag Days at the Wayne Museum
August 8 & 22, 9AM – 1PM
The County of Passaic in conjunction with Hazelman Farms presents Family Ag Days during the summer months. All Family Ag Days will be on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. on the following dates: August 8, August 22, September 12, September 26. Activities include produce for sale, live music, youth programs, meditation, yoga, tours of the museum, live demonstrations on fiber arts (weaving, etc.), and friendly meet and greets with critters.
Van Riper-Hopper House, 533 Berdan Avenue in Wayne, NJ

Angelsea Night Market
August 12, 5PM – 10PM
Food truck fun is back this summer in North Wildwood. The event includes some of the best food trucks in the Northeast, crafters, and the great shops and restaurants down Olde New Jersey Ave. Visitors are invited to go also into the surrounding restaurants to see all that they have to offer including great food and beverage menus. Some of the establishments in the area will also have their own live music.
Olde New Jersey Ave, North Wildwood, NJ

SUFS Concert Series: Swing That Cat!
August 12, 7PM – 9PM
Come out & enjoy the jazz, swing band sounds of Swing That Cat! Be sure to visit downtown shops while visiting Salem.
MLK Park, Salem, NJ

Plant Swap+Shop
August 14, 10AM – 4PM
Woodland Gardens for Live Music, Local Vendors, Food Trucks, and a Plant Swap! This is a free community plant exchange and positive environment {What to bring: cuttings, seeds, planters, and anything else you wish to exchange!
118 Creek Rd, Mt Laurel, NJ

Cape May Craft Beer & Crab Fest
August 14, 10AM – 6PM
Mark your calendar for the 9th annual Cape May Craft Beer & Crab Fest and come to the beautiful grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate for a two-day festival featuring local and regional craft beers to wash down favorite summer foods … steamed crabs, pulled pork, crab cakes, shrimp, and hot dogs, as well as food from regional vendors. This event is FREE to attend. Varying costs for food, beer, and craft vendors.
Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May, NJ

Saltwater Day
August 14, 2PM – 10PM
The Old Bridge Township Department of Parks & Recreation is excited to announce the revival of Saltwater Day! The event will have arts, crafts, vendors, new rides, carnival game trailers, entertainment, food and conclude with a fireworks show. Live music will be played throughout the day thanks to the fantastic 80’s Revolution Band and Motor City Review bands. We’re also excited to announce a brand new attraction featuring tethered hot air balloon rides! For our 21 and older guests, the Laurence Harbor Fire Department will be hosting a Beer Garden for $10/person which includes a mug and two drink tickets. Additional tickets are $2 each, and proof of age is required.
Laurence Harbor Beachfront, Laurence Harbor, NJ

New Brunswick Heart Festival
August 14, 4PM – 7PM
Hosted by New Jersey Radio Hall of Famer Bert Baron and Founder of TSO Productions, Sharon Gordon, this free family-friendly festival celebrates all of the vibrant arts and history that New Brunswick and Middlesex County has to offer. Featuring live performances; a salsa dance class party; hard hat theater tours* of State Theatre New Jersey (see the latest renovations!); tours of NBPAC; Japanese black ink drawing with the Highland Park Arts Commission; yoga with Sisterwork; ticket giveaway contests by George Street Playhouse and American Repertory Ballet; steamroller art with the American Hungarian Foundation; an activity tent with Garden of Healing; and more!
Monument Square at 2 Livingston Ave in New Brunswick, NJ

Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
August 14 & 15, 11AM – 5PM
The food trucks are back! It’s been a long time, but Monmouth Park is thrilled to announce the return of food trucks and one of summer’s biggest events. The Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival returns August 14 and 15 with nearly 20 of the area’s most mouth-watering trucks serving everything from lobster rolls to empanadas to everything in between.
Join from 11am-5pm both days for amazing food, great music, live horse racing, and much more! Parking and admission are both FREE!
Monmouth Park Race Track, Oceanport, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend

Atlantic City Bazaar
August 15, 12PM – 5PM
Events and live music are back. And so is the Atlantic City Bazaar! This year they are excited to partner with Phan Art and ElmThree to host a Pop-Up Vendor Market, Phish Lot Style, at The Showboat Atlantic City on Sunday, August 15th! If you’re catching Phish in concert in Atlantic City, be sure to catch the Atlantic City Bazaar‘s pre-show celebration featuring makers, music and art! The Pop-Up Vendor Market will take place in the Carousel Room of the Showboat from 12-5 PM. It will feature local vendors, artists, photographers and makers from our community and the Phish and jam communities around the country. Join us to support local businesses, see some old friends, make some new ones, and have a good time! And be sure to catch the pre-show starting at 4 pm with Waiting on Mongo!
801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ

Atlantic City Air Show 2021
August 18, 1PM
Event by Atlantic City Air Show 2021 and US Army Golden Knights Atlantic City Airshow “A Salute to Those Who Serve”.
Atlantic City Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ

Hammonton Food Truck Fest
August 21, 4PM – 9PM
On Saturday, Aug 21st, 2021 Hammonton will be hosting the Hammonton Food Truck Festival! Join the fun Bellevue Avenue for a night of unique street eats that will be sure to satisfy every taste bud in the addition beer garden, and live, local entertainment! The beer garden will open from 3pm to 10pm.
Bellevue Ave, Hammonton, NJ

Food Trucks On The Ave
August 22, 11AM – 7PM
Come feast on food from over 22 food trucks, lets the kids play at Kid’s Korner and enjoy 8 hours of live entertainment.
W Landis Ave & SW Blvd, Vineland, NJ

Sea Isle City Food Truck Festival
August 27 & 28, 12PM – 8PM
New date this year. Join us for an end-of-the-summer celebration to enjoy food trucks, crafters, entertainment, and more. At 63rd and Landis Ave. in Sea Isle City at Kix McNutley’s. It will be an Endless Summer Food Truck Event.
Kix McNutley’s. 63rd and Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City, NJ

More Ideas of Things You Can Do This Summer: