35 Free New Jersey Events for September 2022

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.

Due to the ongoing restrictions and safety regulations with Covid-19, please verify these events before attending in case of any last-minute cancellations. And always check the weather!

For more events throughout the year, be sure to check out our Event Guide.

If you’d like to submit your event, click here.

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Free New Jersey Events for September 2022:

Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival
September 2, 5PM – 9PM
The Annual Car show drives into Glassboro on September 2. For the 17th 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 2-5
St. Joseph Church in Lodi will hold their 107th Annual Saint Joseph Feast 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! .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 2 -5
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

Asbury Refresh Vintage and Oddities Market
September 3, 10AM – 3PM
REFRESH is a monthly celebration of all things vintage, oddities & one of a kind collectibles. Join Asbury Fresh Markets on select Saturdays through the year where you can shop from a curated collection of over 50 vendors selling unique items & more.
Kennedy Park next to Cross+Orange, Asbury Park, NJ

Free Canoes and Kayaks at Scotland Run Park
September 3 & 4, 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

Frenchtown Riverfest
September 4, 11AM – 7PM
Established in 2004… Riverfest is a street fair celebration of life along the river! Stroll Bridge Street and Sunbeam Park for a fun filled day of live music, art, food, family friendly activities, and paper boat races with the Frenchtown Vikings, all with an ecologically and sustainability-focused lens. Honor mighty Delaware and join in festivities truly unique to Frenchtown.
Sunbeam Lenape Park & Downtown Frenchtown, NJ

Riverdale’s Annual Labor Day Street Fair
September 4 from 10AM- 5PM
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

Annual Wildwood Block Party and Music Festival
September 4, 1PM – 10PM
It’s the 16th 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

Bell Works Fresh – Farmers & Makers Market
September 6, 13, 20 & 27  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

Feast of the Madonna Dei Martiri – The Hoboken Italian Festival
September 8 – 11
The Hoboken Italian Festival, the premier Italian-American festival in New Jersey is over 80 years old, and is derived from a festival in Italy that is over 600 years old. The Festival is a four day festival of music food and fun from Thursday through Sunday. No day is greater however than Saturday, their “Feast” day, when the 800lb statue of Madonna Dei Martiri or Madonna of the Martyrs is carried through the streets of Hoboken. This includes a reenactment of the Blessing of the Fleet in the Hudson River, culminating with a fireworks show over Sinatra Park. The Madonna is sailed around the Hudson before it returns to the church.
Sinatra Park, on the historic waterfront of Hoboken, NJ

New Year’s in North Wildwood
September 10
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

Bayonne Arts Festival
September 10, 11AM – 6PM
The Bayonne Arts Festival is a celebration of art, music and dance in Bayonne, New Jersey. This September, we will host the Bayonne Arts Festival with an expected crowd of several thousand people from Bayonne and beyond!
Dennis P. Collins Park, 1st Street, Bayonne, NJ

Red Bank Street Fair & Craft Show
September 11, 11AM – 5PM
Come on down for a day of family fun with original & interesting Arts & Crafts, shopping, kid’s rides and great FOOD!
Downtown Red Bank, NJ

Medford Oktoberfest & Music Festival
September 16 & 17 (Rain or Shine)
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

Boots at the Beach
September 16 –  18
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
September 17, 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

Festival of the Sea
September 17, 10AM – 7PM. Rain Date September 18
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

17th annual Festival in the Borough
September 17, 10AM – 10PM
The Washington BID is excited to announce the 17th annual Festival in the Borough will be held September 17, 2022! Running rain or shine from 10am to 10pm, this free-to-attend festival features an array of musical entertainment, artisans, crafters, exhibitors, food vendors and plenty of surprises. The festival includes three stage areas, a family fun area, farmers market and activities throughout the downtown business district. Free parking!
21 Belvidere Ave, Washington, NJ

Wind & Sea Festival
September 17, 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

AC Latino Festival 2022
September 17, 12PM – 8PM
A diverse lineup of Hispanic entertainment, including Mariachi, Salsa, Cumbia and Folkloric dance groups. The festive family event includes a children’s entertainment area, authentic Hispanic food and vendors. In addition there will be organizations providing information and resources on health, social services, education and career opportunities.
545 North Albany Avenue, Atlantic City, NJ

The Annual Rose Squared at Anderson Park
September 17 & 18
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 18, 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

Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck
September 18, 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

Knights of Columbus Villa Marie Council # 6342 Italian Festival
September 24, 10AM – 5PM (Rain date Sept 25th)
Come and enjoy a taste of Italy. The event features delicious Italian Food and Deserts, Wine Tasting and Beer, Italian music (Live Entertainment By Jim Craine and his Atlantic City All-Stars Band), Folk dancing, Children’s activities, Free Bocce Ball (must register in advance), Italian and Classic cars, a vendor market with Hand crafted items and imported Italian specialties, and a super 50/50. Free Bocce Ball (must register in advance). Open to the public Admission and parking are free.
Historic Smithville Village Greene, Smithville, NJ

Oktoberfest
September 24, 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

Bound Brook RiverFest Art & Music Fair
September 24, 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

Edgewater Arts and Music Festival
September 24, 11AM – 6PM
Edgewater is now a vital part of New Jersey’s Gold Coast and the Annual Music Festival is Edgewater’s most popular cultural event. The location is Veterans Field next to the Community Center along the Hudson. In case of rain we will hold the Arts Festival inside the Community Center. Come and join us and enjoy the magnificent and unique art created by imaginative and extremely creative artisans. Listen to the music, shop, enjoy the entertainment from our stage and savor the delicious food from local vendors. This event is free and designed to be enjoyed by the whole family!
Veteran’s Field, Edgewater, NJ

Edison Fall Family Spectacular
September 24, 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

The Newark PorchFest
September 24, 12PM to 6PM (rain date Sunday, September 25th)
THE NEWARK PORCHFEST returns to the Historic Forest Hill neighborhood on Saturday, September 24th from noon to 6 pm (Rain date: Sunday, the 25th). This FREE family-friendly event organized by the Forest Hill Community Association will feature professional and amateur performing and visual artists, as well as food trucks serving a variety of refreshments. Neighbors make their beautiful porches available to serve as community stages showcasing an extraordinary range of talented artists. Opportunities will be available to make donations to the event’s beneficiary— New Jersey Symphony. Enjoy a full afternoon of entertainment, food, and fun that will kick off with a special children’s hour from 12-1pm. Visit us at www.newarkporchfest.com Facebook: Newark Porchfest or Instagram: @newarkporchfest for updates and info.
Ballantine Gates, Ballantine Parkway and Lake Street, Newark, NJ

Bell Works Fresh Saturday Night Market
September 24, 2PM – 7PM
A monthly night market season runs on Saturdays from March until November and features around 50 local artists, makers, live music, & drinks. Located in Holmdel, NJ, Bell Works is a 2 million square foot metroburb featuring 5 floors of offices, a full restaurant and retail experience, and a rooftop bar
101 Crawford’s Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ

Drive-in Movie Night at Camden County College
September 24, 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: Hocus Pocus, will begin at dusk. In case of bad weather, the rain date is Sunday, September 25th.
200 College Dr, Blackwood, NJ

Hackettstown Oktoberfest 2022!
September 24 & 25, (September 24th 12PM – 8PM; September 25th from 12PM – 6PM)
Join Marketspace Vendor Events and the town of Hackettstown as they celebrate the 6th annual Hackettstown Oktoberfest! Ready to kick off the fall season with one of the biggest town-wide events of the year? Join the Hackettstown BID, Czig Meister Brewing Company, Manskirt Brewing Company, and Bea McNally’s as they host events throughout the course of the weekend. This is a FREE event to attend, so grab your friends and family and be prepared to have the time of your life! There will be activities, contests, craft vendors, music, drinks and food and more! This Oktoberfest is a family friendly event where vendors will take to Main St., Valentine St., and Grand Ave. for this street-fair style event. This Oktoberfest is a family-friendly event; there will be kids’ activities and other non-alcohol-related activities.
Length of Main Street, Hackettstown, NJ

Margate Fall Fun Fest by the Bay
September 24 & 25
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 25, 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 25, 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