New Jersey Free Events May 2023
Welcome to New Jersey, where the month of May is filled with exciting events that won’t cost you a dime! Whether you’re looking to explore the great outdoors, learn something new, or simply have some fun, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. From music festivals to cultural celebrations, and everything in between, you’ll find a wide range of free events happening throughout the state. So grab your friends and family, and get ready to experience the best of what New Jersey has to offer this May, without breaking the bank.
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.
For more New Jersey adventures, follow along on Instagram, @newjerseyisntboring, and Insta Stories! Don’t forget to tag your own NJ fun with #NJisntBoring.
Free New Jersey Events for April 2023:
Featured Event!
Bayonne Food Truck Fest
May 6, 12 pm – 7 pm
The City of Bayonne is proud to present the Bayonne Food Truck Fest, a community celebration of food, music, and fun for the whole family. The event is scheduled for May 6, 2023, from 12 pm – 7 pm at 22 – 24th Streets & Avenue E Bayonne, NJ. More details on the event can be found here.
The festival will feature food vendors, sand art, kids’ rides, a beer garden, and live music from the Suyat Band and Who Brought the Dog.
Admission is free for everyone, so bring the whole family and enjoy a day of trying food from the best food trucks in Jersey as well as fun activities.
Visitors can look forward to sampling a wide range of delicious food from food trucks such as Mozzarepas, El Chilango, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Chavas, Taste of Poland, The Little Sicilian, Twisted Steak, Memphis Seoul, Cold Stone Creamery, Angry Archies, The Steak Truck, Athens Delite, House of Cupcakes, Trade Winds, Just Delicious Kettle Corn, Mac Truck, Hormans Pickles, Carnival Concessions, Latin Bites, La Coqueta, La Belle Crepe, El Cubano Express, Jersey Johnnies, Carinderia Mexi-Filipino Fusion, and Tbarks.
Ave E 22-24th St, Bayonne, NJ
Cost: Free
Princeton Art Bazaar
May 6, 10 am – 4 pm
It’s a full day of community + creativity, and you’re invited. Shop the region’s most exciting vendors working in ceramics, textiles, printmaking, wood, glass, leather, jewelry, self-care, vintage, and more. Plus open art studios, a beer garden and more.
Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon Street Princeton, NJ
Mom-A-Rama Free Festival at Monmouth Mall
May 6, 11 am – 4 pm
The 5th annual MOM-A-RAMA Extravaganza is an indoor, family-friendly day of fun on Saturday, May 6 from 11-4pm at the Monmouth Mall, conveniently located off Route 36, Route 35 and the Garden State Parkway. The event will have over 120 vendors, door prizes, demos, food and more.
Monmouth Mall 180 New Jersey 35 Eatontown, NJ
AAPI Food & Music Festival
May 6, 12 pm – 4 pm
Union Twp will host its 1st Annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Food & Music Festival to celebrate their local AAPI community on Saturday, May 6th from 12pm to 4pm on Stuyvesant Avenue.
Stuyvesant Avenue, Union Twp, NJ
Print Day in May
May 6, 12 pm – 4 pm
Experiment with various forms of printmaking at “Print Day in May” on Saturday, May 6. Create original prints and see artists at work.
The Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, 2200 Fairmount Avenue Atlantic City, NJ
Clothing Swap | Sustainable Fashion | Swap Before You Shop
May 7, 10 am – 1 pm
Freshen up your wardrobe for Fall, while being sustainable (and without breaking the bank). Join Jersey City Connects on Sunday, May 7th for a clothing swap at DVORA 175 Second. We all have clothing taking up valuable space in our closets that no longer suits us—sometimes we haven’t even worn a piece once! Before dumping these clothes, and then going out to purchase new pieces, consider rehoming them through a fashion swap, where you can also pick up new pieces that suit you better.
DVORA, 175 Second 175 2nd Street Jersey City, NJ
Maplewood Small Wonder Marketplace
May 7, 10 am – 4 pm
Eat, drink, shop, browse, and support local small businesses and makers! Take a break from the shopping to have a nosh at one of the many delicious eateries in the Village. Handmade artisans will exhibit their work outdoors on the busy streets of Maplewood Ave., Highland Pl., and Baker St. Admission is free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
The Woodland, 60 Woodland Rd, Maplewood, NJ
Westfield Spring Fling
May 7, 10 am – 5 pm
This fun-filled family event will feature diverse live entertainment, food vendors, merchandise vendors, a Kids Zone with rides and a multitude of activities to entertain kids throughout the day. Valencia Music and the New Jersey Workshop of the Arts will perform music and entertainment.
Downtown Central Avenue from East Broad Street to North Avenue, Westfield, NJ
Springfest Show in the Veterans Park
May 7, 10 am – 5 pm
A great “Mother’s Day Shopping Event” held in picturesque Veterans Park. One hundred & twenty five exhibitors with great arts & crafts, gifts & an antique corner will be part of this fun shopping event. Festival foods, home made pretzels, pickles & kettle korn, Italian ice & desserts will be available.
Veteran’s Memorial Park 50 Madison Ave Westwood, NJ
Beach Book Crawl
May 7,10 am – 6 pm
Calling all book lovers for this fun filled event!! Get your map and be ready for a day of books, coffee, more books and tea. Four fabulous bookshops including Little Point Books in Point Pleasant, Booktowne in Manasquan, ThunderRoad Books in Spring Lake and Asbury Book Cooperative in Asbury Park are all part of this book crawl. Browse the book shops and find your next read (or two). Get your bookmark stamped at each location and you will be entered for a chance at book and gift filled basket! And I am certain there will be goodies and giveaways along the way. Shore Pour in Sea Girt is on the map and a great coffee stop and Sweet Tease Tea Room for that afternoon tea break.
Participating Jersey Shore Book Stores
The Monmouth Moms’ 2nd Annual Springtime Festival!
May 7, 11 am – 3 pm
The Monmouth Moms Events are Back and Better Than Ever! Come with the family and ENJOY a day full of fun! You’ll find local vendors (perfect for Mother’s Day gifts!), food for sale , Mommy + Me activities, Character Picture Station, Entertainment (lots of NEW activities added!), and more!
Bell Works, 101 Crawfords Corner Road Holmdel, NJ
Hoboken Spring Arts and Music Festival 2023
May 7, 11 am – 6 pm
Over 250 artists, crafters, makers, food vendors & live music. 2 stages of live performances.
Washington St. bet. Observer Highway & 7th St, Hoboken, NJ
Highland Park Street Fair & Craft Show
May 7, 11:30 am – 4:30 pm
Annual street fair that features Artists, Crafters, Vendors, Food, Rides, Live Music & more.
Downtown Highland Park, Raritan Ave. and 4th Ave Highland Park, NJ
Merchantville Art Walk
May 12, 6 pm – 9 pm
Tour the town and take in an incredible collection of works from local artists. Local businesses teamed up with artists to show their work for one night. Live Music will take place at several places and you can freely walk around and enjoy all the beautiful spaces in Merchantville.
East Maple Ave Merchantville, NJ
Sparta Special Olympics Spring 2023 Vendor and Craft Fair
May 13, 10 am – 3 pm
Local crafters, direct sales and retail business owners will be gathered at Sparta High School selling their products and sharing their talents. There will be food, shopping, music and more! 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 2023 season!!
70 W. Mountain Road, Sparta, NJ
Bloom Market Festival
May 13, 10 am – 3 pm
Come and celebrate the special ladies in your life this Mother’s Day weekend at Renault. The theme “Bloom where you are planted” will be reflected throughout this two-day event. Shop a wide array of curated Makers who will be sharing their handmade goods while enjoying live music, photo opportunities, a moment for dedication, and dining options. Saturday will also provide interactive activities and projects for kids and their moms to enjoy together.
Renault Winery Resort 72 N Bremen Avenue Egg Harbor City, NJ
Creative Arts & Music Festival
May 13, 10 am – 4 pm
The annual Creative Arts & Music Festival features a variety of fine artists and artisans with offerings such as mixed media, painting, photography, jewelry, pottery, and more. Plus, enjoy live music by some of the best local musicians. Food vendors, artist demonstrations, and free activities will be happening throughout the day.
Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ
Annual Azalea Festival
May 13, 10 am – 4 pm
Held only on Mother’s Day weekend each year. This event takes place in the historic Hamilton Square, Sayen House and Gardens, a sanctuary for nature lovers, garden enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Enjoy seeing over 250,000 flowering bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendron, In addition to touring the grounds’ collection of beautifully landscaped walking paths, fountains, bridges, lakes, gazebos, and breathtaking scenery, attendees can enjoy crafters, food, music, entertainment, and more
Sayen Park Botanical Garden, 155 Hughes Drive, Hamilton Township, NJ
National Public Gardens Day
May 13, 11 am – 2 pm
Celebrate National Public Gardens Day in MHHM’s historic garden! Special presentations, nature scavenger hunts, and art activities in the garden. At 1:30 pm see The Raptor Trust’s Fantastic Falcons. Rain or shine. This program is offered for free through support from The Astle-Alpaugh Family Foundation.
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, 45 Macculloch Avenue, Morristown, NJ
Vendor & Food Truck Festival
May 13, 12 pm – 5 pm (Rain date: Sunday, May 14)
Join in for a day full of fun, food, and vendors for the whole family.
RWJBarnabas Health Field of Dreams, 1505 N. Bay Ave, Toms River, NJ
Cost: Free admission and the event is open to the public.
Monmouth County’s Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
May 13, 5 pm – 8 pm
Allaire Community Farm hosts this annual event in collaboration with Monmouth County’s Children’s Interagency Coordinating Council. Every year they bring this event to the public free of cost to help spread awareness regarding children’s mental health and local resources available to residents. Lots of local agencies will be onsite handing out information regarding their services and looking to connect families to the resources they need. Come enjoy an inclusive evening including the farm’s petting zoo, barrel train rides, tractor rides, giveaways, games, and more! Food and refreshments donated by local vendors.
Allaire Community Farm, 1923 Baileys Corner Road Wall Township, NJ
Spring Bazaar
May 13 & 14, 12 pm – 5 pm
Celebrate Mother’s Day weekend at the Spring Bazaar in Long Branch & Asbury Park. The weekend will feature shopping, arts & crafts, and music experience in two beautiful locations by the beach: Whitechapel Projects in Long Branch and Grand Arcade at Asbury Park Convention Hall. Enjoy a weekend adventure at the Jersey Shore! The Mother’s Day Weekend Spring Bazaar will feature shopping from local makers, artists, designers, crafters, and collectors; fresh flower bouquets, Mother’s day photos and photo stations; music & entertainment; craft workshops; kids workshops & face painting; brunch; and delicious food & libations.
Whitechapel Projects in Long Branch & Grand Arcade of Asbury Park Convention Hall
Annual Greek Festival
May 18 – 21
World-famous cuisine, culture, music, and hospitality. There will be fun for the entire family including carnival games, cooked and grilled food, desserts and pastries, ouzo, beer, and live Greek music and dancing.
St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church, 51 Paramus Rd. Paramus, NJ
Sinatra Park Latin Jazz Festival
May 19, 7 pm – 9 pm
The Sinatra Park Jazz Fesitval is a 3-event series on the Hoboken waterfront featuring the best in Latin Jazz. The Friday night series features dancing and multiple bands against the backdrop of the lower Manhattan skyline. This free-to-the-public event is produced by Riverview Jazz and sponsored by Hoboken Business Alliance.
Sinatra Park Amphitheater 340 Sinatra Drive Hoboken, NJ
New Jersey Seafood Festival
May 19 – 21
This popular family-friendly event offers an ultimate feast of crowd-pleasing fare — from gumbo, lobster rolls, and jambalaya, to coconut shrimp, crab legs, conch fritters, and more.
In addition to some great seafood, live music is also a big part of the Belmar Seafood Festival. The lineup of bands includes popular area musicians performing live during all three days of the festival.
Pyanoe Plaza and Pyanoe Plaza Parking lot, Belmar, NJ
Artists in the Park
May 20, 10 am – 3 pm
Hike the nature trail in Runnemede Lake Park and watch “Plein Air” landscape paintings being created by local artists. Who knows what delights await you in the woods this year. Painters, dancers, musicians, poets, live pop-up performances
Runnemede Lake Park, 525 Sheppard Ave Runnemede, NJ
Lake Hopatcong Block Party
May 20, 10 am – 4 pm
The Lake Hopatcong Block Party offers a unique Main Street-style experience in a beautiful lakeside setting. Hosted by the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, this event brings visitors together with businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, crafters, and food vendors for a community day like no other featuring activities, entertainment, raffles, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more. Find out more at https://www.lakehopatcongfoundation.org/blockparty
Hopatcong State Park, 260 Lakeside Blvd, Hopatcong, NJ
Bubble Festival and Family Fun Day
May 20, 11 am – 3 pm
Swedesboro-Woolwich Parks & Recreation will sponsor GRANDPOP BUBBLES™ and his amazing “Free Bubble Festival,” where kids from 12-months to 1200-months will make the BIGGEST bubbles of their lives! Grandpop Bubbles will bring his bubble wands, poles, basins, buckets, and many gallons of SPECIAL BUBBLE JUICE for as many as possible to enjoy bubbling with #GPOPB.You’ll share Grandpop Bubbles’ bubble juice and 4′ bubble wands and his 3′ bubble “Tristrings” (two sticks and strings) to make bubbles. He guarantees that you will make the BIGGEST bubbles of your life — whatever your ag
Locke Ave Park, 58 Locke Avenue Swedesboro, NJ
Keansburg Food Truck Festival
May 20, 2PM – 7PM
Join the fun for 4th Annual Food Truck Festival. Enjoy some food, DJ James from 2-5 and the Kickback Band 5-7! FREE face painting, balloon artist, bounce house and more.
1 Beachway Ave, Keansburg, NJ
Cost: Free
Rhythm & Brews
May 20, 3PM – 9PM
The Rhythm returns, and the Brews too.. LOCAL Music -LOCAL Artisans -LOCAL Food and -LOCAL Brews. This kick-ass Music Festival takes place on Station Ave. in super HIP, historic downtown Haddon Heights! The 500 and 600 block of Station Ave. will be open to “FOOT TRAFFIC ONLY” for this event! A stage will be set for Music and additional music will be added in random places on the ave. The avenue will be lined with libations-Food Trucks- Live performances-and festival lovers. Cups/tickets can be purchased at the door day of. One dollar from each cup sold will go to Pediatric Cancer awareness.
Station Ave, Haddon Twp, NJ
Smithville Mayfest
May 20 & 21, 10 am – 5 pm
Mayfest at Historical Smithville offers an abundance of family fun! There will be more than 100 juried crafters and vendors, an international food court, children’s activities, nonprofit organizations and live entertainment.
615 E. Moss Mill Rd., Galloway, NJ
Great Swamp Sundays Group Bike Ride
May 21, 9 am – 12 pm
Join Trek Stirling every third Sunday of the month on beginner/intermediate level group road rides around the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, a popular area for local riders with scenic farmlands and wildlife all around to appreciate.
Trek Bicycle Stirling, Long Hill, NJ
Spring 2023 Main Street Pops Artisan Market
May 21, 11 am – 4 pm
Main Street Pops Artisan Market attracts a diverse selection of artists & makers offering their handmade creations such as art, photography, jewelry, fashion, home and lifestyle accessories, artisanal food, pet products, and much more! This bustling market always features live music and a variety of vendors with new offerings each month.
Under 14th Street Viaduct, Hoboken, NJ
May Faire
May 21, 11 am – 5 pm
Come celebrate the end of Winter at Historic Smithville Park in Eastampton, NJ at this FREE event. The event “Bringing in the May” celebrates the storied history of Hezekiah & Agnes Smith and the Smithville Mansion with a free event for the whole family. There will be fun for everyone, with a historic twist.
803 Smithville Rd Mount Holly, NJ
Wildwoods International Kite Festival
May 26 – 29
Festivities begin with a Friday night social via the local kite club and the 9:00pm illuminated night kite fly. Saturday includes the silent and loud auctions (open to all) and Saturday and Sunday include the flying of large inflatable kites, sport kite demo’s, team flying, as well as family games. Monday features the World Indoor Kite exhibition inside the Wildwoods Convention Center.
On the Beach at Rio Grand Avenue and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood, NJ
Collingswood May Fair
May 27, 10 am – 5 pm
Collingswood, New Jersey will be bursting with art, music and activities for all ages on Saturday, May 27. What began in 1979 as a small “clothesline art exhibit” now encompasses more than a mile of the business district along Haddon Avenu. Multiple stages of live music will feature blues, rock, folk and more. A schedule will be posted closer to the actual date of the event. An antique & classic auto show add to the festival’s appeal. Visitors will also find several Food Courts complimenting the downtown restaurants and cafés. There will be everything from pulled pork to fancy desserts! May Fair also welcomes the return of the renowned Collingswood Farmers Market offering “Jersey Fresh” produce, flowers and more sold in a delightful open air atmosphere.
601 Haddon Avenue Collingswood, NJ
Annual Seaport Craft Show
May 28, 10 am – 5 pm
The Highlands Business Partnership will host the Annual Seaport Craft Show on Sunday, May 29. Admission is free. Come experience a delightful collection of various handmade crafts from more than 60 crafters and artisans. Live entertainment from 11AM – 3PM. Shop till you drop for unique gifts, art, jewelry and personal items at this Juried Show.
Huddy Park, 301 Shore Dr. Highlands, NJ
2nd Annual Bernardsville Car Show & Food Truck Fest
May 29, 11 am – 3 pm
Cars of all years, makes, and models are welcome. Food trucks, hospitality tent, Power Wheels Parade, Giveaways, and More!
Bernards High School, 25 Olcott Ave, Bernardsville, NJ
Cost: Free, $15 for cars to register. Free for veterans.
