Isiah Christie 
A summer in New Jersey is never dull, and its abundance of festivals, fairs, and carnivals is part of why. From Hudson County to the Jersey Shore, over 20 festivals with live entertainment, pop-ups from small businesses, and celebrations of culture + heritage are happening in New Jersey from June to early September. Read on for a list of festivals + community fairs happening in New Jersey for summer 2026.
Hudson County
Jersey City Night Market | 179 Montgomery Street, Jersey City
Saturday, August 1st
This night market will have three dates during the summer – a Latin Food + Music” fest on June 6th, a “‘Murica” Fourth of July celebration, and a K-Pop Foodie Fest on August 1st. All Jersey City Night Market events feature food from local vendors.
Hoboken Artisan Market | 770 Jackson Street Plaza, Hoboken
Sunday, July 12th | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Sunday, August 9th | 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
The Hoboken Artisan Market will feature local makers + small businesses in Hoboken. It will also include live music and family-friendly activities.
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Carrington Village Caribbean Festival | 459 to 467 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Jersey City
Saturday, July 18th
The Carrington Village Caribbean Festival highlights West Indian culture with food, local artists, family-friendly activities, and live entertainment. It has not yet announced a start time, but updates can be found on its Instagram.
Hoboken St. Ann’s Feast | 704 Jefferson Street, Hoboken
Wednesday, July 22nd – Friday, July 24th | 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Saturday, July 25th + Sunday, July 26th | 1:00 PM to 11:00 PM
This beloved Hoboken festival will be returning this summer with the usual foodie items, including zeppoles, cheesesteaks, rice balls, wood-fired pizza, fried calamari, and seafood salad. There will also likely be a beer garden, games, 50/50 raffles, and live entertainment.
La Festa Italiana | 344 6th Street, Jersey City
Wednesday, August 5th – Friday, August 7th | 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Saturday, August 8th + Sunday, August 9th | 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM
La Festa Italiana is a long-standing Jersey City tradition that has been held annually since 1902. Expect to enjoy Italian treats (including handmade zeppoles), wine + peaches, live entertainment, a 50/50 raffle, a parade, and live music.
Jersey City Pride Festival | 112 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
Saturday, August 22nd
The Jersey City Pride Festival celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community with an equality march, live entertainment, and pop-ups from small businesses. Its theme this year will be “Show Your True Colors: Now More Than Ever”, which will focus on visibility, authenticity, and community presence.
Summer BlockFest | 770 Jackson Street, Hoboken
Saturday, August 22nd
Hoboken’s Summer BlockFest exists as a platform for hip-hop artists in Hoboken, Jersey City, and beyond to perform, connect, and support one another. It was recently announced for a 2026 date of Saturday, August 22nd, although a start date has not been confirmed. More information + updates can be found on its Instagram.
JC Fridays | Jersey City
Friday, September 11th
JC Fridays is a free festival across different Jersey City neighborhoods that features art events in restaurants, galleries, stores, and more. To see the list of participating neighborhoods, visit here.
Essex + Union Counties
Newark Pride Parade | Lincoln Park, Newark
Sunday, July 19th | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Newark Pride will have events from July 13th to July 19th, but the parade is on the final day. It will start at Lincoln Park and end at Mulberry Commons. To learn more about Newark Pride events, visit here.
Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree | Lackawanna Station, 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
Saturday, August 15th | 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
This festival will feature performances by internationally renowned jazz musicians, Jazz House teaching artists, and Jazz House alumni in downtown Montclair. Also expect vendors, artisan crafts, and exhibits.
Greek Fest | 80 Laurel Avenue, Roseland
Friday, September 18th | 4:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Saturday, September 19th | 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Sunday, September 20th | 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM
The 14th Annual Roseland Greek Fest, hosted by Ss. Nicholas, will have authentic Greek cuisine (think gyros, souvlaki, grilled octopus, pastitsio, and more), as well as live music + family-friendly fun. It will include free parking, a shuttle, and online ordering available for pickup.
Rahway Arts Fest | Irving Street from Central Avenue to Elizabeth Avenue, Rahway
Saturday, September 19th | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
The 14th Annual Roseland Greek Fest, hosted by Ss. Nicholas, will have authentic Greek cuisine (think gyros, souvlaki, grilled octopus, pastitsio, and more), as well as live music + family-friendly fun. It will include free parking, a shuttle, and online ordering available for pickup.
Dominican Grand Parade + Festival | Newark
Sunday, September 27th
The Dominican Parade + Cultural Festival of Essex County will be held in Newark, with celebrations of Dominican culture, floats, live music, traditional dance, food, and pop-ups local businesses.
Bergen County
Fort Lee Artisan Market | 229 Main Street, Fort Lee + 2030 Hudson Street, Fort Lee
Saturday, August 8th | 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Saturday, September 12th | 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
The Fort Lee Artisan Market will be hosted on multiple summer dates. Saturday, August 8th features a night market, and Saturday, September 12th will feature a day market. Plenty of unique finds will be available, including handcrafted jewelry, international fashion pieces, home decor, and artisanal eats.
At the Jersey Shore + Central Jersey
Ocean County Fair | 901 Route 530, Berkeley Township
Wednesday, July 15th + Thursday, July 16th | 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Friday, July 17th + Saturday, July 18th | 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Sunday, July 19th | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Ocean County Fair is a five-day celebration with live music, rides, food vendors, family-friendly activities, and livestock displays.
Monmouth County Fair | 1500 Kozloski Road, Freehold
Wednesday, July 22nd to Friday, July 24th | 4:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Saturday, July 25th | 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Sunday, July 26th | 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
The Monmouth County Fair is an annual event and home to a wide variety of entertainment shows, including live music, animals, wrestling, and interactive displays. The 2026 live music lineup includes bands such as Red Dirt Revolution, Mushmouth, and The Ultimate Queen Celebration.
Middlesex County Fair | 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick
Monday, August 3rd to Friday, August 7th | 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Saturday, August 8th | 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Sunday, August 9th | 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
The Middlesex County Fair is a four-day festival that includes food, craft vendors, live performances from local bands, home arts competitions, and more. It will also feature a showcase of antique farm equipment obtained from the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture, located in the fairgrounds’ Antique Storage Building.
Somerset County 4-H Fair | 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater
Wednesday, August 5th to Friday, August 7th | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
This fair celebrates the leadership, community, and spirit of Somerset County’s local youth with activities, events, and exhibits. Admission is free, and parking is available at Raritan Valley Community College, with a shuttle bus operating to and from the fairgrounds.
Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair | 655 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick
Wednesday, August 19th to Friday, August 21st | 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Saturday, August 22nd | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday, August 23rd | 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Hunterdon County 4-H and Agricultural Fair is a family-friendly event with exhibits, rides, food, commercial vendor pop-ups, live entertainment, and home arts competitions.
New Jersey Folk Festival | 42 Riva Avenue, North Brunswick Township
Saturday, August 29th | 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The New Jersey Folk Festival is one of the state’s largest folk celebrations, with live music, folklife demonstrations, children’s activities, food trucks, crafters, and appearances from folklorists. It will be held on Saturday, August 29th, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, rain or shine.
Sea.Hear.Now Festival | 1300 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park
Saturday, September 19th + Sunday, September 20th
This massive two-day festival celebrates the art and music of Asbury Park. It will feature over 25 bands and solo acts, including Mumford + Sons, The Strokes, Chaka Khan, Goo Goo Dolls, and Fontaines D.C.
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