It’s May, and we’re getting closer to summer, where we’re ready for sunshine, spring blooms, and a lineup of festivals this month for peak family fun. Enjoy all things strawberries with live music, food and drinks, pony rides, and a petting zoo at the Stella Farms Strawberry Festival in Berlin, take a step back into the 16th century Renaissance Faire NJ in Bordentown, or celebrate the arts with arts and crafts, wellness vendors, live performances, eco demonstrations, and children’s activities at the Glen Ridge Art and Eco Fair. And for fun without breaking the bank, make sure you check out our guide to free things to do this month, too. (featured photo credit: Stella Farms Strawberry Festival)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Ocean City Spring Block Party
May 2 at 9 AM
Head to this family-friendly shore town for a fun block party. Over 400 crafters, food vendors, music, and more will be present. Once it is dark, take in a gorgeous fireworks display.
Cost: Free
Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226
ECO Fair
May 2 at 10 AM
Bring your crew to this free event inspired by natural and artful living, featuring local gardening clubs, including Rutgers Master Gardeners, with native and wildlife-friendly plants, locally grown herbs, and vegetables for sale. There are handmade works of New Jersey artists, environmental organizations, Nature Trail tours, eco-friendly activities for families, live music, and more.
Cost: Free
1000 Village Drive, Millville, NJ 08332
Mother’s Day Extravaganza
May 2 at 10 AM
Find the perfect gift for mom with 60+ vendors selling candles, flowers, jewelry, chocolate, and more. There will also be food and free face painting for the kids.
Cost: $3, 12 and younger are free
1 Pal Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470
Chester Food Truck and Music Fest
May 2 at 11 AM
Round up your crew for a fun day—there will be food trucks, kids’ activities, ax-throwing, and inflatables.
Cost: $5. Kids under 5 are free; please bring an item for the food pantry
134 Main Street, Chester, NJ 07930
NJ Empanada Fest & Car Show
May 2 at 12 PM
The Manville PBA Food & Music Festival is a great way to celebrate the weekend. Enjoy empanada trucks, live music, and craft vendors. This event features Bounce House Village, a bungee trampoline, an air shot shooting range, henna tattoos, and much more.
Cost: Admission to the food and music festival is $6 for anyone 6 years old or older.
Rustic Mall, Manville, NJ 08835
Skylands Stadium Fest
May 2 at 12 PM
This festival will be a day of food, fun, and family that you won’t want to miss. Make memories enjoying the outdoors and activities, including 20+ food truck vendors, desserts, and specialty drinks. Live music, carnival games, axe-throwing, and more will be there.
Cost: $5. Kids under 38″ free.
94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822
Spring Street Fair and Earth Day Celebration
May 3 at 9 AM
Spend the morning at the Fun Run and Kids Race, then head to this lively festival where you can celebrate Earth Day and the season of spring together.
Cost: Free
Main Street, Highland Avenue, Raritan Avenue from 2nd to 5th Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Creative Arts Festival
May 9 at 10 AM
Spend a day perusing artists at the juried arts festival. Works will be displayed in all media, including pottery, jewelry, photography, and painting. There will be live music and food vendors.
Cost: Admission and parking are free
Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft, NJ 07738
Branchburg Food Truck and Music Festival
May 9 at 11 AM
This festival will feature over 20 gourmet food trucks, kids’ activities, a bungee trampoline, a rock wall, pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting, inflatables, knockerball, miniature golf, inflatable hatchet-throwing, sand art, spin art, and live music all day.
Cost: $5; kids under 5 are free. Please bring an item for the food pantry
White Oak Park, 235 Baird Road, Branchburg, NJ 08876
Maverick’s Legacy 4th Annual Spring Festival
May 9 at 11 AM
Celebrate the legacy of Maverick, a child who left the world way too soon, at this lively spring festival with crafters and vendors, food trucks, live music, children’s entertainment, a tricky tray, and more. Proceeds go to the Maverick’s Legacy Foundation, a non-profit that strives to reduce preventable choking deaths and injuries.
Cost: Free admission and free parking
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ 07822
Stella Farms Strawberry Festival
May 9 at 9 AM
Celebrate the start of the growing season and enjoy all things strawberries at the Stella Farms Strawberry Festival. This event will also feature live music, food and drinks, pony rides, a petting zoo, and other fun activities for your children.
Cost: Free admission
Stella Farms, 459 Berlin New Freedom Rd, Berlin, NJ 08009
Asbury Park Spring Bazaar
May 9-10 at 12 PM
Spend Mother’s Day weekend with the family and head to the iconic Grand Arcade of Convention Hall for a weekend full of shopping, live music, delicious food, and Mother’s Day experiences.
Cost: Free
Asbury Park Convention Hall, 1300 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Annual Azalea Festival
May 10
It’s a Mother’s Day weekend of fun with local craft vendors and food as you stroll through our renowned botanical gardens overflowing with blooming azalea shrubs.
Cost: Free
Sayen Gardens, 155 Hughes Drive, Hamilton, NJ 08690
Bloomfield Food Truck and Music Fest
May 15 at 4 PM
Visit 16 food trucks, live music, face painting, hatchet throwing, a petting zoo, sand art, kids’ activities, and vendors. Parking is free.
Cost: $5; kids under 5 are free. Please bring a nonperishable canned or boxed item to help support the food pantry.
St Thomas the Apostle Parking Lot – 50 Byrd Avenue, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
New Jersey Seafood Fest Belmar
May 15-17
It’s the 37th year of seafood and family fun in Belmar. At this free festival, which includes live music and vendors, you can try everything from conch fritters to crab legs.
Cost: Free
Downtown Belmar, NJ 07719
Glen Ridge Art and Eco Fair
May 16 at 10 AM
Celebrate the arts and the environment at this eco-friendly fair. This event will include arts and crafts, wellness vendors, live performances, eco demonstrations, and children’s activities.
Cost: Free
200 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ 07028
Woodbridge Street Fair & Craft Show
May 16 at 11 AM
Bring your family to enjoy artists, crafters, vendors, food, rides, and live music. Kids will love the rides, games, and more just for them.
Cost: Free
Downtown Woodbridge, NJ Main Street and Amboy Avenue Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Keansburg 8th Annual Food Truck Festival
May 16 at 2 PM
Bring the whole family to Keansburg’s 8th Annual Food Truck Festival. Your kids will enjoy face painting, a bounce house, and more. This event will also feature No Limit Entertainment from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM and The Margarita Thrills from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Cost: Free
1 Beachway Ave, Keansburg, NJ 07734
Asbury Park Vegan Food Fest
May 16-17
It’s a two-day celebration featuring vegan and plant-based meals from local chefs, vegan products, plant-based fashion, and live music. This event is rain or shine.
Cost: $15-$30
Bradley Park – 101-199 5th Avenue, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Mayfest
May 16-17 at 10 AM
Head to Historic Smithville for Mayfest, which features an international food court, crafters, and live music. There will also be plenty of activities for the kids, such as face painting and carousel rides, and free shuttles will leave from the parking lot.
Cost: Free
Historic Smithville, NJ 08060
Seafood & BBQ Festival
May 17 at 12 PM
Fan of seafood? This is the place for you. During this event, you will find a beer garden and craft cocktails, live music all day, local vendors, BBQ and seafood from around the world, and activities for the little ones.
Cost: $5 at the door, and kids under 5 are free
Mercer County Park, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550
Maplewood Street Fair & Craft Show
May 17 at 11 AM
Get out and about and head to this street fair, featuring crafters, delicious food, activities for the kids, and a great time with the community.
Cost: Free
Springfield Avenue & Rutgers Street, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Wildwood International Kite Festival
May 22-25, 12 PM on Friday
Kick off this weekend-long event, which turns 40 this year, with a Friday night social and the 9:00 PM Illuminated Night Kite Fly. On Saturday and Sunday, come out to watch giant inflatable kites take flight, team fly, and participate in family games. Monday features the World Indoor Kite Exhibition inside the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Cost: Free to spectators
Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260
Renaissance Faire NJ
May 23-24, 30-31, and June 6-7, 13-14
Take a step back into the 16th century, and the kids can explore Nipper’s Nook, where there will be plenty of things to do to fire the imagination, including piñatas, water balloon games, building your own magic wands, and the new gaming cart of wonder.
Cost: $25 and up. $10 for Child Flex Day Pass (Ages 5 to 12).
1195 Florence Columbus Road, Bordentown, NJ 08505
Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
May 23-25 at 11 AM
Kick off your Memorial Day weekend with the Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival. Enjoy 40 mouth-watering food trucks and sample everything from lobster rolls to mac and cheese to fried Oreos. This event will feature live music on each day. Free activities for the kids include clowns, face painters, pony rides, and a bounce house.
Cost: Free
Monmouth Park Race Track, 175 Oceanport Avenue, Oceanport, NJ 07757
South Bound Brook Food Truck & Music Fest
May 30 at 11 AM
Kick off the summer season by heading to this festival that will feature food trucks, live music, vendors, kids’ activities, pony rides, a petting zoo, and so much more. Proceeds will go to The South Bound Brook Fire Company.
Cost: $5 at the gate, and kids under 5 are free
Memorial Park, 78 Elizabeth Street, S Bound Brook, NJ 08880
Want the inside scoop? Sign up for the NJMOM bi-weekly newsletter to get the lowdown on everything for your family in NJ (think of it as the ultimate cheat sheet for NJ Moms). And don’t forget to tag your photos #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured.
