Experience the Best of New Jersey:
2025 May Events and Festivals
What Makes the Month of May in New Jersey Special
May in New Jersey is a vibrant and transformative month that marks the true arrival of spring. May is an exciting time in the Garden State, as it marks the transition to warmer weather and the start of summer activities.
With its warming temperatures, blooming landscapes, and an exciting lineup of seasonal activities, the Garden State truly comes alive during this time of year.
One of the most notable features of May is the explosion of color across the state. May in New Jersey is filled with blooming gardens, outdoor festivals, and cultural celebrations.
May is also the unofficial start of beach season. As temperatures rise, towns along the Jersey Shore begin to welcome visitors for early summer escapes. Memorial Day weekend, often viewed as the summer kick-off, is especially festive, with boardwalks bustling and seasonal shops opening their doors.
Culturally, May brings a variety of events and festivals—from music and food fests to historic reenactments and art shows—reflecting New Jersey's diverse communities. Outdoor dining returns in full swing, and farmers markets begin to offer fresh, local produce.
In short, May in New Jersey is a celebration of nature, community, and the return of warmer days. It’s a month that captures the spirit of renewal and the joy of being outdoors, making it a truly special time in the state.
North Jersey 2025 May Festivals and Themed Events
New Jersey Wine & Food Fest
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, May 2 - May 4, 2025
Crystal Springs Resort
1 Wild Turkey Way
Hamburg, NJ
This popular event features both food and wine connoisseurs an opportunity to meet and mingle with the world's finest chefs and winemakers and to sample their creations.
Area 57 - Flying Objects & Other Funl
May 3rd, 2025; 9:30 am - 6:00 pm
(rain date May 5)
Warren Community College
475 Route 57
Washington, NJ
Event Cost: Free for Students/Veterans, $5 adults.
This event --- Area 57--- will feature Warren Community College's nationally highly rated Uncrewed Systems Program consisting of piloting, design and development, and the maintenance and repair of drones, in addition AI and Robotics. The event will also hot air balloons, combat and FRC robots.
Chester Food Truck and Music Festival
Saturday, May 3, 2025; 11am - 7pm
Muncipal Field
Chester, NJ
This event features a fun filled family day with over 20 Gourmet Food Trucks, partnered with some incredible bands, make for an enchanting and fulfilling Spring day. Bring your appetite, lawn chairs, pups, and blankets. Dine on excellent food, while enjoying the beer and sangria garden along with the amazing sounds. Face painting, vendors, kids activities. Event is a Benefit for the Chester First Aid Squad & The Chester/Mendham Food Pantry.
They are asking all attendees to bring a non-perishable canned or boxed item to help support the food pantry.
Skylands Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, May 3, 2025; from 12-7pm (Rain or shine)
Skylands Stadium
94 Championship Place
Augusta, NJ
Cost: Admission:Admission: $5 (kids under 38" free, $5 Drink Tokens: $5 Sampler Mug: (w/6x 4oz drinks) $10 Kids Drink Bat: $10 / Beer Bat: $20 Rides + Food are additional costs
Free parking
This event features entertainment for all ages. Visitors will get to enjoy the outdoors with delicious food, deserts, specialty drinks, and more. This includes 20+ Food Trucks, 100+ Craft Beers, live music, carnival games, & more.
Annual Westfield Spring Fling
Sunday, May 4, 2025; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. rain or shine.
Downtown
Central Avenue running from East Broad Street to North Avenue and will include the parking lot across from the Post Office
Westfield, NJ
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.
Brook Hollow Winery Mother's Day Brunch
Sunday, May 11, 2025; @11 am - 2pm
Brook Hollow Winery and Event Facility
594 New Jersey 94
Knowlton Township, NJ
Cost: $10 - $35
Join in for a delightful Mother's Day Brunch, celebrating the amazing women in your life. Enjoy live music, a complimentary flower for every mother, an all-you-can-eat buffet, and a Build-Your-Own Sangria Bar!
Mother's Day Brunch Cruise - NY Harbor
Sunday, May 11, 2025;
Board: 12:00pm | Cruise: 12:00pm - 2:00pm
Departing from Lincoln Harbor Marina
1500 Harbor Blvd
Weehawken, NJ
Features a scenic cruise on the Hudson and East Rivers. Includes an onboard holiday buffet, classic cocktails, dining and dancing, and New Jersey and New York's stunning sky line views.
Hoboken Arts & Music Festival
Sunday, May 18, 2025: 11am to 6pm
Washington St. bet. Observer Highway & 7th St.
Hoboken, NJ
Free Admission
This family event features
2 stages of live music, displays and sales by artists, crafters, food vendors and local businesses. Activities for children with rides, games, craft activities and more. Brenda K. Starr will headline the musical portion of the event.
L.E.A.D. Fest Carnival
Thursday, May 22 - Sunday, June 8, 2025
Westfield Garden State Plaza
One Garden State Plaza
Paramus, NJ
Admission is $5; additional price for ride tickets.
This event features
good food, rides, and entertainment, hosted by Law Enforcement Against Drugs & Violence (L.E.A.D.)
Law Enforcement Against Drugs and Violence (L.E.A.D.) is a non profit (501C3) organization, supported by dedicated police officers, committed to protecting our youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug related crimes, peer to peer/cyber bullying and violence.
Annual Jersey City Jazz Festival
May 30, 31, 2025
Exchange Place
Alliance Plaza
Jersey City, NJ
Free admission.
This event is a celebration of community featuring live Jazz music, performed by over 200 Jazz muscians with a wide range of musical styles featuring some of the best talent in the NYC-tristate area.
Central Jersey 2025 May Festivals and Themed Events
Highlands Fiesta de Mayo Cantina Crawl
May 3, 2025: 12pm - 5pm (rain or shine)
Huddy Park
301 Shore Dr
Highlands, NJ
Event Cost: $40.00 and includes a Margarita Contest with eight restaurants competing for the Best Margarita in Highlands!
This event features live Mariachi music playing at the participating restaurants with attendees sampling Margaritas and casting their vote for their favorite.
BBQ Jamfest!
Sunday, May 4, 2025; 12:00 pm- 4:00 pm (rain date May 21st)
Downtown Point Pleasant Beach
710 Arnold Ave
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Cost: Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate
This family friendly outdoor cookout features live Country Music, local BBQ, Cold Brews, cornhole, prizes, and more.
Annual Azalea Festival
Saturday, May 10th, 2025: 10am-4pm (Rain Date: Sunday, May 11th)
Sayen Park Botanical Garden
155 Hughes Drive
Hamilton Square
Hamilton Township, NJ
Held 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 viewing over 250,000 flowering bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas and rhododendron. Visitors will get to enjoy crafters, food, music, entertainment, and more.
Brew By the Bay Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, May 10th, 2025; 12pm - 5pm (May 12th Rain date)
Seafarer
1 Atlantic St.
Highlands, NJ
Event Cost: $40.00
This event features a tasting takes on the picturesque waterfront. Visitors will get to enjoy seven 4oz. tastings, There will be live music, and food to purchase.
Thompson Park's Annual Creative Arts & Music Festival
Saturday, May 10, 2025;@ 10:00am - 4:00 pm
Thompson Park
805 Newman Springs Road
Lincroft, NJ
Cost: Free
This event is a juried art festival, open to artists of all mediums. In addition to the art vendors, the day will be filled with art demonstrations, live music, and food vendors.
New Jersey Seafood Festival
Friday, May 16; Saturday, May 17; and Sunday, May 18, 2025
Silver Lake Park 5th and Ocean Ave
Belmar, NJ
Admission: Free
This popular family-friendly Jersey Shore event features seafood feast with gumbo, lobster rolls, and jambalaya, coconut shrimp, crab legs, conch fritters, and more.
Live music will also entertain the attendees by a lineup of popular area musicians.
Allaire Spring Craft Show
Saturday, May 17th. 2025; 10am - 4pm
The Historic Village at Allaire Allaire State Park
4263 Atlantic Avenue
Farmingdale, NJ
Cost: $5 ten years of age and older
This event festures 130 crafters, Allaire artisans, crafters, exhibits, historic demonstrations, and more to kick off our Craft Show season in style! Join us for our Spring Craft Show and Historic Demonstrations throughout the village. Local artists will be demonstrating and selling their works. Paintings, pottery, textiles and more! They will have craft demonstrations at the Carpenter, Blacksmith, and Tinsmith shops! General Store, Allaire Bakery, a Food Truck will be on site.
Asbury Park Vegan Food Festival
Saturday, May 17, 2025 & Sunday, May 18, 2025: 11AM - 7PM (This event is rain or shine)
Bradley Park
101-199 5th Ave (Across the street from Convention Hall)
Asbury Park, NJ
Cost:
Single day: $15 Two day: $25
This two-day celebration features tasty vegan and plant-based meals from local chefs, as well as vegan products, plant-based fashion, live music and good times.
FBAC PorchFest
Sunday, May 18, 2025: 12:00?PM 6:00?PM
The Gazebo
Main Street
Downtown, Freehold, NJ
Free Event
This event features a fun filled day of music on the porches of downtown Freehold homes.
Attendees wiill get to enjoy, music, performers, artists, & vendors.
Maps will be provided.
Ocean Fun Days
May 18, 2025; 11am - 3pm
NJ Sea Grant Consortium
Sandy Hook, NJ
Free Event
This free family friendly event features eco tours, children's activities, games and more. In addition, there will be interactive workshops with marine scientists and researchers to learn about our amazing coastline and ways you can help protect the environment.
Walnford Day
Sunday, May 18, 2025: from 11:00am to 5:00pm
Historic Walnford
Walnford Road
Upper Freehold, NJ
Free Event
This family-friendly event offers visitors the chance to explore this historic site and see its 19th century gristmill in action, tour the elegant Waln family home, and go on a horse-drawn wagon ride. Demonstrations for the day include blacksmithing, loom weaving, basket weaving, 18th century music, and more.
Bradley Beach Memorial Day Weekend Festival
Saturday & Sunday, May 24, 25, 2025; from 9am-7pm
on the Bradley Beach Boardwalk
The festival includes crafters, food, live music,
and Family Fun, with entertanment both Days.
Parade on Saturday, at 10am and runs along Ocean Ave.
Jersey Shore Food Truck Festival
May 24 - 26, 2025; 11am-5pm
Monmouth Park Racetrack
175 Oceanport Ave.
Oceanport, NJ
Cost: Free Parking, General Admission $6. Children 12 and under are Free.
This Memorial Day weekend festival features over 30 mouth-watering food trucks. Sample everything from Lobster Rolls to Mac & Cheese, and more. Live music all three days on two stages. Plenty of Kids activities will take place in the picnic area on Saturday and Sunday.
Annual Seaport Craft Show
Sunday, May 25, 2025: 10am - 5pm
Huddy Park
301 Shore Dr.
Highlands, NJ
Admission is free
This event features a juries show with more than 60 crafters and artisans displaying their works, along with live entertainment.
Long Branch Art in the Park
Sunday, May 25, 2025; 10 am - 5pm
West End Park
Brighton Ave,
Long Branch, NJ
This event features up to 50 Juried Artists! Showcasing works on paper and canvas, mixed media, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and more.
New Jersey Jerk Fest
Sunday, May 25, 2025; 1pm - 8pm
14 Paulina Pl
Somerset, NJ
Cost:
Tickets: $30-$60
This event features Caribbean cuisine, live music, food trucks, and good vibes
It's a celebration of all things "jerk." from spicy jerk chicken to flavorful jerk pork, Jerk Fish, Jerk Goat, Jerk Oxtail & Jerk Ice Cream there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
There will be food trucks, food and beverage vendors, crafts, merchandise for sale, live music, kids' activities, and more.
South Jersey 2025 May Festivals and Themed Events
Cinco de Mayo Celebration
Saturday, Sunday, May 3, 4, 2025; (Rain or shine)
Bellview Winery
150 Atlantic St.
Landisville, NJ
The music will be playing, the sangria will be chilling and the food truck will have tacos galore! They will be offering two special sangrias this weekend. These sangrias will be available by the carafe or by the glass
2025 Down & Derby Wine Festival
Saturday, May 3, 2025: 2 PM – 7 PM
Veterans Island on Cooper River Park
579 S Park Dr
Collingswood, NJ
This event features a sampling of wines from South Jersey's wine producers while immersing yourself in Kentucky Derby themed fashion and festivities. There will be music, food, games, and more. Attendee are encouraged to dress in your best Derby attire.
Ocean City Spring Block Party
Saturday, May 3, 2025; 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
From 5th Street to 14th Street on Asbury Ave.
Ocean City, NJ
This event features over 350 crafters, food vendors, music, and more.
Annual Atlantic City Mothers Day Music Festival
Saturday, May 10th, 2025; 7pm - 10:30pm
Boardwalk Hall
Atlantic City's historic venue, the Boardwalk Hall, features their annual Mother's Day Music Fest, one of the most popular R & B events of the year. This years event will include performers Keith Sweat, Charlie Wilson, Jagged Edge , and Jon B.
Cape May Lighthouse Full Moon Climb
May 11, 2025
Cape May Point State Park
215 Lighthouse Ave.
Cape May Point, NJ
This family event features a full moon climb up the historic Cape May Lighthouse to enjoy the stunning evening sky that only occurs a handful of times a year.
New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Spring Festival
May 15th – 18th, 2025
Nature Center of Cape May
1600 Delaware Ave
Cape May, NJ
This event begins @ 5:30 pm on Thursday with a Kick-off Party at the Nature Center of Cape May.There will be live music, a food truck and beer and wine available for a reasonable donation. Starting early morning Friday and throughout the weekend, there will be birding field trips, boat rides and more, led by their amazing local naturalists. The Saturday evening Keynote event - The Shorebirds of North America: A Shorebird Celebration! Pete Dunne and Kevin T. Karlson will share the stage as they talk about their latest collaboration. A block of rooms are available at the Grand Hotel for this event.
Exit 0 Jazz Festival
May 16 -18, 2025; Beginning at 10:30 each Festival day
Convention Hall, Taco Cabalitto, Carney's
Cape May, NJ
International touring artists perform at multiple venues hosting many genres of music during the evening. The joy of the Exit Zero Jazz Festival is in the discovery of incredible music and musicians you may never have known existed.
New Jersey Renaissance Faire
May 17-18, 24-25, 31, 2025: 10AM to 6PM, Rain or Shine
Burlington County Fairegrounds
1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Rd.
Columbus, NJ
Event Cost: $30.00
This annual family-friendly experience offers something for everyone! Whether you're cheering on jousting knights, or marveling at a sword fighting human chess match, with fire breathing, and aerialists- it's a full day festival of unforgettable entertainment. Enjoy comedy, live music, and explore a marketplace full of artisan crafters. This season's storyline immerses you in the Golden Age of Piracy, when King George I offered clemency to pirates who chose to surrender. Feast on delicious faire fare, including the legendary Turkey Legs, local craft beers, Valenzano wines, and exclusive whiskey tastings. Shop the Merchant Village for fine leather goods, jewelry, costumes, and handcrafted treasures.
Ocean Fun Days
May 17, 2025; 11am - 3pm
Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park
Free Event
This free family friendly event features eco tours, children's activities, games and more. In addition, there will be interactive workshops with marine scientists and researchers to learn about our amazing coastline and ways you can help protect the environment.
Power in the Pines Air Show
May 17, 18, 2025: 10:30 a.m- 5:30 p.m
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-
Lakehurst
Wrightstown, NJ
Cost: Free, open to the public, Premium seating tickets are also availble for a fee,
This family-friendly event features some of the world's top aerial performers. The theme for this year's airshow is "Joint Warfighters: Honor. Inspire. Innovate." Headlining this year's show are the renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, whose dynamic demonstrations inspire millions of spectators around the globe. In addition to the Thunderbirds, "Power in the Pines" will feature other thrilling aerial demonstrations highlighting both modern and heritage aircraft. Attendees of all ages can enjoy a range of on-the-ground attractions including static displays, food vendors, interactive displays, and family-friendly activities.
In the past, this event attracted more than
200,000 attendees.
Rhythm and Brews
Saturday, May 17th, 2025: 3 - 9pm
Station and Atlantic Ave.
Downtown Haddon Heights
This event features craft beers, live music, Food Trucks, and more. A stage will be set for Music and additional music will be placed along the avenue. Look for libations - Live performances- and a day where you can eat sip walk and enjoy up and down town.
Smithville Mayfest
May 17th & 18th, 2025
Historic Smithville
615 E. Moss Mill Rd.
Galloway, NJ
Free admission
This event features 150 juried crafters and vendors, an international food court, children's activities, nonprofit organizations and live entertainment.
Steel Mill Street Fair
Saturday, May 17, 2025: 10 am-5 pm (rain date of Sunday, May 18th)
Roebling Museum
100 2nd Avenue
Roebling, NJ
Admission: Free
This family event features a day of outdoor fun with food, entertainment, shopping, stage performances, patriotic pet parade, cornhole tournament & more.
A portion of the proceeds from the Street Fair go towards local High School business scholarships.
Wildwoods International Kite Festival
Friday, May 23, thru Monday, May 26, 2025
On the Beach at Rio Grand Avenue
and inside the Wildwoods Convention Center
Wildwood, NJ
Free to spectators.
This event featues an all-inclusive Kite Festival world kite competition, for all ages.
Event begins on Friday at noon outside of the Wildwoods Convention Center with the opening of the Kite Sales Tent, a Social by the locatal kite club and the 9:00 p.m. Illuminated Night Kite Fly.
Saturday includes the Silent and Loud Auctions (open to all); and Saturday & Sunday with the flying of large inflatable kites, team flying, as well as family games.
Monday features the World Indoor Kite Exhibition inside the Wildwoods Convention Center.
Ocean City Memorial Beach Challenge
Saturday, May 24, 2025
Ocean City Music Pier
825 Boardwalk
Ocean City, NJ
This annual event features a family day of competition and comradery, and the honoring of those who have served and support the heroes still in the fight.
Wildwoods Boardwalk Crafts Show
May 24 & 25, 2025
Under backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and the iconic Wildwoods sign, the shows feature an array of talented artisans and crafters, offering everything from handcrafted jewelry and home décor to unique artwork and beach-inspired treasures. As you explore the many booths lining the southern end of the "boards", you'll find one-of-a-kind gifts, delicious homemade treats, and more. Whether you're looking for the perfect souvenir or simply soaking in the sights and sounds, the Boardwalk Crafts Shows provide a delightful shopping experience.
