Your Ultimate Guide to New Jersey Labor Day weekend Events

NJ Labor Day Weekend

Our recommendations for the top 2024 New Jersey Labor Day Weekend Events; 
Features Parades, Fireworks, Concerts, Festivals and other Hidden Gems

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, falls on September 2, 2024 this year.

Created as a labor movement dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers, It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Over the years this holiday has evolved from a being a labor union celebration into a celebration of the unofficial end of summer, especially for families with kids.

Labor Day is often regarded simply as a day of rest and or end of summer celebrations that include picnics, barbecues, fireworks, parades, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before kids begin the new school year.


 Stay tuned --- we will be updating this list of  New Jersey labor day weekend events  as the event sponsors confirm this year's events.


iPlay America, Freehold, NJ

Get a $25 Ride Band at iPlay America every Wednesday and Friday. Plus, Kids Eat FREE at our new restaurant, The Bistro, with the purchase of a ride band. Learn more. 


2024 Northern NJ Labor Day Weekend Events

Boonton Fire Department Labor Day Weekend Celebration
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, August 29th until September 1st, 2024
Boonton, NJ
This celebration features a parade, carnival rides, live music, food and Fireworks.
On saturday, at 1:30 pm, the parade will assemble in the West Boonton area and proceed down Main Street to Grant Street, to Old Boonton Road, ending at Boonton High School.
On sunday evening, the grand finale spectaclur fireworks at dusk.

Annual Mendham Labor Day Carnival, Parade, Concert, & Fireworks
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, & Monday, August 30th until September 1, 2, 2024
Bourough Park
Mendham, NJ
Admission: Free
This annual family four day holiday event features a carnival with rides, games, food, and a 50/50 raffle, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening 6pm - 10pm.
On Labor Day, Monday, the parade will kickoff @ 10:00am, beginning on 72 E Main St, and ending at the Borough Park Gazebo. Later in the evening at Borough Park, beginning @6pm, there will be a live concert followed by the spectacular fireworks display at dusk.

Annual St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival
Friday to Monday, August 30, 31, September 1, 2, 2024
St. Bartholomew Church
2032 Westfield Ave
Scotch Plains, NJ
The feast is truly a great family event and has something for everyone to enjoy. There is nightly live music, rides, games, and great food, including 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.

The Feast of Saint Joseph of Lodi
Friday, August 30 to Monday, September 2, 2024
Saint Joseph Church
40 Spring Street
Lodi, NJ
This family event features traditional Italian festival food, exciting nightly entertainment, thrill rides, and games of chance. The highlight of the Feast is on Labor Day at 2PM where there is a solemn mass followed by a procession honoring Saint Joseph.

Parkridge Free Concert and Fireworks
Friday, August 31st, 2024 @7pm (Rain Date Sept 1st)
Park Ridge H.S. Football Field
Park Ridge, NJ
This famiy event will feature a concert by "The Big Ones" and firworks at dusk
Bring a blanket

Summerween
August 31st, 2024; @6pm
Stokes State Forest, Stony Lake pavilion
Join their Halloween loving naturalists for this summertime celebration of all things spooky! They will have campfire stories, s’mores, crafts, and much more.
Age: all ages
Call (973) 948-3820 or email sarah.king@dep.nj.gov for more information.
Pre-registration required
Bring a blanket / camp chair/ something to lounge in. Comfortable clothes and bug spray!

American Labor Museum Parade
Sunday, September 1, 2024
83 Norwood Street
Haledon, NJ
This annual event celebrates the contributions of working people.
The opening ceremony begins at the Museum at 10am. Parade Step-off at the museum is at 10:30AM, rain or shine.

Lake Hopatcong Labor Day Cruises
Monday, September 2nd, 2024
Lake Hopatcong Cruises
37 Nolan's Point Park Road
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
They offer two cruises around Lake Hopatcong; The 2 hour Brunch Cruise at 10am and the 90 minute Happy Hour cruise at 2pm. The Brunch Cruise offers Food served buffet style. The Happy Hour Cruise offers a Full-Service Bar for Cocktail purchases.

Riverdale Labor Day Street Fair
Monday, September 2, 2024; 10am-5pm
Newark Pompton Turnpike from Newbury Place to Cotluss Rd, (off Rte 23)
Riverdale, NJ
This fun filled family street fair features live entertainment, festival foods, local merchants and restaurants displaying their specialties and a variety of family activities. The event includes a special arts & crafts section, kiddie rides & games, food trucks, and so much more.

Central NJ Labor Day Weekend Events

Monmouth Park Labor Day Weekend BBQ & Craft Beer Festival
August 31 until September 2, 2024; 11:00am to 5:00pm
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Oceanport Avenue
Oceanport, NJ
Parking is Free!
This Labor Day weekend features three days of delicious BBQ and a great selection of brews in their NJ Craft Beer Garden. The Craft Beer Garden will feature over 40 NJ craft beers to choose from. Enjoy live music from 12-4pm all three days! Free Family Fun Day activities take place from 12-4pm on Saturday and Sunday featuring pony rides, clowns, face painters and a bounce house.

Musket Firing Demonstration
August 31st, 2024 @2pm (Weather permitting)
Washington Crossing State Park
Visitor Center Museum
Titusville, NJ
Call (609) 737-0623 or email clay.craighead@dep.nj.gov for more information.
Cost: All ages. $1 per person.
A Park Historian will speak about the Christmas Night Crossing, the Battle of Trenton and linear Warfare tactics prior to the Musket Firing.

Frenchtown Riverfest
Sunday September 1st, 2024:11am-7pm
Sunbeam Lenape Park & Downtown
Frenchtown, NJ
This event features 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 the mighty Delaware and join in festivities truly unique to Frenchtown.

Viking Village Art & Craft Show
Sunday, September 1, 2024; 10:00 am - 4:30 pm (rain or shine)
Historic Viking Village
19th & Bayview Avenue
Barnegat Light, NJ
Free admission
This event features over 70 vendors with Fine Arts, Photography, Ceramics, Wood Crafts, Clothing, Handmade Jewelry and Accessories.

Annual South Plainfield Labor Day Parade & Fireworks
Monday, September 2, 2024
Spring Lake Park
South Plainfield, NJ
The parade starts at the Police Athletic League [PAL] Recreation Center on Maple Avenue at Noon.
Immediately following parade, enjoy the festivities at the Veterans' Memorial Park (327 Elm Street - behind the South Plainfield Senior Center). Fireworks at dusk at Spring Lake Park

2024 Southern NJ Labor Day Weekend Events

The 52nd Annual Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival
Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, August 30, 31, September 1, 2024
Salem County Fairgrounds
725 Route 40
Pilesgrove Township, NJ
This family music festival features southern Appalachian old-time and bluegrass and related music styles. For kids, there is also a Children's Stage.
The festival site has plenty of room for camping for tenters as well as RVers, and unlike many other festivals, they do not charge extra for camping. Weekend ticket holders may camp on the grounds at no charge
.

Glassboro Car Show & Food Truck Festival
August 30th, 2024: 5 - 9pm This is a rain or shine event.
Rowan Blv'd
Glassboro, NJ
Cost: Free; Parking Free
This family fun event features restored vehicles representing all decades of automotive history as well as modern exotics and race cars. Food truck vendors will be on site selling food and non-alcoholic beverages. ظ  Landmark Americana will host the Beer Gardens.  View over 300 cruise vehicles while listening to live music, and a DJ, and enjoying great food trucks, a beer garden with cold craft beer.

Labor Day Weekend Fireworks on the Beach in Wildwood
Friday, August 30, 2024; at 10pm (Rain date is Sunday)
On the Rio Grande Avenue beach
Wildwood, NJ
Visible from almost anywhere on the Wildwoods Boardwalk! Hear the fireworks explode to a musical score that is played all along the Boardwalk and is simulcast on 98.7 The Coast.

History of the Pine Barrens
Saturday, August 31st, 2024; 10am Weather permitting
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Pakim Pond
New Libson, NJ
All ages
Call (609) 726-1190
or email finn.westphal@dep.nj.gov
Join in on a 5-mile hike down the Nature, Mt. Misery, and Cranberry Trails and learn all about the history of the Pine Barrens! From its prehistoric formation, through the American Revolution and the Great Depression, to the Pinelands Preservation Act, there is a marvelous story buried within the Pines!
Bring water and wear bug spray.

West Cape May Tomato Festival
Saturday, August 31st, 2024; 9am - 4pm
Backyard Park
732 Broadway
West Cape May, NJ
Free Admission
This event is a celebration of the State of New Jersey’s well-known fruit, as well as the end of the summer season, with this tomato themed festival! The festivities will include Food Vendors, Craft Vendors, Live Music, and more.

Tropicana's Free Fireworks
August 31, 2024
Tropicana Casino & Resort
2831 Boardwalk
Atlantic City, NJ
Free Event
Fireworks are launched from the beachfront and can be viewed all along the beaches or boardwalk of Atlantic City.

Wildwood Weekend Boardwalk Craft Show
August 31, & September 1, 2024
On the Boardwalk
at Rio Grande Avenue
Wildwood, NJ
The Boardwalk Craft Show features Artisans, Handmade Craft Items, Boutique Items, Gifts & More.
Saturday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sunday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Airfest
September 1, 2024; 10 AM until 4 PM
NAS Wildwood Aviation Museum
500 Forrestal Road
Cape May Airport
Rio Grande, NJ
Cost:Adults: $16 Children (ages 3-12): $12 Children (ages 2 and under): FREE Active Duty U.S. Military: Members FREE: *U.S. Military Veterans will receive a $2 discount
This annual event features historic aircraft flown in for display, Women in History Reenactor Presentation Series, Live Music, Classic Cars, Face Painting, Caricatures, Vendors, Exhibitors, Food and Beer, and more.

Annual Wildwood End of Summer Block Party & Music Festival
Sunday, September 1, 2024: 1pm - 10pm
Fox Park
(across from the Wildwoods Convention Center on Ocean Avenue between Burk and Montgomery Avenues)
Wildwood, NJ
Free Event
This family festival event will feature free music, entertainment, food vendors, craft vendors and more as we say goodbye to another great summer here in Wildwood.

Reptiles of the Pine Barrens
Sunday, September 1st, 2024: 9am (weather permitting)
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest
Reeve's Bogs
New Lisbon, NJ
Call (609) 726-1191 or email finn.westphal@dep.nj.gov
All ages
Snakes, turtles, and lizards are all over the Pine Barrens! Join us on a 4.5-mile hike down the Mt. Misery, Cranberry, and Lebanon trails and learn all about these rad reptiles!
Please bring bug spray and water. If you are unfamiliar with the area and do not know how to get to Reeve's Bogs, please call their office for directions.

2024 NJ Labor Day Weekend Ticketed
Concerts, Sports Events & Shows