The Ultimate Guide to New Jersey Music Festivals and Free Summer Concerts
Discover the Rhythm of New Jersey's 2025
Outdoor Summer Music Festivals
New Jersey boasts a vibrant music scene, particularly in the summer, featuring numerous outdoor music festivals and free concerts.
These outdoor summer concerts vary widely, from affordable events in local community parks showcasing local performers to pricier larger venues hosting top international acts.
Attending these events offers the opportunity to enjoy a diverse range of music genres and talents while exploring different areas of New Jersey.
Here’s a glimpse at some notable outdoor summer concerts in Northern New Jersey:
Northern New Jersey Summer Outdoor Concerts @ local community parks and smaller venues
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.
Michael Arnone's Crawfish Fest
May 30th - June 1st, 2025
The Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
On-site Camping and camping hook-ups.
3 day New Orleans Style Music, Food, and Camping Festival. Featuring the best Music and Food that Louisiana and New Orleans has to offer. Cajun, Zydeco, Delta Blues, New Orleans R&B, Brass, Gospel and Jazz on 3 Stages. To really enjoy the "nor-leans" experience, you can try a taste of fresh Boiled Louisiana Crawfish trucked in alive, Crawfish Bread, Shrimp Creole, Crawfish Bread, Crawfish Pie, Alligator Sausage, Crawfish Po-boys, Jambalaya, Southern Fried Chicken and the other great dishes.
Rock Hunger VII
Saturday, June 7, 2025; @2:00 pm
Old Canal Inn
2 East Passaic Ave
Nutley, NJ
Tickets are $25 per person when purchased in advance online.
A high-energy music festival, featuring several well-respected local bands.
Live music peformers include The Attic, The Sticky Wickets, Mother Hubbard, and Porch Rockers!
Cash bar, menu available, tricky tray prizes and 50/50 raffle are available to attendants. Rock Hunger is a franchised event with national recognition. All proceeds benefit NFSB programs including the Food Pantry.
The Sustainably Green Music & Arts Festival
Saturday, June 14th, 2024:10am to 5pm
Downtown Washington Borough
Washington, NJ
Free Admission
This family event features a day of live music, ecofriendly vendors, crafters, artists, free kids activities, shopping, & dining!
The day is filled with activities relating to the environment, green practices, and recycling initiatives. Don't miss out on the multiple live musical acts throughout the day, kid's activities, and plenty of vendors.
The North To Shore Jersey festival
June 17 –29, 2025
Prudential Center, Lincoln Park, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Newark, NJ
This month-long New Jersey festival features all the talent, diversity and creativity this great state has to offer. The Festival is set to bring an exciting mix of music, comedy, film, and technology to New Jersey this summer from June 14th to the 29th. Taking place across three cities — Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark — at
Asbury Lanes, Chambers Plaza, Count Basie Center for the Arts, Lincoln Park, Newark Symphony Hall, NJPAC, Prudential Center, The Stone Pony and the Stone Pony Summer Stage, House of Independents, and The Wonder Bar.
Top performeres inclclude: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jon Stewart, John Mulaney, Pete Davidson, Bleachers, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Gregory Porter, Jack's Mannequin, Josh Johnson, Natalia Lafourcade, Slightly Stoopid, Streetlight Manifesto, The String Cheese Incident, rock bands Stone Temple Pilots and Third Eye Blind, and many more.
Great Swamp Great Music After Dark
Sunday, June 22, 2025: 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
The Homestead Bar and Kitchen
10 Dehart St.
Morristown, NJ
Cost: $35 - $50
This event features a dinner, reduced-price drinks, and a musical smorgasbord. The musical line-up includes country vibes, classic rock hits and fresh original music that'll leave you wanting more.
15th Annual Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival
June 27 - 29, 2025; 11:30am - 11:30pm
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
This event features
a three day celebration of great Southern Rock music, finger-lickin' barbeque, camping, cold beer, and fun! Pitch a tent or bring an RV and camp the entire weekend.
This years headliners include:The Allman Betts Band, Black Stone Cherry, Grand Funk Railroad, Artimus Pyle, Atlanta Rhythm Section and Orleans.
20th Annual Maplewoodstock Music & Arts Festival
Saturday and Sunday, July 12, 13, 2025;
From noon to 9 pm
Memorial Park
Dunnell Rd.and Jefferson Avenue
Maplewood, NJ
Free admission
A family family festival ia a celebration of community music and art. It features over 20 bands, 50 art vendors, 20 food vendors, Beer Garden, Kid Zone and more!
Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival
Saturday, August 16, 2025; Noon until 9:30pm
Speedwell Avenue between Headquarters Plaza and 1776, and on The Green
Morristown, NJ
Admission Free
Music fans of all ages will enjoy great music on The Morristown Green. Parking is available in the many public lots and the train station is just a couple of blocks away.
Please bring blankets & lawn chairs.
Millburn's Rocktoberfest The North To Shore Jersey festival Zach Bryan Billy Joel & Stevie Nicks My Chemical Romance System of a Down, Korn & Polyphia Oasis & Cage The Elephant Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, official, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official tickets.
September 13th, 2025; 12pm - 10pm
Taylor Park
100 Main Street
Millburn, NJ
Event Cost: Free
This event features live music, food and drinks, shopping and lots of fun activities for the entire family.
The event features over 30 Music Bands/Solo Artists playing on multiple stages throughout the day and into the night.
Their Kid's Zone has activities for pre-K to age 18 including Arts & STEM Activities • Inflatables • Rides • Carnival
Northern NJ Summer Outdoor Concerts @ larger venues hosting top international acts
June 17 –29, 2025
Prudential Center, Lincoln Park, and New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)
Newark, NJ
This month-long New Jersey festival features all the talent, diversity and creativity this great state has to offer. The Festival is set to bring an exciting mix of music, comedy, film, and technology to New Jersey this summer from June 14th to the 29th. Taking place across three cities — Atlantic City, Asbury Park, and Newark — at
Asbury Lanes, Chambers Plaza, Count Basie Center for the Arts, Lincoln Park, Newark Symphony Hall, NJPAC, Prudential Center, The Stone Pony and the Stone Pony Summer Stage, House of Independents, and The Wonder Bar.
Top performeres inclclude: Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jon Stewart, John Mulaney, Pete Davidson, Bleachers, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, Gregory Porter, Jack's Mannequin, Josh Johnson, Natalia Lafourcade, Slightly Stoopid, Streetlight Manifesto, The String Cheese Incident, rock bands Stone Temple Pilots and Third Eye Blind, and many more.
Friday July 18, 19, 20, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Friday August 8, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Saturday August 9, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Wednesday Aug 27, 2025
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, NJ
Sunday, August 31, & Monday, September 1,2025
MetLife Stadium
Tickets to Popular NJ Entertainment Events
Affiliate Disclosure: Many of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you click through them and buy tickets, I receive a commission at no cost to you. This money helps support my site, and I do my best to use the profits to provide you with as much detail and free information about New Jersey leisure activities as I am able.
More New Jersey Music Festivals
Top Must-Visit Bars and Pubs in New Jersey.
Guide to the Best NJ Bars Featuring Sports Bars, Irish pubs, Country Bars, German Beer Gardens, and Singles Bars
Visit Site