May is a time of lively celebrations in New Jersey, where the spring season is in full swing. Outdoor events abound, especially during the weekends with various festivities. Whether you are a foodie, wine enthusiast, flower lover, or music aficionado, New Jersey offers plenty of places worth visiting.
Here are 12 unique and cool festival events happening in New Jersey in May.
Time: May 3 (Friday) to May 5 (Sunday); Location: Crystal Springs Resort, 1 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg. Tickets: Various.
Guests are invited to meet world-class chefs and winemakers, taste exquisite cuisines and wines. The event kicks off with a champagne reception on Friday evening at 7 pm. Enjoy champagne and appetizers, toast to the opening night of this year’s food festival, and enjoy a sunset dance performance at 8 pm.
On May 3 (Friday), rising stars from “Top Chef” will collaborate with Restaurant Latour to provide a five-course dinner paired with wines crafted by top winemakers. Guests can also opt to attend the champagne reception at an additional cost.
Other weekend activities include Trailblazing Culinary Women, Whiskey, Honey and Saving the Bees, A Taste of Provence with Peyrassol Roses, Marketplace Lunch, Return to the Wild, The World of Botanicals with Hendrick’s Gin, Winemaking and Regenerative Farming with Eric Jensen, Rum and Chocolate, Under the Tuscan Sky, and over 90 wine varieties.
Time: May 4 (Saturday) from 4 pm to 8 pm; Location: Shimon and Sara Birnbaum Jewish Community Center, 775 Talamini Road, Bridgewater. Tickets: $54.
Sample over 40 beers from breweries across the state and beyond. Tequila and bourbon tastings, live music, food trucks, ticket raffles, beer pong tournaments, and more. All funds raised will go towards special needs.
Time: May 4 (Saturday) from 11 am to 9 pm, May 5 (Sunday) from 11 am to 7 pm; Location: Laurita Winery, 85 Archertown Road, New Egypt. Tickets: $13 in advance, $15 at the door.
Spend the weekend with friends and family at Laurita Winery’s outdoor event, tasting wines and various delicacies from food trucks. Throughout the weekend, enjoy wine tastings, live music performances, vineyard carriage tours, and fireworks on Saturday night.
Jeep owners and guests should note: be sure to register your Jeep. Jeep owners are required to pay a fee of $30, which includes a t-shirt, showcasing your Jeep at the festival, and two-day admission. Guests over 21 arriving in a Jeep must pay $5, which covers admission for both days.
Time: May 11 (Saturday) from 10 am to 4 pm (rain date May 12, Sunday); Location: Sayen Botanical Gardens, 155 Hughes Drive, Hamilton.
Spend Mother’s Day weekend surrounded by flowers. The event features local artisans, live music, and food trucks in the blooming botanical gardens.
Residents and visitors will marvel at over 250,000 flowering bulbs, dogwoods, azaleas, rhododendrons, scenic walking paths, fountains, bridges, lakes, gazebos, and breathtaking views perfect for photo opportunities. Food vendors include Twisted Steaks, Camille’s Cucina, Buzzetta’s, Karen and the Nut, Lilla Vanilla, Chic Gourmet Empanadas, Yoo Cuz, Aunt Martha’s Funnel Cake, Swal Dairy, KK Sweets, D&D Catering, The Fry Boss, and Poppin Don’s Kettle Korn. Mothers can receive a free family portrait provided by Group Ventures Unlimited.
Time: May 16 (Thursday) to May 19 (Sunday); Location: Nature Center of Cape May, 1600 Delaware Ave, Cape May.
Check-in in the Wicker Room of a grand hotel at noon on May 16. Get your name tag and tickets, and join the weekend activities. The Nature Center’s opening party will kick off the celebratory event with live music, food trucks, beer, and wine. Local naturalists will lead field trips and boat tours starting Friday morning.
Saturday features a keynote speech, tea, and avian-inspired music titled “What We Owe to Birds,” composed by Consonance Collective from Princeton and played by the BlackBox band. The music explores topics such as evolutionary flight, migratory bird behavior, urban birdlife, birds endangered by forest fires, and coastal bird conservation.
After the music festival, attendees can embark on a three-hour exploration trip to Rips near the Cape May coast or take a loop drive in the Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.
Time: May 17 (Friday) from 4 pm to 8 pm, May 18 (Saturday) from 12 pm to 8 pm, May 19 (Sunday) from 12 pm to 6 pm; Location: Silver Lake Park, 5th and Ocean Avenue, Belmar.
A seafood feast on the Jersey Shore? Definitely. Celebrating for over 30 years, seafood enthusiasts and local community gather this weekend to indulge in delectable dishes and live performances. Chefs and local vendors will present a range of seafood delicacies featuring fresh catches from the Atlantic Ocean. From lobsters and clams to shrimps and scallops, there’s something for everyone, along with live music, family-friendly activities, crafts, and more. This event attracts thousands of participants annually.
Time: May 18 (Saturday) from 12 pm to 5 pm; Location: Mennen Arena Field, 161 Hanover Avenue, Morris Plains. Tickets: VIP $90 (before May 4), General Admission $60 (before May 4).
The Beer BBQ Smoke Fest is New Jersey’s first festival offering only local beers along with restaurants, food trucks, and chefs providing a variety of barbecue and smoked dishes available for purchase. A culinary showcase competition will be held with celebrity judges selecting the top chefs. Thirty local breweries will participate, each bringing three beer styles. One beer type will be a rare or specially brewed beer for the event.
General admission includes a keepsake mug, beer samples, great music, and a “People’s Choice” vote for best beer and dish.
VIP tickets include early entry at noon, a one-hour five-course buffet, all the content of general admission, meet-and-greet with brewers, executive chefs, and head chefs, and priority tasting of rare and specialty beers. Proceeds will benefit the Chester First Aid Squad.
Time: May 18 (Saturday) from 11 am to 3 pm; Location: The Shops at Lafayette, 75 Route 15, Lafayette.
The Pet Lover’s Fest is a pet-centric celebration aimed at raising funds for homeless animals at the Father John’s Animal House, whose mission is to care for homeless cats and dogs and find them new homes. This family and pet-friendly event includes vendors, food, music, cat yoga, and a peanut butter eating contest for dogs.
Register your pooch for the peanut butter eating contest or sign up for a cat yoga class. Other games like cornhole and Twister will also be available onsite.
Don’t have a pet? Adoptable cats and dogs will be present. For everyone’s safety, dogs should be leashed with a non-retractable leash, and cats should also be leashed. No pre-registration required, but anyone who pre-registers will receive a goody bag at the event. Donations are also welcome if you cannot attend.
Time: May 18 (Saturday) and May 19 (Sunday) from 11 am to 5 pm; Location: 101-199 Fifth Avenue, Bradley Park, Asbury Park. Tickets: $20-$30.
The two-day celebration features vegetarian and plant-based meals by local chefs, along with vegetarian products, plant-based fashion, live music, and more. Last year’s event was a hit, and this year it expands to two parks. Bradley Park and Atlantic Square Park will host numerous vendors, including 24 Karrot Spread, Betty’s Icebox, Denis Creations, Henna Squad, Flora Vegetarian, Little Loaf Bakeshop, Nessie’s Tea, Ferrets and Friends, Secret Vegan Kitchen, Lovers Rock Sea Moss, Twisted Potato, Sprout House, Two River Mushroom.
Time: May 19 (Sunday) from 12 pm to 4 pm; Location: 10 E. Main Street, Freehold.
Join the Freehold Borough Arts Council for a day of music and entertainment throughout the borough. Bands, duos, and solo acts will perform at various locations in downtown Freehold. Porch performance maps will be distributed at the gazebo in downtown Freehold. Vendors and artists will also be present.
Time: May 24 (Friday) to May 27 (Monday); Location: On the beach at Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood.
The 37th Annual Wildwood International Kite Festival is renowned for being a full-blown kite festival on steroids. Starting on Friday, May 24 at 7 am, the four-day kite festival features a beach opening ceremony and continues through Monday with world indoor kite competitions and performances.
On Friday night at 9 pm, an annual night kite show will take place on the beach. Other weekend activities include team flying, mega kite displays, stunt kite performances, and more.
Time: May 26 (Sunday) from 1 pm to 8 pm; Location: Boyd Park, New Brunswick. Tickets: $10-$20.
Indulge in Caribbean cuisine, live music, and a great atmosphere at the Pickled Festival. This event is all about pickling. From spicy pickled chicken to pickled pork, fish, goat, oxtail, and even pickled ice cream, there’s something for everyone. Expect plenty of food trucks, food and beverage vendors, artisans, merchandise sales, live music, children’s activities, and more.
Enjoy the variety of events lined up in May in New Jersey, offering something unique and exciting for everyone to enjoy!