Check out these 18 summer festivals in South Jersey
It seems like it was just Christmas, right?
Well, believe it or not, summer is right around the corner, so it’s time to start making plans.
From music festivals to food and wine festivals and fairs, there are plenty of options in South Jersey.
So here are some summertime festivals in South Jersey you might want to consider:
The New Jersey Renaissance Faire, Columbus
The family-friendly festival will be May 18-19, 25-26, June 1-2 and 8-9 and will feature a human chess match, sword fighting, fire breathing, comedy, artisans, aerialists, jousting contest, a variety of food options, live music and plenty of parking. There will be local craft beers, wine and whiskey tastings. It’s a dog-friendly event with the purchase of a dog ticket and vaccine confirmation.
Burlington County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Road; https://njrenfaire.com/
Cape May Music Fest, Cape May
The music fest begins May 26 and ends June 23 and will celebrate 35 years.
New York Chamber Ensemble will perform two chamber concerts on May 30 and June 13.
The award-winning Atlantic Brass Band will have a free outdoor concert Memorial Day Weekend.
A jazz brunch will take place on June 9 at the Inn of Cape May featuring Mary Loy Newnam and Ray Mallach.
Capping off the festival will be Cape May Cabaret with Erich Cawalla & Uptown Band Orchestra at Cape May Convention Hall on June 23.
Haddon Township Summer Makers Market, Haddon Township
On May 31, the summer maker’s market returns from 5 to 9 p.m. The open-air market will feature regional artisans and makers along with their handmade creations.
There will be live music. Gourmet treats will be for sale.
51 Haddon Avenue; https://shophaddon.com/event/haddon-square-summer-market/
Bordentown Green Fair, Bordentown
Hosted By Bordentown City Green Team on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the rain-or-shine event will take place at the Carslake Community Center.
There will be food vendors, children’s activities, eco-friendly goods, live music, and more.
There will be a shuttle available.
207 Crosswicks Street.
Cruise Down Memory Lane, Vineland
The annual event, which draws almost 1,500 cars, will be June 8 and showcases over a mile of vintage and exotic cars along Landis Avenue from 5 to 9 p.m.
It’s open to street rods, muscle cars, stock or custom classics, rat rods, and cruisers.
Landis Avenue between West Avenue and East Avenue; https://www.vinelandcity.org/municipal-calendar/cruise-down-memory-lane-3/
Bridgeton Strawberry Festival, Bridgeton
Merchants, vendors, sweet treats, food trucks, train rides and strawberries for days. The festival is June 8-9 at the Shoppes at Dragon Village from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
97 Trench Road; https://explorecumberlandnj.com/event/strawberry-festival/
Wheaton Arts Fantasy Faire, Millville
A family-friendly festival on June 22-23 of medieval folklife and fun. The live performances will include storytellers, dancing, drumming, sword demonstrations. There will be retail vendors, pirate games, scavenger hunts, and archery games. The event is from 10 a,m. to 4 p.m.
1501 Glasstown Road, https://www.wheatonarts.org/calendar-eventon/
The Battleship Beer Festival, Camden
The festival is set for June 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. aboard The Battleship New Jersey and will have exclusively New Jersey beers and breweries. Tickets include a tour of the ship, access to over 30 different quality craft breweries, live music, and more. General admission is $60; VIP is $75.
The Battleship is undergoing dry-docking maintenance. If it’s not ready for visitors, the fest will take place on the pier alongside the ship, and tour vouchers will be provided for future visits.
62 Battleship Place; https://www.battleshipnewjersey.org/calendar-3/
Barefoot Country Music Festival, Wildwood
The top fest will run from June 20-23 and will feature more than 40 country artists, including: Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, Kane Brown, Old Dominion, Rodney Atkins, The War and Treaty, Bret Michaels, The Beach Boys, Niko Moon,Jake Owen, Oliver Anthony and many more.
There will be five unique stages.
Morey’s Piers and Beachfront Water Parks, 3501 Boardwalk; https://barefootcountrymusicfest.com/lineup/
Blues, Wine & BBQ Fest, Mullica Hill
The festival is June 24-25 at the Gloucester County 4H Fairgrounds from noon until 5 p.m.
Dozens of vendors, live music and more.
The cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the gate (cash only).
725 Bridgeton Pike; https://newjerseywineevents.com/events/blues-wine-bbq-mullica-hill/
Red, White & Blueberry Festival, Hammonton
It makes sense that the blueberry festival is in Hammonton, “The Blueberry Capital of the World,”
The 38th annual Red, White & Blueberry Festival is June 30 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hammonton High School
There will be food vendors, crafters and more.
566 Old Forks Road; https://www.hammontonnj.us/red-white-blueberry-festival
Freedom Festival, Camden
Independence Day will be celebrated at the Freedom Festival on July 3 at the Camden Waterfront beginning at 5 p.m.
The music lineup will be alternative rock band Gin Blossoms and local singer Tara Hendricks. There will be food and drink vendors.
A fireworks spectacular will follow at 9:30 p.m.
2 Riverside Drive; https://www.camdencounty.com/event/2024-freedom-festival-at-the-camden-waterfront/
South Jersey Caribbean Festival, Camden
The 24th annual event will take place on July 13 at the Camden Waterfront.
Caribbean food, steel pan children’s activities, Reggae and Latin bands and more.
2 Riverside Drive; https://sjcaribbean.org/events
Haddonfield Crafts & Fine Arts Festival, Haddonfield
The 30th annual festival, which has drawn 75,000 people in the past, will welcome over 210 artists and crafters to the July 13-14. The event showcases top artists and also features a marketplace.
The hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 13 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 14.
Kings Highway and Tanner; https://downtownhaddonfield.com/events/
Atlantic City Beer & Music Festival, Atlantic City
More than 100 breweries will be represented, other seltzers and uniquely crafted adult beverages will be available
The event hits Bader Field on July 13. There are two sessions. Session one is noon to 4 p.m. and session two is 6 to 10 p.m.
Festival attendees must be 21 and older.
A ticket gives you access to performances on the main and acoustic stage, a commemorative tasting mug, access to demos and seminars and more.
545 North Albany Avenue; https://www.acbeerfest.com/
Crafts & Fine Art Festival, Collingswood
Haddon Avenue will be the site of the annual fest on Aug. 17-18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Live music, family crafting, a raffle tent of donated festival artists’ work to benefit Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey, dining options, Folklife tents. Artist’s Alley on Irvin Avenue will feature emerging artists, craft and art demos, and Perkins Center for the Arts Collingswood will have a family themed gallery presentation.
Wine Down Summer at Riverwinds, West Deptford
The RiverWinds’ great lawn will host the Aug. 24-25 event.
From noon to 5 p.m., there will be live music, vendors, artisans and crafters, food, desserts, dozens of wineries and other entertainment.
$20 in advance and $25 at the gate (cash only).
1000 Riverwinds Drive; https://newjerseywineevents.com/events/wine-down-summer-at-riverwinds-west-deptford-2/
Al Fresco Affair Food Truck Festival, Cherry Hill
There will be food, drink and music at Croft Farm on Aug. 29 from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
A beer garden will be provided by Mechanical Brewery.
100 Bortons Mill Road (off Brace Road).
This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: 18 summer festivals in South Jersey worth attending
