With so many events going on every week in New Jersey, it can be difficult to decide where to go and what to do. As we look ahead to 2017, Best of NJ is here to help. There are a variety of events, festivals and conventions which appeal to people of all ages.
Take a look at our list of the best events happening each month in New Jersey throughout 2017:
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Commerford’s Kids Fun Fair & Traveling Zoo
January 14 – 16 — Meadowlands Exposition Center
This fun fair and traveling zoo is a fantastic event for families with children of all ages. For three days in January, the fair takes over the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus; bringing patrons fun games, exciting rides, tasty treats, and tons of friendly animals. From regular farm animals to more exotic creatures, Commerford’s Kids Fun Fair & Traveling Zoo has it all.
Great Beer Expo
February 4 — Meadowlands Exposition Center
The 7th Annual Great Beer Expo heads back to Secaucus this February to provide New Jerseyans the opportunity to sample more than 150 various types of beer from nearly 100 different brewers around the world. This exposition “offers beer aficionados, beer lovers and the casual beer drinker the opportunity to speak to company representatives and the brewers responsible for creating some of the world’s most popular and award-winning brews.” The event is broken up into two sessions that last three and a half hours, and the only charge is the entry ticket. (It’s a good idea to get tickets online before they sell out.)
Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival
March 31 – April 1 — Atlantic City Convention Center
For the 12th time, the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival is coming back for two days to bring attendees nearly 1,000 different types of beers from around 200 breweries. The festival is tons of fun for beer enthusiasts and casual beer drinkers alike. It features entertaining live music and tasty food for attendees to enjoy while sampling both local and nationally-acclaimed brews. The event is divided into three sessions, giving people multiple opportunities to take a trip out to the Atlantic City Convention Center to enjoy some great music and beer with good friends.
Sports and Memorabilia Show
April 28 – 30 — Garden State Exhibit Center
The GT Sports Marketing memorabilia and sports card show is a must-see event for all sports fans and lovers of sports memorabilia. Collectors will be impressed by the quantity and quality of all the autographed items and other collectibles the show offers. The 2017 event features more than 40 super star guests, including Terry Bradshaw, Emmitt Smith, Carli Lloyd, and many more.
Hoboken Arts & Music Festival
June 11 — Washington Street, Hoboken
As the weather gets warmer, there is an abundance of outdoor events to attend. The Hoboken Arts & Music Festival’s spring event stretches across Washington Street, offering guests countless vendors, exhibitors and artists displaying their innovative creations and tasty treats. Families and couples spend the day in Hoboken, meandering through the streets, enjoying the lively entertainment and chowing down on tasty food. There is also an encore festival in the fall on September 24.
ToyConNJ
June 24 – 25 — PAL Building 33, Parsipanny
The summer of 2017 is kicking off with a ton of fun events, including ToyConNJ. The convention brings toys, games, books and comics of all eras to one grand location. Interesting items flood the convention, giving generations of individuals a strong sense of nostalgic bliss. While vendors offer rare, vintage and antique collectibles, the event will also feature newer items. If you can’t make it to ToyConNJ this June, you can catch it when it comes back to town on November 11 and 12.
Warren County Farmers’ Fair
July 29 – August 5 — Phillipsburg
For eight whole days this summer, Phillipsburg is hosting the 80th Annual Warren County Farmers’ Fair, offering non-stop fun for families. From exciting games and rides to creative crafts and horse shows, the fair has a ton of great features for people of all ages. The event is celebrating 20 years of the Traditional Arts Expo, and it is also featuring the 17th annual Hot Air Balloon Festival of New Jersey, making it a prime Summer event.
Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market, Summer Edition
August 13 — Trenton
The Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market is a themed flea market that takes over several locations in Trenton three times a year. It’s a great occasion for lovers of music and food lovers, as it features vendors and exhibitors who offer a wide range of products and goodies. If you can’t wait until the summer, the event’s Spring Fling takes place April 8 and 9, with a Halloween edition on October 21 and 22.
Heroes & Villains FanFest
September 16 – 17 – Meadowlands Exposition Center
Comic book-based television shows and movies are dominating our screens today, so it’s no surprise that events like the Heroes & Villains FanFest have become insanely popular. Featuring guests from Arrow, Gotham, The Flash, Epic Ink, and many more, the festival lets fans meet their favorite stars; and come out to take part in a grand two-day event being held at the Meadowlands Expo. For details about what to expect, be sure to check out our on-location coverage of last year’s event.
Far Hills Horse Race Meeting
October 21 — Far Hills
The Far Hills Horse Race Meeting is one of the state’s oldest thriving traditions. Thousands of people travel out to Far Hills every year to tailgate, watch some horse races, and support the community. The 97th running – sponsored by RWJBarnabas Health, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, and more – is on track to be the event’s most fruitful year. Nearly a century old, the Far Hills Hunt, as it has come to be known, still attracts attendees from all over the tri-state area. You won’t want to miss it.
New Jersey Comic Expo
November 18 – 19 — New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
The Garden State’s largest gathering of comic book and pop culture fans happens at the New Jersey Comic Expo. Edison’s New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center provides the event with plenty of room to showcase comics, artwork, and collectibles; as well as cosplayers, sweet treats, and more. The 2017 edition also features panels hosted by a number of fan-favorite personalities in the world of comics and film. Attendees are given plenty of time to meet and interact with some wildly talented artists and writers while browsing through countless exclusive collections.
Walker Stalker Con
December 9 – 10 — New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center
Even in its 7th season, The Walking Dead shows no signs of slowing down. As such, neither does Walker Stalker Con, a weekend event dedicated to the hit AMC show and all things zombie-related. The 2017 convention features current and former actors from the show, as well as a variety of other celebrities; including Ron Perlman, Ryan Hurst and Chris 51. The event also boasts numerous exclusive vendors and exhibitors, artwork, collectibles, comics, games, photo-ops with stars and much, much more.
Hero (Top) Feature Image (& Additional Images): © Patrick Lombardi / Best of NJ
Additional Images (in Order) Courtesy:
Commerford’s Kids Fun Fair & Traveling Zoo / Website
Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival / Website
Warren County Farmers’ Fair / Website
Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market / Website
