The summer rapidly approaching brings many fairs and festivals to New Jersey. From an art walk to a music festival, there’s something out there for everyone.
Read more about all the festivities happening this summer down below.
West Windsor Art Council’s ArtWalk
West Windsor Art Council’s annual ArtWalk features live music performances by local musicians and various arts and fitness activities, such as a graffiti wall, a henna artist, and yoga. Jhopri restaurant will be on hand to serve Indian cuisine. Individual tickets are $10, and a family pass is $25. 952 Alexander Road, Princeton Junction. More details at www.westwindsorarts.org. Sunday, May 30, 4 to 7 p.m.
Pride on the Plaza
This annual, all-age dance party features live music, a marketplace, and various activities. The event is a celebration of LGBTQ+ pride, and centers on making everyone feel accepted. The dance party will feature a special appearance by drag artist Gym Da Hollow. In the event of rain, Pride on the Plaza will be held in the Community Room of the Princeton Public Library. Otherwise, it will take place in Hinds Plaza, 65 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. For more information, visit www.princetonlibrary.org or contact (609) 924-9529. Friday, June 5, 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The Princeton Festival
The Princeton Symphony Orchestra’s Princeton Festival runs from June 5 to June 21, with a lineup of performances set underneath a tented pavilion installed on the grounds of Morven Museum & Garden, 55 Stockton Street, Princeton (unless otherwise noted).
The 2026 festival kicks off with Broadway star Sierra Boggess, who has starred in the musicals “The Little Mermaid,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “School of Rock.” She will perform renditions of Broadway classics and her favorite melodies, accompanied by piano. Friday, June 5, 7 p.m.
World-renowned bel canto soprano Sondra Radvanovsky partners with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra for a concert of popular arias and duets by Verdi and Puccini. Saturday, June 6, 8 p.m.
The American Repertory Ballet and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra come together to present “An Evening of Dance.” The program includes selections of “Sleeping Beauty” and “Swan Lake” alongside “The Beech Tree” from Plan and Elevation. Sunday, June 7, 7 p.m.
The baroque ensemble The Sebastians returns to the Princeton Festival with a program highlighting beloved Bach cantatas, performed in the historic Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton. Tuesday, June 9, 7 p.m.
The second orchestra performance held at Trinity Church will be the New York City based ensemble Twelfth Night, with a program centered on Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. They will also perform works by Durante, Locatelli and additional works by Vivaldi. A reception will immediately follow the concert. Thursday, June 11, 7 p.m.
Get ready for an opera full of love and betrayal with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.” This tragic love story takes place in Japan and follows Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese woman, and her marriage to Pinkerton, an American naval officer.
The opera explores themes of love, betrayal and heartbreak between the two characters. Friday, June 12, 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 14, 4 p.m.
Queen Nation, billed as the top-ranked Queen Tribute Band in the United States, brings a 90-minute concert full of renditions of classic Queen songs to Morven. Saturday, June 13, 7 p.m.
Grammy and Emmy-winning ensemble Time for Three merges classical, Americana and singer-songwriter traditions into a singular sound, with two violinists and a double bassist. Thursday, June 18, 7 p.m.
The Great Ladies of Jazz stars both Capitha Jenkins and Aisha de Haas who have come together to pay tribute to famous jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Billie Holiday and more. The concert will feature hits from the Great American Songbook, and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra will play alongside the singers. Friday, June 19, 7 p.m.
The siblings Kevin Bacon (an A-list Hollywood actor) and Michael Bacon (Emmy-winning composer), also known as The Bacon Brothers, have spent the last three decades together creating their own mix of folk, rock, soul and country music. This sound of theirs, which they have termed as “forosoco,” has brought them to various performance halls around the world. Now they’re in Princeton. Saturday, June 20, 7 p.m.
The festival closes with a performance by Broadway star Julie Benko and the PSO with a celebration of America’s 250th birthday, “American Fanfare.” The performance showcases Americana music by some of the country’s top composers. Sunday, June 21, 3 p.m.
For tickets and more information, visit www.princetonsymphony.org/festival.
Mercer County Cultural Festival
Mercer County’s annual Cultural Festival at Mercer County Park, West Windsor, features live performances of music and dance, as well as traditional art demonstrations showcasing multiple different cultures represented in the region. Admission is free. Saturday, June 6, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More details at www.mercercounty.org/departments/culture-and-heritage/cultural-festival.
German American Society Wurst Bierfest
The German American Society brings the celebration of German culture with their Wurst Bierfest event this upcoming June. The Bierfest features live music, German food and activities for the entire family.
Alongside German food and various activities, there will be both American and German bands performing over the weekend. The three bands, Dockside Band, Kids at Play and The Adlers Band, will be accompanied by six to seven schuchplattlers (shoe slappers) dressed in traditional German garb, who will be dancing around to the music. To fill in the gaps between the performances, an accordionist named Don Bitterlich will be playing on Sunday.
While the adults have fun drinking beer, eating wurst and checking out the multiple vendors, there are also activities for children, such as a bouncy house and an obstacle course.
Admission is $10; children 12 and under are free. Saturday, June 6, noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 7, noon to 6 p.m.
215 Uncle Pete’s Road, Trenton. Visit gasociety.org/event/ for more details.
St. Gregory the Great Carnival
One of central New Jersey’s most highly attended public events, St. Gregory the Great’s annual carnival, returns with 22 fun rides, 16 games of skill and chance, and food from Four Boys Ice Cream, Momma Rosa Pizza, Kona Ice, and G&L Gyros.
In addition, there will be both fireworks and a drone show. Firework displays are held Tuesday, June 23 and Saturday, June 27. The drone show will be held Thursday, June 25. The carnival is also known for its robust 50/50.
Admission is free. Open from Monday, June 22, 6 p.m. through Saturday, June 27, 11 p.m.
4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton. Visit sggcarnival.com for more details.
LEAD Fest State Fair
The state festival returns to the Mercer County Festival Grounds in West Windsor this year from June 26 through July 5. The festival will include carnival rides, food and craft vendors and games.
Alongside nightly live music, there will be firework displays and a drone show. Firework displays are held on Friday, June 26 and Monday, June 29. The drone show will be held on Saturday, July 4.
Admission is $5; pre-sale Mega Passes are $25, which include admission to the carnival and an unlimited ride wristband (pre-sale ends at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 26). Monday through Friday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 3 to 10 p.m.
For more information and tickets, visit theleadfest.com.
Sourland Mountain Festival
The music festival makes a comeback on Saturday, July 25, at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes. The event features a scavenger hunt for children, food from local vendors and a live music lineup to be announced. Saturday, July 25, 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
$35 until July 1st; $50 from July 2 to July 25. Children under 12 are free. Unionville Vineyards, 9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes. sourlandmountainfest.com.
Jersey Fresh Jam
New Jersey’s premiere Hip Hop festival invites regional, local, national and international graffiti artists and musicians to celebrate Hip Hop culture on the East Coast. Artists decorate the walls of TerraCycle INC while local musicians provide the soundtrack for the activities. Admission is free. Saturday, August 15, noon to 7 p.m.
TerraCycle Complex, 121 New York Avenue, Trenton. www.jerseyfreshjam.com.
