NJ Beer Festivals Serve Up Fine Brews, Food, & Fun!
New Jersey is home to more than 80 breweries and brew pubs and an awesome way to sample the fine beers that these local businesses offer is to attend one of the many New Jersey beer festivals happening around the state this year. Many of these NJ beer festivals also feature fantastic food from local food trucks and restaurants, awesome live music, shopping opportunities, and even fun activities for kids. Read on to get the scoop on more than 20 NJ beer festivals taking place around the Garden State this year…
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2017 New Jersey Beer Festivals
Big Brew Sussex Beer Festival
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
April 29, 2017
5:00pm – 9:00pm
Big Brew Sussex Beer Festival is the perfect place for beer aficionados to meet and hang out. With over 150 unique tasting opportunities, it’s a great place to discover new beers and speak to brewery representatives. Enjoy a fun day of great craft beer, delicious food, fabulous music and more!
Spring Fling at River Horse Brewing Co.
River Horse Brewing Co.
2 Graphics Drive
Ewing, NJ
April 29, 2017
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Celebrate the arrival of spring and new beers at River Horse Brewing Company! Try three new brews before they hit the shelves! Other beers on draft will include the top selling Summer Blonde, Raspberry Tripel Horse, and many other classic River Horse favorites! Brewers will be stationed around the warehouse to answer any questions you may have about the brewing process, and to shower you with River Horse beer knowledge! For your entertainment, The Springfielders will be rocking out in the cellar all night! Admission includes a River Horse glass and a token good for your first beer. Additional tokens will be sold for $5 each. Advance ticket purchase required
Allaire BBQ and Brew Fest
Historic Village of Allaire
Farmingdale, NJ
April 29 & 30, 2017
11:00am – 5:00pm
Enjoy a day of hops and hogs in the village! Explore the historic buildings of Allaire Village, visit craft shops, listen to music, taste beers hard ciders in the beer corral, and enjoy some good barbecue with family and friends! The historic village will be providing craft demonstrations at the blacksmith shop and carpentry shop. All historic buildings will be open for tours with costumed interpreters. There will be also historic 19th century children’s games being demonstrated. Musical entertainment by Jonny B & the Blue Blazers, The VooDUDES, The Gas House Gorillas, and Marel Hidalgo and The Stone Feather Band. The BBQ and Brew Fest is a fundraiser to help support the Historic Village at Allaire’s educational program.
Kearny Food Truck & NJ Craft Beer Festival
Frank A. Vincent Marina
Kearny, NJ
May 6, 2017
12:00pm – 7:00pm
Come on out to the Kearny Food Truck & NJ Craft Beer Festival, brought to you by Kearny Bank. The festival will feature 21 food trucks and the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, who will represent over 12 NJ craft breweries. Entertainment includes live music by Lifespeed and Good Noise, with a DJ to fill in between sets. There will be an outdoor marketplace and kids amusements including a climbing rock wall, bounce house, obstacle courses, and hands on arts and crafts activities provided by Plastercraft of Kearny and the Montclair Art Museum.
TRUCKerton Food Truck & Brew Fest –
Pork Roll vs. Taylor Ham
Tuckerton Seaport & Baymen’s Museum
120 West Main Street
Tuckerton, NJ
May 6, 2017
11:00am – 6:00pm
Tuckerton’s biggest event returns for a fourth consecutive year featuring craft beers, live music, fun, and food from over a dozen food trucks from all over the East Coast. The craft beer garden will have favorites from local brewery, Pinelands Brewing Co. Additionally, Laurita Winery will host two tents with wine samples and sales. This year’s event will also feature a giant Seaport Pong tournament! The live music lineup includes The Pickles, Diablo Sandwich, Nectar & Ambrosia, Billy Walton Band, and Gary Phillips.
Skylands Stadium Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival
Skylands Stadium
94 Championship Place
Augusta, NJ
May 6, 2017
12:00pm – 7:00pm
This May, Skylands Stadium is combining two festivals into one HUGE event and debuting the all-new Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival This all-day party is fun for the whole family and features more than 20 food trucks with a variety of delicious fare, a Beer Garden with over 50 different craft beers, live music, backyard games including Knockerball, Ladderball, KanJam, Wiffle ball, and volleyball, a bounce house and the Miners Express train rides for the kids, a mechanical bull to put your riding skills to the test.
What’s on Tap Craft Beer Festival
WheatonsArts and Cultural Center
1000 Village Drive
Millville, NJ
May 13, 2017
1:00pm – 5:00pm
The first ever What’s On Tap Craft Beer Festival will feature over 25 craft brewers pouring more than 50 brews amongst live music, entertainment, games, and unbelievable food! Visitors will have the opportunity to experience both a variety of craft brewers and an historic exposure to American crafts on the idyllic, lakeside pinelands of the WheatonsArts and Cultural Center.
Beer, Bacon, BBQ Showdown
Lewis Morris Park
Doe Meadow Field
270 Mendham Road
Morristown, NJ
May 20, 2017
1:00pm – 5:00pm (12:00pm -10:00pm VIP hour)
The Beer BBQ Bacon Showdown is New Jersey’s first festival featuring only New Jersey beer, coupled with restaurants, gourmet food trucks, and chefs offering a delectable array of mouth watering BBQ and bacon creations, all available for purchase. There will be a competition to showcase their culinary skills, with a panel of celebrity judges choosing the best of the best, along with People’s Choice awards for Best Dish & Best Beer. Thirty New Jersey breweries will be in attendance, each bringing four styles of beer. One of these styles will be either a rare beer or a brew created specifically for this event. The event will take place outdoors under tents and will feature fantastic music! This festival is destined to become a New Jersey spring classic.
7th Annual Handcrafted at Perkins Center
Perkins Center for the Arts
30 Irvin Avenue
Collingswood, NJ
May 20, 2017
7:00pm – 10:00pm
Enjoy an evening of artistry celebrating the unique and handmade at Perkins Center for the Arts and featuring over two dozen regional craft micro brews, a distillery, a gourmet food cart fare, handmade beer steins, live music and more! The award winning tasting will feature the beverages of Beach Haus Brewery, The Colony Meadery, Cooper River Distillers, Crabbie’s USA, Double Nickel Brewing Co., Eight & Sand Beer Co, Ellicottville Brewing Company, Empire Brewing Company, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Harvest Coffee, Lunacy Brewing Company, Mispillion River Brewing, Muskoka Brewery, River Horse Brewing Co., Spellbound Brewing, Tonewood Brewing, Tröegs Independent Brewing, Tuckahoe Brewing Co., Two Roads Brewing Company, Weyerbacher Brewing, Yards Brewing Co., and D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc. Wineries represented will include Auburn Road Vineyard and Winery, DiMatteo Winery and Vineyard, Heritage Vineyards, Plagido’s Winery, and Sharrott Winery. Food by Beast of the Street, Not Your Mama’s Taco, Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse, Sweetie Pie’s Bon Bon, Sift Bake Shop, and Harvest Roastery Coffee. A new feature of this year’s event will be the Jewelry Bar where festival attendees will be able to create their own custom piece of jewelry. Philadelphia-based dream pop band Suburban Living will be playing the main stage at Handcrafted this year.
A Taste Of Spring:
The Bayshore’s 1st Food Truck & Craft Beer Fest
Beachway & Main Street
Keansburg, NJ
May 20, 2017
2:00pm – 8:00pm
Enjoy “A Taste of Spring” in Keansburg, a great day which will include free craft beer tasting, free food sampling, live music all day, and the IR Performance Car Show. Free admission.
Chester Spring Brew Fest
Main Street
Chester, NJ
May 20 & 21, 2017
12:00pm – 5:00pm
The Chester Spring Brew Fest will premiere this May, bringing samplings of some of New Jersey’s finest local craft beers, cider and home brews to attendees of the inaugural beer festival, paired with tasty food offerings available for purchase. Hosted by Chester Merchants Association in historic downtown Chester, the Spring Brew Fest will feature eight breweries from throughout the Garden State, as well as 50 crafters and vendors, and live entertainment from local musical performers.
4th Annual Hop Sauce Festival
Taylor Avenue Waterfront
830 N Bay Avenue
Beach Haven, NJ
June 3, 2017
11:00am – 7:00pm
The 4th Annual Hop Sauce Festival is a family-friendly event that brings together gourmet hot sauces, over 25 craft beers, delicious food from local vendors, original music and more. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Jetty Rock Foundation, which uses funds for youth initiatives, for those in need, and to enhance the community.
Jersey City Brew Fest
Harborside 3 Atrium
Jersey City, NJ
June 3, 2017
12:00pm – 4:00pm (Session 1) or 5:30pm – 9:30pm (Session 2)
The Jersey City Brew Fest features an eclectic local variety of fermented beer and cider in all styles combining the best elements of a Beer Garden with a wide variety of choices found only at a Craft Beer Festival. Festival guests will enjoy unlimited craft beer samples for the entire evening paired with live entertainment, food, and interactive games.
1st Annual Boonton Rock & Brew Craft Beer Fest
Main Street
Boonton, NJ
June 3, 2017
12:00pm – 5:00pm
Brew Experience and Boonton Main Street (BMS) are proud to announce the first annual Boonton Rock & Brew Festival! An exciting kickoff to summer, this craft beer and music festival will take place at Canalside Park and boasts over 30 breweries, with 6 bands! Other highlights of the day will include a VIP experience, discounts at Main Street shops and local restaurants, and a post festival celebration on Main Street with live music.
Sea Isle Beer Festival
Kix McNutley’s
63rd Street & Landis Avenue
Sea Isle City, NJ
June 3, 2017
2:00pm to 6:00pm
The Sea Isle City Beer Festival features more than 80 craft beers and ciders for sampling, including some local favorites. Now in its fourth year, the festival is expanding to two days this year. In addition to sampling some of the best craft beers around, there will be food vendors, crafters, games, and fun for everyone.
Wildwood Beer Fest
Fox Park
E. Burk & E. Montgomery Avenues
Wildwood, NJ
June 10, 2017
12:00pm – 4:00pm (Session 1) and 6:00pm – 10:00pm (Session 2)
Now in its third year, the Wildwood Beer Fest is a beer tasting event to celebrate the art of locally brewed craft beer. This festival will be equally exciting for the brew aficionado and novice alike. Festival guests will have access to 100+ brews for sampling, a commemorative tasting cup, live tunes, delicious food, craft vendors and special exhibits. Beer sampling is unlimited with your ticket, food and merchandise is available for purchase.
Brew at the Turtleback Zoo
Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Avenue
West Orange, NJ
June 24th, 2017
6:00pm – 9:00pm
This June, the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo and the Zoological Society of New Jersey will celebrate the park’s 54th Birthday by hosting the 5th annual Brew at the Zoo! The festival will feature live entertainment, an abundance of brewers and vendors, and a selection of over 100 craft beers. Enjoy local craft beers from the best of New Jersey and our favorite national brands! Many of the zoo’s exhibits will be open to browse during the event.
Battleship New Jersey Craft Beer Festival
100 Clinton St
Camden, NJ
June 24, 2017
12:30pm – 4:30pm
Enjoy an afternoon aboard the USS Battleship NJ sampling brews from over 40 New Jersey breweries while being entertained by live music by the Cabin Dogs. This event features beer tasting, live entertainment, and a free self-guided tour of the nation’s most decorated ship.
6th Annual Craft Beer & Crab Festival
The Emlen Physick Estate
1048 Washington Street
Cape May, NJ
August 5, 2017
11:00am – 6:00pm
Mark your calendar for the sixth annual Cape May Craft Beer & Crab Festival and come to the beautiful grounds of the Emlen Physick Estate for an all-day festival featuring local and regional craft beers to wash down favorite summer foods… steamed crabs, pulled pork, crab cakes, shrimp and hot dogs, as well as food from regional vendors. This family-friendly event also features all day music on an outdoor stage, an old-fashioned Victorian circus with jugglers and acrobats from the The Give & Take Jugglers Little Circus, and a crafts and collectibles show. Admission to the grounds is free. There will be a charge for food, beverages and some activities. Commemorative T-shirts will be available.
TRUCKerton Food Truck & Brew Fest –
Farm to Table Edition
Tuckerton Seaport
120 West Main Street
Tuckerton, NJ
August 12, 2017 / 11:00am – 7:00pm
August 13, 2017 11:00am – 5:00pm
Come on out to the Tuckerton Seaport for the Farm to Table Edition of the TRUCKerton Food Truck and Brew Fest featuring 20 food trucks, a craft beer garden, wine tasting and sales, live music, vendors, family activities, boat rides, and decoy carving and boat building demonstrations.
Food Truck Wind Up and Craft Beer Fest
FirstEnergy Park
2 Stadium Way
Lakewood, NJ
September 30, 2017
12:00pm – 5:00pm
Food Truck Wind Up and Craft Beer Fest returns to FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood this September! Enjoy live music, food from the area’s best food trucks, great craft beer and wine, shopping with vendors, and fun on the field!
Central Jersey Beer Festival
Mercer County Park Festival Grounds
1638 Old Trenton Road
West Windsor, NJ
October 14th, 2017
12:00pm to 6:00pm
Enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon in Mercer County Park while you taste over 100 beers, meet the brewers, listen to fantastic live music, and enjoy delicious food from local vendors.
Do you know of other New Jersey beer festivals that should be included here? Contact us!
Featured Photo Credit: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr
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