Eat, drink and be merry at these Central Jersey food festivals in 2025

Yahoo

29-05-2025

With so many cuisines to choose from, Central Jersey is chock full of food festivals that visitors can eat and drink their way through.
Trying something new or snacking on a favorite, foodies can enjoy the food festival season as it comes into full swing.
Check out these Central Jersey food festivals and get ready to eat up! Enjoy!
World Food Festival, Mercer County Park, West Windsor
Promising two days of music, fun and food, the World Food Festival explores more than 20 food vendors showcasing authentic dishes from around the globe. On Saturday, the vibe is country as Brian Dean Moore Band takes the stage. On Sunday, visitors can sit ringside for the stars of UWA Elite Pro Wrestling . Online tickets are $10 for one day and $20 for a two-day pass. At the gate, tickets are $15 per person per day, or $25 for the two-day pass. Kids under 10 are free.
Go: Mercer County Park, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor; 908-625-2674, worldfoodfestival.com.
Clinton Township Food Truck & Music Festival, Lebanon
From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 17 gourmet food trucks will flank the park for a day of family fun. The event also features live music with Cushetunk, Fish Eyed Blues and Rosewood Band, as well as vendors, a beer, margarita and sangria garden, kids activities including pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, sand art, knockerball, bungee trampoline, bounce house, mini golf, slide and much more. Bring lawn chairs and blankets. Pups are welcome. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable canned or boxed item to help support the food pantry. Admission is $5 and kids under 5 are free.
Participating food trucks include Cold Stone Creamery, Cousins Maine Lobster, Cubita Truck, Dags Dippers, Empanada Mania, G'Day Gourmet, Johnny Zeppoli, Just Fork It, Pudgy's Famous Fries, Sandwich Freak, Seasonal Sarah, Senor Tacos, Taste of Napoli, Uncle Sal's Egg Rolls and Why Not Burgerz.
Go: Bundt Park, 8 Red School House Road, Lebanon; https://allevents.in/clinton/clinton-twp-food-truck-and-music-fest/200027914173310.
Springfield Food Truck Festival, Springfield
The Rotary Club of Springfield's Food Truck Festival is back with 15 food trucks, a beer and wine garden, vendors and live music by The Characters. The annual event sponsored by The Rotary Club of Springfield will occur from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Springfield Community Pool parking lot. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of Springfield, Springfield Recreation Department, and Jonathan Dayton High School senior scholarships. Admission is $5 per person and children under 5 are free.
Go: 44 Morrison Road, Springfield; 973-769-4473, [e-mail]; https://springfield-nj.us/news/food-truck-festival-on-sunday-may-18-2025/
New Jersey Jerk Fest, New Brunswick
Jerk Fest is an annual celebration of Caribbean culture with live Caribbean music, Caribbean food trucks, an education area with career tips and community programs, and a Kid's Zone. Mr. Easy is the day's music headliner. Each year, more than 2,000 attendees gather to indulge in Jerk, a fiery Jamaican cooking tradition, while enjoying live music, dance, and island vibes. Tickets range from $15 to $60.
Go: Boyd Park, Memorial Parkway, New Brunswick; 732-429-0028; https://njjerkfest.com/.
South Bound Brook Food Truck & Music Festival, South Bound Brook
The food trucks are rollin' into town for a benefit for the South Bound Brook fire department. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., there will be plenty of food and drink options for all with 18 gourmet food trucks, live music with Almost Autumn, Mr. Lovejoy and Captains of Leisure, a beer, margarita and sangria garden, vendors and kids activities such as pony rides, a rock wall, petting zoo, face painting, sand art, inflatables, bungee trampoline, mini golf and knockerball. Bring chairs, blankets and a non-perishable canned or boxed item to help support the food pantry. Admission is $5 at the gate and kids under 5 are free.
Beer and Sangria Garden is showcasing Lone Eagle Brewing, Señor Sangria, margaritas, daiquirisand strawberry vodka lemonade. The current list of food trucks includes Angry Chourico, Big John's Burgers, Chow Wow, Cold Stone Creamery, Cubita Truck, Dags Dippers, El Lechon De Negro, Empanada Mania, Hold My Knots, House of Cupcakes, Johnny Zeppoli, Just Fork It, L'Acquario Seafood, Rolling Pita, Sandwich Freak, Senor Tacos and Uncle Sal's Egg Rolls.
Go: Memorial Park, 78 Elizabeth St.; South Bound Brook; https://allevents.in/south-bound-brook/south-bound-brook-food-truck-and-music-fest/200027827484308.
Spring Shedfest Raritan Headwaters Music Festival, Bedminster
Spring Shedfest Raritan Headwaters Music Festival is an outdoor music festival and fundraiser for Raritan Headwaters held at Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve. Organizers promise a fun afternoon listening to great local bands, eating delicious food, and enjoying the outdoors at the wildlife preserve. Live music includes Free Soil, Tony and the Trees and Matt Trowbridge and food and drink is highlighted by Testo Pizza, Tia B's Street Tacos, Cream of the Crop, Flounder Brewery, Burnt Mills Cider Company and Sunken Silo Brew Works.
Go: Fairview Farm Wildlife Preserve, 2121 Larger Cross Road, Bedminster; https://www.raritanheadwaters.org/event/shedfest/.
Annual Feast of St. Anthony, Roselle Park
The 25th annual festival will feature an abundance of Italian and American food, non-stop entertainment with live music, amusements, games, rides, and fun for the whole family. It is also a faith-oriented celebration focusing on devotion to St. Anthony. After the noon Mass on June 8, there will be a procession through the streets with the statue of St. Anthony accompanied with music.
Go: Roman Catholic Church of the Assumption, 113 Chiego Place, Roselle Park; 908-245-1107, https://www.assumptionrp.com/feast-of-st-anthony
Lebanese Festival, Franklin
Hosted by the Saint Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church, the 39th Annual Lebanese Festival runs three days − 5 to 10 p.m. on June 6, noon to 11 p.m. on June 7 and noon to 10 p.m. on June 8. Featuring Lebanese food and pastries as well as live music and dancers, the event is showcasing entertainers Shady Younes, Andre Ibriham and Rami Badr. There also will be a hookah and bar, games, crafts, raffles and prizes.
Go: 526 Easton Ave., Somerset section of Franklin; 732-828-2055, https://saintsharbelnj.org/2025-festivalhttps://saintsharbelnj.org/2025-festival.
Come rain or shine, the annual Flemington Opa! Festival is inviting guests to "come be Greek for a day!" Visitors can enjoy Greek food indoors or outside under the tent, enjoying classic oven baked items and popular grill selections such as souvlaki and gyros. Relax with a Greek coffee and pastry or some Greek wine or beer and meze. Greek pastries, coffee, wine and beer also available. The three days are chock full of shopping from jewelry to fine art and home decor. Fun and entertainment, such as carnival games, vendors, kid's zone and folk dancing, is featured.
Among the many charities supported, this year the St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church parish also is fundraising to support the building of the St. Nicholas National Shrine at Ground Zero in New York. Opa! runs from 5 to 9 p.m. June 6, noon to 9 p.m. June 7 and 12 to 7 p.m. June 8.
Go: St. Anna Greek Orthodox Church, 85 Voorhees Corner Road, Flemington; 908-968-4004, https://www.opafestival.com/.
50th annual Hungarian Festival, New Brunswick
First held in 1975, the Hungarian Festival continues to pop up on and around Somerset Street in New Brunswick, a city with a long history of a thriving Hungarian community. There are multiple food vendors of authentic Hungarian specialties as well as native wine and beer. The day features Hungarian folk dance and music groups, traditional crafters, exhibits, books, clothing, fencing demonstrations, and other goods. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Go: Somerset Street from Bethany and Division streets, New Brunswick; 732-846-5777. http://www.hungarianfestival.org/.
13th annual Mercer County Cultural Festival & Food Truck Festival, West Windsor
The diverse cultures of county residents are expressed through live music, traditional dance performances, authentic food trucks, a beer garden, art demonstrations, heritage crafters and activities for children. Running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the free day-long event features live performances of music and dance, as well as traditional art, dance and musical performances, heritage artisans, international food trucks, a Biergarten, children's activities, and more.
Go: Mercer County Park, 1638 Old Trenton Road, West Windsor; 609-278-2712, https://www.mercercounty.org/departments/culture-and-heritage/cultural-festival.
Polish Heritage Festival, East Brunswick
The annual Polish Heritage Festival celebrates the cultural richness and contributions of Poland, offering a day filled with culinary delights, captivating performances and memorable exhibitions. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. indulge in a delectable feast of traditional Polish food, marvel at the craftsmanship of vintage automobiles at the Antique Car Show, and delight in specially tailored children's entertainment and live music. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the rhythm and grace of Polish dance performances, explore a diverse array of gifts and exhibits showcasing Poland's cultural treasures, and browse the bustling Polish vendor marketplace for authentic products and souvenirs.
Go: Middlesex County Fairgrounds, 55 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick; https://polfest.com/.
57th Sacred Heart Summer Festival, Manville
The Sacred Heart Summer Festival is an annual event marking its 57th year in 2025 featuring Polish food, games and entertainment. The festival includes a variety of Polish dishes like pierogi and stuffed cabbage, along with traditional favorites. It also features nightly 50/50 raffles, a cash raffle, a cake and candy wheel, a DJ, and a beer garden. The Summer Festival runs from July 24 through 27 at at Christ the Redeemer Parish and takes place on their church grounds.
Go: Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 98 South 2nd Ave., Manville; 908-725-0072, https://www.ctrmanville.com/.
Pet Palooza Food and Music Festival, Manville
Get ready for a day full of fun, food, music, and pets! Looking to add a furry friend to your family? The event is partnering with local rescues and shelters to help lovable dogs and cats find their forever homes. There is lots of pet-friendly fun with contests, giveaways, shopping, and more. Visitors at the 5th annual Pet Palooza Food and Music Festival can meet adoptable pets, eat at food vendors and trucks, listen to local bands, enter your dog into a contest, and go shopping at the vendor tables from noon to 6 p.m. at Lincoln Park. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Leashed pets are welcome. Admission is $7 per person; kids 10 and under are free. FASTPASS tickets are $4.85 when purchased in advance.
Go: Lincoln Park, 226 Boesel Ave., Manville; https://www.facebook.com/events/2496104414055008.
email: [e-mail]
Cheryl Makin is an award-winning feature, news and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: [e-mail] or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Central Jersey food festivals happening in 2025