r/centraljersey

For anyone who wants to find some things to do in Jersey this weekend without having to cross state lines, I've been writing a newsletter that compiled a list of events happening this weekend in the (roughly) central Jersey area:

May 8th

• Mother's Day French Market Flower Sale, Princeton, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM The Garden Club of Princeton will hold its Mother's Day French Market Flower Sale on Friday, May 8, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the corner of Nassau and University Place, across from Sotheby’s, offering living flower arrangements, cut flowers, and bud vases to support its community trust projects. More info here
• Sips & Bouquet Evening, Princeton, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Terhune Orchards will host Sips & Bouquet Evening on Friday, May 8, offering guests a wine flight and the chance to make spring flower arrangements for Mother’s Day weekend for $50 per person. Register here
• Pop-Up Talk: Curators Kit Brooks and Zoe Kwok, Princeton, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Princeton University Art Museum will present a free Pop-Up Talk on Friday, May 8, as curators Kit Brooks and Zoe S. Kwok discuss the new pavilion for Asian art before an informal gallery conversation. More info here
• RED123 “Pat Metheny Group Tribute”, Hopewell, 8:00 PM RED123 will bring its Pat Metheny tribute to Hopewell Valley Stage on Friday, May 8, promising a soulful jazz set featuring Steve Bryant, Digba Ogunbiyi, Cody McCorry, Tom Cottone and Jim Stagnitto. Buy tickets here
• Live At Twin Lights: Highland Cinema with Apsalar and Eefah, Tinton Falls, 5:30 PM Twin Lights Brewing will host a free, all-ages live set on Friday, May 8, featuring Highland Cinema, Apsalar and Eefah in its tasting room. More info here

May 9th

• New Jersey Audubon's World Series of Birding, Bernardsville, All Day New Jersey Audubon’s World Series of Birding takes place across New Jersey on Saturday, May 9, 2026, bringing teams and birdwatchers into a 24-hour statewide competition to spot as many species as possible while raising support for bird and habitat conservation. More info here
• 2nd Annual Downtown Hopewell Mocktail Crawl: Sip, Snack & Shop, Hopewell, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM Downtown Hopewell will host its second annual Mocktail Crawl on Saturday, May 9, from noon to 4 p.m., inviting visitors to sample alcohol-free drinks, shop local merchants and support the Sourland Conservancy. Tickets are $20, purchased here
• Branchburg Food Truck & Music Festival, Branchburg, 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM The Branchburg Food Truck & Music Festival will bring 20 gourmet food trucks, live music, family activities and a beer garden to White Oak Park on Saturday, May 9, with proceeds supporting local volunteer fire companies and admission set at $5. More info here
• Ross Farm Jazz Fest, Basking Ridge, 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM The Ross Farm Jazz Fest returns on Saturday, May 9, with college and youth ensembles leading into a headlining set by the Dave Stryker / Bob Mintzer Quartet at the historic Ross Farm in Bernards, with tickets priced at $25 for adults. More info here
• Opening Day!, Oceanport, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Monmouth Park opens its 2026 live racing season on Saturday, May 9, with gates at 11 a.m., the first race at 12:50 p.m., and a full day of opening-weekend festivities, food, and family activities. More info here
• Spring Festival, Middletown, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Middletown United Methodist Church will host a Spring Festival on Saturday, May 9, with vendors, games, food, pony rides, a petting zoo and other family activities. More info here.
• FC Monmouth vs Kensington SC, Red Bank, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM FC Monmouth opens its 2026 home schedule on Saturday, May 9, when the men host Kensington SC at Count Basie Park in Red Bank for Monmouth County Night. Get your tickets here

May 10th

• Asbury Farmers & Makers Market, Asbury Park, 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM The Asbury FRESH Farmers & Makers Market returned for its 13th year on Sunday, May 3 at Press Plaza in downtown Asbury Park, bringing local produce, artisan goods and food vendors to a weekly community market. More info here
• Mother’s Day brunch and dinner, Cranbury, 10:30 AM - 10:00 PM The Cranbury Inn will mark Mother’s Day with brunch and dinner on Sunday, May 10, serving two curated menus and chef specials, with reservations strongly recommended. Make your reservation here
• Snow White, New Brunswick, 12:00 PM Princeton Ballet School will stage Snow White on Saturday and Sunday at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, an enchanting one-hour ballet choreographed by Samantha Dunster with more than 200 young dancers. Get your tickets here

If you know of anything else happening this weekend, comment it below for others to see. And if you're interested in getting these events, you can subscribe here to my newsletter that finds these events every weekend: Plainsboro Pulse.

Got in an accident in mercer county, 4 tickets. I believe I may have majorly f-d up. Cannot afford much at all but if theres anyone maybe up to $500 range id be very grateful to know.

Hi! I’m 27 years old and trying to make friends. I don’t have any :( does anyone know of any clubs I can join around the central Jersey area?

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After a fire at Woodbridge Center Plaza displaced 50 residents in April, a unique township ordinance required their landlord to rehouse them at the same rent by the end of the day.