5 Events In New Jersey This Weekend: Music, County Fair + More

NEW JERSEY — Looking for something to do this weekend? Patch rounded up a variety of things going on in your state, from mountain music to a lively county fair.

Rain is forecast to hit the state in spurts this weekend, so if you're headed to an outdoor event, consider checking social media to make sure the event hasn't been postponed or called off.

Also, National Ice Cream Day is Sunday, so you might want to schedule in a trip to the scoop shop!

Here are five events going on this weekend around New Jersey:

Ocean County Fair

• July 12-July 16. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Entry is $10.
• Robert J. Miller Airpark (901 Route 530, Berkeley Township)

Nearly 50,000 people walk through the fair to visit 4-H animals, eat delicious treats and enjoy the variety of entertainment offered, according to the Ocean County Fair website. For more events going on in Ocean County this weekend, check out this Patch article.

New Jersey Symphony special presentation — The Cone Institute Concert

• Saturday, July 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets available here from $20.
• Victoria Theater, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (1 Center Street, Newark)

The symphony, under the direction of guest conductor Case Scaglione, will perform works by four emerging composers selected for the Edward T. Cone Composition Institute.

The four composers are: Tom Morrison with his work "Messages in the Ground," Kory Reeder with his work "Walls of Brocade Fields," Sam Wu with his work "Hydrosphere," and Yangfan Xu with her work "Bya."

Institute Director Steven Mackey will host the concert, and the final work "Sphere" is from his "Concerto for Curved Space."

Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Jam Session

• Sunday, July 16 from 12-5 p.m. Free.
• Thompson Park (805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft) – Outside of the Theater Barn

The Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association will meet for a free jam session under the trees. Bring your own bass, banjo, fiddle, mandolin or guitar to join in, or just stop by and enjoy an afternoon of music. For more events going on with Monmouth County Parks this summer, check out this Patch article.

Butterfly Festival

• Saturday, July 15 from noon-4 p.m., with the rain date Sunday at the same time. Free.
• Red Bank Battlefield Park, 100 Hessian Avenue, National Park NJ

The Gloucester County Certified Gardeners invite anyone who cares about the conservation of bees and other pollinators to join them for a full day of fun and education. The Butterfly Festival features live music, vendors, kids' games, crafts, and tours of the Butterfly House. There will also be a "bug parade," so "bring your wings!"

Sourland Mountain Festival

• Saturday, July 15 with gates opening at 2:30 p.m. and music from 3-8:30 p.m. Rain or shine. All proceeds benefit the Sourland Conservancy
  • Tickets are $40 for adults at the gate and $10 for young people aged 12-18; kids under 12 are free. . Advance discount tickets are available through July 14.
• Unionville Vineyards (9 Rocktown Road, Ringoes)

The live music lineup will feature headliners The Outcrops, Mike Montrey Band, The Gumbo Gumbas, and Pepperwine. Food and beverages are available for purchase from local vendors as music sounds out on the mountain. For more information on the event, check out this Patch article.