5 Things To Do In NJ This Weekend: Frankie Valli, Renaissance, Anime + More

NEW JERSEY —There is always something to do in the Garden State, especially now spring is here. Patch gathered a list of events this weekend around New Jersey, including musical performances, hands-on exhibits for the kids, festivals, and opportunities to meet local artisans.

A big headliner this weekend is Frankie Valli, who performs in Newark with the Four Seasons on Friday. Rutgers University is hosting its annual day showcasing its science, agriculture, technology, and global studies programs at three campus locations. Princeton holds its annual “Porchfest,” a walkable music festival, on Saturday.

And there are several opportunities to get dressed up in costume for a renaissance fair in Atlantic County and an anime convention in North Jersey.

All events are weather-dependent, and the web pages linked to each one would be the best way to get any updates.

Here’s what’s going on in Jersey this weekend:

1. “Jersey boy” Frankie Valli returns to Newark Friday, April 28 with the Four Seasons. The famous falsetto and his group perform at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m.

Resale tickets are still available via Ticketmaster and will cost upwards of $100 with taxes and fees.

Address: 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102 (In the Prudential Hall-Betty Wold Johnson Stage)

2. The student-run Castle Point Anime Convention at the Meadowlands Expo Center is Saturday and Sunday, April 29 – 30.

This is the 14th year for the celebration of anime and cosplay culture. Featured panelists include voice actors Adam McArthur (“Star vs. The Forces of Evil,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Far Cry 5”) Kaiji Tang (“Yakuza: Like a Dragon,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Demon Slayer”) and Anne Yatco (“Genshin Im- pact,” “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Miraculous Ladybug”).

YouTuber Emirichu is also a featured guest. There will be musical performances, cosplay guests, plenty of vendors, and a Pokémon League.

Tickets are $40 for Saturday, $35 for Sunday, and $60 for both days.

The con is named for the Castle Point lookout, on the campus of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.

Address: Meadowlands Exposition Center and Embassy Suites, 355 Plaza Drive Secaucus, NJ 07094

3. With rain in the forecast, many Rutgers Day 2023 events have moved inside. Still, there are free family-friendly activities at the university’s campuses in New Brunswick and Piscataway on Saturday, April 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The university planned a day full of performances, hands-on activities, and demonstrations to exhibit the research and innovation going on at Rutgers’ campuses.

• Busch Campus in Piscataway – Busch Campus Center, Werblin Recreation Center, and the School of Engineering.
• College Avenue in New Brunswick – College Avenue Gym, College Avenue Student Center, and Graduate School of Education.
• Cook/Douglass campus in New Brunswick – Douglass Student Center, along College Farm Road, and the Passion Puddle area.

View campus maps here and check the Rutgers Day website for more detailed info.

4. Front porches turn into concert venues for Princeton Porchfest on Saturday from 12-6 p.m., and people can stroll the streets while listening to live, local talent. Porchfest is free and open to the public - the event is held rain or shine, and there is rain in the forecast for Saturday afternoon.

Porchfest organizers encourage attendees to patronize local businesses, especially sponsors Small World Coffee, Maman, and Jammin’ Crepes. Related article – Princeton Porchfest Returns For Second Year

Address: View a map here; bathrooms are available at the Arts Council of Princeton, which sponsors the event (102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542).

5. Hear ye, hear ye! Historic Smithville is turned into the Shire of Smithville for a Renaissance Faire on Saturday and Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There is merriment for the whole family including song and dance, knights and jousting, food and drink, and many local vendors and traveling artisans. The players of the NJ Renaissance Fair will be there, too. Performances include comedy sword fighting, aerial acrobatics, and music.

Address: Village Greene, 615 E Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205.