This festival was awesome, off Palisades Ave in Washington Park (right on the boarder of JC). Not…read moresure how long it was around for, but I went the night of 9/14. There were lots of people enjoying the rides and food, and a good police presence as well. Rides: Farris Wheel, bumper cars, loop roller coaster, starship spiny ride, another spiny ride, a ride where you sit in a swing and fly in the air in a circle. There was also a little kid ride section with 3-4 different rides for toddlers. And a petting zoo with ponies and lamas. Food options were an Italian and fried food station, a Spanish food station, and an Asian meet on a stick station. I did not see any alcohol sold. There was also a candy apple and cotton candy station. Carney games were cool too, there was a rifle target game that was impossible to win, a water gun game, and 4 or 5 other booths. I rocked the shuffle board game on my first shot! Had such a good time at this festival, quality of rides and entertainment was better than similar fairs I have been to in Jersey City. Will definitely be looking out for this fair's return next September!

I have never stood on a line that long for zeppoles, but I 100% would do so again. Bring cash for…read morethe zeppoles and the fried seafood stand, I'm looking forward to trying clams strips next time! I stopped by during the day and it wasn't too bad crowd wise, but that sun was rough! I also tried a mini cannoli and some pasta, both were fine. Come for the zeppoles and stay for the vibes!

Good Feast. Great food. Nice vendors. Celebrating Feast of St Ann. Good neighborhood community.read more

Ayyy Ohhhh Pizannooo!!!…read more Italian festival in Jersey City on a beautiful sunny symmer day. Eat, drink, play games, be merry, AND, foghettaboutit!!!

I expected much much more from this Italian "party". I put party in quotes because this is just a…read moresmall, yes, super small street fair, just 2 blocks. The weather wasn't good so that obviously contributed to my "not so happy" day but my 2 stars are strictly about the "party" itself because bad weather is nobody's fault. There is very limited food choices and the food didn't look good. Cheese steak looked very dry and the kebabs look like they had been sitting there for 2 weeks. The only thing I enjoyed was the rice ball but it's small for $7 a piece. Lots of people asking for donation for churches and a few other causes. The band was ok but the sound wasn't very clear. There is a very limited number of small tables near the stage if you want to eat. Since it was raining it wasn't difficult to find street parking 3 blocks away and the line for the food wasn't bad. But if it's a sunny day I can imagine how difficult it would be to find parking and, as other reviewers have mentioned, the long lines to order food.

Oh swine, how I love thee…read more What a great event! First of all, so many people came by through out the day starting at noon and ending at 8 PM. This was a ommunity event at its finest. The music was on point and there were a variety of local vendors including MAE, Dinosaur BBQ, Jimmy's BBQ, Hamilton Inn serving up NJ Beer Co, Sophie Sophia, Fizzy Lizzy and a few others. The bbq was amazing. I had lamb ribs from MAE, some pulled pork (I think) from Dinosaur BBQ, and of course an amazing bite of cupcake from SS. Hot damn. Everything was fresh and delicious. The food was great, the proceeds was going to a great cause (Hamilton Park Conservancy), and the weather was perfect albeit a bit windy. There is nothing like eating bbq with the community filled with babies, dogs, hipsters, non hipsters, beer, laughs and live music. Win. I look forward to next year! Oh and for families: petting zoo in the house! Along with vendors selling crafts organized by Not Yo Momma's Craft Fair. Amaze.

Hamilton Park BBQ Festival was a wonderful community event which was a fund raiser for The Hamilton…read morePark Conservancy. The conservancy is dedicated to assisting the city in the maintenance and improvement of the park. What a great way to enjoy a beautiful sunny afternoon and raise some money for a good cause. Outstanding. The event featured: BBQ at Legal Beans, Dinosaur Bar-b-que, Jimmy's BBQ and Modern American Eatery. Beverages by New Jersey Beer Company, Lizzmonade and Fizzy Lizzy. They also had a petting zoo for the kids and assorted tables selling bake goods, treats and goodies. Yelp had a table and was represented by Stephanie Y who was full of enthusiasm. It was my first time meeting her and was wow by her energy and friendliness. Yay! I only had the opportunity to taste Dinosaur Bar-b-que and the ribs were delicious. The half rack I ordered was very good. It had all the characteristics of excellent barbecue ribs: ring around the rib, moist, tender, great flavor and meaty. The 2 pieces of 3 ribs each had good texture and just fell off the bone. It just had the right amount of pull and awesome flavor. The ribs had a good rub with a balance of traditional spices. Overall high B+, very high. The pull pork sandwich just did not cut it. It was a beautiful cut of pork shoulder with all the good characteristics of good tasting pull pork BBQ, but It failed. It was just cold and the flavors did not come out. While I did received a good amount of pull pork it was just not steaming with flavor. Overall, this was a wonderful event with lots of food and drink. To bad I had to leave after an hour. I was on a journey to visit my in-laws with Wifey. This was certainly a local event and supported by the local community. There was good food and drink. There was fun. There was community spirit. I can't wait to come back to this part of New Jersey and experience some great hospitality.

(Attended 09/12/2026 SA @ 6:00pm): Italians in Hoboken and surrounding areas unite for a festival…read morefor the Madonna Dei Martiri! In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes and things to do throughout Jersey City and specifically the Heights, my friend and her friends recommended the 100th Annual Hoboken Italian Festival (September 10-13, 2026) that celebrated the tradition of the Madonna Dei Martiri for those raised in the Roman Catholic religion.The festival was derived from one in Italy that was hundreds of years old, usually took place the weekend after Labor Day, and the highlight of the feast was the day-long procession through the streets of Hoboken that included a reenactment of the "Blessing of the Fleet" in the Hudson River. This year, a drone show was added for the first time. Did Hoboken do its Italians proud at this festival!? PURCHASE(S) Admission (N/A): This was a free community family event, so you brought your curiosity, hunger, walking shoes, and your wallet to hopefully patronage the many vendor booths. Italian Hot Sausage & Peppers Sandwich ($16.00): Spicy, thick, a decent amount of onions and peppers, and a general sloppy mess on a lightly-toasted roll, this was the best food deal at the event! Sprite Lemon-Lime Soda 12floz Can ($3.00): One of my caffeine-free soda pop go-tos! Jersey Pickles Whole Pickle w/Chamoy ($5.00): A fat juicy pickle topped with some sour spicy sweetness was a complete revelation! Jersey Pickles Hot & Spicy Mixed Olives 12oz Container ($12.00): I ate these as a snack over several days; I wanted more! Birra Moretti L'Autentica Ricetta Originale Pale Lager Beer 4.6% ABV 16floz Draft ($10.35): Amber honey color, honey malt aroma, low body, light bready malt flavor, clean effervescent finish, and a light malty sweet aftertaste. Cannoli ($6.00): Plain and possibly went bad as it had a slight tang flavor which shouldn't be there. Samuel Adams Summer Ale Wheat Beer 5.3% ABV 12floz Can ($10.35): Amber color, lemony malty aroma, light body, lemony malty flavor, clean smooth finish, and lemony malty watery aftertaste. Fiddlehead IPA Beer 6.2% ABV 12floz Can ($10.35): Hazy rich amber color, citrusy dank hoppy aroma, light body, citrusy hoppy flavor, clean dry finish, and smooth citrusy hoppy aftertaste. Krazy Kan Carnival Game 2 Bean Bags ($3.00): I won a prize! Various Credit Card Fees 3.00%-3.30% ($2.06): C'est la vie... Various Alcohol Automatic Gratuity Fees 20.00% ($6.21): This kind of sucked, but what could you do!? SERVICE All vendors I dealt with were efficient and friendly. I also noticed workers who handled the various trash bins and possibly a few hired security personnel to keep the peace. Everything was calm, safe, and welcoming - thank you! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): This was a moot point since we walked the slightly flat-to-downhill leisure 30-minute distance from my friend's place. Additionally, because the main drag of Sinatra Dr. along the waterfront, and adjacent side streets were all closed to vehicular traffic, parking was extremely limited and generally pushed to the periphery of the event area - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A decent swath of grass along the waterfront with views of the city and passing boats/ships along the Hudson in the background, you came across a ton of vendors who sold everything from handcrafted candles, clothes, food, and jewelry to local businesses who promoted their services, carnival games, and of course food. There were also plenty of kid-friendly activities such as face-painting and inflatable slides, while for the adults there was a beer garden and live performances on a stage. Plenty of natural lighting since you were outdoors the entire time while a ton of electric street lights and from those hung on the vendor booths filled in the rest once the sun went down. There were no TVs while the sounds of consumerism, conversations, kids, live bands, and off-in-the-not-so-distant vehicular traffic could be constantly heard in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL The 100th Annual Hoboken Italian Festival was a cool experience, and I would consider it again if I were in town. My biggest recommendation was for this event to be more Italian-focused (especially the food). And, the event was very pet-friendly as long as you picked up after them. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $83.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, the vendors I spent money on accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

We expected a show last Sunday at the Hoboken Italian Festival - Moroccan Sheepherders. I drove…read morefrom Pennsylvania. My friend also came a long way. No one told us it was cancelled. At 430P I asked the stagehands what was happening and learned. I had invited two of my coworkers and two nieces, described how great the band is, glad they couldn't make it, it would have been a super letdown. There was no flooding it was dry as a bone. It was also terribly hot and sunny. In the old location there was shade from the apartment high-rises and trees. People naturally walked there - more foot traffic - whereas this was an outpost on the pier. No one wanted to hang out in the hot sun. Terrible organization.

Per Soul Asylum, nothing attracts a crowd like a crowd. Popularity draws more vendors who attract a…read morebigger audience, etc., and Newark Ave. may not feel navigable. But you can head straight to Jersey Ave. for several culinary options. Yes you may miss your chance to sign up for Green Mountain Energy. Today I learned about Petite Ile, a great purveyor of Mauritian samosas. I got all six for $12.75, with lamb as the favorite. It was also my Cardosos debut. I enjoyed the Cuban sandwich. While I only got the half I wouldn't call it small as it was loaded up with pork, and sauce enthusiasts should get on the PATH now for that mojo aioli.

(Attended 09/20/2025 SA @ 12:00pm - 8:00pm): Literally... it was all about downtown Jersey City at…read morethis street fair! In my quest to explore the various cuisine scenes and things to do throughout Jersey City and specifically the Heights, my friend and her friends recommended the 14th Annual All About Downtown Street Fair that celebrated and promoted downtown Jersey City before I left town. I always loved a street fair, and since I worked in event management and all-things marketing, it was always fun for me to see how other events (big or small) were handled... and maybe there might be some good practices I can take with me to implement at another event I'm associated with. Promoted and executed by the Historic Downtown Jersey City Special Improvement District, the main purpose of this event was to highlight the downtown area and its businesses with hopes that patrons would visit these establishments and spread the word. Did I learn all about Jersey City's downtown area during this one-day street fair!? PURCHASE(S) Admission (N/A): This was a free community family event, so you brought your curiosity, hunger, walking shoes, and your wallet to hopefully patronage the many vendor booths. Pina Colada - Fresh Pineapple & Rum Shot ($20.00 + $5.00): Purchased from Ma & Pa's Tex-Mex BBQ Food Truck, I'll cover this with more details in a separate review. BBQ Pork Isaw Skewer + BBQ Chicken Skewers 2pc ($4.00 + $15.00): Purchased from Kanto Filipino Street Food Truck, I'll cover this with more details in a separate review. SERVICE With the exception of the friendly greetings and services you received at every single vendor booth, you really didn't deal with anyone else. I believed I saw some city workers who handled the various trash bins and possibly a few hired security personnel to keep the peace. Everything was calm, safe, and welcoming - thank you! PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): This was a moot point since we walked the slightly flat-to-downhill leisure 20-minute distance from my friend's place. Additionally, because the main drags of Newark Ave. and Grove St., respectively, and adjacent side streets were all closed to vehicular traffic, parking was extremely limited and generally pushed to the periphery of the event area - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A relatively small walkable area on Newark Ave. between Grove St. and Coles St. in downtown Jersey City, you came across a ton of vendors who sold everything from handcrafted candles, clothes, food, and jewelry to local businesses who promoted their services. There were also plenty of kid-friendly activities such as face-painting and rides, while for the adults there was a beer garden and live performances on a stage. Plenty of natural lighting since you were outdoors the entire time while a ton of electric street lights and from those hung on the vendor booths filled in the rest once the sun went down. There were no TVs while the sounds of consumerism, conversations, kids, and off-in-the-not-so-distant vehicular traffic could be constantly heard in the background. ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL I had a blast at Jersey City's 14th Annual All About Downtown Street Fair, and I would definitely attend it again if I were in town (every September). I respect and highly recommend every city and neighborhood to organize such events to bring more people into the fold and hopefully generate some revenue. Building a community was always a positive thing with this type of event. I appreciated the assortment of vendors, but I felt it may've been a touch heavy on the handcraft variety and not enough actual support from brick-and-mortar businesses who have a real stake in increasing their profile. And, the event was very pet-friendly as long as you picked up after them. I found very good value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $44.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, the vendors I spent money on accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 4.0 STARS

The Hoboken Arts and Music Festival is offered annually, in both the Spring and again in the Fall…read more It is one of largest and most interesting street fairs in the area. There is a huge number of vendors spanning from artwork to jewelry, décor, clothing, soaps, candles, gourmet foods, and more, as well as a load of local food vendors. There are also stages at either end of the 8 block fest with various musicians playing decently long sets throughout the day. You could even take a break from the festivities to sit outside at one of the many bars and restaurants on Washington and simply people-watch. It really is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon! I would recommend checking it out, but, if you are not based in the area, be sure to take the train or Path into town, as the station is right near the festival, and parking can be even more scarce than usual.

A good number of local artists, vendors, and businesses lined the length of this event, with stages…read moreflanking each end and a stage near the center in the kid's area. We initially came for the music, but a last minute decision to bring four kids with us meant we were now overruled by beings who couldn't sit still for live music. We managed to get two-and-a-half songs in from a Latin-style band with a female lead. There was plenty to see and do and EAT! This was the perfect location! The area had a good amount of small businesses, as well as the stuff we're all familiar with. A combination of these businesses and festival food filled our bellies, excessively...gluttonously. The vast choices of unique art, crafts, and jewelry allowed each kid to pick out something special for mommy for Mother's Day. But I couldn't find the Yelp booth!

If you really want to know the whole story, it's all laid out on their website but reading a bunch…read moreof bullet points on a screen about some big neighborhood spectacle is about the most depressing thing you can do, so I'll explain. ​Basically, the Giglio Feast is a historic 12-day Italian-American festival that happens every July at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It's been going on since 1887 when immigrants brought it over from Nola, Italy, to honor Saint Paulinus commemorating when he returned from captivity after sacrificing himself for his people and Our Lady of Mount Carmel. That part actually sounds pretty decent, if you want to know the truth, but the way spectators in attendance make a huge circus out of it just drives me crazy. Then participants are amazing. ​The main event is this thing called the "Dancing of the Giglio," where they take a giant 70-foot tower made of wood and steel weighing four whole tons and covered in lilies, angels, and religious figures and hoist it up. They've got a live brass band and a singer literally sitting right on top of the timber frame while roughly 120 guys lift, spin, and "dance" this enormous four-ton thing down North 8th Street on their bare shoulders. ​Guys in matching outfits blowing saxophones and yelling on the platform, and crowds of people crammed together in the street taking photos and cheering. There's even a statue of a saint perched at the very top against the blue sky, looking down at all these phonies sweating and carrying on in the heat. It's supposed to be this grand, sacred tradition, but looking at a hundred guys breaking their backs to carry a four-ton tower with a band riding on it just makes you feel sort of tired and thirsty. It really does.

This was my second or third excursion here. It's been years since I've gone but it's probably a…read moremediocre fair, which is about ten blocks long, at best. A few basic rides and food being sold but I think it's relatively boring and just blah overall. If you're not a regular, live nearby or just in the area, for another reason, it's surely not worth venturing over here, in my opinion.

The Navratri Festival in Jersey City is one of the largest Navratri celebrations in the area. The…read morefall festival takes over India Square for two weekends, during which people make deity offerings, dance, and sing traditional folk songs at night. Navratri is a big deal festival in India. It's celebrated over 10 days and 9 nights in September/October (the word Navratri means 'Nine Nights'). It is a religious festival where the Goddess Durga is worshiped. It's free to enter the festival, but any money collected goes to helping Indian schools and hospitals abroad. If you are in Jersey City, I would recommend checking it out and immersing yourself in the experience.

Groove on Grove has got it all. Funky live tunes, delish food vendors, shopping and most…read moreimportantly, an authentic local feel and a strong sense of community. This happens every Wednesday night and is right outside of my apartment. If I'm around you can bet that I'll be there. Every week they feature a different local act and from what I've heard so far, talent is always in full force. I like that the bands will take some time to cover old and familiar songs, it's always fun to sing along and rock out. I haven't tried any of the food yet, but the empanadas look killer. The line is always pretty long, but I'm sure it's worth the wait. Sometimes Orale has a taco stand set up as well. Everyone has a smile on their face and the mood is always relaxed and upbeat. What's not to love about a warm summer night filled with food, music and community lovin!

I mean how can you not love Groove on Grove? Great music weekly. Amazing local vendors to choose…read morefrom and a community spirit that makes you love Jersey City even more. Amazing. Once a month or so they have Barcade and Hard Grove out there selling some beers and mixed drinks making the event even more awesome since, c'mon now, who doesn't like an adult beverage outside in the Grove St. area square listening to some home grown Jersey bands or visitors from across the Hudson. The selection of people range from JC hipsters to families with small children to the older community. What a great cross - section of JC life. This weekly community event is a great part of downtown Jersey City and adds a lot of fun and spirit to the area, I highly suggest checking it out (especially on booze days) and just enjoy being outside with some other great locals!