A great yearly event that hasn't been reviewed much lately. Judging by the crowd it appears to be a…read morevery popular event. There is live music, a craft, beer, garden, food trucks and crab fenders. There's a bunch of things to do for the kids. What I thought was cute was that you can kiss a pet for a dollar I believe it's the first weekend of every October.

Take a trip back 300 years to a date when we were still a colony in the British Empire, when many…read moreestablished towns grew as trading posts and became horse feeding stops between large city designations. Such is the humble beginnings of Allentown New Jersey, halfway between New York & Philadelphia. This was all before Snookie & MTV trashed all things Jersey and created late night TV fodder for all those talking heads, despite the fact that those Jersey Shore invaders were not Jerzee natives. In 1706 Nathan Allen bought much of the farmland and built 3 mills and the area was known as Allen's Town, and morphed into today's Allentown. George Washington slept here on his way to Crossing the Delaware. That building is still on Main St. So many historical little goodies for you history buffs. Now, for the fest right on Main St. The 2nd weekend of October every year. The weather makes all the difference, ... get a nice sunny day and you can take in all the charm of this lively little town and enjoy and stuff your face with your favorite Jersey tasty treat. Pork roll-n-cheese, sausage-n-peppers, sweet local corn, Fried clams/clam rolls, Zeppoles (Jersey's fried dough with powdered sugar, so bad and soooo good) and then every local restaurant sets up shop to show off their signature dishes. When you're done prepare to roll out smiling with a satisfied pallet! The Civil War reenactment in the adjacent park is very well done and Nerdvana for us History geeks :-) Definitely a cool stop on fall day!

PROS: This place was amazing. Tons of parking, obviously hot air balloons, helicopter rides,…read morecarnival rides, games, food, shops, a drone show and to end it all... fireworks! CONS: the admission is pricey! $35 roughly online and $40 at the door. I'm this economy many families won't be able to afford it OVERALL: it's pricey, but if you have the money I would definitely come here

This is something I've been meaning to do for a while ever since I've lived in NJ. Long story…read moreshort: I liked it, but don't love it enough to come back every following year. Some pointers: buy tickets at Quickcheck to avoid the $4 service fee online or keep your eyes peeled for the Groupon deal. Apparently there was one this year, but I totally missed it. I and my friends planned for the Saturday 6:30pm launch. One of my friends is a veteran attendee and suggested that we go early. We got there around 3:30pm. Parking wasn't too terribly congested at the time. Heads up, parking will run you about $10. Because it rained the day before, the lot was super muddy too, so choose your footwear accordingly. I will make note that I did run into a parking attendant with a less than kind attitude - very off-putting. Nevertheless, I was not about to let that ruin my evening. So what to do for the next 3 hrs? We spent about 1.5 hours bouncing from vendor to vendor. There are lots of free food and drink samples, which pretty much serve as a whole meal. However, they shut down sample stations from 5-7pm, so if you're hungry after that, you will have to purchase from the food vendors. There were plenty of options - kebabs, crepes, hotdogs, etc. Food is a little pricier - 1 pork kebab ran me about $6, but that's to be expected at festivals. After running from vendor to vendor, there's really not much else to do. We brought a picnic sheet and sat in the grass fields waiting for the balloon take off for the last hour and a half. The balloon event itself, from inflation to all the balloons getting up in the air, was about 40 minutes. It was a breath taking sight, and we got the opportunity to take lots of photos. Afterwards, we hung around, listened to Lifehouse, and watched the finale fireworks. Leaving the parking lot was a nightmare. It took another 1.5 hours to leave the lot because it's essentially one lane. Also I think a couple cars got stuck in the mud, so they had to get pulled out. So yes, while I really enjoyed the last couple hours of the event, I think the festival itself doesn't have that many activities to partake in, and I think $34 is a smidge pricey. I might wait a few years to come back to this one.

Portugal Day is the national holiday for the country of Portugal and is celebrated annually on June…read more10th. Throughout the world, Portuguese communities celebrate the day, as well. Portugal Day in the Ironbound is a big deal and takes over Ferry Street yearly for one weekend every June. Check it out at least once. It's pretty cool. There's so much to experience - music in the streets, a parade, costumes, delicious cuisine at food stands and served at many of the restaurants lining Ferry street, huge sangria drinks and Bacardi lemonade drinks. It's a big party. It's free to walk around, but some places have private celebrations that you can enter by paying an entrance fee. I know that Iberia charged $20 to enter their lot where they had their own food stands and entertainment. I didn't go inside, but my friends went and said it was pretty cool. You'll have fun either way - going the free route or paying for a more exclusive experience. Portugal Day is a fun time and something to check out in the Ironbound in June.

I have been coming here for years. I've come with friends, i've come with family. either way- its…read morefun. You have to get the big tub of Sangria at sol-mar tent . Its $15 but so worth it. Also, try sardines, fried eel, octopus, and the ribs. For the young people, theres drinking and dancing. Theres a parade for all those that like that. Yes, sometimes it gets a little crazy in the streets. Yes, there usually is trash everywhere b/c people dont use the trash cans. Yes, parking can be tough. Yes, you still should experience it!

Thank you Mayor Sam Joshi for injecting some holiday spirit into our community. I've lived in town…read morefor 11 years and in the last two years with Joshi at the helm, there has been a significant improvement in the level of positive engagement within the community. Leaders are more energized. New businesses are thriving. I feel more optimistic about the future of Edison. The opening night for Edison's first annual Winter Wonderland and Marketplace was a huge success, despite the intermittent rain. Now that we have this event happening in town, I have another outlet for supporting local businesses, and I won't have to drag my kids elsewhere for holiday festivities! #winning

Stopped by the fair on a very warm Sunday afternoon. I decided to take the train instead of driving…read moreand it is very conveniently located basically across the street from the train station. There were many vendors to check out and they had a nice selection of items. They also had a specific area set aside for the food vendors but there wasn't much seating. I only saw a few tables and chairs set up. As far as food they had a nice selection to choose from. I had a great empanada from Empanada Monster, some boardwalk fries, and your traditional twist soft ice cream cone. They also had the Cousins Maine Lobster Truck, and the Thai Food Addict Truck. I thought the prices were very reasonable. They were even selling cans of soda and water for $1.00 They also had a DJ to provide some entertainment and a bouncy house for the kids as well as some games to play. Very nice street fair...

Ever since I was little, my parents would take me out to the fairs, particularly the ones in…read moreCranford and Westfield since we obviously lived close-by to these areas. We go to these events every year to see what was being exhibited. The bigger size of the fair, the better, since there would be a lot on display for the visitors to see and possibly buy. We were always fond of the fairs in Cranford and Westfield because of it's sizes, and this year, this fair is still big, thus giving me the chance to see a lot on display. This fair was located in the heart of downtown Cranford. Various food vendors were available, selling different kinds of meals and snacks, particularly fried foods. Other vendors were selling crafts that they made, like candles and tiny picnic tables which were meant to hold salt and pepper shakers. More vendors also sold classic toys and sports memorabilia. There were also different organizations and companies onsite for distribution of various services (like Vivint and FIOS). Some of the tables from those organizations had little "Wheel Of Fortune" games for the kids. I certainly remember playing those games when I was a little boy in the 90s at the fairs. Overall, I'd say all of that was interesting. If that wasn't enough, there were some classic cars on display on one little side street. There actually wasn't that much, but it was enough for me to look and enjoy what was being shown. Who doesn't like looking at old, classic cars? If I had a favorite out of what I saw, I'd say it was the Porsche. I didn't recall seeing those cars at the Garwood event a few months ago. As I walked around, I got overwhelmed by the smell of the oil that was used for the fried foods. I wasn't amused by that. That also left me wondering whether or not the oil was replaced recently prior to the actual frying procedures. The smells were obviously not too far from the booths where the actual frying was taking place. The big size of the fairs in Cranford will always make me a fan! :D

Probably the best organized festival I've ever been to. Minimal waits on the lines and there was a…read moregreat variety of food. The key for families is to divide and conquer. For singles, go by your course. Ample picnic tables for seating. I like communal tables because you get to meet all kinds of people with all kinds of stories. Very family friendly. Only thing I didn't like was that the performances were held indoors and if you wanted to immerse yourself in the Greek art and dancing, it was a super tight squeeze. Also, they needed more bathroom facilities or porta potties. The lines for those were ridiculous!

TLDR: Great friendly festival of mostly food. The grilled meats were amazing. Im looking forward to…read morecoming again next year! Bring cash. Saw a lot of signs on the road, so we decided to stop in. The festival is made up of many food stands, a couple jewelry/ gift stands, and performances put on by youth on the stage. Like others mentioned, you get in line to buy a ticket for your food item(s), and then you get in another line(s) to pick up the food. Lines were a bit long but fast on Friday evening. We got the: - Greek Loukaniko - grilled sausage with bread - 5 Pack Pork Souvlaki - skewered pork kebabs with bread - Greek fries - fries with salt and oregano - Loukoumades Krispy puffs generously coated with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon and sesame seeds The Loukaniko and Pork Souvlaki were both wonderfully seasoned and beautifully charred. It looked like a lot of meat, but the bright lemon flavor shone through making the dishes easy to eat. The Loukaniko had a hint of sweetness and a distinct spice blend that I haven't had outside Greek cuisine. The crisp char on the Souvlaki was the first texture and flavor I noticed. The pieces of pork were juicy and generous. These two flavorful grilled meats were easily my favorite items that we ordered. The bread they came with was soft and nice to have but nothing special. The Fries were reminiscent of cafeteria fries, but these were slightly limp. They had decent flavor and did a good job accompanying the rest of the meal. I wouldn't eat them without other food. The Loukoumades were fried to order. You must eat them hot - eat them while you're walking (with a fork) if you have to! The shatteringly crisp fried dough were warm vessels of honey and cinnamon. The first few we ate were delicious, but they started to feel oily and a little too sweet after cooking a bit. Share them and eat fast! We watched the youth dance performance while we ate. I'm not too familiar with Greek culture, but the show was a pleasure to watch. Great job! Next year I want to try some of the indoor food options - they all looked amazing. Tip: $2 entry fee per person in cash - bring cash as some vendors don't take card; if you come in a group split up when lining up for food to have everything at the same time

The belmar seafood festival is always a great time. It's an…read moreexcellent opportunity to sample seafood from so many local restaurants and food trucks. There is always live entertainment and plenty for the kids to do.

Food: not enough selections; WHATEVER YOU DO, SKIP THE PAELLA WHAT A RIPOFF and FALSELY ADVERTISED…read moreovercooked mussels and processed imitation crabmeat and shrimp tails, overcooked chicken for $25; yes shame on me for not properly checking the product before purchasing - so wanted to give a call out to anyone else so they don't waste their precious earned money like I did Hubby had the hot lobster roll at Point Lobster and he said it was buttery and tender; The Fry Guy chicken tenders were too dry, fries were not seasoned; fried lobster ravioli was a bust...not worth it Otherwise, there were plenty of tables and chairs; the live music was good; but avoid that paella place...I'm looking out for you and your wallet

The roads were extremely dangerous for a wheelchair. They definitely were not designed for…read morewheelchairs. It would be great if the festival was held at a big park.

I look forward to this festival every year! The food , music, food, activities food!! It's a good…read moretime.

There are a few things in life that are inherently good. In my opinion, those include: live music,…read morecarnival food, thrill rides, good weather, quality time with friends, and animal freak shows. The Union County Music Fest provides all of the above and more, and all at the super low price of ... well, NOTHING! Let's start with the logistics. First of all, it would be nearly impossible to get to Music Fest without a car, so I'm lucky my Jersey-dwelling pals offered to drive. Second, Music Fest is held in association with the county fair, which accounts for the rickety and slightly scary rides, the carnival food (funnel cake, anyone!?), and the Anibal freak show. Freaks on display included a zebra/donkey cross breed, sheep with five legs, and a midget bull. Awesome! Now on to the music. There was a great mix of styles on display, and the three bands I saw each provided a very different experience. First I saw The Zombies, a '60s psychedelic band that was popular with the older crowd, but still were pleasantly enjoyable. For me, the highlight of the evening was getting to see Robert Randolph and the Family Band, who were absolutely spectacular. His mix of rock, funk, rhythm and blues, and gospel is not to be missed and I was totally blown away by his incredible work on the pedal steel. In fact, I was so impressed that I weaseled my way backstage after his set so that I could tell him I was hooked and will definitely be seeing him again soon. See the attached picture for visual proof. Headlining Sunday night was Spoon, another band that I really like. They were better than when I first saw them a couple of years ago in NYC in a venue that I hate, and the crowd was very receptive. The threat of rain kept many people away, which was too bad for the bands but good for me and my friends. We were right up near the front for both Robert Randolph and Spoon. A few of my friends were there for the Saturday lineup as well, and they said it was much more crowded, which isn't a surprise since the weather was so much better. Saturday's performers included headliners Train (not my thing, but ok), OK Go, The Bravery, and several others. The festival also boasts a small stage for local bands, as well as a pop/dance area, which seemed popular with the tweens. I hear there was also a human freak show on Saturday, but unfortunately it was not open Sunday. I'm excited to see who will be back for Music Fest in 2011, but it will be hard to beat the experience I had there yesterday.

For Union County, this was a great festival. However, it was poorly put together also…read more First off, we did the smarter thing and used Uber to get to and from the event because I heard parking was a disaster. Also, there were very few signs. When you did park, you had a bit to walk but there were no signs that told you where to go. I think they need better signage and more lighting in the dark as I almost twisted my ankle walking over. The craft beer garden was $9 a drink, which was a bit high. And you didn't get to sample anything before you bought it (also note get your token beforehand) so careful how you spend it. Though, they had some great beers there. The waits weren't too long surprisingly. However, the lines for some of the food trucks were way more. Many food trucks already sold out of food when I got there Saturday night. Meh. But thankfully there were plenty that were more well prepared. The rides were a little pricey also at $1.50 a ticket and some of the rides at 5 tickets. Eek. I think I'd go again but they do need some improvement. Also, more lighting would be appreciated all around. This review doesn't include the concerts because I didn't bother with that. If you angled yourself properly in the food truck/carnival area, you got a GREAT view of the MainStage for FREE FYI.