Summer may be on its way out, but that doesn’t mean the fun is coming to an end.
On the contrary, September is one of the busiest months in Jersey City with barbecue festivals, sporting events, and the grandaddy of them all — the All About Downtown Street Fair. So mark your calendars, these are the events you won’t want to miss this month.
All-day barbecue fest at Hamilton Park (Sept. 8)
Break out the Wet-Naps. The Hamilton Park BBQ Festival is a day-long party showcasing the area’s best barbecue eats. Food vendors will include Hamilton Pork, Red White & Que Smokehouse, The Hamilton Inn, GP’s, and more. Plus, there will be a full lineup of local bands, cold beer courtesy of NJ Beer Co., and sweet treats from Milk, Sugar, Love.
Take your day drinking game to the next level (Sept. 8)
Fancy yourself a cocktail? Head to the Harborside Atrium for the Jersey City Craft Distillery Fest. Sample over 150 different spirits including mezcal, whiskey, rum, and cognac. Admission is $70/pp, but you can use coupon “JCUPFRONT” to drop the cost to $50/pp.
Eat, drink, and shop at the All About Downtown Fest (Sept. 15)
It’s the street fair we’ve all been waiting for: The All About Downtown Street Fair is Jersey City’s biggest, baddest, party stretching from Grove Street to Coles Street along Newark Avenue. Now celebrating its 8th year, the festival includes jewelry, art, and food vendors from New York and New Jersey. But make no mistake — the star of the show is the food and everyone from Ani Ramen to South House will be on hand offering their best eats. Just make sure to get there early if you want to avoid the crowds.
Break your PR during the Newport Half Marathon (Sept. 16)
You don’t have to be an elite runner to enjoy the Ruth’s Chris Newport Liberty Half Marathon. The 13-mile race is mostly flat (I can only think of two noticeable inclines) and takes you through downtown’s most iconic neighborhoods including Newport, Liberty State Park, Paulus Hook, and the waterfront. Last year, over 2,500 runners took part in the race and another record-breaking marathon is expected this year.
Celebrate Jersey City’s film-making talent (Sept. 20 to 23)
Four days of indie films right in your own backyard. That’s the premise behind the Golden Door Film Festival, which gives local filmmakers and actors the chance to share their work with the public. Screenings, after parties, and more will take place throughout the city. An all-access pass costs $175/pp or you can buy tickets for select shows from $12/pp.
An entire day of house music (Sept. 22)
For the house music die hards, on Saturday, September 22, Exchange Place will morph into a massive, open-air club during the 4th Annual House Music Festival. The epic festival starts at 12pm and runs through 10pm.
