Epic Summer Fun in NJ/NYC – Sleepover Party Shop’s Top Picks
- Sleepover Party Shop
- No Comments
☀️ Summer’s heating up—and so is the fun!
Get ready for sunshine-filled adventures with Sleepover Party Shop’s Top Summer Picks in NJ and NYC. From outdoor movie nights and beach festivals to pop-up markets and rooftop playdates, we’ve rounded up the must-do events to make your summer break unforgettable. 🌈 Think family fun, cool treats, and memory-making moments—perfect for kids, teens, and anyone young at heart!
📍 Save this list and share with your besties to plan the ultimate summer of fun!
Where: Lackawana Plaza, Montclair NJ
When: Various Dates
The annual Summer Series kicks off at Lackawanna Plaza (near Crane Park) on Saturday, June 21 with 2024’s smash hit WICKED: SING-ALONG, directed by Jon. M Chu, presented in partnership with the Montclair Center BID. Lackawanna Plaza (near Crane Park) opens at 6:00pm and the film will begin at 7:00pm. Guests are encouraged to wear pink & green!
7/20: Montclair Film will feature a special screening of 1993’s DAZED AND CONFUSED, directed by Richard Linklater, at Essex County Anderson Park, with a special introduction by the Director and Producer of MAKING DAZED, Kahane Cooperman.
7/31: In partnership with the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center and Autoland Toyota, Montclair Film will present 1993’s THE SANDLOT, directed by David Mickey Evans, at Nishuane Park.
8/23: Montclair Film will present 2024’s THE WILD ROBOT, directed by Chris Sanders, at Essex County Brookdale Park (Archery Field).
Where: Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Point Pleasant NJ
When: Till 8/26
Get ready for another summer of fun, laughter, and unforgettable movie nights at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach! Movies on the Beach series is back for the 2025 season, bringing an incredible lineup of family-friendly films to the beach. Mark your calendars and gather your blankets, and beach chairs for a fun-filled evening at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach! Upcoming films include:
- 7/15: Happy Gilmore
- 7/22: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation
- 7/29: Inside Out 2
- 8/5: Sonic 3
- 8/12: Wicked
- 8/19: E.T
- 8/26: Despicable Me 4
Where: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn NY
When: 7/10 – 8/28
Brooklyn Bridge Park brings back Movies with a View for its 25th season. Bring a blanket and a picnic. Sweet treats, savory snacks, and drinks, including beer and wine, are available for purchase. In addition to food, each night also includes pre-show music sets spun by Brooklyn Radio DJs, and short films curated by BAM Cinématek. Upcoming films include:
- 7/17 – Alien
- 7/24 – Waitress
- 7/31 – The Matrix
- 8/7 – The Wizard of Oz
- 8/14 – Trainwreck
- 8/21 – Hidden Figures
- 8/28 – Public Choice Night! Vote for: Pretty in Pink, Julie & Julia, or Marie Antoinette
Where: Fort Greene Park, Brooklyn NY
When: Till 8/21
Paramount+ Movie Nights in Brooklyn offers nostalgic classics and feel-good fan favorites for all ages. Showtimes are at sunset; bring a blanket and a picnic.
- 8/14: Clueless
- 8/21 Dog Day Afternoon
The program continues:
Prospect Park | Wednesdays, 7/30 – 8/27
Coney Island Beach | Thursdays, 7/17 – 8/7
Where: Various locations across Bronx, NYC
When: Till 8/4
Welcome to the 32nd season of summer movies in Bryant Park! Bring a blanket and a friend, and snag your spot on the lawn to watch a feature film on the big screen under the starts. The lawn opens at 5pm; film begins at 8pm. Upcoming films include:
- 7/14: Interstellar
- 7/21: Ghost
- 7/28: Pulp Fiction
- 8/4: Blades of Glory
Where: Municipal Parking Lot, Highland Park NJ
When: Till 9/27
Enjoy an evening of vintage cartoons followed by the main feature at Highland Park’s municipal parking lot. Some chairs are available, but feel free to bring your own. Upcoming films include:
- 8/02: Defcon: Documentary W/director Jason Scott
- 8/16: August Mulholland Drive Lost In America
- 9/13: The Devil And Daniel Johnston Q&A W/director Jeff Feuerzeig
- 9/27: Twin Peaks Double Feature: Twin Peaks Pilot Episode Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
🎉 Fourth of July Fireworks
Where: Jenkinson’s Beach, Point Pleasant Beach NJ
When: 6/19 – 8/28 every Thursday night
Gather at Jenkinson’s Beach every Thursday night for fireworks on the beach. Fireworks start at dark. This event is a popular summertime activity for families and is part of Jenkinson’s broader offerings, which also include an aquarium, amusement park, and other attractions. Read more.
Where: Terhune Orchards, Princeton NJ
When: 7/12 – 7/13
Terhune Orchards celebrates everything blueberry with music, puppets, barnyard fun and, of course, blueberry treats. Take a stroll around the farm, visit the 2-acre Pick-Your-Own blueberry patch and enjoy local country music both days from 12-4pm. Meet barnyard friends in the children’s play area, with activities, play houses and more. Visit Pam Mount’s Blueberry Bash Buffet, full of tasty blueberry treats. Terhune Winery is also open in the historic apple orchard. Read more.
Where: Downtown Haddonfield, NJ
When: 7/12 – 7/13
Stroll through Downtown Haddonfield and check out crafts, outdoor cafes, music, and more at the 31st edition of this annual festival. This year, artists are invited to compete in the Celebrate Haddy Contest, showcasing their unique take on Haddonfield’s famous dinosaur. Read more.
Where: Memorial Park, Maplewood NJ
When: 7/12 – 7/13
Maplewoodstock is a two day festival featuring 20+ local music and arts in Memorial Park. The whole family is invited to enjoy food and arts vendors, a Kid Zone area, and regional and national music acts. Bring a blanket or chairs and relax to the tunes or bring the kids over to the Kid Zone, which features bouncy rides, face painting, arts & crafts and ice cream. Read more.
Where: Downtown Toms River, NJ
When: Till 10/18
Downtown Night Out is back for 2025! Every Friday and Saturday night beginning in May, Downtown Toms River comes alive and you don’t want to miss it. Throughout downtown, restaurants and businesses are open with outdoor dining on Washington St, music, shopping and more. So grab your friends and family and head downtown. Read more.
Where: Robert J. Miller Air Park, Berkeley Township NJ
When: 7/9 – 7/13
This 5-day event has live music, animal acts, 4-H displays, carnival rides, food, vendors, and more. Highlights include Extreme Illusions & Escape, Cowboy Larry’s Wild West Show, and Animal House Band. Read more.
Where: Hudson Yards Public Square and Gardens, NYC
When: 6/25 – 8/13
This free eight-week series showcases rising artists across a variety of genres, bringing fresh sounds and unforgettable performances to the Public Square and Gardens. Bring a blanket and a picnic, or take advantage of the glorious concession stands.
Music schedule:
7/16: Paul Russell
7/23: Alex Sampson
7/30: Brittney Spencer
8/6: MXMToon
8/13: TBA
Where: Eastman Clock Plaza, Downtown Cranford, NJ
When: 6/26 – 8/28
This June, the Summer Sounds Concert Series is back at Downtown Cranford! Visit every Thursday this summer from 6-8:30PM at Eastman Plaza for live music from local bands.
Music Schedule:
7/17: The Accelerators
7/24: Jersey Swamp Cats
7/31: Forget the Whale
8/7: Carlos Frias & Circulo Social
8/14: The Mission in the Rain Band
8/24: The Genesee Stills Band
8/28: Burnside Manor
Where: Terhune Orchards, Princeton NJ
When: 6/27 – 9/5
Spend a relaxing Friday evening at Terhune Orchards, with live music from local bands and, of course, wine. Light fare is available for purchase. Families are welcome. Grab a glass of one of our award-winning wines, sit back, relax, and enjoy live music from local artists each week. Barn Door Cafe is open for homemade dinner fare and light bites fresh from the farm. Sips & Sounds is the perfect way to kick off your weekend.
Music Schedule:
7/18: Zuko Phillips Cohn & Starr
7/25: Foglight
8/1: Mark Miklos
8/8: Barbara Lin Band
8/15: Joah Blume
8/22: Bill O’Neal & Andy Koontz
8/29: Three to Get Ready with Bill Flemer
9/5: Laundrymen
Where: Park Plaza, Downtown Plainfield NJ
When: 6/26 – 8/28
The Downtown Plainfield Pop-Up Concert Series features live music every Thursday evening in front of Park Plaza. From smooth jazz to soulful R&B and high-energy funk, this free outdoor concert series brings the community together with an incredible lineup of talent.
Music Schedule:
7/17: Joe Taino (Blues & Jazz)
7/24: Sofia Carrasco – (Latin Jazz Fusion)
7/31: Gordan Lane – Jazz
8/7: Rainbow Fresh – Fusion
8/14: Anthony Nelson & the Trio – Jazz
8/21: Doni Nicole – (R&B)
8/28: Boyd Plus – (Funk)
Where: Prospect Park, Brooklyn NY
When: 6/20 – 7/26
BRIC: Celebrate Brooklyn is a free summer-long outdoor concert and performance series that has been presenting talent from around the world and around the block for more than 40 years. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy!
Music Schedule:
7/12: Benefit Concert: Still Woozy – Loveseat Tour
7/17: Benefit Concert: Dinosaur Jr. + Snail Mail
7/18: Benefit Concert: Men I Trust
7/26: A Tribute to Quincy Jones: The Wiz
Where: Hall of Records, Freehold NJ
When: 6/26 – 8/31
Get ready to rock every Thursday night at Downtown Freehold’s summer concert series, featuring widely-known and local talent acts.
Music Schedule:
7/17: Black Dog
7/24: Midnight Rock Show
7/31: Eddie Money Tribute Band
8/7: Winslow
8/14: Van Halen Tribute Band
8/31: Turnstyles
Where: Spiotta Park, South Orange NJ
When: 6/21 – 8/30
South Orange Downtown’s live music series, Downtown After Sundown (DAS) is a free summer music series features 13 live performances from talented local musicians. Grab your favorite lawn chairs, order some delicious takeout from South Orange’s finest eateries and let the sweet sounds of South Orange ignite your summer nights.
Music Schedule:
7/19: South Street Live
7/26: Down To The Quick
8/2: Whiskey & Sugar
8/9: Tycoon Dog
8/16: Eric & Alina
8/23: The B Side
8/30: Danny Lipsitz & The Brass Tacks
Where: William Morrow Beach, Somers Point NJ
When: 6/13 – 9/5
Friday night is music night at William Morris Beach, with free concerts each week.
Music Schedule:
7/18: “The Girls Can’t Help It!”
7/25: Tom Hambridge and the Rattlesnakes
8/1: John Cafferty and Beaver Brown Little Feat, The Band, Derek & the Dominoes, Traffic and The Allman Brothers Band
8/15: Vanessa Collier Band
AUG 22: Somers Point Legacy Conway Twitty’s grandson Tre Twitty
8/29: The Billy Walton Band
9/5: South Jersey Allstar
Where: The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NYC
When: Till 10/26
The Conservatory Lawn blooms with a massive field of monumental sunflower sculptures by artist Cyril Lancelin alongside living sunflowers and other plants, all inspired by the flowers in Van Gogh’s famed artwork. On select Friday and Saturday nights, Starry Nights offers exhibition viewing in the glow of evening, with music and performers, drinks and food available for purchase, and, conditions-permitting, after-dark Van Gogh-themed drone shows. Read more.
Where: Bryant Park, NYC
When: Till 9/12
Picnic Performances are the perfect way to spend a summer evening, with 25 live and in-person music, dance, and theatrical shows. Bring a blanket and a picnic (of course).
Schedule:
7/18: Carnegie Hall Citywide: La Excelencia
7/25: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Cecile McLorin Salvant
8/1: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band
8/8: Carnegie Hall Citywide: Dez Duron
8/15: World Music Institute: Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East + Gamelan Dharma Swara
8/16: New York City Circus Fest
8/22: Belongo: Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
8/29: Accordions around the World: Mattos and more
8/30: The Town Hall: New York loves Sly! Featuring Steven Bernstein
Where: Surfside Park, Avalon NJ
When: Till 8/22
Spend a fun-filled Friday night at Surfside Park, with balloon art, face painting, tattoos, DJ, trivia, dancing, character shows, games and prizes.
Schedule:
7/18: Mickey’s Magical Showcase
8/1: Royal Princess Showcase
8/8: Superheroes Unite 8/15: Wicked in Avalon
8/22: Minion Mayhem
Where: Historic Smithville & the Village Greene, Absecon NJ
When: 6/13 – 9/5
Stop by The Village Greene at Historic Smithville on Friday nights. to see some spectacular vehicles on display, or show off one of your own. The Car Cruises are a perfect hang-out for all car enthusiasts to see, show, and talk cars. Historic Smithville also offers 50 Shoppes, 7 eateries, carousel ride, train ride, paddle boats, arcade, and on site lodging at the Colonial Inn and over 26 free weekend events. Read more.
No matter how you like to spend your summer—soaking up the sun, dancing under the stars, or exploring the city with your crew—Sleepover Party Shop’s top picks are your go-to guide for fun in NJ and NYC. From beach days to block parties, outdoor movies to rooftop hangs, there’s something magical waiting every weekend. ✨ Grab your calendar, round up your besties, and get ready to make this summer your most unforgettable one yet. Don’t forget to save this list and share the joy! 🌞🌈
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
WhatsApp
