Every summer, there is an exciting lineup of outdoor live music events in Central New Jersey. The area is home to many parks and amphitheaters that host music performances throughout the season. Here, Central Jersey Convention & Visitors Bureau recaps a few of the summer music festivals in New Jersey that occurred recently and shares some upcoming events.
2025 Thompson Park’s Summer Concert Series
Presented by the Middlesex County Office of Parks and Recreation, this concert series was offered throughout the summer. Every Wednesday, it acts as a mid-week celebration at Thompson Park with music in the park.
- August 13: Greg Giannascoli presented “Marimba Around the World.”
- August 20: Krauss Concert Band presented “And All That Jazz.”
- August 27: Underwater Airlines presented “A Classic Rockin’ Band.”
2025 Raritan Bay Waterfront Park Summer Concert Series
Hosted at Raritan Bay Waterfront Park in South Amboy, NJ, this concert series ran throughout August into the beginning of September. Every week, guests came to enjoy music by the bay while watching sailboats drift by. Concerts started at 6:30 p.m. every Wednesday, with the lineups featuring favorite local bands, including:
- The Chronicles of Rock & Roll performed the Ultimate 50s, 60s, and 70s party on August 13.
- Step by Step celebrated the music of Johnny Maestro on August 20.
- Vinyl Madness played a variety of Classic Rock, Country, and Pop on August 27.
- JoBannano & The Godsons of Soul performed a variety of Rock and Roll hits on September 3.
- Perry Brothers played Irish favorites and more to celebrate being halfway to St. Patrick’s Day on September 10.
2025 Spring Lake Park’s Summer Concert Series
Every Sunday evening in August, there were live concerts in the park in South Plainfield. These concerts are open to the public and free to attend. Some of the musical guests included:
- Underwater Airlines performed classic rock music on August 10.
- Garden State Symphonic Band played stage and screen favorites on August 17.
- Krauss Memorial Band performed “All That Jazz” on August 24.
New Jersey Folk Festival
Some highlights of the event included:
- Live music
- Folklorists
- Crafters
- Park and garden tours
- Forklike demonstrations
- Children’s activities
- Tractor rides
- Food trucks
Upcoming Events
End summer on a good note at the Middlesex County Jazz Festival. Enjoy great jazz music while experiencing the music, food, and culture of New Brunswick, Carteret, Metuchen, and Woodbridge. This county-wide event started in 2023 due to a mutual love of music. Scheduled for September 24-28, 2025, this late summer music festival in New Jersey is fully accessible, free to enjoy, and features live jazz in beautiful outdoor venues. If you’re coming from out of town and want to experience more that Middlesex County has to offer, book one of our hotels.
Enjoy Summer Music Festivals in New Jersey
If you missed out on live summer music festivals this year, make sure to mark your calendars for next year’s events throughout New Jersey. If you’re planning your visit to Middlesex County and Central NJ, Central Jersey CVB can help. Contact us today for more information and sign up for our emails to stay informed about local events.