QuickCheck New Jersey Festival of Ballooning; Jim Zelasko/World Dog Expo; Ron Wyatt; Marisa Iati | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Looking for something fun to do this summer that doesn't involve boarding a plane?

Maybe it's a destination as close as the shore. But maybe you want more: something to do. Lo and behold, there's plenty on the schedule this summer. The season is filled with events dedicated to art, music, theater, and well, the whole 'fest' experience.

We could've made a nearly endless list, but since we've limited ours to 50, tell us what other festivals you plan to attend in the comments.

And for a whole list of food festivals on tap this summer, visit our list of 50 summer food festivals in New Jersey.

Note: Though originally listed, Red Bank RiverFest has been canceled.

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June 1-3: Beardfest

Beardfest, a festival celebrating music and 'creative energy' at Paradise Lakes Campground in Hammonton, will feature acts including Remember Jones, Octave Cat, Earthcry, Out of the Beardspace, Tauk and more, as well as workshops, art, an open mic, swimming and camping; beardfest.net

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June 2-4: Crawfish Fest

Hankering for a trip to New Orleans? Michael Arnone's 28th Crawfish Fest has crawfish etouffee, fried pork cracklins, beignets and more food, but also a full slate of live music, including Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience and the Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson, along with cajun dance lessons at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta; crawfishfest.com

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June 3: Rhythm and Blues by the Brook

Plainfield hosts its free Rhythm and Blues by the Brook concert with Naughty by Nature, Rob Base, Justina Valentine and Shady Street Show Band at Cedar Brook Park, rain or shine; ucnj.org

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June 3-4: Appel Farm Music & Wine Festival

Appel Farm's Music & Wine Festival is set for June 3 and 4, with performers including Hotsy Totsy, Christopher Davis-Shannon, JUTAUN, Swing That Cat!, Joe Crookston at the Campfire and more. There will be regional wines, microbrews, vendors, food trucks and a bonfire with s'mores; appelfarm.org/music-wine-festival

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June 3-4: OLG NiteFest and FunFest

The Church of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph in Hoboken hosts its NiteFest and FunFest (Church Square Park on Willow Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets) on June 3 and 4, with rides, food vendors, games and face-painting; olgfunfest.com

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New Jersey International Film Festival

June 3-11: New Jersey International Film Festival

This is a still from the short film 'Passaic,' about a murder in Passaic, which will screen at the New Jersey International Film Festival in New Brunswick on June 11. The festival's summer season starts at Rutgers University on June 3; njfilmfest.com

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June 3, 10, 17, 24: Metuchen Junebug ArtFest

In Metuchen, each Saturday night in June brings Junebug ArtFest, a celebration of local art and artists, with open-air exhibits, window galleries and live music; junebugartfest.com

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June 3-25: The Princeton Festival

Looking not for wine, beer and amusements but for high culture and the arts? Look no further than the Princeton Festival, a series filled with jazz, opera, musical theater, chamber music, dance, world music and symphonic concerts since 2005. Some highlights: 'Disney in Concert Around the World,' featuring the Princeton Festival Pops Orchestra playing Disney classics as scenes from the movies play onscreen (June 9); 'Man of La Mancha' (June 10-25), the Tony-winning adaptation of Miguel de Cervantes' 'Don Quixote'; and Beethoven's opera 'Fidelio' (June 18, 25); princetonfestival.org

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June 4: Barnegat Bay Festival

The Barnegat Bay Partnership hosts the 20th Barnegat Bay Festival at the Wanamaker Complex in Island Heights on June 4, with a canoe eco-tour, an aquatic touch tank and more; bbp.ocean.edu/pages/208.asp

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Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

June 4: Fort Lee Arts & Music Festival

The Fort Lee Arts & Music Festival returns to Lemoine Avenue between Main Street and Bruce Reynolds Boulevard on June 4, with two stages of entertainment, along with vendors and artists; fortleenj.org

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June 4: The Promise Music Festival

The Promise Music Festival, coming to Mexicali Live in Teaneck on June 4, is an event where 50 percent of the net income goes Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; thepromisemusicfestival.com or ticketweb.com

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Jim Zelasko/World Dog Expo

June 9-11: World Dog Expo

The first World Dog Expo comes to Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus from June 9 to 11, with canine competitions including grooming, dock diving, disk dog, fly ball and agility and appearances from the Olate Dogs, who won America's Got Talent, Shorty Rossi, aka 'Pit Boss,' and Deirdre Franklin from Pinups for Pitbulls; worldexpo.dog

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June 10: Fishawack Festival

The Fishawack Festival — named for an approximation of the Lenni-Lenape term for the Passaic River — returns to Chatham Borough on June 10 with vendors, entertainment, an outdoor pub, games, a car show, Strawberry Shortcake Festival and more; chathamborough.org

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June 10: June Festival of Antiques

The June Festival of Antiques comes to Gloucester County Fairgrounds in Mullica Hill on June 10, with up to 75 antique dealers bringing jewelry, furniture, dolls, toys, advertising and more; yellowgarageantiques.c om

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June 10: Manalapan Day

Manalapan Day comes to the Manalapan Recreation Center on June 10, with a performance from Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, fireworks, petting zoo, carnival rides and pony rides; mtnj.org

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Tuckerton Seaport

June 10: Privateers & Pirates Festival

Tuckerton Seaport's Privateers & Pirates Festival on June 10 allows visitors to meet Captain Black and the crew of the Valhalla and the Sea Dogs Privateers, take a photo in a pirate photo booth, navigate a pirate ship obstacle course and embark on an interactive pirate adventure; tuckertonseaport.org/event/privateers-pirates-festival

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New date & location for Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival: Sun, June 11 along uptown Washington St (8th to 14th) https://t.co/3vVsSRYjrd pic.twitter.com/qobUxlIoZR -- City of Hoboken (@CityofHoboken) March 3, 2017

June 11: Hoboken Arts & Music Festival

The Mile Square City's Arts & Music Festival moves to a new location, on Washington Street between Eighth and 14th streets, with crafters, fine artists, food and children's activities. Admission free; hobokennj.gov

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June 11: Hot 97 Summer Jam

The region's biggest hip-hop festival returns to MetLife Stadium on June 11. Last year, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Desiigner, Kanye West and more performed despite a rain delay and break in the show owing to a physical altercation. This year's lineup again features Fat Joe, Remy Ma, DJ Khaled and Desiigner along with Migos, Tory Lanez, Jidenna, Faith Evans, Joey Bada$$ and more; hot97.com/summerjam

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June 11: New Jersey Irish Festival

The New Jersey Irish Festival is at Monmouth Park in Oceanport on June 11, with a 'human horse race' and piping and drumming competition; njirishfestival.com

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June 16-18: New Jersey Jeep Invasion

The New Jersey Jeep Invasion invades Wildwood from June 16 to 18. Expect — you guessed it — a sea of Jeeps and Jeep owners and vendors, along with a Jeep obstacle course; njjeepinvasion.com

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MACFest

June 17: MACFest in East Orange

The third East Orange MACFest features three Grammy-nominated or Grammy-winning singers: Eric Roberson, a Rahway native, Philadelphia's Bilal and Syleena Johnson, and will be hosted by South Orange native A.J. Calloway at City Hall Plaza on June 17; eastorange-nj.gov

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June 17: Sourland Music Festival

The Sourland Music Festivals is at the Hillsborough Golf & Country Club on June 17 (rain date June 18) to raise money for the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to protect the region. The lineup includes the John Ginty Band, Lisa Bouchelle, the High Hearts and more; sourlandmusicfest.org

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June 17-18: Art All Night Trenton

Art All Night, running from June 17 to 18 at Roebling Wire Works (675 S. Clinton Ave.), is Trenton's 24-hour celebration of art, music, film and community, with displays, demonstrations, installations, classes, children's activities and a crafter market; aantrenton.org

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June 17-18: Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival

The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival comes to Anglesea in North Wildwood on June 17 and 18, with living history demonstrations, authors, artists, food, and 'men and women of the sea'; herefordlighthousefestivals.org

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June 17-18: Raritan Native American Heritage Celebration

The Redhawk Native American Arts Council hosts the Raritan Native American Heritage Celebration & Pow Wow at Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick, with dancing, music and vendors; redhawkcouncil.org

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June 17-18: Skimmer Festival in Sea Isle City

Sea Isle City's Skimmer Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 17 with 350 vendors, live music, food and rides at JFK Boulevard and the Promenade. The festival also has a dance party and rides from 6 to 9 p.m. on June 17 at Excursion Park (JFK Boulevard and Pleasure Avenue) and an antique car show and parade from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. from 29th Street to JFK Boulevard and the Promenade on June 18, along with trolley tours from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Excursion Park; visitsicnj.com

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South Jersey Times file photo

June 18: Flower Show and Garden Festival

The Gloucester County Flower Show and Garden Festival is on June 18 at the Whitall House, with plant displays, gardening activities and vendors; gloucestercountynj.gov/depts/p/parks/family/herweekends.asp

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June 24-25: Baymen's Seafood & Music Festival

Tuckerton Seaport hosts the Baymen's Seafood & Music Festival on June 24 and 25, with music and shrimp, crabs, clams and scallops; tuckertonseaport.org/event/baymens-seafood-music-festival

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June 24-25: Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival

The eighth Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival is at Sussex County Fairgrounds on June 24 and 25, bringing barbecue as well as a full slate of musical performances from groups including the Charlie Daniels Band; rockribsandridges.com/artistsandschedule2017

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Thanks to all - especially @BofA_News - for supporting this year's Newark Black Film Festival! See you next year. pic.twitter.com/eRM7Srz21H -- NewarkMuseum (@NewarkMuseum) August 4, 2016

June 28-August 2: Newark Black Film Festival

The Newark Black Film Festival returns for its 43rd year, with free screenings each Wednesday starting on June 28 at Newark Museum; newarkmuseum.org/nbff

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Ron Wyatt

July 2-4: July 4th Fest, Six Flags

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson hosts its July 4th Fest from July 2 to 4 with fireworks and live music; sixflags.com/greatadventure/special-events/july-4th-fest

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July 4: Oceanfest

Long Branch's Oceanfest is one of the largest July 4 celebrations around. The 27th rendition of the festival, which runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with fireworks at 9 p.m., will have live music, food, crafts, dancers, musicians and vendors; oceanfestnj.com

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July 7-9: Anglesea Blues Festival

Held in conjunction with the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship in North Wildwood, the Anglesea Blues Festival will have the Andy T Band featuring Alabama Mike and much more on the main stage from July 7 to 9; angleseablues.com

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Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com

July 8: Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival

The Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival returns for its fifth year with an amateur sand-sculpting contest on July 8. Rain date Sunday; wildwoodsnj.com

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July 8-9: Maplewoodstock Music & Art Festival

This year, Maplewoodstock, a celebration of art and music that runs from July 8 to 9, brings 24 bands over two days, including headliner Los Lobos, This Hip Abduction and Ruthie Foster; maplewoodstock.com

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Nick Valinote

July 13-16: Fakefest

From July 13 to 16, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City hosts Fakefest, a jamboree of tribute bands specializing in artists including the Bon Jovi, the Eagles, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, Chicago, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Police, Led Zeppelin, and Bon Jovi; goldennugget.com

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July 14-16: Black Potatoe Music Festival

The 21st Black Potatoe Music Festival at Red Mill Museum in Clinton runs from July 14 to 16, with Karl Dietel Five, Mike Montrey, Joy Ike, Collins Brothers, Spook Handy and more; blackpotatoe.com

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QuickCheck New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

July 28-30: QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

The QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning returns to Solberg Airport in Readington for its 35th anniversary from July 28 to 30 with more than 100 hot air balloons and performances from Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Plain White T's and George Thorogood and The Destroyers. Look for 110-foot-tall balloons shaped like bumblebees, an 11-story pig balloon, the world's largest American flag and an 807-pound anniversary cake balloon; balloonfestival.com

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Marisa Iati | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

July 28-30: Visionary Tattoo Arts Festival

The eighth Visionary Tattoo Arts Festival comes to Asbury Park from July 28 to 30 with tattoo contests and the Miss Asbury Park Pinup Contest; njtattoofest.com

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July 28-30: XpoNential Music Festival

WXPN, the radio station of the University of Pennsylvania, hosts its three-day XpoNential Music Festival at the Camden Waterfront from July 28 to 30, with Wilco, Offa Rex and Conor Oberst among the Friday lineup; Spoon, Amos Lee & Friends, Foxygen and Chicano Batman coming on Saturday; and Drive-By Truckers, The Record Company and Hurray for the Riff Raff on Sunday; xpnfest.org

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July 29: Soulsational Festival

The seventh Soulsational Festival comes to Veterans Park in Bayville on July 29, with two stages of live music, crafters, vendors, food trucks, art and yoga; soulsational.info

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July 29-30: Art Star Craft Bazaar

Art Star Craft Bazaar, organized by the Philadelphia indie craft shop and gallery Art Star, comes to Asbury Park's Bradley Park on July 29 and 30, with more than 50 artists, live music and food; artstarcraftbazaar.com/about-art-star-craft-bazaar-asbury

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July 29-August 5: Hot Air Balloon Festival

The Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Warren County Farmer's Fair in Phillipsburg offers big hot air balloon launches, hot air balloon rides ($205 or $195 on weekdays) as well as tethered rides; balloonfestnj.com

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August 4-6: New Jersey Fringe Festival

Too hot for Broadway? The New Jersey Fringe Festival returns from August 4 to 6 in Hammonton, with a full slate of theater at various local venues, a beer and wine garden, vendors and live music; jerseyfringe.com

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Nick Valinote

August 12: Deckstock

Golden Nugget Atlantic City's Deckstock will bring the sounds of the '60s to summer 2017 at the casino's Deck; goldennugget.com

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August 26: Asbury Park Surf Music Festival

The fourth Asbury Park Surf Music Festival lands on August 26 at the Anchor's Bend and Grand Arcade at Convention Hall, rain or shine, with Los Straitjackets, The Fathoms, Aqualads, New Jersey's Black Flamingos and more; eventbrite.com

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Sept. 1-3: Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival

The Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival returns for its 42nd outing on Labor Day weekend, from Sept. 1 to 3 at the Salem County Fairgrounds in Woodstown, with Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice, the Becky Buller Band, Tuesday Mountain Boys, Gibson Brothers and more; delawarevalleybluegrass.org

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Sept. 7-10: Roar to the Shore

Roar to the Shore, the annual Wildwood motorcycle rally, returns from Sept. 7 to 10, with a custom bike show, battle of the biker bands and rubber duck boardwalk ride; roartotheshoreonline.com

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Sept. 15-16: Boots at the Beach

Boots at the Beach is a South Jersey country festival hosted by the Anglesea Irish Society, with live country music, dancing, vendors and food; bootsatthebeach.com

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Sept. 16: The Makers Festival

The Makers Festival returns to Manahawkin Lake Park on Sept. 16, featuring art and crafts from local talent, including woodworking, sculpting, photography and music; themakersfest.com

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Star-Ledger file photo; Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com; Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger; Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com

More New Jersey summer festivals

Craving a festival that has more to do with grilling than street vendors, music, art and theater? We've got you covered. Check out our list of 50 New Jersey summer food festivals, covering seasonal fare from tomatoes, strawberries and blueberries to ribs, beer, crawfish, lobster and wine.

Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.