Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com; Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advanced Media for NJ.com; State Fair Meadowlands; Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

If Jerseyans aren't at the beach this summer, there's still a good chance they'll make it to a summer fair. Depending on whether they go to a carnival (rides and games) or a fair (usually rides and animals), they'll be discovering what new creations can be plunged into the deep-fryer, how many rides they can conquer before the day is out and learning about livestock and animals from the intrepid young members of local 4-H clubs.

Scroll through the list for a wide selection of fairs and carnivals all across New Jersey. And for more summer events, check out our big lists of Jersey festivals dedicated to local towns, institutions, food and more.

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June 12-17: St. Charles Borromeo Carnival

St. Charles Borromeo Church in Cinnaminson hosts its 2017 carnival from June 12 to 17, with a theme of 'fun in the tropics,' a Friday 'kiddie' carnival, a Hawaiian shirt contest, raffles and food including funnel cake, hoagies, pizza, crab cake sandwiches, clams, burgers and cheesesteaks; scbcarnival.com

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June 13-17: Holy Spirit School Carnival

Holy Spirit School Carnival in Pequannock runs from June 13 to 17 with games rides, music, food and special appearances from Batman and Spider-Man; facebook.com/hsscarnival2017

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June 15-18: Tri-County Fair

The Tri-County Fair returns to Christ Church in Rockaway from June 15 to 18 with rides, fireworks, live music, car show, frisbee dog team and food including zeppole, fried Oreos, po'boy sandwiches and sausage and peppers; tricountyfair.org

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June 18: Nutley Father's Day Fair

Nutley's Father's Day Street Fair returns to Franklin Avenue with food, vendors and rides; jcpromotions.info

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June 19-24: St. Gregory the Great Parish Family Carnival

St. Gregory the Great Parish's 2017 carnival, which runs from June 19 to 24 in Hamilton Square, brings rides, food and fireworks on Tuesday and Saturday; sggcarnival.com

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Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

June 20-24: Denville Fire Department Carnival

The Denville Fire Department Association's annual carnival returns to Firemen's Field on Indian Road from June 20 to 24, with fireworks on Wednesday, June 21 (rain date Friday); denvillefd.com/association/carnival

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Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

June 22-July 9: State Fair Meadowlands

State Fair Meadowlands returns to East Rutherford for its 31st year, with a sea of rides, fair food and longtime favorites like hypnotist Steve Bayner, racing pigs, the sky ride and Fourth of July fireworks (July 3 and 4). Also providing entertainment at the fair will be Cousin Brucie with his fifth Palisades Park reunion, featuring 1910 Fruitgum Company, the Capris, the Quotations, Billy J. Kramer and Felix Cavaliere (June 24), the petting zoo, acrobatic All-American Thrill Show, Amazing High Dive Show and the Art of Magic Show; njfair.com

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June 25: Stars and Stripes Livestock Agricultural Fair

The Stars and Stripes Livestock Livestock Agricultural Fair will be at the Burlington County Community Agricultural Center in Moorestown on June 25, with goats, cattle, sheep and waterfowl in the mix at youth livestock shows as well as educational exhibits; starsandstripeslivestock.com

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June 27-July 1: St. Rose of Lima Parish Carnival

St. Rose of Lima Parish Carnival in Freehold brings a lobster dinner night, 50/50 raffles, games, rides, rock climbing and live entertainment; stroseoflima.com

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Alex Remnick/The Star-Ledger

July 3-8: Califon Fire Company Carnival

Califon Fire Company's 97th carnival runs from July 3 to 8 with rides, games, food and raffles, with fireworks on July 5 and 7 at the firemen's field behind the municipal building on Academy Street;

califonfire.org

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Saed Hindash-The Star-Ledger

July 4: Freedom and Fireworks Festival, Jersey City

Jersey City's Fourth of July celebration, the Freedom and Fireworks Festival, is a combined carnival and pyrotechnic display at Liberty State Park. This year, Jersey City's own Kool & the Gang is set to perform; freedomandfireworks.com

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July 4-8: Cumberland County Fair

Known as New Jersey's oldest fair, the Cumberland County Fair has its roots in the 1600s and will return from July 4 to 8 at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds in Millville with your usual fair fare in addition to pig races, monster truck rides, a demolition derby and mud bogging; cumberlandcofair.com

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July 11-16: St. Mary's Nights of Summer Carnival

St. Mary's Nights of Summer Carnival will be at the parish center in Manahawkin from July 11 to 16, celebrating 25 years of the carnival and 75 years of St. Mary's Parish, with entertainment, rides, food and raffles; stmaryscarnival.com

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Martin Griff/The Times of Trenton

July 12-16: Freedom Fest State Fair

Freedom Fest State Fair returns to the Horse Park of New Jersey in Allentown with youth horse shows, stars of professional wrestling, racing pigs, a petting farm, rides, food, magic and hypnotist shows, live music and fireworks on July 15; freedomfeststatefair.com

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July 12-16: Mount Olive Carnival

The Mount Olive Carnival has rides, fireworks, live bands, food and games from July 12 to 16 at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake; rec.mountolivetownship.com/mt-olive-carnival

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July 12-16: Ocean County Fair

The Ocean County Fair returns to Robert J. Miller Air Park in Berkeley Township from July 12 to 16 with 4-H animals and displays, live entertainment including music from the Amish Outlaws and dog and Wild West shows, rides and food; oceancountyfair.com

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Joe Warner | For NJ.com

July 18-22: Burlington County Farm Fair

At the Burlington County Farm Fair, you can see some "flying pig" races, play Fireball Mountain laser tag, take in a draft horse pull, a better milking contest or the Farm Fair Queen pageant over the course of five days, from July 18 to 22 in Columbus; burlingtoncountyfarmfair.com

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July 18-22: St. Ambrose Parish Carnival

St. Ambrose Parish in Old Bridge brings the rides at its 2017 carnival, which runs from July 18 to 22; innovativeticketing.com

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Robert Sciarrino

July 19-23: Morris County 4-H Fair

Morris County 4-H Fair runs from July 19 to 23 at Chubb Park in Chester with animal shows, live music, food, rides, fireworks, hot air balloon rides, pony and hay rides, petting zoo, watermelon eating contest and dress-a-pet contest; morris.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/Fair.html

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July 20-22: Cape May County 4-H Fair

The Cape May County 4-H Fair and chicken barbecue returns from July 20 to 22 at the 4-H fairgrounds on Courthouse-South Dennis Road in Cape May Court House with animal shows, games and food; cmc4h.com

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

July 26 to 30: Monmouth County Fair

The 43rd Monmouth County Fair runs from July 26 to 30 at East Freehold Showgrounds with a home and garden competition, 4-H competition and music from acts including Nicole Atkins, monmouthcountyparks.com

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Tim Hawk | For NJ.com

July 27-30: Gloucester County 4-H Fair

The Gloucester County 4-H Fair returns to the 4-H Fairgrounds in Mullica Hill with a horse show, small animal shows, hog shows and a horticultural competition as well as rides, games, exhibits, food vendors and magic shows; gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu/4hfair

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David Gard | For NJ Advance Media

July 29-30: Mercer County 4-H Fair

The Mercer County 4-H Fair at Howell Living History Farm in Hopewell Township marks its 99th year with animal shows, hay rides, pony rides, music and homemade ice cream; mercer.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/fair

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July 29-August 5: Warren County Farmers' Fair

Warren County Farmers' Fair is back in Phillipsburg from July 29 to August 5 with its truck show, Hot Air Balloon Festival (with tethered balloon rides and balloon launches), Traditional Arts Expo, Fair Queen contest, horse show, pony rides and 4-H exhibits; warrencountyfarmersfair.org

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Took a few pics of Ecto mobile from Ghostbusters at the Keyport fireman's fair tonight pic.twitter.com/pMGwNdYYuJ -- Cheryl[?] (@jarlenabrat) August 10, 2016

July 31-August 5: Keyport Fireman's Fair

The Keyport Fireman's Fair returns to West Front Street with fireworks on Saturday; campys.com/event-details.asp?eventID=59

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August 1-5: Manasquan Fireman's Fair

Manasquan Fireman's Fair returns from August 1 to 5, supporting volunteer fire engine company No. 2; facebook.com/ManasquanFair

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

August 4-13: New Jersey State Fair and Sussex County Farm and Horse Show

The New Jersey State Fair and Sussex County Farm and Horse Show, which has its roots in the Sussex County Horse Show, which began in 1919 and merged with the fair in 1999, returns from August 4 to 13 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. There will be three rings of horse shows, an agriculture area with livestock pavilion, racing pigs, petting zoo, battle of the bands, oxen pull, tractor and truck pull, mud bogging, educational exhibits and carnival with rides; njstatefair.org

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

August 7 to 13: Middlesex County Fair

The Middlesex County Fair in East Brunswick brings animals, rides, food, vendors and exhibits from August 7 to 13 and fireworks shows on August 7 and 13; middlesexcountyfair.com

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Joe Warner | For NJ Advance Media

August 8-11: Salem County Fair

The Salem County Fair began in 1959 and returns to the Salem County Fairgrounds in Woodstown from August 8 to 11 with food, animal shows, exhibits, skillet throw, tractor pull and the Salem County Fair Queen pageant; salemcountyfair.com

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Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

August 9 to 11: Somerset County 4-H Fair

The Somerset County 4-H Fair comes to the 4-H Fairgrounds at North Branch Park in Bridgewater, with animals, exhibits, entertainment and food; somersetcounty4h.org

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August 10-12: Atlantic County 4-H Fair

The Atlantic County 4-H Fair runs from August 10 to 12 at the David C. Wood 4-H Fairgrounds in Egg Harbor Township with carnival rides, livestock, contests and entertainment; rutgers-atlantic.org/4-H/fair.asp

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August 17 to 20: Passaic County Fair

The Passaic County Fair is back on Garret Mountain from August 17 to 20, with rides, a chess tournament, fireworks and Super Hero 4-Mile Family Walk/Run,

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Ed Murray/The Star-Ledger

August 23-27: Hunterdon County 4-H Agricultural Fair

The Hunterdon County 4-H Agricultural Fair, a tradition since 2000, returns to South County Park in Ringoes starting August 23, with rides, tractor pulls, food, contests and live entertainment; hunterdoncountyfair.com

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Mary Iuvone/For The Times

Sept. 2-3: Indo-American Fair

The Indo-American Fair returns to Mercer County Park in West Windsor on Sept. 2 and 3 (rain date Sept. 4), with vendors, dance performances and live music; indoamericanfair.com

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Sept. 16: All About Downtown Street Fair in Jersey City

The All About Downtown Street Fair returns to close out summer in Jersey City on Sept. 16 with food trucks and vendors at Newark Avenue between Grove and Coles streets; http://jcdowntown.org/events/street-fair

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Sept. 16-17: Lakewood Renaissance Faire

Here ye, here ye! It's the 36th year of the Lakewood Renaissance Faire, which returns on Sept. 16 and 17 with its royal processions, Knights of Avalon, Knights of Valour, archery competition, combat, jousting and king and queen competition; lakewoodrenfaire.com

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Calista Condo | For NJ.com

Sept. 23-24: Camden County Fair

Camden County Fair misses the end of summer by just two days, but will return in early fall from Sept. 23 to 24 at the Lakeland Complex in Blackwood; camden.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h/countyevents.html

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Sept. 30: Essex/Hudson 4-H Fair

Another fair that just misses summer, the Essex-Hudson 4-H Fair, will have competition in fruits and vegetables, food and outdoor or indoor gardening at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland on Sept. 30; essex.njaes.rutgers.edu/4h

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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

Summer festivals

Want more to do in Jersey this summer? See our festival lists below:

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

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