Star-Ledger file photo; Margate Beachstock; Sea Isle City Food Truck Invitational; Saed Hindash | The Star-Ledger; Rich Fury | Getty Images

By Amy Kuperinsky | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Summer has only just begun, but the summer festival calendar in New Jersey is in full effect, chock full of events dedicated to food, music and community fun.

Maybe you want to pick some blueberries in the birthplace of the fruit's cultivation. Maybe you want to take a ride in a hot air balloon overlooking summer greenery. Maybe you want to eat some barbecue ribs while listening to Foghat. And maybe you want to eat your weight in seafood, tacos or Jersey tomatoes.

There's a festival for that.

Survey our list of summer festivals below to help plan your weekends, day trips and other outings this season.

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Now-June 24: Immaculate Conception Parish Festival

The 17th Immaculate Conception Parish Festival runs through June 24 in Annandale (316 Old Allerton Road), with rides, a pig roast on June 22, fireworks on June 23 and tricky tray; icfestival.org/IC_Festival/Home.html

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June 22-24: North Wildwood Italian-American Festival

At the North Wildwood Italian-American Festival, which runs from June 22 to 24, you can watch a Miss Italy contest, enter a meatball relay race or even attempt some grape-stomping. First and Olde New Jersey avenues in North Wildwood from June 23 to 25; wildwoodsnj.com

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Sea Isle City Food Truck Invitational

June 22-24: Sea Isle City Food Truck Invitational

The fourth Sea Isle City Food Truck Invitational runs from June 22 to 24 at Kix McNutley's (6400 Landis Ave.). Participating trucks include Marie's Seafood, Cold Stone Creamery, Dan's Waffles, Philly Fry, Cannoli World, Grilled Cheese Factory, The Empanada Sonata, Nick's Roast Beef, Pirate Pete's and Loco Gringo's Street Taco Express. There will also be crafters, games and live music; seaislecityfood.com

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June 23: Cape May Hops Festival

Cape May's Emlen Physick Estate hosts the Cape May Hops Festival on June 23 with beer from local breweries, live music and barbecue in addition to a crafts and collectibles show and children's activities; facebook.com/events/405417943208646/ or capemaymac.org

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June 23: Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival

The Jazzy Scallop & Seafood Festival returns for its 10th year at Viking Village in Barnegat Light on June 23, with food from local chefs and jazz from the Bansai Bills; vikingvillage.homestead.com/Jazzy-Scallop-Festival.html

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June 23: Sourland Music Festival

The Sourland Music Festival marks its 15th anniversary at the polo field of the Hillsborough Golf & Country Club from 3 to 10 p.m. on June 23, rain or shine, to raise money for the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit that works to protect the region. The lineup includes Flux Capacitor, Stolen Rhodes, The Verdict and more; sourlandmusicfest.org

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June 23-24: Baymen's Seafood & Music Festival

Tuckerton Seaport hosts the Baymen's Seafood & Music Festival on June 23 and 24, with shrimp, crabs, clams and scallops, local beers and crafters; tuckertonseaport.org

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June 23-24: Monmouth Park Wine & Chocolate festival

For all lovers of sweets and over-21 decadence, the Wine & Chocolate Festival returns on June 23 and 24 to Monmouth Park in Oceanport; monmouthpark.com

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June 23-24: Project: EATS in Jersey City

The Project: EATS food festival will draw more than 40 food vendors to Grove and Montgomery streets outside city hall in Jersey City on June 23 and 24, including Cryo Cream (liquid nitrogen-frozen ice cream), Glazed and Confused (mini doughnuts with toppings), Harry's Daughter (Caribbean food), Taste of Poland JC (foods like pierogi and Polish sausage), Jerkin' Chicken (Jamaican jerk chicken), Mozzarepas (arepas stuffed with cheese and meat), Pham Vietnamese Kitchen and Non Nocere Botanicals (kombucha and vegan ice cream floats; thejerseycityproject.com

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June 23-24: Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival

The ninth Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival is at Sussex County Fairgrounds on June 23 and 24, rain or shine, with barbecue ribs and plenty of other grilled food as well as a full musical lineup featuring Foghat, Outlaws, the Artimus Pyle Band, Travis Tritt and more; rockribsandridges.com

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Historic Whitesbog Village

June 23-24: Whitesbog Blueberry Festival

The 35th Whitesbog Blueberry Festival, celebrating the jewel of the Pinelands in the place where it was first cultivated, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 23 and 24 at Historic Whitesbog Village in Browns Mills, rain or shine, with fresh blueberries, pie, doughnuts, wagon rides, crafters, living history and museum tours and blueberry picking; whitesbog.org

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June 24: Firefly Festival

It's again time for the Firefly Festival on June 24 at Terhune Orchards in Lawrence Township. There will be wagon rides, music and firefly hunting, along with pony rides and a circus workshop for children; terhuneorchards.com/festivals

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June 24: Paramus Food Truck Fest

The Just Jersey Food Truck & Music Festival lands just outside Garden State Plaza mall on June 24 (don't worry, that's a Sunday, blue laws will be in full effect) at the Nordstrom lot from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with at least 25 food trucks, beer, music, face painting and kids' activities; facebook.com/events/202848146996786/

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June 27-August 8: Newark Black Film Festival

The Newark Black Film Festival, which is administered by the Newark Museum and returns on June 27, is marking 44 years with films including "Selma," "I Called Him Morgan" and "Cadillac Records" and youth cinema selections including "Coco," "Akeelah and the Bee" and "Hidden Figures"; newarkmuseum.org/nbff

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June 29-July 1: Jersey Shore Greek Festival

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean Township hosts the Jersey Shore Greek Festival from June 29 to to July 1 with rotisserie lamb, moussaka, grilled octopus, gyro, folk dancing, games and rides; jerseyshoregreekfestival.com

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Margate Beachstock

June 30: Margate Beachstock

Margate Beachstock returns for its eighth year on the Margate beach on June 30 with new features like zip lining as well as limbo and hula workshops with the South Pacific Island Dancers. There will also be a beer and margarita garden, surfing clinic, artisans, vendors, a Euro Bungee trampoline, volleyball and lifeguard competitions, face painting, kids' treasure hunt, bonfire and movie at dusk ("Despicable Me 3"), and a visit from a Minion; margatehasmore.com/beachstock2018

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Six Flags Great Adventure

June 30-July 4: July 4th Fest at Six Flags

Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson hosts its July 4th Fest from June 30 to July 4, with food, fireworks each night at 10 p.m., a concert, interactive games and extra ride time; sixflags.com

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Rich Fury | Getty Images

July 4: Freedom and Fireworks Festival, Jersey City

Snoop Dogg headlines the fifth edition of Jersey City's Fourth of July celebration, the Freedom and Fireworks Festival, which runs from noon to 10 p.m. on July 4. The festival's carnival and pyrotechnic display will be at Exchange Place (Montgomery Street at the Hudson River) with fireworks by Grucci after sunset; freedomandfireworks.com

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July 4: Oceanfest

Long Branch's Oceanfest, billed as the largest Fourth of July festival at the Jersey Shore, returns for the 28th year, rain or shine, with music, food, balloon artists, face painting, a kids' zone, sand sculpting exhibit, and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; oceanfestnj.com

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July 7: Sussex Taps & Trucks Festival

The Sussex Taps & Trucks Festival will be at Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta on July 7, with food trucks, bands and fireworks at 9:30 p.m.; facebook.com/events/143650589658070/

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Patti Sapone | The Star-Ledger

July 7-8: Blueberry Bash, Terhune Orchards

Terhune Orchards in Lawrence Township celebrates the season's blueberry crop with its annual Blueberry Bash on July 7 and 8. There will be pick-your-own blueberries, wagon rides, pony rides, music and treats including blueberry cobbler, muffins, ice cream and even salsa; terhuneorchards.com/festivals

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July 7-8: Truckerton with a Side of Bacon

Tuckerton Seaport hosts its Truckerton with a Side of Bacon festival on July 7 and 8, promising food trucks and all things bacon, including cooking demonstrations, along with craft beer and ... pig races; tuckertonseaport.org

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July 7-8, 14-15: Blueberry festival

Alstede Farms in Chester hosts its blueberry festival starting the weekend of July 7 and continuing on July 14, with pick-your-own berries, pony rides, wagon train rides, bounce house and corn kingdom; alstedefarms.com

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Psst Hey

32 Days until 7/10/2018 the 1st Day of the Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel.

Contact us here for Half Price Ride Tickets.https://t.co/plHQtPkt0Z -- OLMC (@OurLadyMtCarmel) June 9, 2018

July 10-16: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival

Billed as the longest running Italian festival in the country, the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Festival at Mt. Carmel Lane in Hammonton is back for its 143rd year starting July 10. There will be live entertainment, a beer garden, food stand and fireworks at 10 p.m. on July 16 after the feast day procession; mountcarmelsociety.org/feast-week

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I'm SO excited to announce that I've been asked back to perform at the The Black Potatoe Music Festival this summer! I'll be performing on Sunday, July 15th at 4:30pm at the River Stage! NJ, I'm coming for ya!!! #newjersey #festival #summer pic.twitter.com/nsYbGx1wb2 -- Olivia Frances (@ofrancesmusic) May 19, 2018

July 12-15: Black Potatoe Music Festival

The 22nd Black Potatoe Music Festival will be at the Red Mill Museum in Clinton from July 12 to 15, with acts including Radney Foster, Olivia Frances, Willy Porter, Loretta Hagen, The Matt Angus Thing and Ellis Paul; blackpotatoe.com

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July 12-15: Fakefest

Fakefest, the Golden Nugget Atlantic City's celebration of cover bands on the casino's deck (Huron Avenue and Brigantine Boulevard), returns for its 19th year from July 12 to 15, with the B Street Band, Free Fallin', Wanted DOA, Best of the Eagles, NY Finest, Completely Unchained, Kashmir and Tuesday's Gone; goldennugget.com

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July 12-16: Mount Carmel Feast, Jersey City

Jersey City's Mount Carmel Feast runs from July 12 to 16 at 99 Broadway, with food, games and rides and fireworks at 9:30 p.m. on July 16; facebook.com/MtCarmelFeast

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July 13-15: New Jersey State Barbecue Championship and Anglesea Blues Festival

You can get your fill of barbecue brisket, chicken, ribs and pork at the New Jersey State Barbecue Championship, which accompanies the Anglesea Blues Festival in Wildwood's Anglesea district from July 13 to 15. There will be barbecue demonstrations, live music and awards for best barbecue; njbbq.com

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July 14: Bound Brook Food Truck Festival

The Bound Brook Food Truck Festival comes to Billian Park on July 14, with music, food and beer. Visitors are asked to bring a canned or boxed item for donation to the food pantry; facebook.com/events/266542770542902/

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July 14-15: Maplewoodstock

Maplewoodstock returns to Memorial Park in Maplewood for 2018 on July 14 and 15 with performances from Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, Third World, Danielia Cotton and The Suffers. There will also be food and art vendors and a kids' zone; maplewoodstock.com

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July 14-15: Surf & Turf Seafood Festival

Dig into lobster rolls and crab cakes at Monmouth Park's Surf & Turf Seafood Festival, which runs from July 14 to 15 in Oceanport; monmouthpark.com

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Val Isenhower

July 27-29: QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning

At the 36th QuickChek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning at Solberg Airport in Readington, an 85-foot-tall Queen's Guard hot air balloon will take flight on July 27, inspired by the recent royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. There will be a total of 100 hot air balloons floating in the sky twice per day at the festival, which runs through July 29, as well as live music; balloonfestival.com

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July 27-29: Visionary Tattoo Arts Festival

The ninth Visionary Tattoo Arts Festival will be at Asbury Park's Convention Hall from July 27 to 29, with tattoo artists including Felix Vayner, Tim Senecal, Moses and Philly Steve. There will be tattoo contests, a Miss Asbury Park Pinup Contest, sideshow acts, burlesque and suspension performances; njtattoofest.com

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Don't miss latin roots rockers, @makusoundsystem, on Friday July 27th at #XPNFest 2018! More info and passes available at https://t.co/EjF3mZLsNU. pic.twitter.com/ci9U4r8SnY -- XPoNential Music Festival (@xpnfest) May 30, 2018

July 27-29: Xponential Music Festival

WXPN's Xponential Music Festival at BB&T Pavilion and Wiggins Park in Camden celebrates its 25th anniversary from July 27 to 29 with Saturday headliners David Byrne and Sylvan Esso and Sunday acts The War on Drugs, Sturgill Simpson, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Fantastic Negrito. Other performers include the Blind Boys of Alabama, Femi Kuti & the Positive Force and M.A.K.U. Soundsystem; xpnfest.org

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July 28: Soulsational Festival, Bayville

Bayville's Soulsational Festival is back at Veterans Park for its eighth year on July 28, with live music on two stages, crafters, vendors, free yoga, vegetarian and organic food, food trucks, beer and a kids' village; soulsational.info

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July 28-August 4: Hot Air Balloon Festival at Warren County Farmers' Fair

Want to ascend to the summer skies without boarding an airplane? The Hot Air Balloon Festival at the Warren County Farmers' Fair in Phillipsburg, running from July 28 to August 4, 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 2-5: Highlands Clam Festival

The Highlands Clam Festival returns for its 25th year at Huddy Park starting on August 2, with seafood, live music, vendors and games; highlandsnj.com

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August 3-5: New Jersey Fringe Festival

New Jersey Fringe Festival returns to downtown Hammonton for its third year from August 3 to 5, with various theater productions at multiple venues, a beer and wine garden, art and food vendors and live music; jerseyfringe.com

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August 4: Craft Beer & Crab Festival

Cape May's Emlen Physick Estate will host the Craft Beer & Crab Festival on August 4, with local craft beer, steamed crabs, crab cakes, shrimp, pulled pork and hot dogs; facebook.com/events/159755141429698

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August 4: Italian Festival, Monmouth Park

An Italian festival and wine tasting comes to Monmouth Park in Oceanport on August 4, with bocce ball, Italian food, crafters and wine samples; monmouthpark.com

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August 4: Rockaway Food Truck Festival

The Rockaway Food Truck Festival will be at Fireman's Field on August 4 in Rockaway Borough, with food trucks, beer and bands. Attendees are asked to bring a nonperishable boxed or canned food item for donation; facebook.com/events/179758905951531

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August 4-5: Just Peachy Festival

Terhune Orchards' Just Peachy Festival returns to celebrate the peach harvest on August 4 and 5, with peach slushies, peach ice cream, peach wine, peach pie, peach cobbler and baskets of peaches to take home. There will also be wagon rides, pony rides, face painting, a traveling zoo and live music; terhuneorchards.com/festivals

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Larry Crowe | AP

August 4-5, 11-12: Peach festival

Alstede Farms in Chester celebrates another summer harvest with its peach festival, which starts the weekend of August 4 and continues on August 11, with pick-your-own peaches, peach ice cream, peach pie and peach milkshakes as well as pony rides, wagon train rides, bounce house and corn kingdom; alstedefarms.com

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August 8-12: Italian Festival, Ocean Township

The Italian American Association of the Township of Ocean is back with its 42nd Italian Festival, which runs from August 8 to 12 at Joe Palaia Park in Oakhurst, with Italian food, live music and fireworks; iaato.com/festival/

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August 18: Asbury Park Surf Music Festival

The Asbury Park Surf Music Festival returns at noon on August 18 at The Anchor's Bend (1300 Ocean Ave.) in Asbury Park. The lineup includes Satan's Pilgrims, The Men in Gray Suits, the Black Flamingos and Frankie & the Pool Boys. Rain or shine (will move into Convention Hall for inclement weather); facebook.com/events/1623640134355092

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August 18: Chester Food Truck & Music Festival

The Chester Food Truck & Music Festival comes to the municipal field (134 Main St.) on August 18, with food trucks, bands, and a beer and sangria garden. Guests are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation; facebook.com/events/2001886953396969/

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August 19: Tu Sello Latino Fest

The Tu Sello Latino Fest will be at Monmouth Park in Oceanport on August 19, with food, music, dancing, games, pony rides, face painting and a bounce house; monmouthpark.com

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Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

August 29: The Great Tomato Tasting

Bite into a series of Jersey tomatoes and put your tastebuds to the test on more than 80 varieties of the fruit (yes, fruit) at the Rutgers' Great Tomato Tasting, which runs from 3 to 7 p.m., rain or shine, on August 29 at the Clifford E. & Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm in Pittstown. RSVP here: snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/tomato-tasting

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Sept. 1-3: BBQ & Craft Beer Festival

Brisket, pulled pork and beer will be on offer at Monmouth Park's BBQ & Craft Beer Festival, which spans Labor Day weekend. There will also be live music, pony rides, a bounce house and face painting; monmouthpark.com

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Robert Sciarrino | The Star-Ledger

Sept. 2: Scandinavian Fest

Scandinavian Fest returns to Vasa Park at Budd Lake for its 34th year on Sept. 2, rain or shine, with medieval combat reenactments, folk dance, artisans and food including potatiskorv (Swedish sausage), Swedish meatballs, smoked salmon, Swedish coffee bread, cardamom braids and rings, Danish sticks, Swedish pancakes with lingon, artsoppa (Swedish pea soup) and kaldolmar (Scandinavian cabbage rolls); scanfest.org

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Sept. 6-9: Roar to the Shore

Roar to the Shore, Wildwood's big annual motorcycle rally, is back from Sept. 6 to 9 with a custom bike show, night bike show, poker run, biker babe contest and rubber duck ride; roartotheshoreonline.com

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Sept. 8: New Jersey Taco Festival

The New Jersey Taco Festival returns for its fourth outing on Sept. 8 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, with tacos, lucha fighting, beer, live music, a margarita mix-down, a Spicy Taco of Hell challenge, an awards for best chicken, beef, pork, seafood and veggie tacos and a Chihuahua beauty pageant; njtacofestival.com

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Sept. 8-9: Atlantic City Seafood Festival

The Atlantic City Seafood Festival returns on Sept. 8 and 9 for its seventh year, this time at Bader Field, with offerings ranging from oysters, shrimp and clams to calamari, ahi tuna and sushi burritos. There will also be beer and a pet costume contest; acseafoodfest.com

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Sept. 14-16: Boots at the Beach Festival

The Boots at the Beach Festival, running from Sept. 14 to 16 on Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood, is a country music festival with bands, line dancing, vendors and food trucks; bootsatthebeach.com

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Sept. 15: Makers Festival

The Makers Festival returns to Manahawkin Lake Park on Sept. 15, with 153 "makers" — artisans — and their handmade crafts along with live music, yoga, beer, organic juice bars, baked goods, ice cream and wood-fired pizza; themakersfest.com

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Sept. 15: Ort Farms Food Truck Festival

Can't wait for those pumpkins? The Ort Farms Food Truck Festival on Sept. 15 offers a taste of fall at the Long Valley farm, with 15 food trucks, face painting, beer and sangria garden and farm activities including a cow train ride, pony rides, an apple cannon, animal petting and feeding, corn maze and hayrides. And yes, pick-your-own pumpkins; facebook.com/events/400904873699483/

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Sept. 15-16: Belmar Feast of San Gennaro

The Feast of San Gennaro returns to Belmar's Main Street (10th and 13th avenues) for the fifth year on Sept. 15 and 16, with Italian sausage, pasta, fried calamari and zeppole along with a cannoli-eating contest, live entertainment and dancing; sparkmybiz.com/event/belmar-feast-of-san-gennaro

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Sept. 15-16: Bergen Street Fest

The second Bergen Street Fest comes to the National Guard Armory at the corner of Liberty and Teaneck roads in Teaneck on Sept. 15 and 16 with live music, classic car show, food trucks, fried Oreos, funnel cake, beer garden, train rides, bouncy houses and vendors; bergenstreetfest.com

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State Fair Meadowlands

More summer events in New Jersey

Looking for something else to do?

See 50 New Jersey fairs and carnivals set for summer 2018.

Or, survey the newest foods at State Fair Meadowlands this year.

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

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