It’s a weekend of change
So long summer! Hello fall!
This weekend is packed with concerts and festivals to send off summer and welcome fall. It’s also a big weekend for Hispanic Heritage Month. ¡Muchas fiestas! So grab that pumpkin spice latte and start working on those salsa steps.
But first…
CJ Schools Struggle With AI Rules
AI-generated image via Canva
A review by The Central Jerseyan finds a patchwork of AI policies across local school districts. Some have detailed plans, others rely on vague templates, and many have no rules at all. It all leaves parents, students, and teachers uncertain about how students can use AI in the classroom.
Here’s what’s happening this weekend
Hispanic Heritage Month in Full Swing
(Courtesy: Carteret.net)
🎤 Carteret’s Music Festival & Charity Weekend
Carteret Park transforms into a music and culture hub all weekend. $37 purchases a full day of carnival rides and supports the Children’s Charity Fund, which provides scholarships to Central Jersey students.
Friday, Sept 19 • 6–11 PM — “Freestyle” legends Brenda K. Starr, Judy Torres, Coro, and Betty D of Sweet Sensation light up the stage.
Saturday, Sept 20 • from 12 PM — Ethnic Day returns with a Battle of the Bands (1 PM), Double Dutch competition (4:30 PM), Jay Sean headlining at 8 PM, and fireworks at 9:15 PM.
Sunday, Sept 21 • 9 AM–2 PM — The 21st Annual Charity Car Show caps off the weekend.
🎉 Hispanic Heritage Month
🎶 Summit: Fiesta Latina on the Village Green
Friday, Sept 19 • 6:00 PM • Village Green, 356 Broad St
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with live Latin music, dance, food trucks, and cultural showcases. Free, family-friendly evening.
🎉 Woodbridge: Hispanic Heritage Festival
Saturday, Sept 20 • 12:00–5:00 PM • Woodbridge Municipal Building, 1 Main St
Food, music, vendors, and activities celebrating local Hispanic culture. Free admission.
🎉 Union: Hispanic & Latino Heritage Celebration
Saturday, Sept 20 • 2:00–10:00 PM • Biertuempfel Park, Winslow Ave
Music, dance lessons, food, flag raising, and cultural performances. Free and open to all.
📢 Perth Amboy: Hispanic Heritage Street Fair
Sunday, Sept 21 • 2:00–7:00 PM • New Brunswick Ave (from Smith St)
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with music, food, vendors, and community fun. Free event.
✨ More That’s Happening
🐶 Woodbridge: NJ Corgi Picnic
Saturday, Sept 20 • 10:00 AM–3:00 PM • Fords Park, King Georges Rd & Park Rd
Corgis take over the park for a day of pups, picnics, and fun. Free to attend.
📯 Metuchen PorchFest
Saturday, Sept 20 • 1:00–5:30 PM • Across Metuchen (rain date Sun, Sept 21)
Front porches and yards become music stages for local bands. Free and family-friendly.
🎨 Rahway ArtsFest
Saturday, Sept 20 • 2:00–6:00 PM • UCPAC, 1601 Irving St
Arts fair with live performances, artist marketplace, and community vibes.
🇵🇱 Linden Polish Festival
Saturday, Sept 20 • 2:00–7:00 PM • Linden
Traditional Polish food, live music, vendors, and family activities. Free event.
🎉 Manalapan: Feast of San Gennaro
Saturday, Sept 20 • 1:00–10:00 PM • Gordons Corner Fire Co, 683 Tennent Rd
Live bands, food trucks, vendors, raffles, kids’ zone, petting zoo & more. Free admission.
🌽 South Brunswick Fall Festival (VonThun Farms)
All weekend • VonThun Farms, South Brunswick
Celebrate autumn with hayrides, a giant corn maze, a pumpkin patch, an apple orchard, and more family-friendly activities. Ticketed events.
Further down the road
Let’s Jazz It Up (Again)!
Lezlie Harrison is the feature performer at the Middlesex County Jazz Festival in Carteret. (Courtesy: Middlesex County Jazz Festival website)
🍷 Middlesex County Jazz Festival Offers Four Days of Free Performances
Four free concerts in four days bring jazz to the heart of Middlesex County. The festival spans multiple towns, each with its own unique setting:
Woodbridge • Wed, Sept 24 • 7:00–9:30 PM • Parker Press Park
Carteret • Fri, Sept 26 • 7:00–9:00 PM • Carteret PAC (outdoor stage)
Metuchen • Sat, Sept 27 • 5:30–9:45 PM • Metuchen High School
New Brunswick • Sun, Sept 28 • 1:00–5:30 PM • Livingston Ave @ NBPAC
🎸 Woodbridge: Saints in the City (Springsteen Tribute)
Tuesday, Sept 23 • 7:30 PM • Woodbridge High School
Relive the glory days with a full-throttle Bruce tribute. Free show packed with Jersey pride and high energy.
🤖 Bridgewater: RoboCon NJ
Saturday, Sept 27 (12–6 PM) & Sunday, Sept 28 (12–5 PM) • Bridgewater Commons
Robots take over the mall! See robot battles, driving demos, and STEAM activities. Free, hands-on fun for kids and families.
🍁 Edison Fall Family Spectacular
Saturday, Sept 27 • 1:00–9:00 PM • Amboy Avenue (Clara Barton)
Eight blocks of rides, food, live music, and local vendors turn Amboy Avenue into one of the largest street festivals in the region. Entry is free, but rides and concessions are extra — bring cash for food trucks and carnival games.
🎪 Dunellen: Street Fair & Craft Show
Saturday, Sept 27 • All day • North Ave & North Washington Ave
Vendor booths, handmade crafts, eats, kids’ games, and live music. Free admission with classic small-town festival vibes.
🍻 Central Jersey Beverage Fest — West Windsor
Saturday, Sept 27 • 12:00–6:00 PM • Mercer County Park
Sampling festival of brews, wine & seltzers. Ticketed tasting event; great for adults looking for an afternoon out.
🔗 Details
🎬 Disney’s Encanto • Sensory Friendly — Rahway
Saturday, Sept 27 • 2:00 PM • Union County Performing Arts Center
This special screening of Encanto is designed for children and families with sensory sensitivities. Lights are kept up, sound is lowered, and moving around is welcome. Tickets are just $5.
🔗 Details
🎨 New Brunswick: Rutgers Zimmerli Último Domingo
Sunday, Sept 28 • 1–3 PM • Zimmerli Art Museum
Celebrate Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month with dance, art, and family activities in a free cultural program.
Save the Date
Things Get Medieval
🎨 4-H Medieval Jubilee — Near Bridgewater
Saturday, Oct 4 • 10:00 AM–5:00 PM • Ted Blum 4-H Center
Medieval costumes, jousting-style demos, crafts, and kid-friendly activities. Tickets (~$15) with early arrival perks.
🎭 Lord Stirling 1770s Festival — Basking Ridge
Sunday, Oct 5 • 11:30 AM–4:00 PM • Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge
Step back to the fall of 1770 with historic reenactments, living history exhibits, and period costumes at Somerset County’s estate. Suggested donation ~ $5 per person.
🍝 Italian American Festival — West Windsor
Friday–Sunday, Oct 4–6 • Mercer County Park
Enjoy three days of Italian culture with authentic food, wine, rides, live entertainment, and artisan vendors. A family-friendly tradition that’s been drawing crowds for over two decades.
One Last Thing
Concern for immigrant communities
Rahway residents pressed city leaders to shield immigrants during last week’s council meeting, citing fears of ICE raids, surveillance, and police cooperation. Speakers shared stories of children afraid of deportation and neighbors worried about who might knock on their doors. While officials voiced sympathy, they stopped short of promising concrete protections.
That’s it for this week.
Have an event you’d like included in this newsletter or a tip for a local news story? You can simply reply to this newsletter or contact me here.
Have a great weekend!