Central Jersey is the place to be during the summer of 2026!

Central Jersey is where the Revolution was saved 250 years ago during ten crucial days between the crossing of the Delaware River to the victories at Trenton and Princeton.

Families love Central Jersey farms.

In fact, New Jersey saw more battles than any other state. A key reason was the Garden State’s bounty of food that the British and American armies fought over to feed troops and livestock. Today Central Jersey farmers are still a key attraction for visitors, but for more peaceful reasons, including pick-your-own fruit and vegetables, pony rides, and corn mazes.  Check out our list of Central Jersey farms for family friendly experiences.

Central Jersey is part of a National Heritage Area known as the Crossroads of the Revolution, having witnessed major marches to the Battles of Monmouth and Yorktown, the Retreat Across the Jerseys. During the Revolution, its strategic location between the two most important cities—New York and Philadelphia—attracted many travelers during the Revolution, civilian and military.

That strategic location is back in fashion in 2026, as World Cup soccer teams will compete in Philadelphia and “New York/New Jersey,” in June and July, bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors between early June and the final on July 19.

Whether visiting from near or far, Central Jersey puts you at the center of the action this summer.

Rockingham was Washington’s Headquarters in 1783.

Revolutionary Sites

Central Jersey is blessed with a remarkable number of historic sites, including George Washington’s headquarters during 1779 (the Wallace House) and 1783 (Rockingham). In Piscataway, you can step back in time at the East Jersey Old Town Village, an 18th Century village comprised of rescued Central Jersey historic buildings moved to the site from nearby towns. They regularly invite living history reenactors.

The most iconic moment of the Revolution was the Crossing of the Delaware River, which brought Washington and the Continental Army from Pennsylvania to Central New Jersey. The landing site will see the opening of a $24 million Washington Crossing Visitor Center right around July 4^th, the exact birthday of the nation.

The modern building is being tucked into a hillside to avoid disrupting gorgeous views of the river, and will boast multiple outdoor terraces, as well a great room featuring a recently rediscovered mural of the crossing. There also will be a 4-D exhibit that allows visitors to experience what it was like to cross the river in a Durham Boat on a cold and snowy night.

As part of the 250^th anniversary, many of Central Jersey’s beverage makers have developed special offerings:

• Unionville Vineyards of Ringoes is offering the Washington Collection with stunning labels to commemorate the 250^th. The wines include Revolutionary Red, Battlefield Blush, and Victory White. They also will have a Great American Vineyard Cookout on July 4 featuring live music and a reading of the Declaration of Independence.
• Flounder Brewing of Hillsborough has created Victory Town Ale, which salutes the 75 New Jersey “Victory Towns” that witnessed the march to victory at the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. Flounder also is offering a robust program of 250 events.
  

  Flounder Brewing has introduced Victory Town Ale for the 250th.

• Riverhorse Brewing of Ewing is offering Brutus’ Crossing Tavern Ale, a tribute the famous nearby river crossing.
• Old Hights Brewing of Hightstown has created Triangles Dark Saison, a Belgian classic named for the historic triangle formed by the great battlefields of Trenton, Princeton & Monmouth, where Hightstown was situated right in the center.
• Sunken Silo Brewing of Lebanon has created ‘Merica Pale Ale with centennial hops. The same brew is also being sold as “250 American Pale Ale” at the Bridgewater stadium where the Yankees-affiliated Somerset Patriots baseball team plays.

Central Jersey’s downtowns are getting into the 250^th action, as well.

Revolutionary Princeton

In 1783, Princeton was the capital of the United States, and the Continental Army met at Princeton University’s Nassau Hall, which six years before was overtaken by the Patriots during the Battle of Princeton. Today, the town is arguably the farm-to-table capital of the east with an astounding number of 250^th anniversary experiences, including:

Peale’s “Washington at the Battle of Princeton.”

• “Five Independent Souls” at Morven, home of Richard Stockton, one of the five New Jerseyans who signed the Declaration of Independence; open all year.
• “Nursery of Rebellion” at the Princeton University Library, featuring priceless portraits, documents, and maps from the founding era; open through July 12.
• The newly reopened Princeton University Art Museum offers many important artworks of the revolutionary era, including “Washington at the Battle of Princeton” in a frame that once adorned a portrait of King George.
• Go to the Experience Princeton 250 website for many more things to see and do.

Flemington

The historic Borough of Flemington is putting on a 250^th Parade on June 14, followed by a Stomp and Sow: A Community Barn Dance.

You can enjoy Flemington’s history all summer long. Boasting a higher percentage of National Register Historic Sites than any other New Jersey town, in July Flemington will welcome the return of the newly restored Union Hotel. Originally built in 1814 and famous for hosting media during the 1935 Lindbergh “Trial of the Century,” this 100-room boutique landmark anchors Courthouse Square on Flemington’s historic Main Street. Guests can indulge in premium, locally sourced cuts and fresh seafood at the signature ground-floor restaurant or unwind with craft cocktails at the stylish main bar or intimate second-floor terrace lounge.

Flemington’s Union Hotel reopens in July.

Across the street is the even more famous Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse that hosted the Lindberg trail. The last weekend of September, the courthouse will be the scene of a preview concert of The Crossing: A Revolutionary Musical that tells some of New Jersey’s most important stories related to our founding and is preparing for a full production premier in December on the 250^th anniversary of the Battle of Trenton.

World Cup Comes to Central Jersey

Numerous Central Jersey towns are offering World Cup Watch Parties this summer, listed chronologically here:

A World Cup Watch party will be held at the Princeton Battle monument.

• June 13: The Battle of Basking Ridge, features a Soccer Village and Cultural Street Festival (3-6pm) with international food vendors, cultural performances, soccer demonstrations, and family activities, as well as a community watch party for the Brazil vs. Morocco match (6-8:30pm).
• June 19: Flemington Cup: The Halfway Point is a ticketed, family-friendly World Cup watch party and cultural festival at 2pm on Stangl Road in Flemington, featuring a live stream of USA vs. Australia on a large LED wall on a main stage — with additional TVs throughout the closed-street festival footprint — plus food trucks, Lone Eagle Brewing as the exclusive beer provider, live DJ and band performances, cultural programming, and a soccer village complete with 3v3 games, kids activities, face painting, and more.
• June 20: Princeton’s Welcome World Global Food Festival and World Cup Watch Party at 11 AM, at the Battle of Princeton Monument. Enjoy family friendly events, festival food, Princeton’s passport to Global Cuisine, and Chalk and Balloon Art.
• June 27: Hillsborough’s World Cup Watch Party & Cultural Festival at the Iron Peak Sports complex. Watch party covering 5 matches. There will be a soccer tournament occurring adjacent to this event. Enjoy food from a variety of ethnic traditions, craft vendors, and giveaways.
• June 28: Princeton’s Welcome World Global Food Festival and World Cup Watch Party at 1pm in the gorgeous green courtyard at the Princeton Shopping Center (301 N. Harrison St.). Enjoy family friendly events, global foods, a Passport to Princeton’s Global Cuisine, and chalk and balloon art.
• June 30: Trenton’s New Jersey Youth Mini World Cup 2026 – A one-day bilingual community event bringing together youth soccer teams, families, cultural vendors, and community organizations from across New Jersey. Featuring a Parade of Nations, youth soccer matches, and more. At the Capital City Sports Complex, 1501 N Willow St, Trenton.
  

  Flemington’s Stangl District will host a World Cup watch party.

• July 2: New Brunswick’s Hub City Celebration 2026 will celebrate the World Cup and the 250th with a celebration that will include soccer activations, food trucks, bazaars, live art, fireworks, drone show, live music and DJs, as well as watch parties for three matches that day.
• July 11: Mercer County’s Revolutionary Roots Watch Party, at the Mercer County Park Festival Grounds in West Windsor. Enjoy live music, a local beer and beverage garden, games, and activations. From 3 to 11 pm with games at 5 and 9 pm. Free admission and parking.
• July 14: Princeton’s Welcome World Global Food Festival and Watch Party- Bastille Day Celebration! As 1pm in the heart of Princeton’s Palmer Square, enjoy for French & global foods, festival favorites, and pick up your “Passport to Princeton’s Global Cuisine!” Enjoy a toast to Sister City Colmar, France, a traditional “Waiter’s Race,” and chalk and balloon art.
• July 19: Trenton’s World Cup Final Watch Party, at Cooper’s Riverview at 50 Riverview Plaza at 2pm, hosted by the African American Chamber of Commerce.

The Summer of 2026 is going to be epic in Central Jersey! Be part of it!

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

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Note: The featured image shows reenactors of General Washington and Rochambeau at Dey Mansion in Wayne (North Jersey!), accompanied by players of the Cosmos soccer team of Paterson. Dey Mansion is managed by Pasaic County Cultural & Historic Affairs.

An architect’s rendering of the interior of the new Washington Crossing Visitor Center opening in July.

As you celebrate the 250^th birthday of the United States this year, be sure to raise a glass of Central Jersey wine or beer.

Famously, General Washington and the Continental Army crossed the Delaware River into Central Jersey during ten crucial days in 1776 that saved the revolution at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton, victories that shocked the world.

Reenactors regularly appear at East Jersey Old Town Village.

In a smaller way, Central Jersey also shocked Europe in the 1760s when Lord Stirling of Somerset County and Edward Antill of Middlesex County accepted and won a challenge from Great Britain’s Royal Society of Arts to produce wine of similar quality to Europe’s. It was the first time American wine proved its worth around the world, echoed two centuries later in the 1776 Judgement of Paris and in the 2012 Judgement of Princeton.

It turns out, Central Jersey winemaking has an illustrious history, even though the modern industry had to wait until 1981 when the state legislature repealed Prohibition Era laws against winemaking.

Following his winemaking success, Lord Stirling would go on to become one of Washington’s most trusted Generals in the American Revolution, while Antill’s home, Ross Hall, became the spot where Washington and his generals decided to put on the first July 4 fireworks in American history, just after victory at Monmouth, in 1778.  They called it a Feu de Joie (“Fire of Joy”).

Federal Twist Vineyard opened an impressive new tasting room last year.

The sites of those early vineyards have become county parks: Lord Stirling Park in Basking Ridge, and the East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway. No grapes are being cultivated in either place, unfortunately, but many other Central Jersey beverage makers are busy honoring Central Jersey’s Revolutionary past.

Unionville Vineyards has released its new Washington Collection including Revolutionary Red, Victory White, and Battlefield Blush. Unionville farms Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at its Pheasant Hill Vineyard in Hopewell; the estate where Washington held a War Council meeting before the Battle of Monmouth, and in Princeton, a town with more Revolutionary history than perhaps any other place. Unionville is planning several patriotic events this summer, including its annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

Two vineyards, Hopewell Valley and Federal Twist, are close to the Delaware River that was famously crossed on a stormy Christmas night in 1776. They make excellent stops if you are visiting the Washington Crossing State Park in Hopewell that will open a spectacular new visitor center around the 4^th of July, assuming construction proceeds as expected.  Federal Twist even has plans to welcome General Washington to their vineyard on June 27, and both vineyards offer live music every weekend.

River Horse honors the Delaware River crossing.

Working Dog Winery is located near the route taken to Monmouth, where the American and British fought hard to achieve a stalemate or an American victory, depending on whom you believe. They offer a Cabernet-Franc blend that is similar to the “Claret” wines popular during the Revolutionary Era.

The winery at Terhune Orchards is also part of the action, having recently increased its preserved farmland to 250 acres and offering an exhibit about the farm’s 50^th anniversary in a 250-year-old barn.

Old York Cellars in Ringoes offers live music, comedy, and gorgeous views of the Sourland Mountain range, where John Hart, a local signer of the Declaration of Independence, was forced to hide. Hart died young because of repeated exposure to cold and moisture. If you prefer a downtown venue for Old York wines, you’ll find it at Mr. Pop’s in Flemington, the first retailer selling local wine by the glass under legislation passed this year.

Needle Creek Brewing operates in a centuries old barn.

New Jersey brewers are also energized by the 250^th anniversary of the nation. Needle Creek Brewing in Pennington also boasts a connection to the revolutionary John Hart through his descendant of the same name who owns the farm where the brewery is located, in a 250-year-old barn. They are planning to welcome General Washington to the brewery on May 31 along

with other patriotic programming.

Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough is offering a Victory Town Ale in collaboration with the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association to commemorate the trail taken through Central Jersey to Yorktown, Virginia, where the revolutionary was won. They are also offering an ample schedule of historic reenactments and lectures—including a visit from Washington on horseback on May 17—at their 250-year-old Dutch barn.

Riverhorse Brewing in Ewing also has a colonial Tavern Ale to celebrate the 250^th anniversary with an emphasis on the Delaware River Crossing.

Flounder Brewing is putting on history programs for the 250th.

The 250^th anniversary of the nation is a big moment for New Jersey, where more Revolutionary battles were fought than in any other state, and where Washington spent the most time.  It’s Garden State nickname goes back before 1781 when it was described by visiting French allies as the “Garden of America” and a “land of milk and honey.”

That’s why your visits to revolutionary sites ought to include a visit to Central Jersey’s farms, orchards, wineries, and breweries that have been satisfying and delighting the hungers and thirsts of locals and visitors alike for centuries.

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

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As New Jersey begins to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the nation, a coalition of historical organizations in Somerset County is hosting its fourth and final Middlebrook Symposium on March 14, 2026, to deepen public understanding of the encampments known as “Middlebrook” that happened in and near the Watchung Hills. The symposium will be held at Raritan Valley Community College from 9 AM to 3:30 PM.

This year’s symposium will focus on the “legacy” of the Middlebrook encampments, which includes the establishment of the first military academy of the United States, the predecessor of West Point 24 years later.

“Before West Point, there was the Academy at Middlebrook,” said event co-director Linda Barth, who is executive director of the League of Historical Societies of New Jersey. “It was here, in Somerset County, where the American Army built a permanent barracks with classrooms to teach officers the science of war, particularly how to build and deploy cannon and other artillery.”

Among the speakers at the conference will be Dr. John Seidel, an emeritus director of Washington College and a leading expert on Pluckemin Artillery Camp in Bedminster, near the Jacobus Vanderveer house, headquarters of General Henry Knox, artillery commander of the Continental Army.

George Washington (aka David Emerson) will talk about his time at Middlebrook.

In addition, several living history reenactors will bring to life important figures at Middlebrook, including David Emerson as General George Washington and Leslie Bramlett as Hannah Till, an enslaved cook who served Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette, bought her own freedom, and became a prominent member of Philadelphia’s free African American community.

Additional speakers include Roger Williams, the historian of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution who will speak about the forage war, in which American and British soldiers fought over food and other supplies, and Dr. Robert Selig, who will speak about the movement of troops through the area as they marched to Yorktown, VA, to win the American Revolution in 1781.

“The encampments at Valley Forge and Morristown may be more famous, but Middlebrook was just as important—in some ways, more so,” said Linda Barth.

The Middlebrook spring encampment occurred in 1777. During the winter of 1778-1779, 10,000 Continental troops spread out among the present-day municipalities of Bridgewater, Bound Brook, Manville, and Bedminster in what is known as a “cantonment” because of its duration and the durability of the huts they constructed.

This year’s symposium is the final in a series of four. Tickets may be purchased to attend in person or virtually, from anywhere in the world. Tickets for in-person or virtual attendance must be purchased in advance at https://heritagetrail.org. In-person registration, which includes lunch, is $35 for adults, $28 for veterans, and $20 for students (ID required). Early in-person registration is encouraged because space is limited. Books by presenters will be available on site for purchase and signing. The virtual livestream tickets cost $20 on the Afton platform and can be viewed for 30 days. Proceedings volumes of the previous three symposia are available at Amazon.com in paperback or digital versions (Search on The Heritage Trail Association under Amazon books).

Leslee Bramlett will speak as Hannah Till.

Funded in part with support from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission, a partner of the New Jersey Historical Commission and the New Jersey Society, Sons of the American Revolution, this series was developed and organized under the leadership of several local historical organizations including the Heritage Trail Association, Friends of Abraham Staats House, Wallace House State Historic Site and the Wallace House and Old Dutch Parsonage Association, Somerset County Historical Society, the Jacobus Vanderveer House, and the Washington Camp Ground Association. Raritan Valley Community College provided technical and logistical support. The Friends of Bridgewater History also provided support.

On February 28^th Central New Jersey audiences will have the rare opportunity to witness the birth of a major new American musical when The Crossing: A Revolutionary New Musical presents its Concert Version Preview—featuring professional actors from Broadway and television—in Franklin Township.

Directed by longtime Somerset resident Terri Seggio and musically directed by composer John Allen Watts, with book and lyrics by Jason Huza, this landmark event offers an early look at a groundbreaking production centered on one of the most decisive moments in American history: General George Washington’s daring crossing of the Delaware River, which led to crucial victories at Trenton and Princeton.

Martin Hargrove’s opera roles include His operatic roles include Colline, in La Boheme, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Sparafucile and Monterone in Rigoletto, Angelotti in Tosca, Jake in Porgy and Bess,

Developed through meticulous historical research and collaboration with leading scholars, The Crossing weaves together military strategy, political philosophy, and deeply human storytelling. The result is a powerful narrative that honors the courage, sacrifice, and determination that shaped the birth of our nation.

“This show is an inspiring celebration of history, artistry, and national resilience that I am proud to bring to local audiences,” said director Terri Seggio.

Part of a series of Franklin 250 events, the preview of The Crossing is one night only, February 28, at 7 pm, at Sampson G Smith School Auditorium. Tickets are just $10 and are available online in advance and at the door. All proceeds will benefit Franklin 250, which supports educational and cultural programming throughout this historic anniversary year.

A Living Portrait of America’s Founding

“The Crossing was born from the belief that history isn’t something we leave behind—it’s something we continually step into with courage, clarity, and heart,” said composer John Allen Watts.

The Crossing breaks new ground by bringing historically overlooked voices to the forefront. Featured characters include Private Jacob Francis, a free Black soldier who served in Washington’s army, and Billy Lee, Washington’s enslaved and trusted valet. By highlighting these stories, the production presents a fuller, more inclusive portrait of the American Revolution—one that reflects the diversity and complexity of the nation’s founding.

This approach strengthens the relevance of New Jersey’s revolutionary sites for contemporary audiences and reinforces the city’s vital role in telling America’s complete story.

World Premiere in 2026

The full stage production of The Crossing is scheduled for December 2026 in Trenton, aligning with the 250th anniversary of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. The production is being co-produced by the Passage Theatre Company and TenCrucialDays.org. This preview concert offers supporters and history lovers an exclusive opportunity to be part of the journey from its earliest stages.

Stellar Cast

Jim Schubin created the Role of Phillip Gardner on the Emmy Award-Winning Series Broadwalk Empire on HBO.

The concert features a distinguished cast led by Martin Hargrove and Jim Schubin. Following the performance, Watts and Huza will share behind-the-scenes insights and engage directly with the audience in a Q&A session—offering a rare opportunity to connect with the creative minds behind the work.

Mr. Hargrove has performed opera, musical theatre, recitals, and concerts throughout the US, Europe, Canada and South America. Martin is a celebrated operatic performer whose graced many stages with credits that include roles such as Colline (La Bohème), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Ramfis (Aida), Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitor), and Jake (Porgy and Bess). He has performed with major companies including Boheme Opera NJ, Houston Grand Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera. Educated at Westminster Choir College, and Trenton State College, Martin is also an active church soloist, lecturer, and music workshop leader.

Mr. Schubin is a NY based actor and singer, and 1^st prize winner of the 2016 Lotte Lenya Singing Competition. Jim has starred in shows off-Broadway, National Tours, and at theatres across the country. He created the Role of Phillip Gardner on the Emmy Award-Winning Series Broadwalk Empire on HBO and has had multiple guest roles in Law & Order, L&O: SVU, Fosse Verdon and more. Jim also works as a private voice and acting instructor in Hamilton NJ. www.schubinstudios.com

Meet the Creatives

John Allen Watts (Composer) brings decades of experience in composing, performing, and producing music across popular and theatrical genres. A graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts’ Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, he has developed The Crossing through multiple professional readings. His dynamic, accessible score is designed for both large-scale theatrical and filmed productions.

Jason Huza (Book and Lyrics) is a multidisciplinary writer whose work spans musical theatre, plays, novels, and screenwriting. His musical It Happened in Key West premiered on London’s West End in 2018, and his play Dante’s Omission was a Eugene O’Neill Playwriting Conference semifinalist. His experience supports The Crossing’s planned expansion into a serialized television format in future years.

Terry Seggio (Director) has been teaching literacy, directing, and choreographing for over 35 years, the last 23 years in Franklin Township, and has directed or choreographed over 50 shows.  She currently serves as the educational consultant for The Crossing and is the Chairperson of the Franklin Township Cultural Arts Council. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Project Broadway in NYC bringing her expertise in the Arts to both organizations. Mrs. Seggio continues to coach students privately for theatre auditions and was overjoyed to watch one of her former students win a Tony Award in 2025. She firmly believes all children should experience a standing ovation once in their lifetimes.

An Evening of Patriotism, Artistry, and Hope

The Crossing is more than a musical—it is a tribute to the ideals that forged a nation and the people who carried them forward against overwhelming odds. Audiences are invited to join this extraordinary evening of music, history, and community, and to help launch a production that honors America’s past while inspiring its future.

“Join us for an unforgettable night celebrating courage, creativity, and the enduring American spirit,” said Director Seggio.

The new musical tells the overlooked story of Black and Brown men who helped win American independence, as portrayed by these reenactors at the Washington Crossing State Park.

During the American Revolution an officer passing through New Jersey described it as “the garden of America.”  Another called it “a land of milk and honey.”

Harvest season is the perfect time to experience Central Jersey’s farms, wineries, breweries, and historic sites in the place where Washington crossed the Delaware and won the crucial Battles of Princeton and Trenton.

As the nation approaches its 250^th anniversary in 2026, the farms of Central New Jersey hold a special place in American history, a place that saw a “forage war” between competing American, British, and even French armies seeking sustenance. Quite a few farms have been operating since before the nation was founded—some operated by descendants of the very same families!

The Mount family has welcomed visitors to Terhune Orchards for 50 years.

The main attraction is the same today as it was then – fertile lands conveniently located between two great historic cities, New York and Philadelphia, a relatively short trip for so many people, with great place to stay overnight.

An autumn visit to Central Jersey offers fall festivals, apple- and pumpkin-picking, live music, wine tastings, and Oktoberfest-style local beer. Check out our interactive map to find lots of exciting things to do here.

At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors. Harvest festivals generally require the purchase of tickets, either in advance or on-site. Our favorite festivals can be found at these farms, listed in order of opening weekend:

• Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, attracts thousands of visitors every year to a 250-acre family-owned and operated farm celebrating its 50th anniversary year. Starting September 6, autumn brings Terhune’s Fall Family Fun Weekends, Saturdays and Sundays 10-5 through November 2, featuring live music, pick-your-own pumpkins, country food, pedal & play tractors, corn stalk & hay mazes, adventure barn, and farm animals. Estate wines served among 100-year-old apple trees. Admission discounts with advance purchase. Or buy a season pass!
• Norz-Hill Farm’s Family Fun Fall Festivals in Hillsborough start September 13 on weekends (10 to 6), expanding to weekday afternoons on October 1 through late October. Enjoy hay wagon rides, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, Kids’ Corner, and a food stand. They also offer Scare Farm, a popular Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night experience September 26 to October 26. Buy tickets in advance here.
• Abma’s Farm in Hillsborough starts fall festival activities September 13 through November 1, weekdays 3-4:30 and Saturdays 9-4. Admission tickets are needed for hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin picking, petting zoo. Geared towards families, couples, friends, and casual groups. Kids under 24 months are admitted free.
• Giamarese Farm in East Brunswick opens its Fall Harvest Weekends on September 20 and will be offering hayrides, pony rides, apple-picking until mid-October, and pumpkin-picking through the end of October. They also have an on-farm store open daily Tuesday to Sunday through December.
  

  Miss Central Jersey visits piglets at Abma’s Farm.

• Etsch Farm in Monroe begins their fall festival featuring their 19th corn maze season on weekends September 20 through October, featuring hayrides, barrel train, bakery trailer, and pumpkin patch.

• Snyders Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting October 4 through October 26, from 11am to 6pm. Activities include pumpkin picking, hay rides , corn maze , sunflower trail , giant slide, lots of activities, food trucks , local breweries, and great photo op areas. Entry tickets are paid for in cash, upon entry. Last entry at 4:30.

For folks interested in combining harvest season with revolutionary history, East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway is offering a free family-friendly Fall Harvest Festival on two long weekends, October 23-25, and October 31-November 2, from 10-5pm. Enjoy conversations with historic reenactors while visiting authentic 18^th Century homes, schoolhouses, taverns, and barns.  Take an accessible wagon ride to our farm fields, pick your pumpkins, and snap your postcard-perfect family photo. Then, stop by the tent and take home a variety of pies, cider donuts, pickles, salsa, and preserves.

On Saturday, October 4, the folks at Love Flemington are hosting the third annual Hunterdon Harvest Fair from 11 to 7 on Stangl Road, the site of the Stangl Farmers Market on Saturdays. Throughout the fall, historic Flemington offers self-guided historic walking tours, great shopping, and extraordinary restaurants. Visit Flemington on September 13 for the Central Jersey Jazz Festival!

Fall Festival at East Jersey Old Town Village.

You’ll also find a great Fall Music Series every Saturday in September and October on the Palmer Square Green in world-famous Princeton, home to Princeton University and a dozen farm-to-table restaurants, plus a vibrant shopping district.

You can also find autumn festivals in the areas many wineries and breweries, including:

• Oktoberfest on September 20 at River Horse Brewing in Ewing, from 2 to 9pm, featuring family friendly games, German food, live music, speciality casks, and a dunkel fester release.
• Oktoberfest on September 27 at Sunken Silo in Lebanon in partnership with Metropolitan Seafood.
• Oktoberfest is on October 4 at Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough from noon to 10pm. Guests can spread out on our South Paddock field with their own blankets and camp chairs or hang inside a historic barn while enjoying local beer including Last Train to Munich Octoberfest Marzen! Flounder’s Brass band will play traditional German favorites in the afternoon followed by at 6 by the Garret Tatano Band from Pittsburgh with their incredible German oompah party!
• Harvest Celebration on October 11 at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes from noon to 5pm, featuring Antimo’s Food Truck, live music, and vineyard walks.

Next year, in 2026, Central New Jersey is expected to host more than a million visitors, many from overseas, who will be coming for the World Cup games played in New Jersey and nearby Philadelphia, as well as being a hub for heritage tourism related to the nation’s 250th anniversary. This fall is the perfect time to beat the crowds and enjoy harvest season in the Garden State.

• Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven.
• Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk.
  

  Hike with goats at Gorgeous Goat!

• Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton offers Goat Hikes and Farm Tours every weekend through Thanksgiving. Get ready for the surprise and delight of over 100 goats at the only goat dairy farm in New Jersey. Purchase tickets online.
• Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, and more.
• Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm is offering “walk with an alpaca” tickets on Saturdays, while their store is open both Saturdays and Sundays. Their on-farm store is chock full of bouquets, buds, oil, lotions, creams, and more.

Next year, in 2026, Central New Jersey is expected to host more than a million visitors, many from overseas, who will be coming for the World Cup games played in New Jerseyand nearby Philadelphia, as well as being a hub for heritage tourism related to the nation’s 250th anniversary. This fall is the perfect time to beat the crowds and enjoy harvest season in the Garden State.

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

The summer of 2025 promises to be the year of the “nearcation” as uncertainty about air travel and the economy are encouraging folks to seek drivable vacations to relaxing yet affordable destinations with lots to do.

Berry picking at Synders Farm in Somerset.

That makes Central Jersey perfect for more than 22 million Americans who live within a five-hour drive of a bucolic region midway between New York and Philadelphia. In some ways, Central Jersey is the quieter “the Jersey shore,” bordered by the Delaware River on the western side of the state.

Central Jersey offers a surprising variety of attractions! It is a center of agritourism, with numerous family-owned farms you can visit, serene vineyards and craft brewing; notable historic sites; trails for hiking and birdwatching; affordable inns and hotels; and a variety of cultural attractions and festivals. And for foodies, it is becoming known as the farm-to-table capital of the east.

So, skip the airport security lines and take a road trip to Central Jersey where you’ll find something for everyone.

Family Farms

Central Jersey’s bountiful farms and vineyards are a big draw, and a key reason why New Jersey’s nickname is the “Garden State.” One of the biggest draws, Terhune Orchards near Princeton, is celebrating its 50^th anniversary this summer. The Mount family, owners of Terhune, deserve credit for launching agritourism in New Jersey when they bought a local farm with the idea of inviting the public to pick their own produce, learn about farm crops and animals, and attend their many festivals, including their Blueberry Bash, Firefly Festival, Just Peachy Festival, and fall family festivals.

Over the following decades many more Central Jersey farms have opened their doors and fields to the public. Norz-Hill Farm and Snyders Farm in Somerset County also welcome many visitors for berry and pumpkin picking and seasonal festivals. Several other farms are known for their local cheeses—Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Cherry Grove Farm, and Gorgeous Goat Creamery.

Terhune Orchards is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

A complete list of our farms can be found at the Discover Central New Jersey website.

Farm-to-Table

The bounty of local farms has made it possible for Central Jersey to enjoy a remarkable concentration of farm-to-table restaurants. Princeton alone boasts about a dozen farm-to-table businesses, including not only fine dining but also farm-to-table ice cream, baked goods, pizza, and crepes! Additional farm-to-table hotspots include Hopewell, Flemington, and Hightstown.

Live music at Needle Creek Brewery in Pennington.

Vineyards and Breweries

Central Jersey is increasingly recognized as a destination for wine lovers, with a growing number of high-quality wineries such as Unionville Vineyards, Old York Cellars, and Hopewell Valley Vineyards, and Federal Twist. These vineyards offer stunning views, live music, and great wines.

If you are a craft beer lover, you’ll find many choices. Flounder Brewing and newly opened Needle Creek are housed in historic barns, allowing you to combine an agritourism experience with great beer, while Sunken Silo Brewing’s name is a homage to the farms lost to the Round Valley Reservoir, now a recreation area. Several other breweries are in charming towns liked Princeton, Flemington, and Hightstown.

A comprehensive list of Central Jersey beverage makers is available here.

Charming Towns and Villages

Central Jersey offers some wonderful downtown shopping and cultural districts including the famous university town of Princeton, where you can shop, eat, and take a selfie at the university’s famous front gates, at the Trenton Battle Monument, or at the temporary Einstein’s Brain exhibit at Dohm Alley.

Another great downtown is historic Flemington, in Hunterdon County, with something for everyone. Stroll its tree-lined streets, where 65% of the borough is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Famously, the Hunterdon County Historic Courthouse was the scene of the Lindberg “trial of the century,” recently restored and available for visits by appointment.

Surrounded by 1,600 farms, Flemington has been the bustling agricultural and railroad hub of Central New Jersey for hundreds of years. It is now home to 450 businesses, including artisan coffee shops, farm-to-table restaurants, antique shops and boutiques, and craft beverages. A weekly farmer’s market on Saturdays at the old Stangl factory is popular, and you can enjoy weekend excursions on the historic Black River & Western Railroad, which offers a popular Wine Express.

The historic Inn at Glencairn in Lawrence.

If you like truly small, quaint villages, consider bicycling along the 70-mile-long D&R Canal State Park that passes through historic canal villages such as Frenchtown, Stockton, and Lambertville near the Delaware River, or through Kingston, Rocky Hill, and Griggstown along the main canal to the East. We love the D&R Canal so much, we’ve made it the defining feature of our Central Jersey Agritourism map.

Where to Stay

Central Jersey has lots of wonderful places to stay, but two of our favorites are the charming 1736 Inn at Glencairn and the 100-room Chauncey Hotel and Conference Center, both just outside Princeton in Lawrence Township.

Increasingly, the region is seeing the development of new destination inns and hotels designed with leisure travelers in mind. Indeed, this is only the second summer when Central Jersey has been an official tourism region of the Garden State, following a years-long effort that was even featured on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert!

This summer, come to Central Jersey and find out what all the fuss is about!

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

250 Years Ago, General George Washington began his campaign to create an independent nation on the American continent, and three of the most important battles occured in Central New Jersey—an agricultural region that today still offers some of the nation’s most inviting farms, wineries, and farm-to-table restaurants.

Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at Hopewell Valley Vineyards.

For the first time, you can enjoy a three-day tour of a region where Washington crossed the Delaware River and won pivotal battles at Trenton and Princeton during “ten crucial days” inspired by the words of Thomas Paine: “These are the days that try men’s souls.”

While touring these historic sites and battlefields, you’ll also visit farms for cheesemaking and seeing livestock, enjoy tastings at a brewery and winery, and shop and dine in picturesque Princeton and Hopewell.

The three-day, two-night tour is offered by Starr Tours in association with Discover Central New Jersey and Ten Crucial Days, a non-profit organization offering expert tours of Revolutionary battlefields and sites.

A guestroom at the Chauncey Hotel.

Travelers will stay at the Chauncey Hotel & Conference Center, a luxurious, 100-room hotel in a campus-like setting, close to Princeton and Central Jersey farms.

The tour is being offered in November this fall, with the opportunity to see where the Continental Army departed and landed on the shores of the mighty Delaware River. (Unfortunately, you won’t see the reenactors depicted in the photo above unless you make a special trip for the twice-annual reenactment of the crossing that occurs each December.)

For a detailed itinerary, accommodation details, departure dates, more photographs, and costs, visit the Starr Tours website.

Princeton’s historic shopping district offers great restaurants and more.

The origin of the farm-to-table movement is credited to the opening of Chez Panisse in Berkely, CA in 1971 by famed restaurateur Alice Waters, inspiring many more such restaurants in the nation’s largest state. The idea was to prepare meals with locally sourced wholesome ingredients, while avoiding industrially farmed and packaged food.

Momo family matriarch Terese in Chile, where she lives today.

Soon after, an east coast origin story was underway in 1976 when Italian immigrant Terese Momo opened a deli on the New Jersey/New York border, preparing food with locally sourced ingredients and recipes of her homeland. Her innovation inspired a great many additional farm-to-table style establishments, including those opened by her four sons—Raoul, Venanzio, Carlo, and Anthony—who became farm-to-table entrepreneurs, most notably in Central New Jersey. (Three of the four brothers shown in black and white photo above.)

Jammin’ Crepes in Princeton shows off its farm partners.

Today, Central Jersey is home to more than 20 farm-to-table restaurants with the largest concentration in Princeton, the famous university town, with clusters in Hopewell and Flemington. It truly is high time for foodies and culinary travelers to partake of Central Jersey’s restaurants, as well as its welcoming farms and farmer’s markets, vineyards, and craft breweries.

Princeton alone has about a dozen farm-to-table restaurants, including the Momos’ Mediterra, Eno Terra, and Terese’s Pizza & Wine Bar, named for the family’s matriarch. You’ll also find two farm-to-table ice cream shops, a bakery, a creperie, a second pizzeria, and several outstanding white table-cloth restaurants, all featuring locally grown meats and produce.

Flemington’s historic downtown is an emerging farm-to-table destination thanks to the perennial favorite, Matt’s Red Rooster, the Bread & Culture bakery, and several more opening soon.

Matt’s Red Rooster has held its perch for more than two decades.

Hopewell Fare is a newly relaunched community space in Hopewell Borough with several local food businesses including Farmer’s Café, Maria’s Market, and Sourland Bread. It’s elegant sister restaurant, Brick Farm Tavern, is down the road, while Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette offers farm-to-table breakfasts and lunch in a diner-style atmosphere.

You can also find farm-to-table dining in Hightstown, Sergeantsville, Lambertville, Somerville, New Brunswick, and other Central Jersey towns.

Central Jersey farms, of course, are a big part of the story. The state’s agricultural society dates to 1781 when the United States was still just an idea. But farms welcoming visitors is a newer phenomenon in the Garden State. Indeed, 2025 marks the 50^th anniversary of Terhune Orchards, New Jersey’s first major agritourism destination farm. The region also boasts cow and goat dairy farms that specialize in making cheeses, a perfect complement to the region’s increasing number of wine growers.

Hopewell Fare has become a farm-to-table cooperative.

Rutgers University in Central Jersey may be the secret source of the entire farm-to-table movement. One of the oldest and most important land-grant universities with an extensive history of agricultural research, Rutgers educated the father of Alice Waters, Charles, with a degree in agricultural engineering. And Raoul Momo earned his degree from Rutgers in agricultural economics. During those early years, Raoul and his brothers opened their first restaurant, a pizzeria, next to the Rutgers campus in New Brunswick.

New Jersey’s nickname, the Garden State, has been fodder for sarcasm as the state has become the most densely developed in the United States. But large swaths of farmland, parkland, and open space continue nourish residents and visitors alike, thanks to statewide preservation efforts and the dedication of farm families. Farming has been part of New Jersey’s identity since before the nation’s founding. Fighting over the fruits of the Garden State’s bounty.

Cherry picking at Terhune Orchards, near Princeton.

Farming has been part of New Jersey’s identity since before the nation’s founding. Fighting over the fruits of the Garden State’s bounty—the forage wars—was a key feature of local battles and skirmishes during the American Revolution. New Jersey expects to be a major draw for history buffs as the nation celebrates its 250^th birthday, starting this year.

Whatever brings you to New Jersey—the farms, food, nature, history, beaches, craft beverages, or the arts—make sure to reserve yourself a farm-to-table table.

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

Agricola is an elegant farm-to-table restaurant in the heart of Princeton.