13 Of The Most Welcoming Towns In New Jersey
Throughout New Jersey, many towns place a strong emphasis on shared community life. Seasonal festivals, local traditions, and public gatherings are a regular part of how residents come together and how visitors are welcomed into the mix.
The towns highlighted here are known for hosting events and celebrations that draw people from other parts of the state and beyond. These gatherings are not built around a single attraction, but around participation, whether through music festivals, parades, neighborhood traditions, or town-wide celebrations. Together, they show how community-driven events shape places where visitors are encouraged to take part, not just observe.
Cape May
Cape May is New Jersey’s southernmost shore town, known for its hospitality as well as its history and architecture. The town is filled with well-preserved Victorian homes, and its beaches remain a central part of local life. Residents have chosen to live in a popular seasonal destination despite the large number of visitors who arrive each year, and welcoming tourism has become part of the town’s identity.
Seasonal events play a major role in bringing people together. The annual Cape May Music Festival late May through late June and the Harvest Brew Fest in the fall draw visitors from across the region and give locals and out-of-towners alike a reason to gather.
Spring Lake
Spring Lake, on New Jersey’s central coast, is similar to Cape May but smaller and quieter. The town welcomes visitors from across the state and beyond throughout the year, maintaining a strong sense of local community even during busier seasons.
Residents and visitors alike spend time along the boardwalk, browse local shops and restaurants, and gather for annual events that bring people together. The Spring Lake Italian Festival in the fall and the Spring Lake 5 Mile Run are long-running traditions that draw visitors while reflecting the town’s close-knit character.
Asbury Park
Asbury Park has long been a gathering place, shaped by its music scene, public spaces, and mix of longtime residents and repeat visitors. Venues like The Stone Pony are not just attractions, but part of the town’s everyday rhythm, and the beach and boardwalk continue to function as shared spaces rather than purely seasonal draws.
Large-scale events reinforce that sense of openness. The Sea.Hear.Now Festival each fall brings music fans from well beyond New Jersey, while the annual AsburyFest in the summer turns parts of the city into a street-level celebration with vendors, food, and local performers. Together, these events reflect how Asbury Park balances tourism with a strong sense of community life.
Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant is a family-friendly destination on New Jersey’s coast. It has a walkable downtown, and Jenkinson’s Boardwalk offers rides, arcades, shops, restaurants, and an aquarium. Many local residents live in Point Pleasant year-round, but regular train service also makes it convenient for visitors.
Point Pleasant hosts numerous festivals and events each year that bring residents and visitors together. Small craft and harvest fairs take place in the fall, along with Boo at the Boardwalk to celebrate Halloween and the Festival of the Sea Seafood Festival to mark the end of summer.
Montclair
New Jersey’s coastal towns aren’t the state’s only welcoming places. Moving inland, the town of Montclair in north-central New Jersey also welcomes out-of-town visitors. This small city is known for being home to many people who work in New York City but choose to live in the suburbs, making it diverse and lively.
Montclair has a wide range of shops, restaurants, theaters, museums, and parks for both residents and visitors. Annual festivals and events include the Montclair Jazz Festival, the Montclair Film Festival, Earth Fest, and the African American-focused MAAHF Parade and Festival.
Princeton
Princeton, New Jersey, is best known as home to Ivy League Princeton University, and people from all over the world come to attend its programs. Bloom Local each spring draws visitors who want to check out the school and its surroundings in a festival atmosphere, and Princeton University reunions bring past alumni back to town.
Even when no events are happening, Princeton is quite welcoming, too, thanks to its lively downtown filled with restaurants and shops, its numerous green spaces, and its beautiful architecture. Many other festivals and events that draw out-of-town visitors are centered on the town's Palmer Square, such as the annual holiday tree lighting, summer outdoor movies and concerts, and the Palmer Square Fall Festival in the autumn.
Red Bank
Another welcoming town in northern New Jersey is Red Bank, a small town of about 12,000 residents on the Navesink River. Red Bank's Oktoberfest is legendary and highly attended, as is its annual Halloween Parade, which has been held almost every year for close to eight decades. In the summertime, everyone loves participating in Red Bank's Summer Series, a tradition that includes movies, concerts, and fitness classes in the town's parks. Red Bank is known for its riverside setting, diverse dining, historic buildings, interesting shops, and dedication to the arts.
Lambertville
On the western side of the state, just across the Delaware River from Pennsylvania, Lambertville is another small town with a welcoming feel. Many people visit Lambertville to go antiquing and to explore its many galleries and other shops. The art community in Lambertville is active, and visitors are drawn to its culture and historic character.
Annual events like ShadFest in the spring, which celebrates the shad run up the river, and holiday shopping tied to nearby seasonal traditions draw visitors from other areas. Locals are accustomed to welcoming people who come to spend time in town for these events.
Frenchtown
Like Lambertville, the small town of Frenchtown is also on the Delaware River, and people are drawn to it for its slow, unhurried, village-like feel. It's easy to get around on foot in Frenchtown, and the town's vibe is almost always rather quiet and serene. Visitors love the beautiful riverfront, the town's historic architecture, and the locals are quite friendly. July's Bastille Day celebration is a fun annual event that celebrates the town's French heritage and name, and people also come from out of town to attend Frenchtown's Hatch Festival each May and RiverFest on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend.
Collingswood
Collingswood is a Philadelphia suburb on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, and the influence of the nearby city is easy to see. This welcoming small town is valued by both residents and visitors because it is close to the city while still feeling distinct from it. Collingswood has a walkable main street, several parks, and a large number of locally owned businesses.
The town hosts many events each year and is often referred to as the “Festival Capital of South Jersey.” Collingswood Porchfest is one of the most distinctive, with musicians and artists performing on residents’ front porches each fall. The Collingswood Book Festival connects readers with authors, and the Collingswood Crafts and Fine Art Festival features artists, musicians, and local food each summer. The Collingswood Farmers Market is award-winning and among the best in the state.
Denville
Denville is a town in northwestern New Jersey with about 17,000 residents. It has strong schools, access to nearby nature, well-regarded restaurants, a walkable downtown, and a variety of local shops. Many residents appreciate that it offers a balance of amenities without feeling overwhelming.
Community involvement is a visible part of life in Denville. Events such as Small Business Week, the town’s Mother’s Day celebration, the Denville Garlic Fest, the FestiFall Street Fair, and the annual Denville Holiday Parade reflect how residents come together throughout the year.
Westfield
While Collingswood, described above, is the perfect small-town suburb of Philadelphia, Westfield mirrors it as the perfect small-town suburb of New York City. Located just 16 miles southwest of Manhattan, many people who live in Westfield, New Jersey, work in the big city, but they come home to enjoy life in this much smaller town each night.
The community spirit in Westfield is strong and is further strengthened by performances by the Westfield Community Players and events like the annual Pizza Extravaganza, the Sweet Sounds Downtown music festival, and the Westfield Street Fair and Craft Show. The people in Westfield love getting together for events and festivals and welcoming visitors from outside their hometown.
Morristown
Morristown, New Jersey, is in the north center of the state. It is best known for its Revolutionary War history, as it was the site of George Washington’s winter encampments during that war. Today, it is a lively, medium-sized town that offers a bit of an urban feel without being overwhelming. It is easy to get around, diverse and inclusive, has some great parks, and is a hub for locally owned businesses.
It is culturally rich as well. Residents and visitors alike enjoy attending concerts, theater, and other performances at the Mayo Performing Arts Center, and events like the Morristown Festival on the Green and the Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival draw people from all over the region.
Why These Towns Feel Welcoming Year-Round
What connects these New Jersey towns is not just their size or setting, but the way residents actively open their communities to others. Seasonal festivals, parades, concerts, and street fairs are not occasional extras here. They are central to how these towns operate and how they invite participation from beyond their borders. Whether through long-running cultural traditions, neighborhood-based events, or town-wide celebrations, each place on this list makes space for visitors to feel included rather than passing through. That consistent emphasis on shared experiences is what makes these towns stand out as genuinely welcoming destinations across the state.
