The biggest summer holiday without a doubt is the 4th of July, and when it falls on a Saturday, you know the weekend traffic to The Shore will be monumental. The line of cars will be longer than a Donald Trump presidential speech. Moms will hear the eternal question, “Are we there yet?” at least a dozen times, and dads will threaten to “turn the car around” at every exit on the Garden State Parkway. What to do?
You want to give the kids an experience they will remember and you want to spend quality time with friends and relatives, but wasting away the hours in the car does not sound like a good way to kick off the festivities. So how about considering an alternate plan? Why not simply head in the other direction? The State Fair Meadowlands at the new Met Life Stadium offers a fun-filled weekend that rivals anything in the State.
State Fair Meadowlands is the largest fair in the New York metro area with over 150 rides and attractions. It runs through July 5 at the State Fair Meadowlands Fairgrounds, next to MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. In addition to concerts that are free with fair entry ticket, State Fair Meadowlands will feature the all-new, spectacular Lipizzaner Stallions & Horses of the World Show; the Great American Thrill Show, an open-air performance of daredevil acrobats and aerialists; the adorable Racing Pigs, back by popular demand for their 27th year.
The first Fair at the Meadowlands opened in 1986 as a 6-day event encompassing 10 acres offering a dozen rides and games.
Today State Fair Meadowlands is the largest FAIR in New Jersey.
It takes up to 4 days to set up over 300 attractions at State Fair Meadowlands. It takes up to 3 days to tear it down.
The Fair generates about 8 tons of garbage daily, much of which is sorted for recycling.
About 1,000 people work at the fair annually from maintenance to management.
There are over 1,300 people hypnotized annually at the fair.
There are over 100 pig races annually at the fair.
There are over 185,000 Zeppoles; 50,000 Corn Dogs and over 17,000 bags of Cotton Candy sold at the fair annually.
This year’s fireworks will be put on by Garden State Fireworks, a company run by the Santore family of New Jersey for over 100 years.
Fairgoers can also check out the educational Petting Zoo, and Master Hypnotist Steve Bayner, a long-time favorite who will perform his hilarious act on the Main Stage. Celebrate New Jersey pride at the NJ Hall of Fame Mobile Museum, which contains educational exhibits about famous New Jerseyans who have been inducted in the state Hall of Fame. Aside from entertainment, State Fair Meadowlands also features over 50 white-knuckle rides and the largest Kiddieland in New Jersey, with plenty of rides to please every child. Delicious food vendors from around the country will cook up Italian, Greek, Mexican, American foods and more for the whole family.
Nights and days to watch for:
Wednesday, July 1 – CHEAP, CHEAP NIGHT
Friday, July 3 – Spectacular Fireworks
Saturday, July 4 – Spectacular Fireworks
Sunday, July 5 – Patron Appreciation Day
