Every summer, Jersey City hosts Summer in the City, a free series of music and movie events held in parks across the city. In 2025, this popular program will continue, giving residents many ways to enjoy live performances and outdoor film screenings from June through August.
The events are organized by Mayor Steven M. Fulop, the Jersey City Municipal Council, the Office of Cultural Affairs, and the Jersey City Free Public Library. Liberty State Park, Berry Lane Park, and many neighborhood parks will host different parts of the series.
- Free concerts and movie nights are scheduled across Jersey City all summer long, hosted by the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Jersey City Free Public Library.
- Summerfest at Liberty State Park features local and national jazz, soul, funk, and Latin artists every Sunday and Tuesday.
- Berry Lane Music Fest and Movies in the Park bring entertainment to neighborhoods across the city, offering family-friendly events for all ages.
Summerfest at Liberty State Park Celebrates 50 Years
Summerfest is Jersey City’s longest-running concert series. In 2025, it will celebrate 50 years. All concerts are free and open to the public. The shows happen at Liberty State Park on Sunday and Tuesday evenings.
Sunday Night Schedule – North Cove Field:
- July 6 – Valarie Adams & The Dimension Band, performing soul, Motown, jazz, and funk. The group is affiliated with smoothproductions.com and uses the handle @valarieadamsinger.
- July 13 – Chico Alvarez, a performer specializing in Afro-Cuban, Latin, and jazz genres.
- July 20 – Widely Grown, a Jersey City-based Americana and alt-folk group. Their official website is widelygrown.com and their social media handle is @widelygrownmusic.
- July 27 – Walter Parks and The Unlawful Assembly, known for soul, funk, gospel, and blues performances. They appear under the handle @theunlawfulassembly.
- August 3 – Epic Soul Band, a soul, funk, R&B, and pop band. Their official site is epicsoulband.com and their handle is @epicsoulband.
- August 10 – The Tequila Rose Band, performing new country, classic rock, and country music. Their website is tequilaroseband.com.
- August 17 – Lil’ Maceo, known for funk, pop, and jazz. Their official link is kareemwalkes.com/lilmaceo and their social handle is @lilmaceofunk.
Tuesday Night Schedule – South Lawn:
- July 8 – Kahlil Kwame Bell, performing jazz and jazz fusion. Website: kahlilkwamebell.com, hashtag: #khalilkwamebell
- July 15 – The Anthony Fuscaldo Group, performing jazz, bebop, and soul. Website: anthonyfuscaldo.com, handle: @jazzromanesque
- July 22 – Demolition Brass Band, known for New Orleans jazz and funk. Handle: @demolitionbrass
- July 29 – Acute Inflections, performing jazzy R&B. Handle: @acuteinflections
- August 12 – Spirit of Life Ensemble, known for diverse jazz styles. Website: spiritoflifeensemble-jazz.com
Summerfest is curated by local organizers and is designed for large ensembles that can fill extended two-hour sets, often with music that incorporates jazz, soul, funk, and Latin influences. The event is free and hosted at Liberty State Park, a state park operated in partnership with Jersey City entities.
Berry Lane Music Fest in Bergen-Lafayette
Berry Lane Park hosts another set of live music events on Thursday evenings in July and August. These are also free and open to all.
Thursday Concerts (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM):
- July 10 – Winard Harper, performing jazz. Website: winardharperjazz.com, handle: @winardharper
- August 7 – Danielle Martin, performing alternative soul. Website: daniellemartinmusic.com
- August 14 – Daniel Bennett Group, performing jazz, folk, and minimalism. Website: danielbennettgroup.com, handle: @danielbennettgroup
- August 17 – Sydney Millevoi, performing pop and R&B. Website: sydneymillevoimusic.com, handle: @syd.millevoi
- August 24 – Wilma Ann, performing jazz and soul. Handle: @wilma.ann.official
- August 31 – El Grupo K’ndela, a tropical salsa group. Website: kndelaentertainment.com
Movies in the Park: Free Screenings at Sunset
During the summer, Jersey City also offers Movies in the Park at local parks across the city. Each screening starts at 8:30 PM, around sunset. All movie nights are free.
June Screenings:
- June 5 (Thursday) – Detective Pikachu at City Hall
- June 6 (Friday) – Detective Pikachu at Canco Park
- June 7 (Saturday) – Detective Pikachu at Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza
- June 12 (Thursday) – Despicable Me 4 at Leonard Gordon Park
- June 24 (Tuesday) – The Wild Robot at Riverview Fisk Park
- June 26 (Thursday) – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at Columbia Park
July Screenings:
- July 8 (Tuesday) – Moana 2 at Ercel Webb Park
- July 10 (Thursday) – Transformers One at Audubon Park
- July 11 (Friday) – Moana 2 at Bergen Hill Park
- July 14 (Monday) – Wicked at Berry Lane Park
- July 15 (Tuesday) – Inside Out 2 at Pershing Field Park
- July 22 (Tuesday) – Transformers One at Arlington Park
- July 24 (Thursday) – The Wild Robot at Bayside Park
- July 31 (Thursday) – Monsters University at Boyd McGuinness Park
August Screenings:
- August 1 (Friday) – Moana 2 at Bethune Park
- August 7 (Thursday) – The Wild Robot at Thomas McGovern Park
- August 8 (Friday) – Sonic the Hedgehog 3 at Triangle Park
- August 12 (Tuesday) – Wicked at Harsimus Cemetery
- August 14 (Thursday) – The Wild Robot at Sgt. Anthony Park
- August 19 (Tuesday) – Wicked at Village Park
Other Summer Events Around the City
Besides the main concerts and movies, Jersey City’s summer 2025 calendar includes many other events:
- June 29: 9th Annual Taste of Culture
- June 30–July 1: Jersey City Jazz Festival
- June 31: Annual Great Jersey City Cleanup
- July 4: 4th of July Celebration
- July 5: Pride Flag Crosswalk Repainting
- June 13–15: Saint Aloysius Parish Carnival
- July 8: Moana 2 screening at Ercel Webb Park
- June 18: Juneteenth Flag Raising
- June 19: Juneteenth Literacy Carnival
- June 21: Jersey City Black Comic Con
- June 22: Pafcom Parade & Festival
- June 29: Summer with the Symphony – Liberty State Park
How to Stay Updated
For the most up-to-date listings, residents are encouraged to check the official calendar at jerseycityculture.org or follow the hashtag #SUMMERFESTLSP on social media. All events in the Summer in the City series are free, open to the public, and designed for attendees of all ages.
