This article is sponsored by the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID).
Summer is not over just yet, but for those who are looking ahead to the new season, the Jersey City Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID) has just the event for Hudson County locals. The 13th annual All About Downtown Street Fair is back for 2024 at the Grove PATH Plaza + Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall between Grove + Coles Streets in Jersey City, and will include live music, a variety of interactive booths from local businesses, Biergartens, amazing eats, and so much more — including a brand-new kids’ fall area complete with apple bobbing, pumpkin painting, live animals, and other things. The street fair will take place on Saturday, September 21st from 12PM-8PM, rain or shine. Read on for more about HDSID’s 2024 All About Downtown Street Fair and what you can expect from this fun-filled event in just a few short weeks.
Event Details + New Fall Festival Kids’ Area
The All About Downtown Street Fair is the premier event in downtown Jersey City. It’s free to attend and will take place in the Grove PATH Plaza + Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall (between Grove Street and Coles Street) on Saturday, September 21st from 12PM-8PM rain or shine.
New to the street fair this year is a Fall Festival Kids’ Area near City Hall once you cross over Christopher Columbus Drive. Ride admission is $10 per person, and the fall area will include live animals, apple bobbing, inflatable axe throwing, pumpkin painting, festive photo opportunities, crafts, and a kid-friendly DJ, among other things.
The HDSID hosted the first All About Downtown Street Fair in 2011 and the annual event has grown every year since. In recent years, more than 40,000 people and 300 local vendors, creators, and musicians have come to the pedestrian plaza for a full day of family-friendly fun.
Here’s what you can expect this year:
Music: Enjoy live music performances throughout the day curated by Dancing Tony, as well as Salsa Fest on Grove Street at night, adding to the festive atmosphere and providing entertainment for visitors of all ages. There will also be a cigar-rolling event at Salsa Fest near Sky Tobacco.
Kiddie Rides: There will be several rides, party characters, and activities specifically designed for children, ensuring a great time for the little ones.
Food: Indulge in an array of delicious food options from local vendors, restaurants, and food trucks from across Jersey City. From savory to sweet, there’s bound to be something for every palate.
Biergartens: Relax and unwind in the Biergartens, where you can savor a selection of beverages while taking in the lively surroundings.
Vendors: Explore a variety of local vendors with unique products, crafts, and merchandise. It’s a great opportunity to discover interesting items and support local businesses.
Food Trucks: Food trucks will provide even more culinary options, allowing you to sample a wide range of flavors and cuisines throughout the day.
Community Spirit: The street fair fosters a sense of community and camaraderie as people come together to enjoy the festivities and celebrate local culture.
Outdoor Experience: The street fair provides a chance to enjoy the outdoors, soak up the atmosphere, and appreciate the vibrant energy of the event, rain or shine!
Local Vendors
Local vendors highlighting some of the best food + businesses in Jersey City is what makes the All About Downtown Street Fair so memorable. This year attendees can expect a great mix of returning and new vendors, flavors, and shopping.
Here’s a sneak peek at a few of the vendors you’ll see on September 21st:
AKI ROC JEWELRY — a diverse range of handcrafted precious metal jewelry.
Alfalfa — fresh eats + giveaways.
Boots + Bones BBQ — sizzling BBQ + country bull riding.
Carinderia on Wheels — Filipino food.
Downtown Yogurt — frozen yogurt, games, and chocolate-dipped strawberries.
Final Strike Collaborative — art, furniture, + home decor, all upcycled or made out of used materials.
Friends of Liberty State Park — takes care of Liberty State Park.
Happy Tears Hot Sauce — small-batch smoked hot sauces.
Jersey Plate Art LLC — recycled license plate signs you can customize.
The Little Gym of Jersey City — gymnastics classes, mommy + me classes, camp, birthday parties.
Lucky 7 Tavern — alcohol + bar merchandise.
Maggie’s Munchies — popular dessert, banana pudding, + cake in a jar.
Monicas Collective — handmade clothing, accessories, candles, + home goods.
PB&J — permanent bracelets + jewelry.
Phantasm Vintage — vintage clothing + records.
South House — smoked brisket sandwiches, brisket + mac and cheese sandwiches, pulled pork sandwiches, potato salad, + smoked BBQ corn riblets.
White Eagle Hall — will be raffling off tickets, tote bags, + more.
Those interested in becoming a vendor for the 2024 All About Downtown Street Fair in Jersey City can fill out a vendor application here. If you want to learn more about these vendors before the street fair, keep an eye out for vendor spotlights on the HDSID social media channels.
Local Sponsors
This event would not be possible without the continued support of Mayor Fulop, the City Council, the Department of Health + Human Services, the Office of Cultural Affairs, and the County of Hudson Office of Cultural + Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development.
The following local sponsors have also helped make the street fair happen:
Angry Archies, The Ashford, Bang Cookies, Barcade, Basile’s Pizza, Bin Drop, Boots and Bones, City Swipes, Coldwell Banker Jersey City, Cream, Downtown FLWR, dullboy, Grid Real Estate, Heyday, Hopkins Group, Hudson County Office of Cultural + Heritage Affairs/Tourism Development, Iris Records, Jane Doe, JC Eyes, Jersey City Arts + Culture Trust Fund, Jersey City Medical Center, Keyhole Bar, Landmark Developers, Left Bank Downtown, Lukin Center, Modern Family Dentistry, Orale, The Orthopedic Health Center, Porta, PostNet, PSE&G, The Rock-it Docket, Roman Nose, Silverman, Simon Mall, Six 26, Smart Start Academy, Smile Preschool + Nursery, The Spine + Sports Health Center, Whole Spectrum Autism, and Xfinitity.
About The Historic District Special Improvement District
The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID) is a public-private partnership, 501(C) which allows local business owners to directly impact the neighborhoods in Historic Downtown Jersey City. The non-profit recently expanded to include 26 more businesses and works with local businesses, property owners, and neighborhood associations in partnership with the city government. HDSID also has a clean team on duty seven days a week from 5AM-7PM to ensure the cleanliness of the downtown area.
HDSID also hosts a variety of events throughout the year and hosts some of Chilltown’s favorite farmers’ markets + handmade markets as well as happenings like the All About Downtown Street Fair. Other family-friendly events include live music, holiday celebrations, and more.
The All About Downtown Street Fair will take place Saturday, September 21st, 2024 from 12PM-8PM at the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall + Grove Street PATH Plaza (from Grove Street to Coles Street), with a new fall-themed area by City Hall. The event is rain or shine so get ready to have a memorable Saturday at the All About Downtown Street Fair!
Jersey City’s Milk Sugar Love Expanding to Asbury Park
Milk Sugar Love, the beloved Jersey City-based ice cream shop known for its handcrafted treats, is expanding to the Jersey Shore. In June 2025 the artisanal creamery will open a new location in Asbury Park, New Jersey, bringing its signature small-batch ice cream to the beach. The woman-owned ice cream parlor — founded by chef-owner Emma Taylor — is known for using high-quality, all-natural, and organic ingredients to create classic and seasonal flavors. The Asbury Park location promises to be a sweet addition to the seaside scene this summer. Read on to learn more about Milk Sugar Love’s new location opening in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
The Details
Milk Sugar Love is set to open at 1319 Memorial Drive in Asbury Park, New Jersey in June 2025. The new shop will feature an expanded production kitchen, walk-up window, and café-style seating for 12, including a few coveted counter seats where guests can watch their sundaes, affogatos, and ice cream specialties being expertly prepared.
Read More: The Cafe at Journal Squared: Jersey City’s Newest Coffee Shop
The Asbury Park location's expanded menu will showcase house-made ice cream available by the scoop, artisanal soft serve, specialty coffee drinks such as affogatos and cold brew floats, and a full take-home menu including ice cream sandwiches, celebration ice cream cakes, and fresh-baked treats. Milk Sugar Love’s ice cream flavor options span from standards like strawberry and vanilla to one-of-a-kind tastes such as lemon olive oil and guava cream cheese.
The Monmouth County expansion marks an exciting milestone for the brand, which has been delighting dessert lovers at its storefront in Jersey City since 2014. The announcement of the future Jersey Shore location was made in tandem with a reflection and celebration of its tenth year in business.
“It’s been 10 years of Milk Sugar Love and I still deeply believe in what we’re doing – making inventive and delicious ice cream from scratch using locally sourced, all-natural ingredients. You help me continue to live this ice cream dream of mine with every post you share, with every pint you bring home for the family, with every friend you bring to visit the shop. I am excited for another year of making ice cream for you in Jersey City and soon, in Asbury Park too!” founder Emma Taylor announced on the Milk Sugar Love Instagram.
The new location in Asbury Park is fitting because, like most Jersey girls, Emma spent her summers down the shore where her love of ice cream blossomed.
"I moved to Asbury Park a few years back and have been inspired by the city’s live music scene, its close-knit small business community and of course, all its delicious food," Emma shared in the official press release. "I'm thrilled for Milk Sugar Love to join this creative community.”
The flagship Milk Sugar Love location is at 19 McWilliams Place in the Hamilton Park neighborhood of Jersey City. Previously, Milk Sugar Love operated a second location in the Jersey City Heights neighborhood at 394 Palisade Avenue, however, this location closed in 2022. Fans can expect the same dedication to quality and creativity that has made Milk Sugar Love a local favorite in Jersey City down at the shore.
Emma and the Milk Sugar Love team will be popping by Berg’s Smoked Meat + Poutine in Belmar, New Jersey on Saturday, January 25th from 12PM-2PM to celebrate the two businesses’ collaboration. The team will be scooping up the limited edition flavor, Caraway Crunch, serving up free samples. Pints will be available for purchase to enjoy at home. Berg’s Smoked Meat is known for its Montreal-style smoked meat and poutine. The Berg’s team worked with Milk Sugar Love to create the flavor, which is sweetened with brown sugar and crunchy-, all-butter smoked meat toffee pieces mixed in.
Be sure to follow @milksugarlovejc on Instagram for updates on the new Asbury Park, New Jersey location.
See More: New Businesses Coming to Montclair + Essex County in 2025
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