Features performances British sensation Jay Sean,
plus Battle of the Bands, Freestyle Night & Charity Car Show
CARTERET, NJ – The Carteret Music Festival & Annual Charity Carnival returns Sept. 17 to 21 to Carteret Park. Highlights will include a Freestyle Night on Sept. 19, Battle of the Bands on Sept. 20, the 49th Annual Ethnic Day celebration of the most culturally diverse town in Central Jersey also on Sept. 20, and lots of rides, game, food, more music and other family fun throughout.
The Carnival will benefit The Children’s Charity Trust, which also will benefit from the 21st Annual Classic Car Show on Sept. 21 also in Carteret Park. In 2003 at the beginning of his first term, Mayor Daniel J. Reiman recognized that the Borough’s younger residents often lack the finances needed to achieve their goals. The Trust Fund was created with the knowledge that these children are often high achievers with great potential who with proper financial support could continue on a path of success. The nonprofit supports education, health, athletics, art and culture.
“The Charity Carnival is a long-standing tradition here in Carteret,” Mayor Reiman said. “With summer coming to an end and the children returning to school, the Carnival is a great way to mark the end of the season as a community and raise money for a great cause. The Children’s Charity Trust Fund realizes the importance of helping our neighbors in their greatest times of need.
“Carteret is one of the most culturally diverse towns in New Jersey,” the Mayor continued. “Ethnic Day is an opportunity for us to highlight what makes Carteret unique as a community. Carteret is the melting pot of Central Jersey. We have so many different cultures coming together to form a strong communal bond and contribute to making Carteret a great place to live. Our annual Ethnic Day is a reflection of that diversity as is our fantastic music lineup.”
This year’s headliner for Ethnic Day is Jay Sean, a British-born superstar and international icon who broke barriers as the first South Asian artist to top the Billboard charts and score multiple U.S. Top 10 hits, including “Down” and “Do You Remember.” Jay Sean’s free concert will take place at 8 p.m. with special guest Véyah. Past Ethnic Day headliners have included Shaggy, Spin Doctors, C&C Music Factory, Smash Mouth, Sister Hazel, Taylor Hicks, Gin Blossoms and Carteret’s own New Jersey Hall of Famers The Smithereens.
On Sept. 20, Ethnic Day also will include food, art, craft vendors and cultural performances at 12 p.m., a Battle of the Bands for four cash prizes, including a first place prize of $1,500, at 1 p.m., the Charity Carnival from 3 p.m. to midnight, a Double Dutch performance at 4:30 p.m., and fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Freestyle Night performers at 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 19 will include:
All four days of the festival are free to attend, but there is a cost for food, beverages, and tickets to rides and games. Unlimited Ride Wristbands are $37 per rider.
Festival/carnival hours are 6-10 p.m. Sept. 17 and 18, 6-11 p.m. Sept. 19, and noon to midnight Sept. 20.
Entry fees to the 21st Annual Car Show also will benefit The Mayor’s Children’s Charity Trust. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., participants will vie for trophies, including the grand Mayor’s Trophy. Attendance is free.
Sponsorship and naming opportunities at 732-541-3807.
More info also can be found on Carteret.net and @MyCarteret on Facebook, Instagram and X.
