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SubscribeMorris County runs one of the best carnival circuits in New Jersey, and almost all of it is volunteer-run. From early May through Labor Day weekend, fire departments, parishes, lake communities and recreation departments take over ball fields and town parks with midways, funnel cake, live music and fireworks. Most of them cost nothing to walk into. This is our running guide to every carnival, firemen’s fair and county fair in Morris County, organized by when they happen, so you can plan a whole summer around them.
In this guide
We update this page each season as dates are confirmed. Every carnival below links to our full guide for that event, with hours, ride wristband prices, parking, and fireworks times.
How carnival season works in Morris County
The season opens in early May and closes on Labor Day weekend. A few things hold true almost everywhere. Admission to the grounds is usually free, and you pay for rides, games and food once you are inside. Ride wristbands are typically cheaper in presale than at the gate, often by ten dollars a head. Most carnivals run rain or shine, and the ones with fireworks save them for the final Saturday or Sunday night. Parking is the recurring headache, because these are neighborhood fields, so arriving early or walking in from a few blocks out is usually faster than circling.
Nearly all of these are fundraisers. The firemen’s carnivals in particular are the single largest fundraiser of the year for all-volunteer departments, so a night on the midway doubles as support for the crews who answer the calls in your town.
May carnivals
St. Virgil’s Parish Carnival, Morris Plains. One of the county’s longest-running parish carnivals, and in 2026 it marked its 50th anniversary. It runs in early May with rides, games, food stands and a beer garden on the parish grounds. See our St. Virgil’s Carnival guide.
June carnivals
Holy Spirit School Carnival, Pequannock. Five nights of rides, food and games at the school grounds in early June. Details in our Holy Spirit School Carnival guide.
Mine Hill Carnival. A four-night carnival with Saturday fireworks, held in mid to late June. In 2026 it was built around the America 250 celebration. See our Mine Hill carnival guide.
Montville Township Fourth of July Celebration. Montville runs its Independence Day celebration in late June rather than on the holiday itself, and it is one of the biggest nights of the summer in the township: a carnival, three nights of live music, a drone show and Friday night fireworks. The 2026 edition was its 50th. Full rundown in our Montville Fourth of July guide.
July carnivals and fairs
Mt. Olive Carnival, Turkey Brook Park. Five days at Turkey Brook Park in Flanders with rides, fireworks and live music, usually the second week of July. See our Mt. Olive Carnival guide.
Randolph Freedom Festival, County College of Morris. A three-day festival on the County College of Morris campus. The 2026 edition was the 50th annual. See our Freedom Festival guide.
Denville Fire Department Carnival, Fireman’s Field. Five nights at Fireman’s Field in mid-July, run by the Denville Fire Department. See our Denville Fire Department Carnival guide.
White Meadow Lake Festival Days, Rockaway Township. The lake community’s four-day festival in mid-July. Details in our White Meadow Lake Festival Days guide.
Morris County 4-H Fair, High View Farms, Mount Olive. The county’s agricultural fair, free to attend, with livestock, 4-H club exhibits, demonstrations and food. Held over three days in late July. See our Morris County 4-H Fair guide.
August carnivals
Kinnelon Carnival, Kinnelon High School. Four nights of rides, games and food at the high school in early August. See our Kinnelon Carnival guide.
Dover Family Carnival, Crescent Field. The largest carnival in Morris County, five days at Crescent Field on First Street in Dover in mid to late August, with a full Campy’s Amusements midway including the Giant Wheel, the Zipper, the Gravitron and the Scrambler. Unlimited ride wristbands ran $45 at the gate and $35 in presale in 2026, and ride credits were sold on site. Crescent Field is a short walk from the Dover train station on NJ Transit’s Morristown Line, which makes it the easiest carnival in the county to reach without driving. Full details in our Dover Family Carnival guide.
Labor Day weekend
Boonton Fire Department Labor Day Carnival, Boonton High School. The one that closes out the season. Four days at the Boonton High School field on Lathrop Avenue, running Thursday through Sunday of Labor Day weekend, with free admission to the grounds and rides, midway games and food sold on site. Saturday belongs to the parade, which steps off at 1:30 p.m. down Main Street and ends at the high school field. The fireworks finale and the Super 50/50 drawing land on the final night. In 2026 the department marked its 135th anniversary. It runs rain or shine and it is the all-volunteer department’s largest fundraiser of the year. See our Boonton Labor Day Carnival guide.
Recurring town carnivals and fairs
A few more return every year and are worth watching for as dates are announced. The East Hanover Italian American Club Carnival takes over Lurker Park, and the Jefferson Township Firemen’s Carnival runs with free admission and fireworks. Several towns also fold a carnival midway into a larger celebration rather than running a standalone fair.
Beyond the midway
Carnival season overlaps with the rest of the Morris County summer calendar. If you are planning a weekend around one, our guide to free summer concert series in Morris County tracks every town’s gazebo and park concert schedule, our Morris County farmers markets guide covers which market is open on which day, and our Fourth of July fireworks guide has the confirmed displays by town.
Looking for what is on right now? Our things to do in Morris County this weekend list is updated every week.
When the midways pack up, the fall circuit picks up right behind it. See our guide to fall festivals and fairs in Morris County and our pumpkin picking and corn maze guide for what runs from September through October.
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