Jay Sean Gives Free Concert In Carteret Saturday

CARTERET, NJ — Pop singer Jay Sean will give a free concert in Carteret Park Saturday night as the headliner of the town's Ethnic Day and charity carnival, which runs Wednesday to Sunday this week.

Jay Sean ("Down" ft. Lil Wayne, "Ride It") will take the main stage at Carteret Park at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20. Sean is a British-born superstar 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.”

Ethnic Day is a 49-year tradition in Carteret and celebration all the diverse cultures and heritages of people who live in this area. Carteret bills itself as "one of the most culturally diverse town in Central Jersey," said Mayor Dan Reiman.

Every year, Reiman books a fairly big-name popular band or singer to give a free concert. In recent years, past Ethnic Day headliners have included Grammy-award-winning reggae singer Shaggy, the Spin Doctors, C&C Music Factory, SmashMouth, the Gin Blossoms, Kelly Pickler, Taylor Hicks and New Jersey Hall of Famers The Smithereens, who all grew up together in Carteret.

Every year, thousands of people descend on Carteret Park on the Arthur Kill waterfront for carnival rides, vendors, food trucks from around the world and live music. This end-of-summer carnival is intended to celebrate the ethnic diversity of Carteret, Middlesex County and all of New Jersey.

Carnival proceeds benefit Mayor Reiman's Children’s Charity Trust, which helps Carteret families and children in need.

Here's the schedule for this year:

Wednesday, Sept. 17: The carnival kicks off at 6 p.m. Wednesday with the opening of dozens of rides, games of chance and strolling fun. All four days of the carnival are free to attend, including Sean's concert, but there is a cost for food, beverage 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.

Freestyle Night Friday, Sept. 19: Freestyle Night performers take the stage at 7:45 p.m. and include Brenda K. Starr, Judy Torres, Coro and Betty D of Sweet Sensation.

Saturday, Sept. 20: The official Ethnic Day celebration. Starting at noon, there will be dozens of food trucks from all over the world in Carteret Park, plus just regular Carteret residents, civic groups and religious groups selling homemade food. There will be art and craft vendors and cultural performances starting at 12 p.m., followed by a Battle of the Bands starting at 1 p.m. for four cash prizes, including a first place prize of $1,500. All the spots are taken for the battle of the bands. The carnival rides then run from 3 p.m. to midnight, with a Double Dutch performance at 4:30 p.m.

At 8 p.m. Sean will take the stage, joined by special guest Véyah. Fireworks go off at 9:15 p.m. after Sean's concert.

Sunday, Sept. 21: The final day of the festival ends with the 21st annual Classic Car Show, also in Carteret Park. Entry fees to the 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 to the car show is free.

For sponsorship and naming opportunities, call 732-541-3807. More info also can be found on Carteret.net and @MyCarteret on Facebook, Instagram and X.

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