Be Nice to Jersey Week

Be Nice to Jersey Week is a week-long observance held during a week in July to celebrate New Jersey and encourage a more positive view of the state and its residents. Its message responds playfully to the state’s sometimes unflattering public image, particularly stereotypes associated with New Jersey accents, traffic, suburban life, and reality television. Rather than treating those clichés as definitive, the observance invites people to recognize the state’s history, communities, landscapes, and cultural contributions.

The observance does not have a widely documented founding story or a single officially recorded creator. Available descriptions, including those published by National Today, present it primarily as a lighthearted appreciation week rather than as a government-established holiday. Its wording reflects a broader tradition of informal “be nice” observances, which use humor and goodwill to draw attention to a place, group, or everyday social value. The choice of July places the celebration within the summer season, when residents and visitors commonly travel, attend local events, and spend time at New Jersey’s beaches, parks, boardwalks, and communities.

Over time, Be Nice to Jersey Week has come to represent more than simple praise for the state. It can be understood as an opportunity to challenge one-dimensional portrayals of New Jersey and to acknowledge the variety within it—from the Jersey Shore and the Pine Barrens to historic towns, major cities, agricultural areas, and diverse immigrant communities. The week also provides a flexible occasion for people connected to New Jersey to share favorite places, local traditions, food, music, sports, and memories.

Culturally, the observance combines regional pride with a humorous appeal for courtesy. Its deliberately simple name makes the message accessible: people are encouraged to speak positively about New Jersey, treat fellow residents respectfully, and look beyond familiar jokes about the state. Although informal and comparatively modern, the week fits into a larger pattern of community observances that use celebration and good humor to strengthen local identity. Its significance lies less in formal ceremonies than in inviting people to reconsider stereotypes and show appreciation for New Jersey throughout the July week in which it is observed.