Be Nice to New Jersey Week

Be Nice to New Jersey Week is a week-long observance held during a week in July to encourage appreciation for New Jersey and its residents. Its precise founder and date of establishment are not clearly documented in widely available historical records. Unlike long-established civic holidays, it appears to belong to the modern tradition of informal, themed observances promoted through holiday calendars and popular-interest websites, including National Today.

The observance reflects a playful response to the stereotypes sometimes directed at New Jersey, including jokes about traffic, urban congestion, industrial areas, or its location between New York and Philadelphia. “Be Nice to New Jersey” reframes those clichés as an invitation to recognize the state’s positive qualities rather than dismissing it. The week’s broad timing in July also places it within a season associated with travel, outdoor activities, community events, and tourism—occasions that naturally draw attention to local places and regional identity.

Over time, the idea has evolved less as a formal public holiday than as a lighthearted appreciation campaign. People can mark the week by speaking positively about New Jersey, visiting its beaches, parks, historic sites, and towns, supporting local businesses, or learning about the state’s contributions to American history and culture. Its flexible format allows participation without requiring an official ceremony or a single fixed calendar day.

The observance has cultural significance because it turns regional teasing into an opportunity for civic pride. New Jersey has played important roles in the American Revolution, transportation, manufacturing, entertainment, science, and popular culture, while also containing a diverse range of communities and landscapes. Be Nice to New Jersey Week therefore works as both a humorous response to negative stereotypes and a modest reminder that the state’s identity is more varied and substantial than its reputation in jokes and popular media.