Sep 27, 2025 - Sep 28, 2025

Saturday, September 27 12:00-6:00pm

Sunday, September 28 12:00-5:00pm

RoboCon New Jersey, the region’s largest robotics event, is making its return to Bridgewater Commons this September. The free, mall-wide interactive showcase, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and Bridgewater Commons, features several exciting, high tech experiences, including a full-scale Robot Rumble, Droid Builders, FIRSTⓇ Tech Challenge Mini-Games, Combat Robotics, Robot Driving, Science Shows, a special guest appearance by American Ninja Warrior/TV Host/Author Jay Flores, and more.

Produced by five New Jersey FIRST® Robotics Competition High School Teams from Warren, Bound Brook, Hillsborough, Somerville, and Scotch Plains, RoboCon New Jersey focuses on K-12 students to inspire and energize them to not only think big but to develop the science, technology, engineering, and math skills needed to become tomorrow’s innovators and leaders.

The interactive experiences are located throughout two levels of Bridgewater Commons:

LOWER LEVEL

ROBOT RUMBLE – Join us Saturday, Sept. 28th for the matches starting at 1:00 pm, with special guests during a ceremony at 2:30 to kick off the high-energy Robot Rumble with 24 high school FIRST® Robotics Competition Teams from four states (NJ, NY, PA, and MD).

DISCOVERY DOME (Lower Level, Community Hub) – New this year, guests can attend science shows, demonstrations, and exclusive book readings. Highlights include Fizz, Bang, BOOM, The Bubbleology Show, Building a Droid, and a highly interactive, dual-language reading of Engineer Someday by celebrity American Ninja Warrior/TV Host/Author Jay Flores.

CALM CORNER (Lower Level, by Build-A-Bear) - Sensory-friendly STEAM Activities available for quieter, independent exploration.

LARGE ROBOT DRIVING EXPERIENCE (Lower Level, by William Sonoma) - Meet our FIRST® Robotics Competition teams and take one of the larger 120lb robots for a test drive.

DROID BUILDERS (Lower Level, by Macy’s) – Pose for photos and meet builders of some of the most recognizable robotic movie characters from a galaxy far, far away.

MAIN LEVEL

FIRST Ⓡ TECH CHALLENGE ROBOTICS (Main Level, by Aeropostale) - FIRST® Tech Challenge of New Jersey teams bring their robots and practice for the 2025-2026 game, FIRST® DECODE℠. See teams enhancing their robot design in the “Pit Area” and playing the official game on a 12’ x 12’ field. The area will also include a FIRST® INTO THE DEEP℠ exhibit, which will serve to demonstrate the 2024-2025 game and serve as a Driving Zone for young guests. Visitors can also drive a “jersey-bot” around an “FTC Racetrack,” among other fun activities.

STEAM STATION (Main Level, by Bloomingdale’s) – Get messy while learning more about Science, Technology, Art, Engineering, and Math (STEAM) with several fun, interactive activities, including make your own light-up planet, and the Gummy Bear Launch.

INVESTIGATION ISLAND (Main Level, Bloomingdale’s wing) – Spanning from Center Court to Bloomingdale’s, meet several local scientists, organizations, schools, and companies that are focused on science, technology, engineering, and math.

LEGOⓇ ROBOTICS (Main Level, by Bloomingdale’s) - Experience the exciting underwater adventure of last year’s game, SUBMERGED. Meet teams and interact with the field elements.

COMBAT ROBOTICS (Main Level by Apple Store) - Experience the thrill of combat robotics with demos, meet team members, and try your hand at driving combat robots like their larger counterparts made famous by the TV show, BattleBots®. Presented by the Garden State Combat Robotics League.

BRICK BACKYARD (Main Level, by J. Crew) - Explore one-of-a-kind LEGO® models from the Garden State LEGO® Users Group. Take to one of the Free Build tables to let your imagination run wild while getting tips from the Pros.

ROBOBATTLES (Main Level, by Macy’s) – Build your own LEGO® model to compete and destroy your opponents with the Grant Imahara STEAM Foundation.

SCOUTING BADGE WORKSHOP (Main Level, by Vans) - Come learn about robotics and engineering through a hands-on guided journey led by high school robotics students and obtain Girl Scout and Scouts BSA badges. Advance registration required.

Guests can also enter to win a RoboCon $250 shopping spree at the mall when they scan exclusive QR codes displayed throughout the event. The showcase will also be streamed live on YouTube. Visit https://www.roboconnj.org/ for more information.