We’re hitting peak autumn this weekend, which means that we’re hitting all those blissful fall things (corn maze, anyone?) this weekend with the fam. Head to the farm for apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn cannons, apple cider samples, and seasonal treats at the Donaldson Farms Fall Harvest Weekends in Hackettstown, soak up the last of summer fun with colorful artist-designed kites, fun flying giant inflatable kites, and sport kiting all along the beach at the LBI Fly International Kite Fest, or enjoy over 400 crafters, food vendors, music, and tons of fun for the whole family at the Fall Block Party and Drone Show in Ocean City. And for more start-of-fall fun, find one of the festivals this month near you. (featured photo: NJMOM)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve
October 9-12
Bring your crew to check out the amazing carvings and Jack O’Lanterns at this 11th annual event, where local artists will carve pumpkins weighing over 150 pounds. There will also be live music, fire pits with storytellers, face and mini-pumpkin painting, and food trucks. New this year is a beer garden.
Cost: $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, $8 for children under 18, and children in strollers are admitted free.
Woolsey Park, 221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road, Titusville, NJ 08560
Lentini Farms Fall Festival
October 10-11
Come to this fall festival and enjoy a different live band and food trucks each weekend, along with their beloved 10-acre corn maze, scenic hayrides, sunflower field (seasonal), beer tent, u-pick pumpkin patch, and Haunted hayrides (starts September 27). They will be hosting a fireworks show on Friday, October 10th, at dusk.
Cost: Prices vary
Route 94 South, 251 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm Fall Extravaganza
October 10-11
Enjoy a jam-packed day full of family fun that will keep you entertained with live music, a delectable Farmhouse Grill, Food Trucks, and a wine-tasting experience with Tomasello Winery. Indulge in the quintessential fall activities, such as picking your own apples, pumpkins, and sunflowers, getting lost in the family-friendly corn maze, or hopping on a hayride tour of the 325-acre farm.
Cost: $8.00-$16.00 + fees
2691 Monmouth Road, Jobstown, NJ 08041
LBI Fly International Kite Fest
October 10-11
Soak up the last of summer fun at this kite festival with colorful artist-designed kites, fun flying giant inflatable kites, and sport kiting all along the beach.
Cost: Free
Long Beach Island, NJ
Holland Ridge Fall Flower Festival
October 10-12
Come for fall flower picking, pumpkin picking, and unlimited photo ops. Special weekends include Food Truck Weekend, Fall Craft and Live Music Festival, and Family Fun Weekend.
Cost: $15 per person ages 3 and up
86 Rues Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
Great Pumpkin Festival
October 10-12
Head to Heaven Hill Farm for this fall-themed festival featuring the Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show, hayrides, farm animals, pedal carts, a “Big Top” themed corn maze, gem mining, apple cannons, and more fall fun. This year, the corn maze will be an Alice in Wonderland theme.
Cost: $14.99-$21.99 online & $19.99-$21.99 at the door
451 State Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462
Skylands Stadium Jack O’ Lantern Experience
October 10-12
See over 6,000 Jack O’Lanterns take over Skylands Stadium for some Halloween fun. Enjoy a 45-minute walk-through experience mixed with a family-friendly fall festival with rides, vendors, and food.
Cost: $19 and up
94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822
Festival of Lights Diwali Celebration
October 11 at 3:30 PM
Bring the whole family to celebrate the spirit of the Festival of Lights with cultural music, dance performances, festive photo opportunities, creative crafts, snacks, and a variety of vendors at this free, family-friendly event full of color, culture, and joy.
Cost: Free
3535 US Route 1 South, Princeton, NJ 08540
Lima Bean Festival
October 11 at 9 AM
West Cape May will celebrate the area’s farming heritage with the Annual Lima Bean Festival in the Borough’s Backyard Park. Learn about a vast array of recipes and crafts and purchase products.
Cost: Free
732 Broadway, West Cape May, NJ 08204
Forest Lodge Oktoberfest
October 11 at 11 AM
Celebrate Oktoberfest in New Jersey by putting together your “Wies’n” feast with beers, wines, and mouth-watering German foods, like wurst. Don’t miss the authentic German entertainment and decor.
11 Reinman Road, Warren, NJ 07059
The Craft Show at Oktoberfest
October 11 at 10 AM
This Oktoberfest has enough fun for the whole family. You can also get a head start on holiday shopping with makers and crafters offering handmade wares. Don’t miss out on the live music, food, and canoe rides on the pond.
Demarest Duck Pond, 24 Park Street, Demarest, NJ 07627
GBBPA Berlin Boro Fall Fest
October 11 at 10 AM
Looking for something fun to do with the fam? Head to this 13th-annual event featuring vendors, crafters, food trucks, antique cars, and tons of fun. Don’t miss the Mutt Strut dog costume parade.
Cost: Free
Berlin Boro County Park, 43 S. Park Drive, Berlin, NJ 08009
Bloomfield Harvest Festival
October 11 at 12 PM
This exciting festival is one you definitely won’t want to miss. You’ll find many ways to celebrate the season, including delicious food, live music, carnival games, and fun for the whole family.
Cost: Free
Glenwood Avenue & Washington Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
2nd Annual METAvivor Glow Walk
October 11 at 5:45 PM
Head to this fun and unique charity walk to bring awareness and raise funds for METAvivior, which supports anyone living with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer. Anyone attending is encouraged to wear their brightest colors and favorite glow accessories to light up the night as you walk.
Cost: Registration
Jackson Justice Complex, 1 Jackson Drive, Jackson, NJ 08527
DiDonato’s Trick-or-Treat Train
October 11-12
Come to this fall festival and enjoy a different live band and food trucks each weekend, along with their beloved 10-acre corn maze, scenic hayrides, sunflower field (seasonal), beer tent, u-pick pumpkin patch, and Haunted hayrides. Climb aboard for a magical ride through the goblin-approved Halloween Town, where surprises and sweet treats await around every corner.
Cost: Ticket prices
DiDonato Family Fun Center, 1151 South White Horse Pike, Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
Fall Festival
October 11-12
Gather the family and stroll along the picturesque small town of Allentown, where you will find crafters, food trucks, kid zones, street music, and a beer and wine garden for the 21 and over crowd.
Cost: Free
Downtown Allentown, Main Street, Allentown, NJ 08501
Terhune Orchards Fall Family Fun Weekends
October 11-12
Get all the fall feels at Terhune with their adventure barn, live music, pony rides, pumpkin picking, duck races, and pick-your-own opportunities.
Cost: A variety of packages are available
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
Donaldson Farms Fall Harvest Weekends
October 11-12
Head to the farm for apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn cannons, apple cider samples, and seasonal treats.
Cost: Free to enter
358 Allen Road, Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Happy Day Farm Fall Festival
October 11-12
Weekends are full of autumnal fun at Happy Day, featuring activities like an animal zoo, a Lainey Wilson-themed corn maze, horse swings, pedal carts, and all the fall fun you can imagine in one place during their annual Fall Festival. Be sure to check out the Pumpkinvile House for photo ops.
Cost: $27 per person; tickets for weekends must be purchased online
106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
VonThun Farms Fall Festival
October 11-12
Bring the family to the Fall Festival with over 20 all-ages activities in two locations—play fall-themed games, go on one of the hayrides, take a challenge through the 6-acre interactive corn maze, see farm animals, pick pumpkins and apples, and don’t forget to take lots of photos.
Cost: Ticket prices vary. Free Parking
519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
438 Route 57 West, Washington Township, NJ 07882
Diggerfest
October 11-12
Pumpkins are popping up all over Diggerland USA for this season’s annual Diggerfest. Enjoy hayrides, live music, carnival games, pumpkin decorating, fall parades, and more.
Cost: $45.99
100 Pineadge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
Renaultber Fest
October 11-12
Renaultberfest at Renault Winery is full of family-friendly festivities. Take a scenic tractor ride or try your hand at traditional grape stomping. Kids can participate in lawn games. Don’t miss the Stein Holding Contest and the run at the Renaultberfest 5K & Grape Stomp.
72 North Bremen Avenue, Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215
Turkey Brook Park Oktoberfest
October 11-12
Bring your crew to this day-long, family-friendly event where you can listen to live music, peruse vendors, and play plenty of games. Kids will love the hay rides and sliding down the inflatables.
Turkey Brook Park, 30 Flanders Road, Budd Lake, NJ 07828
Somerset County’s Journey Through The Past
October 11-12
Discover the history of Somerset County and experience what life was like 100 years ago by visiting local sites and museums, and enter to win great prizes from participating stores. Download the activities guide to explore museums and events.
Cost: Free
20 Grove Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
Fall Block Party and Drone Show
October 12 at 9 AM
With over 400 crafters, food vendors, music, and tons of fun for the whole family, this is one event you won’t want to miss. At night, a drone show will take place over the boardwalk, from 6th Street to 14th Street.
Cost: Free
Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, NJ 08226
Making Strides for Breast Cancer Walk
October 12 at 8:30 AM, the walk starts at 10 AM
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while there are many ways to show your support, a walk-a-thon with your family and friends is a meaningful way to do so. Making Strides is a nationwide event that unites communities in the fight against breast cancer, and all funds raised go to patient care services and cutting-edge research in helping to eradicate this disease. Enjoy the opening ceremony and honor those who we have lost with each step of the walk. After the walk, stay for the music and activities.
Cost: Register and donate
OCNJ Civic Center, 500 Boardwalk, Ocean City, NJ 08226
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