It’s peak autumn, and we’re cranking up the fall fun this weekend with lots of family-friendly things to do. Celebrate the spooky season with amazing carved pumpkins and Halloween-themed games at the 13th Annual Brite Nites in Warren, hang out in a pumpkin patch and get lost in a corn maze at Fall Harvest Days in Hillsborough, or taste cranberry treats and listen to live music at the Cranberry Festival in Chatsworth. And for more start-of-fall fun, find one of the festivals this month near you. (featured photo: iStock/Crystal Bolin Photography)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
FEATURED
Pumpkin Plunge at Five Star Swim School
Join us for a splashing good time at our annual Halloween celebration. Swim alongside floating 10-pound pumpkins and discover the wonders of physics in the pool! After swimming, decorate your very own pumpkin to take home, enjoy delicious snacks, and spend time with friends and family. Costumes are encouraged after swimming to keep the festive spirit alive.
Cost: $20 ($40 in Eatontown, a drop-off event) per child
Galloway, NJ – Saturday, October 18 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Cherry Hill, NJ – Saturday, October 18 | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Deptford, NJ – Friday, October 24 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
East Brunswick, NJ – Sunday, October 26 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
East Hanover, NJ – Saturday, October 25 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Eatontown, NJ – Saturday, October 25 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Drop-off event!)
Princeton, NJ – Sunday, October 26 | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
FEATURED
DiDonato’s Trick-or-Treat Train
September 27-October 26, select dates
Have your tickets yet? The Trick-or-Treat Train officially leaves the station this September & October, and you won’t want to miss out on a spooktacular family tradition that gets bigger and better every year! Calling all little goblins, witches, and warlocks — climb aboard for a magical ride through our goblin-approved Halloween Town, where surprises and sweet treats await around every corner. Along the way, kids will collect candy at 5 trick-or-treat stops, explore our twisty-turny Halloween Corn Maze, and meet beloved characters like Count Splitz and our friendly local Witchy Pinzella! NEW for 2025: a chilling encounter with the mysterious Warlock!
Cost: Ticket prices
DiDonato Family Fun Center, 1151 South White Horse Pike, Hammonton, New Jersey 08037
Seton Village Food Truck Festival
October 17 at 5 PM
Get ready for an unforgettable evening filled with music, mouthwatering food, refreshing craft beer & wine, and so much fun. Enjoy some of the best food trucks from the area, where you can explore new flavors or indulge in classic comfort food.
Cost: Free to enter
Seton Village, Irvington Ave, South Orange, NJ 07079
Oasis Oktoberfest
October 17 at 7 PM
Enjoy an authentic Oktoberfest celebration underneath the big tent. There will be German food and beer and a performance by The Nerds, NJ’s favorite shore band. There will be fun activities like a game tent and a beer stein-hoisting competition.
McBride Field, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Haunted Wild West Fest
October 17-18 at 6:30 PM
Come during the day or dare to come at night for the Haunted Wild West Fest. Check out the live-action shows, explore museums in the town, view historical demonstrations, get a hole-in-one in miniature golf, and more. At night, things get scarier for ages 12 and up.
Cost: $24.50 and up for the daytime, $18 online, and $20 at the gate for nighttime
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ 07874
Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm Fall Extravaganza
October 17-18
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
13th Annual Brite Nites
October 17-18
Bring your crew to this spellbinding Halloween adventure with walk-through carved pumpkin displays, unique attractions, spooktacular games for all ages, photo ops, and delicious food trucks.
Cost: $10 for adults 13-61, $5 for children 5-12, and seniors 65,+ and free for children under 5
Wagner Farm Arboretum, 197 Mountain Avenue, Warren, NJ 07059
Fall Funland at Harbaugh Village
October 17-19
Enjoy all the things that fall has to offer with the family. This event includes competing on the pedal car track, jumping off the straw mountain, getting lost in the corn maze, and taking the plunge down the Mega Slide.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Harbaugh Village, 126 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill, NJ, 08062
Fall Harvest Days at Norz Hill Farm
October 17-19
Experience Fall Harvest Days at Norz Hill Farm. Get ready for an unforgettable day of farm fun, breathtaking scenery, and educational experiences. From farm tours to corn mazes, kids’ corner, delicious food at Café 120, and a scenic pumpkin patch, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Cost: Ticket prices vary
Norz Hill Farm, 120 South Branch Road, Hillsborough, NJ 08844
Lentini Farms Fall Festival
October 17-19
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.
Cost: Prices vary
Route 94 South, 251 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Great Pumpkin Festival
October 17-19
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 17-19
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
Annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey, and Garlic Festival
October 18 at 10 AM
Celebrate the fall harvest at this event, where Garden State Garlic Growers and the Sussex County Beekeepers will showcase educational displays, materials, and a variety of honey and garlic products. There will also be local artisans, crafters, hayrides, pumpkin painting, face painting, and crafts.
Cost: Free
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822
Harvest Festival
October 18 at 12 PM
Get a head start on your Halloween celebration with a full day of family fun, including a corn maze and food trucks, apple cider, a petting zoo, and pumpkin painting.
Cost: Free
Bubbling Springs Park, 1468 Macopin Road, West Milford, NJ 07480
New Jersey Oyster Festival
October 18 at 12 PM
Join local oyster purveyors and vote for your favorite bivalve for the People’s Choice Award. The festival will also feature local food trucks, a shucking contest, vendors, and live music.
Cost: $30
2800 High Street, Port Norris, NJ 08349
Halloween Farmer’s Market
October 18 at 12 PM
Bring your crew in costumes for a day filled with Halloween fun. There will be live music, tarot readings, kids’ activities, Halloween photo ops, and delicious food vendors.
Cost: Free admission
Calgo Gardens, 462 Adelphia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728
Long Branch Fall Festival and Pooch Parade
October 18 at 12 PM
Celebrate this beautiful season in our state with family fun, delicious fall flavors, and all the furry friends you could imagine. Some of the fun includes face painting, trick-or-treating, mini golf, pumpkin carving demonstrations, and the cutest pet parade.
Cost: Free
Pier Village, 50 Chelsea Ave. Long Branch, NJ 07740
Historic Smithville’s Costume Pet Parade
October 18
Have a furry member of your family that you love dressing up? Or maybe you want to match them this Halloween? Then this is the event for you. Bring your pet and dress them in their Halloween best, and check out all the cute costumes.
Cost: Free
Historic Smithville, Route 9 & Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205
Harvest Arts Festival
October 18 at 11 AM
Head to downtown Toms River for a day of food trucks, vendors, a beer and wine garden, pumpkin painting for the little ones, and all the fall fun with the family.
Cost: Free
Washington Street, Toms River, NJ 08753
Trunk or Treat
October 18 at 1 PM
Dress in your favorite Halloween costume and get an early start on celebrating this holiday at a fun trunk-or-treat event, where kids can collect candy, visit vendors, and participate in various activities.
Cost: Free
Vista Park, Midland Ave, Pine Beach, NJ 08741
Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
October 18-19 at 9 AM
Bring out the family to peruse a juried craft show, shop from over 150 vendors, taste cranberry foods, and enjoy live music.
Cost: Free
3980 Main Street, Chatsworth, NJ 08019
Terhune Orchards Fall Family Fun Weekends
October 18-19
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 18-19
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 18-19
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 18-19
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 18-19
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
Hamilton Oktoberfest
October 19 at 11 AM
Celebrate Oktoberfest with lots of fun activities for all ages, such as hayrides, crafters, a pumpkin patch, and more.
Veteran’s Park South, Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ 08690
Walk N’ Roll
October 19 at 9 AM
Gather the kids, lace up your kicks, and team up for the Annual Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation Walk n’ Roll. Support children facing unique health challenges at Colonial Park in Somerset.
Registration Fee: There is no registration fee; registered guests receive a swag bag and food tickets
Colonial Park, 538 Elizabeth Avenue, Somerset, NJ 08873
Carm’s Farm Fall Festival
October 19 at 9 AM
Ready for fall fun? Head to this festival where you will enjoy live music, face painters, fun vendors, food trucks, pumpkin picking, a petting zoo, a corn maze, and so much more fun.
Cost: Free admission
Carm’s Farm, 296 Route 537 Colts Neck, NJ 07722
Want the inside scoop? Sign up for the NJMOM bi-weekly newsletter to get the lowdown on everything for your family in NJ (think of it as the ultimate cheat sheet for NJ Moms). And don’t forget to tag your photos #NJMOM and @njmom for a chance to be featured.
