Witches, monsters, and devils may be out this week, but it’s all in the name of kid-friendly family fun. Have a spooky good time on the creepy trails at Allaire Night of Frights in Wall, put on your craftiest witch hat for prizes and more at the Witches Day Out in Historic Smithville, or walk for a good cause and meet real NJ Devils at the RWJBarnabas Health Running with the Devils 5K and Walk in West Orange And if you are looking for more to do this season, take a peek at our Fall Activities in New Jersey Guide.
Featured Photo Credit: @thehistoricvillageatallaire
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(Note: Since COVID-19 rules and regulations are continually changing, it’s best to check ahead for in-person events)
Allaire Night of Frights
October 22 and 23 from 6 PM-9 PM
Get ready for a fright at this two-night event at Allaire Village. There will be Storytelling at the Chapel, a special night out at the Blacksmith Shop, fortune-telling, a haunted food truck, and more. Take a hike on the two creepy trails added just for 2021. And don’t miss the costumed ghouls, Glow In The Dark Bubble Witch Show, and the Fire Juggler.
Cost: Adults $15, children 4-12 are $10
4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall, NJ 07727
(732) 919-3500
Annual Ghoul Spring Village at Historic Cold Spring Village
October 22 and 23 from 5:30 PM-8 PM
All ages can enjoy a family-friendly haunted walk-thru event. Proceeds will benefit the Historic Cold Spring Village Foundation, a non-profit living history museum.
720 US 9, Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 898-2300
Historic Smithville Monster Bash
October 23 at 10 AM
Don’t miss Horror Queen Genoveva Rossi signing autographs all day with Acey Slade from Joan Jett & The Black Hearts, Murder Dolls & “other bands.” There will also be a pumpkin carving/pumpkin painting contest and a costume contest with a cash prize. The rain date will be October 30.
615 E Moss Mill Rd., Smithville, NJ, NJ 08205
(609) 748-8999
Storybook Land Trick or Treat Weekends
October 23-31
Get your costumes ready and get ready to trick or treat in Storybook Land. Tickets are limited and online only.
Cost: $29.95
6415 Black Horse Pike (Routes 40 / 322), Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
(609) 646-0103
Bradley Beach Fall Festival
October 23 from 10 AM-4 PM
They’ll be plenty of fun on hand for littles and families—find to-go craft kits, live music, face painting, arts and crafts vendors too. Don’t miss the Touch-A-Truck fun and Scarecrow Building Station.
Cost: Free
701 Main Street, Bradley Beach, NJ 07720
(732) 776-2999
Piano Ballads at Historic Longstreet Farm
October 23 from 1 PM-3 PM
Singalong with ballads from the turn of the century at Historic Longstreet Farm.
Cost: Free
44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
(732) 946-3758
Laurita Oktoberfest with Food Trucks & Fire Pits
October 23
Oktoberfest is happening more than once at Laurita Winery with free parking, firewood for the firepits, and Saturday fireworks. Don’t miss the playgrounds, and make sure you bring your blankets and chairs to sit on the lawn.
Cost: $12 and up, free under 20
85 Archertown Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533
1-800-LAURITA
Beachwood Harvest Bonfire on the Beach
October 23 from 6 PM-9 PM
Get the whole family on the beach and enjoy the warmth of a huge bonfire. There will be a DJ, face painting, food truck, guess the number of candy corn contest, and a Halloween Costume Contest.
Cost: Free
Clubhouse Road, Beachwood, NJ 08722
DiDonato’s Trick-or-Treat Train
October 23 and 24
Get your costumes ready and take a train ride through a friendly Halloween town with tricks, treats, and surprises. But that’s not all—explore a hay maze, visit the pumpkin patch, race down a giant slide, and more.
Cost: $11.95 per person if purchased before September 25, then $12.95 and up
1151 South White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037
(609) 561-3040
Long Branch Fall Bazaar
October 23-24, 12 PM – 5 PM
“Celebrate fall and shop small!”—handcrafted and vintage items make this indoor and outdoor popup market unique. While you enjoy some shopping, don’t miss the pet Halloween costume contest, the crystal class for kids, treat or treating at vendor tables, haunted birdhouse decorating, and more. This event is rain or shine.
Cost: Free
The Whitechapel Projects – 15 2nd Ave., Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 963-9218
Boo-Tastic & Boo at the Boardwalk
October 23, 24, 30, 31 from 12 PM-4 PM
Round up the crew and get your costumes ready—Boo at the Boardwalk will include crafts, face painting, and lots of tricks or treating along the shore. For a full day of entertainment, purchase a Boo-Tastic pass that includes mini-golf, sweet shop treats, aquarium admission, and more. And don’t miss the underwater Pumpkin Carving that will take place daily during Boo at 2:30 PM (Aquarium admission required).
Cost: $29 per person for Bootastic and Underwater Pumpkin Carving requires aquarium admission, Boo at the Boardwalk is free
300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
(732) 295-4334
Addamsfest Dudley’s Drive-In
October 23 and 30 at 7 PM and 10 PM
Celebrate Westfield’s own Charlie Addams with Addamsfest and head over to Dudley’s Drive-in to watch Adams Family 2 and other Halloween classics.
Cost: $35 per car
Westfield South Avenue Train Station Lot, Westfield, NJ 07090
info@addamsfest.com
New Providence Fall Festival
October 24 from 10 AM-4 PM
Kids will be excited to get to this fall festival, packed with fun activities for kids and families to enjoy. Make a beeline for A Kids Zone with face painting and a climbing wall, then hop on the rides and play carnival games. After all the fun, indulge in the delicious food, live entertainment, shopping, and more.
Cost: Free
1260 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
Witches Day Out
October 24 from 12 PM-5 PM
Wear a witch hat to earn shop treats and discounts in Historic Smithville. Indulge in the food and drink specials and make sure your witch hat gets noticed—they’ll be handing out awards and prizes to the best overall witch, best shoes, best hat, and best junior witch.
Cost: Free
Route 9 and Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205
(609) 652-7777
Queen City Fall Fest
October 24 from 12 PM-4 PM
This family-friendly event has something for everyone. There will be live music, a vendor village with local area shops and crafters, a kids’ zone complete with an inflatable obstacle course, and much more.
Cost: Free
Veterans Park, Beach Haven, NJ 08008
RWJBarnabas Health: Running with the Devils 5K Run and Wellness Walk 2021
Now through October 24 virtually or October 24 in-person 5K registration starts at 7:30 AM
RWJBarnabas Health and the New Jersey Devils are teaming up again this year at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex to honor RWJBarnabas Health’s 35,000 healthcare workers with the Running with the Devils 5K and Walk. Besides all the fun and NJ Devil players lending a hand, your family can feel good about participating—100% of the proceeds will benefit RWJBarnabas Healthcare Heros in their efforts to protect and build healthier communities. You can register here ahead of time for the in-person run, wellness walk, and virtual experience.
Cost: Registration starts at $30 for adults, $25 for RWJBarnabas employees, and children under 11 are free
Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex/Turtle Back Zoo, West Orange, NJ 07052
FCWalk
October 24, Live pre-walk kickoff at 9:30 AM
The Friendship Circle Walk benefits the Friendship Circle and LifeTown programs for children and adults with special needs. There will be a pre-walk kickoff, synchronized 1-mile walk, and 5K run through the FCwalk app, and after the walk, an outdoor carnival celebration for all at LifeTown. Register for the event.
Cost: Donations and sponsors needed
Walk on your own, and then the carnival is at LifeTown, 10 Miracle Way, Livingston, NJ 07039
Snyders Farm Fall Festival
Weekends only from Now-October 24, 11 AM-6 PM
What could be finer than food, music, and family activities on a chilly fall weekend? Not much, which is why Snyders Farm gives you all that and more. Your cuties will love the hayrides, pumpkin picking, plus the cost of the pumpkin, corn maze, and more.
Cost: $15
586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
(732) 496-0441
Zeppelin Hall Oktoberfest
Now-October 24
During this almost-a-full-month-long celebration, they’re serving Oktoberfest beer, Bavarian dishes, and pretzels – with kid-friendly options like burgers and mac and cheese too. On weekdays, they have “Happy Hour” from 4 PM to 7 PM. And on weekends, your whole family can relax and enjoy the live German bands that play from 3 PM to 7 PM (on both days) on stage.
Cost: Cost of meal
88 Liberty View Dr., Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 721-8888
Haunted Wild West City Fest
Day Fest – Saturdays and Sundays in October, Night Fest – Fridays and Saturdays in October
There will be nonstop western entertainment during the day with a Halloween twist for kids of all ages. Tales of the Wild West will come to life through historical characters, live-action, and demonstrations by period artisans. Kids can come in costume, and the whole family will have a ball aboard the Wild West City Stage Coach or train. Want a genuinely haunted, creepy experience? Head to the terrifying Night Fest (for kids ages 12 and up).
Cost: Prices $15 and up
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ 07874
(973) 347-8900
The 14th Annual Scarecrow Stroll
October 15-31
Check out the handmade scarecrows made and donated by Cranford families, business owners, and organizations lining the downtown streets. The Scarecrow Stroll is one of downtown’s biggest events, so don’t miss it. If you live in town, you can register for free, and prizes will be awarded to the top scarecrows in each category.
Cost: Free
Eastman Plaza, Cranford, NJ 07016
(908) 709-7208
Sunflower Festival at Holland Ridge Farms
Now-October 31
See the blooms that inspired Vincent Van Gogh’s famous sunflower painting at these fields where millions of sunflowers are in season. Pick over eight varieties of sunflowers, including yellow, red, and white. Online tickets only.
Cost: $12.80 for ages 3 and up
86 Rues Road, Cream Ridge, NJ 08514
(609) 448-7483
Diggerfest
Now-November 7 from 11 AM-6 PM
Do you love diggers and the fall? Then, head out to Diggerland this weekend for the start of Diggerfest. The whole family can spend the day operating all the fantastic machines while enjoying live music, special fall foods, hayrides, and fun and games. Of course, you’ll get to celebrate all things fall, too, with pumpkin decorating, fall parades, and even a petting zoo on select days.
Cost: $44.95 per ticket
Diggerland – 100 Pinedge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
(856) 768-1110
Great Pumpkin Festival
Now-November 7
Self-proclaimed as the “Largest Fall Festival in Northern New Jersey,” it has over 40 different activities each day, including a hay crawl, vortex tunnel, pedal cart track, and more. Heaven Hill Farm also offers on-site wine tastings, a farmer’s market, and more.
Cost: prices starting at $14.99 during the week and $19.99 on weekdays
451 State Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462
(973) 764-5144
Outdoor Fall Festival at Skylands Stadium
Now-November 7
Over 6,000 pumpkins fill this spectacular Halloween Walk-Through (expect it to take 45 minutes to see it all). While you are there, roast a s’more on the fire pit and sip hot apple cider. Or ride the Ferris wheel and carousel and decorate at the pumpkin pick-and-paint. And when you need an adult beverage, there’s a beer garden too.
Cost: Walk-Thru $19-$24, VIP access $34
Skylands Stadium – 94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822
(973) 383-7644
Fall Festival Weekends at VonThun Farms
Weekends now through October 31 from 10 AM – 5 PM
This family-friendly farm (with 2 locations) has a packed seasonal schedule with over 20 different farm activities and attractions like hayrides, a 5+ acre corn maze, barnyard basketball, lil’ rocking horses, pedal karts, and more. While admission includes most of the attractions, there are additional fees for corn cannons and pony rides.
Cost: $14.99 General admission and up
VonThun’s Country Farm Market – 438 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ 07882
(732) 986-6816
VonThun’s Country Farm Market – 519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ 08852
(732) 329-8656
Family Fun Fall Weekends at Terhune Orchards
Weekends from now-October 31 from 10 AM-5 PM
At Terhune Orchards in Princeton, you and the littles can celebrate fall in NJ with live music, picking pumpkins, and a corn maze or hay bale maze. Don’t miss the hippy hop corral, pumpkin painting, and duckie races too. You can also visit the barnyard, play area, and adventure barn. Take a stroll on the pollinator trail and indulge in apple cider, donuts, and wines made from grapes on the farm.
Cost: $11 online, $14 at the gate
330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 924-2310
Argos Farm Fall Festival
Opening Day: September 18, and the hours vary per month
With a ton of different fall-themed activities, your kiddos will have a blast getting into the spirit of the season with a corn maze, wagon rides, a double hay slide, corn hole, pick-your-own pumpkins, the new gauntlet obstacle course, plus so much more. After, indulge in yummy fall treats from their Farm Market. Make sure to purchase your tickets online before you go.
Cost: $12 on weekdays and $15 on weekends and holidays
1250 Lacey Rd., Forked River, NJ 08731
(609) 693-3513
Fright Fest at Six Flag Great Adventure
Now-October 31
Rides, shows, entertainment, haunted attractions, scare zones, and more at the annual Fright Fest event in Jackson, NJ. Don’t worry if your littles don’t want to be frightened—there are family-friendly events throughout the day, but Six Flags transforms into a scarier Fright Fest once night falls.
Cost: Admission starts at around $30.99
Six Flags Great Adventure – 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527
(732) 928-2000
Happy Day Farm Fall Harvest Festival
Open Saturdays and Sundays (Plus Fridays in October) from 10 AM-5 PM, last entry at 4 PM
Now through October 31
Begin your fall adventure at Happy Day Farm’s Fall Harvest Festival, jam-packed with activities all day long like pumpkin bowling, tractor rides, a corn maze, hay mountain, pig races, fun slide, horse lasso, tug-o-war, and so much more. Oh, and did we mention that their pumpkin patch and photo ops at Pumpkinville is open seven days a week with no admission, pay for what you pick? Don’t miss the fun add-ons like the jumping pillow, corn cannon, and sunflowers for an extra fee. Be sure to purchase your tickets ahead of time.
Cost: $20
106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
(732) 977-3607
Ort Farms Fall Fest
Now-October 31
Known as “the most spacious farm in Morris County,” Ort Farms offers its visitors so much in the way of fall family fun. Enjoy a monster truck ride with your family and friends, head to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin, get lost in the corn maze, or take a cow train ride. After you’ve had your fill, be sure to check out the farm store to try out Ort Farms’ delicious fresh apples, apple cider, donuts, pumpkin rolls, local ice cream, homegrown produce, and more.
Cost: $8
25 Bartley Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853
(908) 876-3351
RWJBarnabas Health: Cooking Classes for Kids
Dates and times vary depending on the program
Kids of all ages will love cooking up healthy treats in these virtual hands-on cooking classes (adult supervision required during class): Try Healthy Kids in Hannah’s Kitchen for kids 8-12, where they’ll learn to use a recipe, cook with nutritious ingredients, and utilize kitchen basics or try Taste Testers in Hannah’s Kitchen, a Mommy and Me style class for 2-4-year-olds.
Cost: Free
RWJBarnabas, Virtual
(973) 926-7371
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