The weather is cooling off, the leaves are changing colors, and there are so many fall things to do this weekend with the fam. Spend the day on the boards on rides and watching underwater pumpkin carving at Boo at the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, celebrate the fall harvest with vendors and a hayride at the Sussex County Harvest, Honey and Garlic Festival in Augusta, or grab a glowstick, get your face painted, and dare to board the Haunted Hayride in Collingswood. For more family fall fun, hit up one of the many fall festivals this season. (Featured Photo Credit: @jenksboardwalk)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
SPONSORED
Annual Baby Fair – Jersey City Medical Center
October 21 from 11 AM- 3 PM
A free event featuring resources, products, and vendors for all things baby. Workshops, demonstrations, educational resources and more! For more information, send an email to Isabella.DelPlato@rwjbh.org.
Cost: Free
Jersey City Medical Center, 355 Grand Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Sponsoring Facility: Jersey City Medical Center RWJBarnabas Health
Saint Leo the Great Fall Festival
October 20-22
Gather your crew and take part in all the fall fun at this event. From food and games to rides and a huge 50/50, everyone will have a blast.
Cost: Free
Saint Leo the Great Parish, 50 Hurleys Ln, Middletown Township, NJ, 07738
Zoo Boo 2023
October 20-22
Do you love hanging out with the animals at the Zoo? Come out for this fun party with music, Madscience shows, candy, and an Eerie haunted train ride at night.
Cost: $8
Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
Family-Friendly Haunted House
October 20-21
This family-friendly haunted house is perfect for the whole family. The entire school will be transformed into “Creepy Cranford,” and this event will support the PTA.
Cost: $5 per person
Livingston Avenue School, 75 Livingston Avenue, Cranford, NJ 07016
Halloween Parade and Dance Party
October 20 at 7 PM
Get your Halloween costumes and your dancing shoes ready for this lively evening. There will be a parade and then music so your little ones can get their groove on.
Cost: Free
Night of Frights
October 20 at 6 PM
Head to Allaire Village and take in this spooky event filled with ghosts, ghouls, and monsters. Also, enjoy a Glow-in-the-Dark Bubble Show, scary displays, a fortune teller, scary storytelling, and more.
Cost: $18 for adults & $12 for children
Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue Wall Township, NJ 07727
Seacaucus Spooky Friday
October 20 at 6 PM
Visit this “Not So Haunted” house for everyone to enjoy with children’s activities. Got tweens or teens? Dare them to go on the haunted trail (not suitable for small children or anyone faint of heart).
Cost: Free
Schmidts Woods Park, 26 Millridge Road, Secaucus, NJ 07094
10th Annual Heroes For Children 5K and Family Fun Run/Walk
October 21 at 8 AM
This is an in-person and fun-filled event for everyone in the family. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities come together for a fantastic morning around the reservoir. There are also family-friendly activities, including face painting, balloon animals, popcorn, and cotton candy.
Cost: Varies
Essex County South Mountain Recreational Complex, 560 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052
Annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey, and Garlic Festival
October 21 at 10 AM
Celebrate the fall harvest—Garden State Garlic Growers and the Sussex County Beekeepers will have educational displays, materials, and honey and garlic products at their annual festival. 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
New Jersey Oyster Festival
October 21 at 12 PM
Join local oyster purveyors and vote for your favorite bivalve for the People’s Choice Award. Local food trucks, a shucking contest, vendors, and live music will be at the festival too.
Cost: $30
2800 High Street, Port Norris, NJ 08349
Historic Smithville’s Costume Pet Parade
October 21
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
Trunk-or-Treat
October 21 at 12:30 PM
With over 1,000 lbs of treats, your little ones will love wearing their costumes and collecting candy at each car. There is also a best truck competition and fabulous raffle prizes.
Cost: Free
Elite Martial Arts, 295 US Highway 46, Rockaway, NJ 07866
Edelweiss Passaic Oktoberfest
October 21
Enjoy a Bavarian Oktoberfest buffet, live music, dancing, and Bavarian entertainment.
Cost: Adults, $40; Kids 6-12, $20; and Kids under 5 are free
1 Perrin Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
Forest Street Festival
October 21 at 11 AM
This fun-filled fall festival should be on your calendar for this weekend. From face painting and a bouncy house to a bake sale and a book fair, the whole family will love this event.
Cost: Free
65 Chestnut Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
Milk & Cookies Play Date @ The Co-Op
October 21 at 10 AM
Perfect for children from Early Ages to Kindergarten are welcome to come to this play date and then stay to enjoy the Street Festival. This is a great way to get the kids and enjoy time with children their age.
Cost: Free
65 Chestnut Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
Trunk or Treat
October 21 at 4:30 PM
Wear your costumes and have a fun Halloween evening with the fam. Walk around and get candy from each decorated trunk, then head to the petting zoo, food trucks, and a bounce house.
Cost: Free
747 Northfield Ave, West Orange, NJ 07052
Halloween Happenings
October 21 at 4 PM
Want to get started on the Halloween fun a little early? Head to Community Park in North Brunswick for pumpkin decorating, trick or treating, games, treats, and more. They will also be accepting non-perishable food bank donations at the event.
Cost: $5 per pre-registered child, $7 per child the day of the event
Community Park, 2051 US-130, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902
Collingswood Haunted Hayride
October 21 at 5:30 PM
For one night only, prepare to be scared at this haunted hayride. There will also be face painting, food, beverages, Tarot Card readings, shirts, and more.
Cost: $5 per person; kids 2 and under are free
Knight Park, Park Ave & W Browning Rd, Collingswood, NJ 08107
Scream on the Green
October 21 at 6 PM
Did your little ones love Hocus Pocus 2? Then head to this event, where you can watch the movie outside after you dance at the Monster Mash Dance Party, warm up by the bonfire, and enjoy some cider.
Cost: Free
Summit’s Village Green, 356 Broad Street, Summit, NJ 07909
Craft N’ More Fall Festival
October 21 at 10 AM
From food trucks and face painting to 4H Club animals to meet, the entire family will have a ball at this outdoor fall festival. The best part? There is a Dessert Crawl where you buy a ticket, taste 9 different fall-inspired desserts, and help judge which one is the most delicious.
Cost: Free to enter, $10 per Dessert Crawl ticket
Burlington County Fairgrounds, 1990 Jacksonville Jobstown Rd, Columbus, NJ 08022
Five Star Swim School Pumpkin Plunge 2023
Deptford, October 21 at 2:30 PM
Galloway, October 22 at 3:30 PM
Since 2014, Five Star Swim School’s Pumpkin Plunge Party has been an event so many families enjoy. And it’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween at the pool. There will be swimming with pumpkins, party games, snacks, and pumpkin decorating. Your little ones can bring their Halloween costume or Halloween pajamas to change into after swimming.
Cost: $20 per child
Five Star Swim School, dates and times vary by location. Register in advance.
Boo at the Boardwalk
October 21-22 at 12 PM
Spend the day on the boards and get in your boos before Halloween. There will be crafts, face painting, trick-or-treating, underwater pumpkin carving, and more. Don’t forget to wear your costumes!
Cost: The event package starts at $29.95
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, 300 Ocean Avenue, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Lawrence Hopewell Trail and Treat Bike Ride 2023
October 22 at 3 PM
Grab your bikes and get moving for some Halloween fun. Perfect for families with kids ages 12 and under, this event includes face painting, crafts, live music, and two rides on the Lawrence Hopewell Trail.
Cost: $10
Village Park, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Marlboro Day Fall Festival
October 22 at 12 PM
Wear your costumes and join the parade at this fall festival with lively events, games, and good food.
Cost: Free
1979 Township Dr, Marlboro, NJ 07746
Middletown Day Festival 2023
October 22 at 11 AM
Come together with the community of Middletown and celebrate the town with a food court, first responder demonstrations, live entertainment, and more. The event is rain or shine.
Cost: Free
Croydon Hall School, 900 Leonardville Road, Middletown, NJ 07737
Pumpkin Illumination
October 22 at 4 PM
This family-friendly event is fun for people of all ages. Enjoy live music, a luminary parade, an art workshop, and an illuminating pumpkin display. There will also be a Sleep Hollow Halloween Story by Kit’s Interactive Theatre.
Cost: Free
Vail Mansion Reflecting Pool, 10 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
Laurita Oktoberfests with Food Trucks
October 21-22, 28-29
Oktoberfest is happening more than once at Laurita Winery. There will be free parking, a free face painter for the kids, and Saturday fireworks. Don’t miss the yummy food from the food trucks.
Cost: $15 per adult; 21 and under are free
85 Archertown Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533
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