Free NJ Events in October

Fall is our favorite time of year in New Jersey. The leaves start changing colors, the weather is getting cooler, and pumpkin flavored everything is the new norm. Our favorite part of Fall in New Jersey? All of the fall festivals and fairs happening around the Garden State. Find our top picks for free events throughout New Jersey this October!

1. First Friday Late Night: Booonton
Friday, October 2, 5pm to 9pm
Businesses will be open late for an evening of sales, socializing, shopping, dining, and most importantly to welcome the walking dead to Main Street! Local musicians and bands will be playing live that evening! Attendees are invited to dress up like a zombie to capitalize on promotions and discounts from participating retailers!
Boonton, NJ 07005

2. Olde Italian Festival
Friday, October 2, 5pm & Saturday, October 3, 12pm
Over 40 terrific vendors will be in Fox Park selling a variety of merchandise and of course tons and tons of delicious Italian food! Yum! Live entertainment will include games, crafts and continuous music. Feel free to participate in an exciting grape stomping competition or the exciting spaghetti eating contest. You can even enter a raffle to win some fabulous prizes.
Wildwood, NJ 08260

3. 15th Annual Oktoberfest
Saturday, October 3, 2pm to 9pm
The feel-good spirit of Highlands’ 15th ANNUAL Oktoberfest is modeled after the traditional Munich, Germany Oktoberfest with an emphasis on eating; drinking and being merry while providing something for everyone. Authentic German food, live music, dancing and other great entertainment. & Parking is free!
Highlands, NJ 07732

4. Star War Reads at SCLSNJ’s North Plainfield Memorial Library branch
Saturday, October 3, 2pm to 3:30pm
Young Jedi and Dark Sith Lords are invited to our Annual Star Wars event! We will have out of this world crafts and games. May the force be with you!
North Plainfield, NJ 07063

5. 26th Annual Cranberry Fest
Saturday, October 3 & Sunday, October 4, 11am to 5pm
This two day event features over 145 crafters offering hand made, vintage and upcycled items for the home, handmade clothing and so much more. Bordentown’s award-winning restaurants offer a wide assortment of tasty treats!
Bordentown City, NJ 08505

6. 15th Annual Towaco Music and Arts Festival
Saturday, October 3, 10am to 6pm
Bring your appetite and enjoy sausage & pepper sandwiches, smoothies, fresh squeezed lemonade, cheese steaks, kettle corn, chicken fingers, ice cream, zeppoles, shish kabobs, gyros, french fries, Italian ice and more! There will be kiddie & pony rides, local merchants & civic organizations. Free shuttle service from Cedar Hill School on Pine Brook Rd & parking at the Methodist Church on Whitehall Rd.
Towaco, NJ 07082

7. Fall Forestry Festival
Saturday, October 3, 10am to 3pm
The 21st annual Fall Forestry Festival features free crafts, autumn hayrides, interpretive programs, demonstrations, and environmental exhibits!
Jackson, NJ 08527

8. U-Pick Pumpkins at Oasis Family Farm
Saturday, October 3, until Saturday, October 31
Pick your own pumpkins! Also enjoy the following; Cornstalks, Fall flower baskets, Fall decor, Fresh baked pumpkin pies, Pumpkin bread, Pumpkin donuts, Apple cider donuts, and Apple cider
Robbinsville, NJ 08691

9. Collingswood Book Festival
Saturday, October 3, 10am to 4pm
Festival-goers will have an opportunity to stroll more than six blocks filled with authors/speakers for adults and children, as well as booksellers, storytellers, poetry readings, workshops, exhibitors, kid-friendly activities, and entertainment for all ages!
Collingswood, NJ 08108

10. Arts and Crafts Stroll
Saturday, October 3, 12pm to 6pm
Take a stroll down an arts & crafts extravaganza throughout the halls of the Shoppes at the Arcade in the heart of downtown Asbury Park.
Asbury Park, NJ 07712

11. The Latino Festival
Saturday, October 3, 12:00pm to 7:00pm
A fun day filled with music and entertainment, there will also boast contests, food, face painting, clowns, giveaways and much, much more!
Freehold, NJ 07728

12. Matawan Day and Food Festival
Saturday, October 3, 12pm to 5pm
Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce announces sponsorship and vendor opportunities for businesses, organizations and groups for the Annual Matawan Day and Food Festival. This festival offers food, fun family activities, games, music, entertainment, and free rides.
Matawan, NJ 07747

13. Stratford Fall Festival
Saturday, October 3, 10am to 4pm
The Annual Stratford Fall Festival event with consist of a 5K run/walk for Autism NJ, food galore, huge craft and business fair, live entertainment on two stages, WMGK Radio, face and pumpkin painting, photo booth, balloon artist, rides and games, car show with 100 classic cars, and last but not least a Green Fair with a zoo on wheels. Admission and parking is free but bracelets for rides and games are 10 dollars!
Stratford, NJ 08084

14. Farmingdale Community Day and Car Show
Saturday, October 3, 10am to 4pm
The Annual Farmingdale Community Day and Car Show is a fall family event filled with something for everyone! Games for the kids, vendors of crafts and product for early holiday shopping, tricky tray, 50/50, music, car show for car enthusiasts and a variety of foods and sweet treats.
Farmingdale, NJ 07727

15. Fall Festival
Saturday, October 3, 12pm to 4pm
Free Skating Admission, free Ice Cream Social – (while supplies last) Carnival Games, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Birthday Raffle, Roller Skate Raffle and more!
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

16. Wellness in the Park Festival
Sunday, October 4, 10am to 4pm
Come out to Essex County Brookdale Park in Bloomfield/Montclair, NJ and have an amazing day out for the entire family! Music, activities for the kids, lectures, free fitness classes and 200+ health & wellness vendors in the areas of: Holistic health, Free health assessments, Fitness, Chiropractics, Healing, Yoga, Essential Oils, Skin care and beauty, Eco-friendly products, and a Farmers Market. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets, family, friends too!
Bloomfield, NJ 07003

17. Allendale Festival Day and Car Show
Sunday, October 4, 10am to 4pm
Come and enjoy a fun-filled day of live music, entertainment, vendors, arts & crafts, food, exhibits, community organizations, giveaways, games, clowns, face-painting, and much more. Members receive free spots to participate.
Allendale, NJ 07401

18. Saddle Brook Street Fair
Sunday, October 4, 10am to 5pm
The street will be transformed into a giant town block party! There will be merchandise & craft vendors, kiddie rides, pony rides, clown, great food, local merchants and civic groups & music. Come hungry and enjoy the pizza, zeppoles, sausage & peppers, popcorn, cotton candy, shish ka bob, kettle corn, and more great food along the street. There will be live music all day long!
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

19. Dog Walk-a-Thon and Adoption Day
Sunday, October 4, 11am to 3pm
Join the North Brunswick Humane Association for their 12th annual Dog Walk-a-Thon! There will be a dog walk, costume contest, games, entertainment, and food & beverages! Don’t forget to visit Rescue Row and the many vendors. Proceeds from this event benefit and support local animal rescue and shelters.
North Brunswick, NJ 08902

20. South Jersey Pumpkin Show
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, October 9, 10, and 11
Friday 5PM to 10PM, Saturday 10AM to 8PM, Sunday 10AM to 5PM
South Jersey Pumpkin Show was created out of the love of pumpkins and the fall harvest from Millville residents Kathryn & Leslie Wright, of B & K Enterprise. The event’s theme for 2015 is “Embrace Autumn’s Glory” and the fairgrounds will be transformed by pumpkins, scarecrows, gourds, cornstalks and hundreds of colorful mums.
Pilesgrove / Woodstown, NJ 08098

21. Culture Crawl
Friday, October 9, 6pm to 9pm
Culture Crawl is a one-night celebration of arts, culture and community. Video, sound, spoken word, and other live, interactive art forms link downtown venues and sites where art, music, and other cultural happenings occur throughout the evening.
Rahway NJ 07065

22. Annual Apple Festival at Kirby’s Mill
Saturday, October 10, 9am to 4pm
Over 100 Craft Booth s, Food, Demonstrations, Music, Children’s Activities. Apple Products, Apple Cider, even Cider Donuts! All proceeds from the Apple Festival, including profits from product sales and vendor fees, benefit the historical society and its ongoing restoration of the Kirby’s Mill complex.
Medford, NJ 08055

23. Manville Community Yard Sale
Saturday, October 10, 9am to 3pm
The Friends of the Manville Library is sponsoring a town-wide yard sale to benefit the Manville Library. The rain date is October 11. Registration forms are available at the Manville Library, or the Manville Borough Hall.
Manville, NJ 08835

24. 6th Annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey & Garlic Festival
Saturday, October 10, 10am to 4pm
The County of Sussex, the Sussex County Beekeepers Association and the Garden State Garlic Growers are joining with the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show to showcase New Jersey’s great northwest. There will be a farmers market where you can buy fresh, local Sussex County and Jersey Fresh products including fruit, vegetables, flowers and wine. The Sussex County Beekeepers Association will have educational displays and materials along with an array of honey products! Buzzzzz!
Augusta, NJ 07822

25. Irish Festival in Historic Smithville
Saturday, October 10 & Sunday, October 11, 10am to 5pm
You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy these events! There will be an Irish Market with lots of vendors! Children’s activities, a food court, and Ireland dancers will be performing throughout the day!
Smithville, NJ 08205

26. Seafood & Music Festival
Saturday, October 10, 11am to 8pm
The festival will feature 2 stages of live music with Animal House, The Who Knows Band, The Chameleon Band and Club Phred, crafters, food vendors, games, a pie eating contest and much more! A “Kids Korner” with activities including pumpkin painting, face painting and bounce houses.
Wildwood, NJ 08260

27. Columbus Day Parade and Festival
Saturday and Sunday, October 10 & 11, 12pm to 10pm
Take delight in this two day Columbus Day Parade and Festival. Music, food, and more.
East Rutherford, NJ 07073

28. New Netherlands and the Dutch Legacy in NJ
Monday, October 12, 2pm to 4pm
Montclair-resident Dr. Firth Fabend, author of several fiction and non-fiction books on the history of the Dutch in New Jersey and New York, will present “New Netherlands and the Dutch Legacy in New Jersey.” The Dutch were responsible for settling Speertown, now Upper Montclair, in the 17th century at the same time the Crane family was settling Cranetown, now Montclair.
Montclair, NJ 07042

29. Arts, Crafts, Music and HarvestFest
Saturday, October 17, 11:30am to 5pm
A day of family fun with a variety of children’s activities, food, art and crafts vendors, music, live entertainment and more.
Tom’s River, NJ 08753

30. Hoots-N-Howls
Saturday, October 24, 4pm to 7pm
Haddon Heights Parent Teacher Group (HHPTG) will be hosting their annual Hoots N Howls Event! HHPTG will also be collaborating with the Haddon Heights Business Association to provide a community wide day of fun family festivities. The HH Business Association will be sponsoring a Halloween Parade featuring a band, local civic groups and more. They will be encouraging families to dress in their Halloween costumes and actively participate in the parade. The parade will begin at 3:30PM at “The Cannons” on 10th & Station Avenues.
Haddon Heights, NJ 08035

Did we miss a FREE event in NJ that you know about? Share it in the comments below!