With Halloween in New Jersey on the horizon, it’s prime time to shift into all things spooky—but if you’ve got littles or kids who don’t like the fear factor, there are plenty of not-so-scary Halloween events around New Jersey where kids can celebrate all month (and wear their costumes). Read on for places you can get into the Halloween spirit with the whole family. And if you are looking for more of a scare, you can find plenty of bone-tingling spooks at one of the haunted houses or hayrides in NJ. (featured photo credit: @skylandsstadium)
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Jenkinson’s Boardwalk – Boo at the Boardwalk
Get ready for some Halloween fun for the entire family during Jenkinson’s Boardwalk’s annual Fall Event, Boo at the Boardwalk, on October 19th, 20th, 26th, and 27th from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM each day. Included in the Halloween fun are limited kiddie rides in the Amusement Park, face painting, trick-or-treating and, underwater pumpkin carving & creepy crawlers at the Aquarium. We also have additional entertainment, including magic shows, Witch Sister Trios shows & treats, and animal shows! Plus, half-price admission to Castaway Cove mini golf and the fun house. Take advantage of our two cost-saving packages available to purchase during the event, including the Boo-Tastic and Spook-Tacular packages! Check out our full entertainment schedule at Jenkinsons.com
300 Ocean Avenue Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Family-Friendly Things To Do For Halloween In New Jersey
North Jersey Halloween Activities
Haunted Wild West Fest – Select days from September 4-27
Pick your scene at Wild West City during their Haunted Wild West Fest. During the day, watch the live-action shows, explore museums in the town, view historical demonstrations, and get a hole-in-one in miniature golf. At night, the scene gets scarier and includes a haunted train ride.
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ 07874
Skylands Stadium Jack O’Lantern Experience – September 20-November 3
Experience a little Halloween magic as you take a 45-minute walk through this festive and beautifully lit pumpkin patch. Over 6,000 carved and blazing Jack-O-Lanterns will be on display with spectacular visuals, making it one of the best Halloween events in NJ. Extend the night’s festivities with a fall fest, carnival, and beer garden.
Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta, NJ 07822
Halloween Light Show at Demarest Farms – September 28-October 31
Take a guided drive-through tour of the largest Halloween light show in NJ, which features brilliant Halloween light displays. Then, stop by the farm to enjoy goodies from the market and warm up by the fire pits with make-your-own s’mores and hot cocoa.
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
Dinosaurs After Dark – Fridays and Saturdays, October 4-26
Explore a mysterious prehistoric world after dark. In 2024, dare to partake in the Dinosaur Seance, a thrill ride into the realm of dinosaur ghosts. There’s also a nighttime offering of a dinosaur sing-a-long at the campfire.
3 Overpeck Park Driveway Leonia, NJ 07605
The Pumpkin Patch Train at Whippany Railway Museum – Rides are available on October 5, 6, 12, and 13
Climb aboard a train at the Whippany Railway Museum to admire the changing leaves. Littles can dress in Halloween costumes as you ride past the reds, yellows, and oranges and enjoy the chilly weather. After the ride, kids can visit the pumpkin patch, pick out the perfect-sized pumpkin, and get a decorating kit for free while supplies last.
1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany, NJ 07981
Gardens Aglow Presby Memorial Iris – October 18 at 6 PM
Enjoy the gardens at dusk as they come to life with artfully carved jack-o-lanterns supplied by local high school art departments. Everyone can sip on cider at sunset while watching the gardens glow and then check out the entertainment, including a mad science show.
474 Upper Mountain Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
Central Jersey Halloween Activities
Get into the spooky spirit with your little ones at Six Flags Great Adventure with Boo Fest by Day, a family-friendly experience including trick-or-treating through a new kid-friendly haunted house. See family-friendly daytime performances and attractions like Hunt for Boo. Things get much creepier at night (recommended for ages 13 and up) at Fright Fest with haunted attractions like Big Top Terror, Blood Shed, and The Manor.
Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson Township, NJ 08527
It wouldn’t be Halloween in New Jersey without getting the family in the kooky and spooky spirit of The Addams Family. Celebrate the oddest family around at the annual AdamsFest in Westfield (the former home of cartoonist Charles Addams) all month long. Look for events like the Addams Family House on Mindowaskin Pond, Family Fun Day, Be Witched Selfie Stop and more. And don’t miss the return of the Haunt Your House Contest and the Wicked Windows of Westfield.
Westfield, NJ 08205
It’s the 16th year of spooky fun in Asbury Park, otherwise known as the official kick-off event of the Halloween season. Watch zombies and ghouls take over the streets of Asbury Park for a day of thrills, chills, and laughter for all ages.
Boardwalk, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Get into the Halloween spirit by watching over 100 “witches and warlocks” paddleboard on Spring Lake near Divine Park. Snap photos and check out which has the best costume. Boo!
Lake Drive, Spring Lake, NJ 07762
Get that costume ready and head to Jenkinson’s Boardwalk for some kiddie rides, face painting, and underwater pumpkin carving (included with general aquarium admission).
300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
South Jersey Halloween Activities
Historic Cold Spring Village- Ghost Walks – Fridays from now-October 11
It’s a family-friendly walk-thru for all ages. See Cold Spring Village turn into a haunted trail and have some Halloween fun in New Jersey.
720 US 9, Cape May, NJ 08204
Storybook Land Fall Into Fun Festival and Trick or Treat Weekends – Begins September 28
Dress up in your Halloween best and get ready to collect treats throughout the park for Trick or Treat Weekends. During the Fall Into Fun Festival, don’t miss Elmer’s Hay-Mazin’ Maze, Happy Hayrides, and The Pumpkin Patch.
6415 Black Horse Pike (Routes 40/322), Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Train at DiDonato’s – September 28-October 27
Take a train ride through a kid-friendly Halloween Town, try the Halloween corn maze, or pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. Don’t miss the giant slide, inflatable obstacle course, photo ops, and more.
1151 S White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ 08037
Diggerfest Fall Festival – Select dates from September 28-December 1
Fall is here with Halloween fun at Diggerland, USA. Enjoy hayrides, live music, carnival games, pumpkin decorating, fall parades, and more.
100 Pineadge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
Cape May Halloween Events – October 1-31
Visit Scarecrow Alley, take a ghost walk with Craig McManus, or be part of the Seance at the Physick Estate this Halloween.
Cape May, NJ 08204
Cape May Boo at the Zoo – October 26
Have your kids put on their costumes and head to the zoo for a free event, where they can spend time at the craft station, play games, collect candy, and watch the entertainment. Make sure you stop by to say hi to the animals and climb aboard the pirate ship. There will be a costume contest, too.
Cape May County Park, 707 North Route 9, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Monster Bash in Smithville – October 26
Visit Smithville for an evening with vendors featuring local artists, music, and gruesome special guests.
615 E. Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205
Halloween Activities Near New Jersey
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place – September 14-November 3
Enter a family-friendly Halloween Haven with trick-or-treating in Big Bird’s Beach, Halloween-themed shows, and a Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt. The Sesame Street Halloween Parade and dance parties will add to the fun.
100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
Boo at the Zoo at The Bronx Zoo – Select dates, September 28-October 27
It’s worth the trip across the Hudson for the Bronx Zoo’s annual Halloween tradition. Be sure to dress in your Halloween best and hit the Pumpkin Path, which features hundreds of expertly carved pumpkins. After that, check out the Extinct Animal Graveyard, a learning experience on how to prevent extinction. Keep the party going with a Magic and Mind Reading Show, Costume Parade, Candy Trail, and the new Halloween maze.
2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10460
Brick-or-Treat LEGOLAND New York Resort – Open every day in October
Head over the state border to this theme park for a Bricktastic Halloween celebration. Watch live entertainment and shows like The Great Monster Chase 4D movie or Operation Monster Squad, snap photos of LEGO® characters, collect candy, and see limited-time attractions.
1 Legoland Blvd., Goshen, NY 10924
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