Boo—it’s Halloween weekend, which means a full lineup of all things orange, black and spooky. Step back into the 1830s at Allaire Village with the 1830s All Hallows Eve Celebration and Allaire Scare Pumpkin Dare in Wall, take a tractor ride and pick your pumpkin at the Annual Pumpkin Patch Day in Union, dress up in costumes to be a part of Boo at the Zoo at the Cape May Zoo at Cape May County Court House or catch the Great Pumpkin at Skylands Stadium Jack O’Lantern Experience in Augusta. And for more stuff to do, check out our guide to fall activities in NJ. (featured photo taken at Skylands Stadium Jack O’Lantern Experience)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events)
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Running with the Devils 5K Run and Wellness Walk 2022
October 30 in-person 5K registration starts at 7 AM, or join October 1-30 virtually
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 38,000 healthcare workers with the Running with the Devils 5K and Wellness 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, live walk, or virtual experience. All registered participants of both the run and walk receive FREE entry to Turtle Back Zoo on the event day.
Registration Fee: 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
Day of the Dead
October 27 at 5 PM
Listen to a Mariachi Band, try sugar skull face painting, and send a message to your loved ones in the fire pit at this Day of the Dead celebration. Don’t forget to bring your lawn chairs and a blanket to enjoy the movie Encanto under the stars. Food will be available for purchase, and popcorn.
Cost: Free
Gibsons Fitness Center Pavilion in the back parking lot, Washington, NJ 07882
Downtown Somerville Halloween Spooktacular
October 28 at 3 PM
Bring the whole family to an afternoon of trick or treating, a costume contest, and pumpkin decorating. There will be an outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus too.
Three locations: Division Street, Somerset County Courthouse, Main Street, Somerville, NJ 08876
Pumpkin Palooza at Perkins
October 28 at 4 PM
Head to Perkins Center for the Arts for a family-friendly day of fall fun with live music, art activities, glow-in-the-dark pumpkin carving, spooky storytelling, tractor rides, and science experiments.
Cost: Free
395 Kings Highway, Moorestown, NJ 08057
Historical Society of Moorestown Living History and Ghost Tour
October 28-29
Take an October evening stroll to learn about Moorestown’s history, mystery, and ghosts. This year’s tour is interactive with local historical figures from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.
Cost: $15 for adults, $12 for historical society members and senior citizens, $10 for students, and 6 and under are free
12 High Street, Moorestown, NJ 08057
The 1830s All Hallow’s Eve Celebration and Allaire Scare Pumpkin Dare
October 29
Experience what Halloween was like in the 1830s. Come dressed in your costumes, learn superstitions, the making of soul cakes, and spooky storytelling. And don’t forget to carve pumpkins and bring them for the Allaire Scare Pumpkin Dare Contest, where the winner will bring home a trophy and gift bag.
Cost: Adults are $8, and Children (4-12) are $4; tickets and pre-registration for the contest are required
The Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall, NJ 07727
Rock the Run and Fall Festival
October 29 at 9 AM
Support Trenton Animals Rock with this 1.5-mile charity walk and fun run, followed by an afternoon of fall festivities. Enjoy a kid’s zone that will have games, an obstacle course, a bounce house, and face painting. Enter your pet into the costume contest or decorate a pumpkin. There will also be fall treats and food trucks.
Cost: $5-$30
Mercer West Picnic Area lot 2, Paxson Avenue, West Windsor Township, NJ 08550
Annual Pumpkin Patch Day
October 29 at 10 AM
It’s a fun-filled day of trick or treating, pumpkin picking, tractor rides, games, pumpkin carving and painting, and crafts. Lunch and snacks are available for purchase.
Cost: $12, Additional charge for pumpkins (cash only). Reservation suggested.
Liberty Hall Museum, 1003 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083
Annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey, and Garlic Festival
October 29 at 10 AM
Celebrate the fall harvest at this event, where Garden State Garlic Growers and the Sussex County Beekeepers will have educational displays and materials along with honey and garlic products. There will also be local artisans, crafters, hayrides, pumpkin painting, face painting, and crafts.
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ, 07822
Cape May Boo at the Zoo
October 29 at 10 AM
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
Flemington Craft Barn Fall & Halloween Fair
October 29 at 10 AM
Enjoy Halloween and fall crafts for all ages, warm apple cider, hot cocoa with marshmallows, food, music, a tarot reading station, a photo booth, a live scarecrow, Fair t-shirts, dancing, pumpkin carving, and decorating, donkeys, a kids costume parade, and the fire department will be visiting too.
Cost: $5
19 Turntable Junction, Flemington, NJ 08822
The Second Annual Hunterdon Harvest Fest
October 29 at 10 AM
It’s a harvest celebration of Hunterdon’s local businesses, farms, and breweries. Featuring live music, farm-to-festival local foods, and craft beer and games for all ages. Bring your own chair.
Cost: Free
26 Stangl Road, Flemington, NJ 08822
Haunted Downtown of Metuchen
October 29 at 11 AM
Halloween takes over Metuchen—get ready for spooky fun with attractions, games, and lots of surprises all day.
1 Pearl St 1 Pearl Street Metuchen, NJ 08840
Fall Festival at the Bethune Park
October 29 at 12 PM
Kids can come dressed in costume to enjoy the hay maze, trunk or treat, and pumpkin carving at this lively fall festival.
Cost: Free
Mary Mcleod Bethune Park, 143 Martin Luther King Drive, Jersey City, NJ 07305
Hudson County Family Fun Fest
October 29 at 12 PM
Dress up in your Halloween best and spend the day at the 902 Brewing Co with plenty of family-friendly activities, live music, drinks, and food.
Cost: Free
902 Brewing Co., 101 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304
Fall Festival at G & G Stables
October 29 and 30 at 11 AM
Check out the stables, where the whole family can try everything from pony rides to hayrides, face painting, games, a petting zoo, and crafts.
Cost: $10 online and $12 in person for ages two and up
G&G Stables, 39 Driftway Rd, Howell, NJ 07731
New Providence Street Fair and Craft Show
October 30 at 11 AM
See various exhibits, vendors, and activities. Children will have fun activities, such as face painting and storytelling. Food vendors will be available too.
Cost: Free
New Providence Downtown, New Providence, NJ 07974
Headless Horseman at the Sunday Farmers Market
October 30 at 11 AM and 12 PM
Listen to the story of the Headless Horseman, then stroll through the pumpkin patch and enjoy all the vendors at the Sunday Farmers Market. The horseman will appear at 11 AM and 12 PM at the Sunday Farmers Market outside the Chili’s/On the Border parking lot.
Cost: Free
Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus, NJ 07652
Marketfair Halloween Extravanganza
October 30 at 12 PM
There will be pumpkin painting, face painting, arts and crafts, music by Mr. Ray, and treats. The first 400 children in costume to check in at the registration table receive a goodie bag.
Cost: Free
Marketfair 3535 US 1 Princeton, NJ 08540
NJ Angels Fall Festival
October 30 at 3 PM
Bring the kids for games, a trick-or-treat costume parade, a carved pumpkin contest, and a gift basket raffle pull. Event admissions, children’s activities, and pumpkin contests are free. Food, beverage, and gift basket raffle have separate charges.
Calgo Gardens, 462 Adelphia Road, Freehold, NJ 07728
Physick Estate Halloween Events
October 29 and 31
Trick or Treat in Scarecrow Alley, head to the Halloween Craft and Collectibles Show or see the Department 56 Halloween exhibit at the Physick Estate this Halloween.
1048 Washington Street, Cape May, NJ 08204
Turtle Back Zoo Howl-O-Ween
October 31 at 4 PM
Have a sweet time at Turtle Back Zoo. Visit candy stations, watch shows, see stilt walkers, and don’t forget your Halloween costume and reusable candy bag.
560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ 07052
Ongoing Events
Boo at the Boardwalk
October 29, 30 at 12 PM
Get that costume ready and head to Jenkinson’s Boardwalk for a beach maze, kiddie rides, crafts, face painting, and underwater pumpkin carving (included with general aquarium admission).
300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742
Storybook Land Trick or Treat Weekends
October 29, 30
Dress up in your Halloween best to collect treats throughout the park. Littles will love hopping on the fun rides in their costumes and gathering goodies with special Trick or Treat bags (included with admission).
6415 Black Horse Pike (Routes 40/322), Egg Harbor Township, NJ 08234
Dinosaurs After Dark
Fridays and Saturdays, Now-October 29
Explore a mysterious prehistoric world while there is a T-Rex on the loose. Take a Tyrannosaurus Hunt down darkened trails and find surprises along the way. There’s also a nighttime offering of shows, games, songs, and s’mores.
3 Overpeck Park Driveway Leonia, NJ 07605
Brite Nites 2022
Thursdays-Saturdays, Now- October 29
Head to Warren for Wagner Farm Arboretum for a spook-ta-cular event, showcasing an elaborate display of creatively hand-carved and LED-lighted pumpkins. There will be options to walk or drive through the show.
197 Mountain Avenue, Warren, NJ 07059
Terhune Orchards Fall Family Fun Weekends
Now-October 29-30
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
Argos Farm Festival
Now-October 30
Visit the pumpkin patch, Double Hay Slide, Bee Zip Line, Jumbo Jumper Air Pillow, Gauntlet Obstacle Course, Cow Train Rides, Peddle Carts, Ball Zone, Wall Ball, Checkers, Corn Hole, and so much more.
Cost: $13.95 and up during the week and $16.95 and up on weekends
1250 Lacey Rd, Forked River, NJ 08731
Happy Day Farm Fall Festival
Now-October 30
Spend the day at Happy Day, going from giant checkers to an inflatable corn maze, horse swings to pedal carts, and all of the fall fun you can imagine in one place during their annual fall festival.
Cost: $24 per person
106 Iron Ore Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Fall Festival Weekends at Von Thun Farms
Now-October 30
Two locations are full of fall fun for the whole family, with pumpkin picking, corn mazes, hayrides, corn cannons, and apple blasters. Events may vary by location.
Cost: $16.99-$17.99 and up, depending on location and package
505 Ridge Road, Dayton, NJ 08810
438 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ 07882
Sunflower September & Fall Festivals at Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm
Now-October 30
Sunflowers and fall fun will fill the weekends at Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm until the end of October.
Cost: $12.95
2691 Monmouth Road, Jobstown, NJ 08041
Donaldson Farms Fall Harvest Weekends
Now-October 30 and October 10
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
20th Anniversary Fall Festival
Now-October 30
It’s the 20th Anniversary, and it’s time to celebrate at the 10 Acre corn maze at Lentini Farms. There will be live bands and food trucks every weekend.
Cost: $3-$4 online or $4-$5 at the gate
251 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Haunted Wild West Fest
Now-October 30
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.
Cost: $24.50 and up for the daytime and $18 online, and $20 at the gate for nighttime
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ 07874
Diggerfest Fall Festival
Weekends in October
Pumpkins are all over Diggerland, USA. Enjoy hayrides, live music, carnival games, pumpkin decorating, fall parades, and more.
Cost: $45.95
100 Pineadge Drive, West Berlin, NJ 08091
Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure
Now-October 31
Haunted Houses, Scare Zones, and Rides in the Dark can only mean one thing—Fright Fest is back. This spooky event will keep older kids and adults on their toes (recommended for ages 13 and over). Enter if you dare!
Cost: Starting at $34.99
1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ 08527
Halloween Light Show at Demarest Farms
Now-October 31
See the largest light show in NJ on a guided drive-through tour of brilliant Halloween light displays. 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
Haunt O’Ween at Bell Works
Now-October 31, dates and times vary
Explore over 200,000 square feet at this interactive Halloween playground. Go trick-or-treating in the Town of Haunt O’ Ween, walk through thousands of pumpkins, play games, hop on rides, get your face painted, and enjoy food and drinks.
Cost: Tickets start at $40
101 Crawfords Corner Road, Holmdel, NJ 07733
Great Pumpkin Festival
Now-November 6
Head to Heaven Hill Farm for this fall-themed festival featuring the Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show, hayrides, farm animals, pedal carts, a 40th anniversary-themed corn maze, gem mining, apple cannons, and more fall fun.
Cost: $14.99-$22.99
451 State Route 94, Vernon, NJ 07462
Skylands Stadium Jack O’ Lantern Experience
Now-November 6
It’s Halloween fun for all when you see over 6000 impressive and intricately carved Jack O’Lanterns take over Skylands Stadium. 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
Scarecrows of the Sea at Adventure Aquarium
Now-November 13
Turn autumn aquatic with the new Scarecrows of the Sea at Adventure Aquarium. A crew of colorful scarecrows will be cropping up across the aquarium for a limited time. Look out for pirates, penguins, mermaids, and more posing alongside our 15,000 amazing animals.
Cost: Included with admission, buy your tickets or make a Member reservation in advance.
1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ 08103
RWJBarnabas Health Events
Kids Pumpkin Painting
October 25 at 4 PM
It’s the spooky season—bring the kids for pumpkin painting with the LiveWell Center. Children ages 2-10 are welcome to attend. Dress up in your Halloween costume for some extra fun
Cost: Free; registration is required.
LiveWell Center, 200 Wyckoff Rd. Suite 1200, Eatontown, NJ 07724
Healthy Kids in Hannah’s Kitchen
October 25 at 4:30 PM
Come in person or join virtually for this hands-on cooking for ages 8-12. Your child will learn how to cook with nutritious ingredients, how to read a recipe, kitchen safety tips, measuring techniques, and learn knife skills.
Cost: Free
Online or Rev. Dr. Ronald B. Christian Community Health and Wellness Center at Newark Beth Israel
Medical Center, 208 Lyons Ave., Newark, NJ 07112
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