It’s beginning to look a lot like the spooky season, and we’re all for it, with lots of kid-friendly events happening this weekend. Spend the day on the boards finding Halloween fun at Boo at the Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, get your costumes on to visit animals and see shows at Zoo Boo in Paramus, or try face painting and be prepared to get scared on a family-friendly Haunted Hayride in Collingswood. Want to find out more about the 70+ fall festivals happening? Check out our guide to all the fall festivals here. (featured photo credit: @jenksboardwalk)
(Note: It’s always best to check ahead for in-person events.)
FEATURED
Five Star Swim School Pumpkin Plunge
October 18-19
Join us for a SPOOK-tacular Halloween-themed pool party – Pumpkin Plunge! Five Star Swim School’s Annual Pumpkin Plunge Party has been a tradition since 2014. It is the perfect way to celebrate Halloween at the pool! Enjoy swimming with floating pumpkins, decorating trick-or-treat grab bags, eating snacks, and decorating a pumpkin you can take home. Feel free to bring your Halloween costume or Halloween pajamas to change into after swimming.
Cost: $25 per child – parents can join for free or swim for just $10
October 18 at 4 PM – Five Star Swim School, 1500 Almonesson Rd, Deptford, NJ 08096
October 19 at 3:30 PM – Five Star Swim School, 182 NJ-10, East Hanover, NJ 07936
October 19 at 4:30 PM – Five Star Swim School, 1655 Oak Tree Rd, Edison, NJ 08820
Princeton Tour Company – Guided Ghost Tour, Ghost Tour & Cemetery Visit
October 18 at 7 PM
Shh, this tour company has a key to the locked cemetery and employs actual ghost equipment to uncover the spirits in historic Princeton. Leave the littles at home because things can sometimes get graphic. Don’t forget to bring your own flashlight.
Meet at the Princeton University Tour at 116 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
Oasis Oktoberfest
October 18
Enjoy an authentic Oktoberfest celebration underneath the big tent. There will be German food and beer, live music, a game tent, a super 50/50 raffle, and a beer stein-hoisting competition.
McBride Field, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Halloween Parade and Dance Party
October 18 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
Halloween Spooktacular
October 18 at 5:30 PM
Wear your costumes and join the parade at this Halloween event with cupcake decorating, prizes for the winners, candy, and Halloween carnival games.
Cost: Free
1996 Recreation Way, Marlboro, NJ 07746
Historical Society of Haddonfield Haunted Walking Tours
October 18-19
These haunted walking tours, which run throughout October, show a haunted side to the charming town of Haddonfield. The popular walking tours are based on a Haunted Haddonfield series of books containing stories and legends about haunted sites throughout the town.
343 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033
Allaire Historical Village Night of Frights and Allaire Ghost Tours
October 18-20
One of the more eerie ghost tours in New Jersey is the unassuming Allaire Village at night. Bring the family, but be warned—some scenes and live actors may be too scary for littles. During the event, expect to find Glow-in-the-Dark Bubble Shows, a Fire Juggler, a Fortune Teller, scary storytelling at the Chapel, live Blacksmith Shop demos, and a memorable dinner scene at Mr. Allaire’s House. Watch out for live ghosts and goblins, the Carriage House with legendary spirits, and the towering four-story shadows of the General Store (BOO!).
4265 Atlantic Ave., Farmingdale, NJ 07727
Zoo Boo 2024
October 18-20
Do you love hanging out with the animals at the Zoo? Come out for this fun party with music, Mad Science shows, candy, and an eerie haunted train ride at night.
Cost: From $8, tickets must be purchased in advance
Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652
Trunk-or-Treat
October 19 at 5 PM
With over 1,000 lbs of treats, your little ones will love wearing costumes and collecting candy at each car. There is also a best truck competition and fabulous raffle prizes.
Cost: Free; pre-registration required and limited to 250 families.
Elite Martial Arts, 295 US Highway 46, Rockaway, NJ 07866
Forest Street Festival
October 19 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. The rain date will be October 20.
Cost: Free
65 Chestnut Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
Annual Sussex County Harvest, Honey, and Garlic Festival
October 19 at 10 AM
Celebrate the fall harvest at this event, where Garden State Garlic Growers and the Sussex County Beekeepers will have educational displays, materials, and lots of honey and garlic products. 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
Bloomfield Harvest Festival
October 19 at 11 AM
This exciting event is one you definitely won’t want to miss. From delicious food, live music, carnival games, and so much fun for the whole family, the day is packed full of ways to celebrate the fall season.
Cost: Free
Glenwood Avenue & Washington Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003
Historic Smithville’s Costume Pet Parade
October 19
Have a furry member of your family that you love dressing up? Bring your pet and dress them in their Halloween best (matching with them if you dare), and check out all the cute costumes in this parade in downtown Historic Smithville.
Cost: Free
Historic Smithville, Route 9 & Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ 08205
Halloween Happenings
October 19 at 1 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 19 at 5:30 PM
For one night only, prepare to be scared at this haunted hayride. Face painting, food, beverages, Tarot Card readings, shirts, and more will also be there.
Cost: $5 per person; kids 2 and under are free
Knight Park, Park Ave & W Browning Rd, Collingswood, NJ 08107
10th Annual M&M’s Halloween
October 19-20
Head to this annual event, which is sure to get you in the Halloween spirit. There will be fun, interactive activities for the whole family to enjoy, including—you guessed it—everyone’s favorite candy.
Cost: Free
October 19 – JFK Recreation Center, 211 W. Kinney Street, Newark, NJ 07103
October 20 – Boylan Recreation Center, 916 S Orange Ave, Newark, NJ 07106
Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
October 19-20
Bring out the family to peruse a juried craft show, shop from over 150 vendors, taste cranberry foods, and enjoy live music.
Cost: Free
3980 Main Street, Chatsworth, NJ 08019
Lentini Farms Fall Festival
October 19-20
Come to this fall festival and enjoy a different live band and food trucks each weekend, along with their beloved 10-acre corn maze, scenic hayrides, sunflower field (seasonal), beer tent, u-pick pumpkin patch, and Haunted hayrides.
Cost: Prices vary
Route 94 South, 251 High Street, Newton, NJ 07860
Snyder’s Farm Fall Festival
October 19-20
Step out this season to a corn maze, pumpkin picking, fire pits, comfort food, and more. Snyder’s has everything to put you in a fall mood.
Cost: $18 and under age 2 is free
586 South Middlebush Road, Somerset, NJ 08873
Laurita Oktoberfests with Food Trucks
October 19-20
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.
85 Archertown Road, New Egypt, NJ 08533
Boo at the Boardwalk
October 19-20 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
Hamilton Oktoberfest
October 20
Celebrate Oktoberfest with lots of fun activities for children, such as hayrides, crafters, a pumpkin patch, and more.
Veteran’s Park South, Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ 08690
Scream on the Green
October 20 at 6 PM
Did your little ones love Monsters Inc? Then head to this monster-themed night, 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
ONGOING EVENT
Play & Swim at Five Star Swim School Eatontown
Every Thursday starting October 3 at 10 AM
Play & Swim at Five Star Swim School Eatontown is back! Join us every Thursday, starting October 3, from 10 to 11:30 AM for a morning of swimming, fun, and socializing. Children and caregivers love our padded play area and heated pool. Homeschooler groups are welcome. The pool is open from 10 to 11 AM. A lifeguard is always on duty.
Cost: $15 per child and parents/caregivers are free
Five Star Swim School, 1 Corbett Way, Eatontown, NJ 07724
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