This weekend, your family can canoe on Marlu Lake at Thompson Park Day in Lincroft, celebrate the Irish culture at Historic Smithville’s Irish Festival in Smithville, spend a day outside at the Rutgers Gardens Fall Festival in New Brunswick, be down the shore at Asbury Park’s Harvest Fest, plus many more kid-friendly fairs and festivals in New Jersey this weekend.
1. South Jersey Pumpkin Show 2017
Friday, October 13 – Saturday, October 15, 2017 | Friday 5:00PM to 10:00PM, Saturday & Sunday 10:00AM to 5:00PM
South Jersey’s Pumpkin Show is back for its 14th year in a row. This year’s Festival of Pumpkins will be including an array of Fall themed features such as: Craftsmen, Artist, Fall Home Show, Weigh-Off, Pumpkin Fun Food Contests, Haunted Barn, Hayrides, Free Pumpkin Patch for kids, Wine sampling, Live bands, Little Miss & Mister Pumpkin Show Pageant, and so much more. This is the perfect event for your family to get into the spirit of Fall.
Salem County Fair Grounds
735 Route 40, Woodstown, New Jersey 08098
Cost: Free Admission, $5 Parking
2. Township of Washington Food Truck & Music Festival
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 11:00AM to 7:00PM
The Just Jersey Fest making its way into The Township of Washington. The whole family can enjoy all the food, beer, music, and family time you can handle. For those food addicts in attendance, there will be over 20 gourmet food trucks paired with incredible live music to make for one incredible time out with the family.
Washington Lake – Amphitheater
626 Hurffville Cross-Keys Road, Sewell, NJ
Cost: Free for Kids 9 & Under, $5 General Admission
3. Bark in the Park – 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 12:00PM to 5:00PM
Bark In The Park, or BIP, is the largest pet-festival in Hudson County. This furry companion loving event brings together animal-lovers for a day filled with fun, food, and lots of wonderful vendors. Show off your canine counterpart off at the annual Costume Contest. Your kids will also get to enjoy FREE bounce houses, balloon art, and face-painting. Other than being a great way to celebrate pets, BIP also raises funds to cover the medical costs of the animals that come into our care. We’re asking all of our friends and supporters to come together with us to help save lives.
Church Square Park
4TH St, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Cost: Sign up at here
4. Deptford Township Fall Festival
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 2:00PM to 8:00PM
Deptford Township Mayor & Council invite your family to the 2nd Annual Deptford Township Fall Festival on Saturday, October 14th from 2:00PM – 8:00PM. This year a fabulous Beer & Wine Garden, Food Trucks, a new playground and live Music have been added to an already electric atmosphere. Your family must Come out and join in the fun over at Andaloro Farms.
Andaloro Farms
138 Andaloro Way, Deptford Twp, NJ 08093
Cost: Free
5. FallFest 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 1:00PM to 6:00PM (Rain Date: October 15)
Brick Township’s FallFest is the perfect combination of a beer/wine garden, family, fireworks, and food trucks just equal the perfect time, doesn’t it? Make sure your family embraces the magic of the fall atmosphere over at Windward Beach Park.
Windward Beach Park
Challenger Way, Brick Township, New Jersey 08723
Cost: Free
6. Union Beach Day 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 2:00PM to 7:00PM
Come celebrate the “Best Little Town” in New Jersey, accompanied by food vendors, music, activities for kids and family alike; Union Beach day will be a great time together with your loved ones. There will be a Costume contest, hands on experiences for the kiddies, craft and souvenir vendors, Demostrations by our very own Fire Department, and a movie on the beach.
Union Beach, New Jersey 07735
Cost: Free
Fall Festival in Allentown. via
7. Allentown Fall Festival 2017
Saturday, October 14 – Sunday. October 15, 2017 | 10:00AM to 5:00PM Both Days
The annual Allentown Fall Festival features live music, a craft beer garden, food trucks, classic cars, civil war encampment, craft vendors and a host of activities for kids. Showcasing 100% handmade local crafters and artisans, join us in the fun and get a jump on holiday shopping while buying local at the same time. It is also a great time to visit our local specialty shops offering Fall Festival specials. This main event is attended by 10,000 people over the two–day weekend event.
Main Street, Allentown, NJ 08501
Cost: Free
8. Historic Smithville’s Irish Festival
Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 15, 2017 | Saturday 10:00AM to 6:00PM, Sunday 11:00AM to 6:00PM
Southern New Jersey goes Gaelic when the annual Smithville Irish Festival comes to town. This exciting get-together will honor Irish culture through traditional Emerald Isle-inspired music, dance, food and drink two-day festival kicks off with a rousing Parade of Colors at 11am, followed by an opening invocation from Father Timothy McGuire. Traditional pipe and drums performance by the acclaimed Shamrock and Thistle Pipes and Drums Band help get everyone in the mood. This will be held on Saturday only. On Sunday, Father Tim comes back to host mass at 10:30 am. Before the mass Ed O’Bannon will be selling breakfast. This fun fest features two separate stages, so families can experience different genres of Gaelic music and dance, depending on what they’re in the mood for. Since this Gaelic celebration is sponsored by Kramer Beverage, who will help provide us with Guinness and the opportunity to sample some of Ireland’s most flavorful, barley- scented beers. Don’t hesitate to bring the little ones along, as the Wee Ones area offers fun and wholesome pony rides and face painting, sand art and caricatures for children. There is no better way to celebrate the inner Irish in all of us, than an Irish Festival at Smithville.
Historic Smithville, NJ – The Village Greene
615 E Moss Mill Rd, Smithville, New Jersey 08205
Cost: Free
9. Stafford Fall Wine Festival
Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 12:00PM to 5:00PM Both Days
Nothing says fall like a spectacular Wine Festival at Manahawkin Lake Park. There will be a plethora of wine samples from some of New Jersey’s leading wineries at the 6th Annual Stafford Fall Wine Festival, October 14th and 15th. Enjoy the beautiful lake-front setting while sampling an array of wines, browsing crafters, vendors and food. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit and enjoy live music. Participating wineries include Cava Winery and Vineyard, Cream Ridge Winery, DiMatteo Vineyards, Coda Rossa Winery, Monroeville Vineyard & Winery, Plagido’s Winery, Wagonhouse Winery, and Villari Vineyards. Held in conjunctions with the Stafford Recreation Department’s annual Fall Festival, the weekend also offers hayrides, scarecrow making and other Halloween activites on Saturday, plus a classic car show on Sunday.
Manahawkin Lake Park
48 North Main Street, Manahawkin, New Jersey 08050
Cost: Free for Everyone 20 & Under, $15 Adults, Advance Tickets can be purchased here
Laurita Winery in New Egypt. via
10. Laurita Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 14 – Sunday, October 15, 2017 | Saturday 11:00AM to 9:00PM, Sunday 11:00AM to 7:00PM
Following their Blessing of the Grapes Ceremony, every year Laurita seeks to bring together families to celebrate the Harvest, a magical time when they work with the earth to turn grapes into win. To bring in the fun there will be: a Bounce House, Face Painting, Cornhole Games, Checkers Tables, Vineyard Tours
Laurita Winery
85 Archertown Rd, New Egypt, New Jersey 08533
Cost: $5, Tickets can be purchased here
11. Fall Family Fun Day
Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 10:00AM to 3:00PM
The 5th Annual FALL FAMILY FUN DAY at Patterson Greenhouses is back, and this year will be dedicated to honoring all of our veterans and helping to raise some money for the Disabled Veterans of Freehold and other veteran groups. There will be a FREE Antique Car show (all old cars welcomed), Free Bounce House, and a Face Painter. There is a Kid’s corner of course, which aims to please kids of all ages with a pick your own pumpkins area, Craft Corner, and a Halloween Parade for the kids & pets at 2pm – Prizes awarded. The variety of local crafters including: Cedar Lane Alpacas, Joan’s Jewels, It Makes Perfect Scents, Blind Bob Pottery, Stomp the Monster, and more will be in attendance to service all your needs. Of course, do not forget to feed your familys’ bellies with the marvelous servings of burgers and hot dogs, chips, drinks and baked goods on sale with all profits going to the two group.
Patterson Greenhouses
636 Adelphia Rd, Freehold 07728
Cost: Free
12. Asbury Park’s Harvest Fest 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 12:00PM to 6:00PM
Head over to Asbury Park for some good ‘ol family fun. There will be live music, animal adoptions, artisan bread, beer tents, pumpkin painting, hula hoop demonstrations, and so much more for the family to enjoy.
Kennedy Park
Cookman & Grand Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Cost: Free
Thompson Park Day in Lincroft via
13. Thompson Park Day
Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 11:00AM to 5:00PM
Enjoy a day of autumn fun for the entire family at Thompson Park. The activities seem endless as they include: canoeing on Marlu Lake (weather permitting), footgolf, kid’s races, zany zombies, cross-country skiing, apple cider demo, dash for cash, pottery demonstrations, mini gold, photo booth, pie eating contests, archery, bungee trampoline, wagon rides, laser tag, rock climbing wall, pumpkin painting, and a scarecrow contest. Prizes will be awarded and the scarecrow is yours to take home.
Thompson Park
805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, New Jersey 07738
Cost: Free Admission, Tickets ($1/Ticket) or Wristbands ($10/Wristband) will be required for select activities
14. Rutgers Gardens Fall Festival
Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 12:00PM to 4:00PM (Rain or Shine)
Rutgers Gardens Festival is finally here, and is back better than ever. This fantastic student run event will show attendees more of the student-run farm, meet some baby Cook animals, play some pumpkin games and lawn games, participate in a scavenger hunt, learn more about plants and food at the discovery tables, and try some delicious food from the Farm Market vendors. To add, there will also be pumpkin painting for $3.This year 1079 WOLD will be joining in on all the fun and games as they stream the event on the airwaves.
Rutgers Gardens
112 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
Cost: Free for Everyone 16 & Under, $5 Adults
15. Cherry Hill Harvest Festival
Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 12:00PM to 4:00PM
This year’s Harvest Fest in Cherry hill will include a mix of the best events just in time for Fall. For families of all ages there will be crafts, face painting, petting zoo, pony rides, farmer’s market, beer garden, live music, refreshments, and more to be announced.
Croft Farm Arts Center
100 Bortons Mill Rd, Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08034
Cost: Free
BONUS
Autumn in Moorestown Festival. via
16. Autumn in Moorestown 2017
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 9:00AM to 4:00PM
Your family will not want to miss the MBA’s annual fall celebration on Main Street. This celebration of Autumn will feature juried arts & crafts fair, a classic car exhibition, live entertainment, delicious food, and seasonal activities for the whole family. See what Fall is all about in Moorestown as soon as you can.
Moorestown, New Jersey
Cost: Free
17. Bay Head’s Annual Harvest Craft Festival
Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 10:00AM to 4:00PM
Bay Head’s Annual Craft Festival needs no introduction, all you have to know is it will be a rocking time filled with the best combination of crafts, food, and music. There is no need to look elsewhere other than Centennial Park in Bay Head; so bring the whole family for an enquisite day out together.
Centennial Park
83 Bridge Ave, Bay Head, NJ 08742
Cost: Free
18. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk Point Pleasant NJ
Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 10:00AM to 4:00PM (Registration: 8:00AM, Walk: 10:00AM,
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks not only unites communities behind the American Cancer Society’s efforts to save lives from breast cancer, but also show strength in numbers as survivors, caregivers, men and women from all walks of life who are passionate about saving lives from breast cancer congregate for one cause. Join the many families after the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Jenkinson’s Pavilion.
The Walk – Jenkinson’s Pavilion
Ocean and Arnold Avenues, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Cost: Sign up to walk or start a team here
After The Walk – Jenkinson’s All You Can Eat Buffet
300 Ocean Ave, Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey 08742
Cost: $12 All You Can Eat Buffet along with $3 Miller Lite & Coors Light 16oz. Aluminums, $4 Pink Ribbon Cocktails and $5 Bloody Marys
19. A Taste of Highland Park & Harvest Party Block Party
Sunday, October 15, 2017 | 3:00PM to 9:00PM
Pino’s Wine Shoppe and Main Street Highland Park are teaming up to host the second annual Harvest Party & Taste of Highland Park Block Party. Plenty of great local restaurants will be promoting their best work, along with the amazing atmosphere of: Beer and wine garden, pumpkins, and live music. This free of charge event also includes a popular, “Taste of Highland Park” featuring food from local restaurants. Each restaurant will offer a “taste” of their cuisine for the cost of one (1) ticket, which can be purchased at the event.
Pino’s Gift Basket Shoppe and Wine Cellar
13 N 4th Ave, Highland Park, New Jersey 08904
Cost: Free Admission, “Taste” Tickets ($3/1 “Taste” Tickets, $14/5 “Taste” Tickets, $25/10 “Taste” Tickets, $50/25 “Taste” Tickets
MORE FUN THINGS TO DO IN NJ THIS WEEKEND:
- 20 Kid Friendly Fall Festivals in NJ
- 25 {Must Know} Kid-Friendly Landmarks in NJ
- Top Summer Day Camps in NJ
- Museums in North, Central, & South NJ
- Aquariums in NJ
- 20 Family Friendly Hiking Trails in NJ
- 52 #NJMOM Must-Do Adventures
- Plan ahead by checking NJ Mom’s 60+ Things to Do in New Jersey
- Free Museum Days in NJ (the first weekend of each month)
- 275 Parks & Playgrounds in NJ
- 50 Best Spas in NJ
- 10 Mommy & Me Classes in NJ
- Date Night Ideas for Mom + Dad
- Kids Eat Free Restaurants
- Kids Bowl Free in NJ
