From Diwali celebrations and food truck festivals to haunted trails and dog parades, this weekend is packed with fun events for you and the kids!
WEEKEND
HarvestFest
Middlesex College, Edison
Thursday
The college campus will be filled with hayrides, music, inflatable games, food trucks, a classic car show, a performance of Haunting Melodies, a corn maze, a mental health fair and a pumpkin patch.
Small Explorers Program: Spooky Season
New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
Thursday
Families with kids ages 1-5 can meet in the Discovery Den for storytime, themed activities and crafts. This month’s program focuses on New Jersey wildlife like owls, bats and foxes that come out at night. The kids will learn about animal tracks, and pretend to go camping.
Diwali
Lawrence Headquarters Branch of the Mercer County Library System, Lawrenceville
Thursday
Guru “Kalashree” Sukanya Mahadevan and her Shishya School dancers will present a dance based on the Indian Festival of Lights.
Jersey Fresh Jersey@The Point Festival
Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar / Gateway Playhouse, Somers Point
Thursday – Saturday
Only New Jersey-born or -based artists will perform, including headliners John Pizzarelli and The Benedetto All-Stars featuring Howard Paul and Friends.
Haunting Melodies
Middlesex College, Edison
Thursday – Saturday
In this seance set to music, students from Middlesex College’s Visual, Performing, and Media Arts Department will sing songs from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Into the Woods, The Little Mermaid, Beetlejuice, and other Broadway and American Songbook that are spooky and scary.
UniverSoul Circus
Weequahic Park, Newark
Thursday – Sunday
This fall’s new Rhythm of the World production features stuntpeople performing dizzying spins on a towering vertical pole, a graceful ballerina act, a contortionist, an aerial lyra duo, a roller skating troupe, hoop divers, a stylized teeterboard act, a strong-man hand-balance duo, 20-foot dancing puppets, fire-breathing stilt dancers, hip-hop dancing clowns and the Wheel of Death stunt.
Rutgers University Homecoming & Family Weekend
New Brunswick and Piscataway
Thursday – Sunday
Show your Scarlet pride at the Homecoming Charity Bed Races, Family Fun Day, city-wide football game watch parties, a photo scavenger hunt, makerspaces, stargazing, tailgating, the Rutgers Boardwalk, and access to museums and galleries.
Wildwoods ‘50s, ‘60s, & ’70s Weekend
The Wildwoods
Friday – Saturday
The Wildwoods is considered the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll and doo wop. This year’s headliners include the Pointer Sisters and the Spinners.
A Wicked Walk at Weis
New Weis Center, Ringwood
Friday – Saturday
Visit the haunted cabins and make your way through a spooky forest trail; then finish with ghost stories around a campfire with s’mores.
Haunted Historical Candlelight Trail
Long Pond Ironworks, Hewitt
Friday – Saturday
Come early for a family-friendly experience with no jump scares, where you’ll take a guided tour and learn about the tales of the woods. The spooky stuff later on includes witches, ghosts, mad scientists and creepy nurses waiting to scare you at every turn.
Night Climbs
TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park, Vernon
Friday – Saturday
Zipline or navigate the ropes course after dark; LED rope lights will light up the trees of the Great Gorge.
Zoo Boo
Bergen County Zoo, Paramus
Friday – Sunday
The event includes Halloween thrills, plus the train (friendly and scary versions) and carousel.
Halloween Playfest
West Windsor Branch of Mercer County Library System, Princeton Jct.
Friday – Sunday
Four original short plays were written by librarian Michael Kerr: “The Student of the Year;” “The House of Haunted;” “Andrew;” and “The Strange Misadventures of Miss Anna Logg.”
Festival of the Moon
Union County Performing Arts Center, Rahway
Friday – Monday
Experience symphonies and movies under Luke Jerram’s 23-foot moon sculpture, which will be suspended mid-air at UCPAC’s Main Stage. Events include karaoke before a screening of the movie “Sing,” performances by the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, free guided tours, a Pink Floyd tribute and Tales for Tiny Astronauts.
M&M’s Halloween
Saturday: Boylan Rec Center, Newark
Sunday: JFK Rec Center, Newark
Activities include face painting, a candy cornhole station, a candy potion station (to make candy to take home), karaoke, and art stations. Everyone will receive Halloween tote bags filled with Mars Wrigley candy. There will be a designated sensory/quiet zone for anyone with neurodivergence.
Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey
Multiple Locations
Saturday – Sunday
The Jersey Shore is home to 11 unique lighthouses, and this weekend you are encouraged to visit as many of these beautiful, historical structures as you can.
Rose Squared Art Show
Brookdale Park, Bloomfield
More than 150 artisans will sell works in apothecary, artisanal foods, ceramics, jewelry, wood, digital art, decorative and wearable fiber, furniture, glass, painting, 2D/3D mixed media and photography.
Diwali @ The Commons
Bridgewater Commons, Bridgewater
Saturday – Sunday
The two-day celebration of the Hindu Festival of Lights will include a devotional dance, instrumental and dance performances, a sari walk, a Bollywood flash mob, a cancer awareness walk, mehndi stations and vendor shopping.
Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
Main Street, Chatsworth
Saturday – Sunday
There will be lots of cranberry-themed items; plus a juried craft show with up to 150 vendors, more than two dozen food vendors, live music; and a car show on Sunday.
FRIDAY
Mystery on High
Village on High, Millville
The game of Clue starts at Glasstown Plaza. Other activities include ghost stories, crafts, face painting, balloon twisting, a costume contest, henna tattoos, hair tinseling, tarot card readings, games and music.
Seton Village Food Truck Festival
Seton Village, South Orange
Some of the best food trucks from the area will serve up a wide range of food; wash it down at the beer garden by Gaslight Brewery. There will be live music, too.
Haunted Halloween: Gangsters, Bootleggers, Mafia, Oh My!
Casciano Coffee Bar and Sweetery, Hammonton
The family-friendly ghost tour takes you and the kids to four stops around town. The Prohibition Era-themed event shares tales of Al Capone and Nucky Johnson. There will be period-inspired music, roaming performers, and free snacks at each of the stops.
Evesham Twp. Police Department Trunk-or-Treat
Savich Field, Marlton
There will be a trunk contest, candy, music, a bonfire, and trick-or-treating around the parking lot.
Pink Witches Night Out
Broadway, Denville
The evening will feature live music, shopping, specialty cocktails, raffles and a tricky tray to benefit the Kathy Olenowski Foundation for breast cancer awareness.
SATURDAY
Long Branch Fall Festival & Pooch Parade
Pier Village, Long Branch
Dress up your dog for the costume parade. Then stay for lots of music all day, a pumpkin carving demo, bracelet making, face painting and henna, inflatable rides, trick-or-treating around the shops and vendor tables, pet massages, seasonal treats, psychic readings, and a photo with Sparky from the Long Branch Fire Department.
Creepy Jeepy
Cape May County Park & Zoo, Cape May Court House
Halloween fun – especially for Jeep lovers – includes decorated vehicles, trunk-or-treating, costume contests, food vendors, and admission to the zoo.
Potion Party
Casino Pier, Seaside Heights
The Spooky Sisters will help you create your own slimy potion, get your face painted, and participate in Halloween-themed activities.
The Gazillion Bubble Show
State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
Guinness World Record holders, bubble artists, scientists and siblings Deni and Melody Yang will blow your mind with gazillions of bubbles, but the show also offers fun and interactive STEM lessons on surface tension, geometry and light.
Brunswick Eruption
North Brunswick Twp. High School, North Brunswick
Three dozen robotics teams from NJ, NY and PA will compete in a themed game where they have 2.5 minutes to remove algae balls and place tubes representing “coral” onto a “reef” structure for points.
Terror in the Junkyard: Sensory-Friendly Hayride
Fleming’s Junkyard, Egg Harbor Twp.
Scullville Volunteer Fire Company hosts a haunted hayride and maze during the season, but October 18 will be a free, sensory-friendly hayride with shorter lines, no pop-outs, and no startling noises or flashing lights.
Costume Pet Parade
Historic Smithville, Galloway
More than 100 pets will show off their unique Halloween costumes as they walk around the village.
Costume Pet Parade
Historic Smithville, Galloway
Dress up your pup, or see all the cuteness walking around the village shops.
Rahway Day
Rahway Recreation Center, Rahway
Rahway Day will feature local vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, pumpkin painting, pickleball classes, karate demos, yoga sessions, performances by Rahway High School students and local dance troupes, hourly door prizes, a selfie station, a 360° photo booth, a touch-a-truck, an antique police car, and food trucks.
New Jersey Seafood & Music Festival
Bell Works, Holmdel
Food trucks include Cousins Maine Lobster, Angry Archies, Shore Fresh Catering, Cold Stone, Johnny Zeppoli and House of Cupcakes. Mighty Spectrum Band and Mr. LoveJoy will perform. A 35-foot-high, 250-foot-long zip line will be set up above the festival; plus pony rides, inflatables, a bungee trampoline and mini golf.
Magician and Entertainer Justin Willman
NJPAC, Newark
Justin is the star of the hit Netflix series Magic for Humans, and is known for his comedy, storytelling, and jaw-dropping illusions.
Spooktacular Event
Goldfish Swim School, Princeton
Start out in costume, because the staff will have decorated trunks and give out lots of candy. After collecting treats, hop into the pool for a family swim.
Spooky Splash Trunk-or-Treat
Goldfish Swim School, Mt. Laurel
Mingle with other families and vendors, then head inside for snacks, crafts, and open swim. You can also attend without swimming.
Haunted Hopewell
Woolsey Park, Titusville
There will be trick-or-treating, games, crafts, a photo spot, a DJ, and tons of Halloween fun for kids.
Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat
Bierman Autism Centers, Berkeley Heights and Ramsey
Kids ages 2–9 who have autism can come dressed in costume (along with their siblings and parents) to collect candy at decorated car trunks. There will be crowd, noise and blinking light control; along with sensory-aware spaces for kids and their families to take a break. Face painting, games and crafts will also be available.
Pumpkin Plunge
Five Star Swim School, Galloway and Cherry Hill
After the kids swim with 10-pound floating pumpkins, they can dry off, change into their Halloween costume, paint a pumpkin, and have some Halloween snacks.
A Disney Day! Experience the Magic
Wallkill Valley Regional High School, Hamburg
Dress up as your favorite Disney character and sing along as the students sing your favorite Disney songs on stage. You can meet the performers before the shows, too.
Plowing & Corn Shocking
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
With more than 120,000 ears to pick, farmers could use your hand filling a horse-drawn wagon with field corn that will be ground into flour and donated to local food banks as part of Howell Farm’s Share the Harvest Program. Next, head to the barn to help shell and grind corn for Howell Farm’s animals; or the farmhouse to make a batch of cornbread from freshly-ground cornmeal.
Tice’s Corner Fall Festival
Tice’s Corner Marketplace, Woodcliff Lake
There will be trick-or-treating, a bounce house, face painting, games, balloon art and a costume contest.
Small Explorers Storytime
New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
Kids ages 2 to 8 are invited to a reading of “Lawrence in the Fall” inside the Discovery Den. After making a craft to take home, explore the museum galleries.
Heartstrings Fall Festival
Colts Neck Firehouse, Colts Neck
Families are invited to enjoy face painting, bracelet making, a petting zoo, inflatables, live music, vendor shopping, and food and drinks.
Trunktoberfest
Lucy the Elephant, Margate
There will be a beach hayride, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting, an obstacle course, an inflatable corn maze, a baking competition, games and food.
Geeks and Nerds Fest
Ramoth Church Event Center, Vineland
There will be a cosplay contest, Hot Wheels car races and trivia games. Meet artists and writers. Vendors will sell comic books, anime, crafts, toys, trading cards, Funko Pops, LEGOs, action figures and collectibles.
Enchanted Halloween Trail
Plainsboro Preserve, Cranbury
The trail will include five not-so-scary stations, where you will learn interesting facts about the creepy critters you encounter.
Sussex County Harvest, Honey, & Garlic Festival
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta
More than just a food fest, this fair celebrates agritourism, ecotourism and arts & heritage tourism. But, when it comes to the food – there will be a farmers market, beekeeping displays with honey products, and tons of food made with garlic. There will also be craft and vendor setups, a hayride, pumpkin painting and face painting.
The Witchery
Ayres Knuth Farm, Denville
The night market on the historical farm starts with the Manifest with the Moon opening ceremony. There will be arts and crafts, practitioners, folklore-inspired performances, live demos, magic, and crystals and curiosities.
SUNDAY
Cape May’s Annual Halloween Parade
The Mall on Carpenters Lane, Cape May
Everyone will be dressed in their Halloween best, and either walk around, drive decorated antique autos or roll around in a golf cart.
Main Street Pops Artisan Market
Monroe Plaza, Hoboken
There will be dozens of artisan vendors, live music and food vendors.
The Terri Roemer Paramus Run
Paramus
The different events you can sign up for are the Marty Roemer Memorial 10K run, Lou Lanzalotto Memorial 5K Run, The Paramus Run Health Walk, 5K and 10K races, and a Kids One Mile Fun Run.
Car/Truck and Motorcycle Show
Consumer Plaza, West Long Branch
Held by the VFW and Sports Clips Haircuts, this car show benefits the Help a Hero Scholarship Program. There will be vendors, food, music and kid-friendly games.
Halloween Legends Character Brunch
The Bistro at iPlay America, Freehold
The spooktacular Character Brunch will include meet-and-greets with Halloween characters like The Pumpkin King and Queen. Kids will get a coloring book.
Celebrate Fall Festival
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit
Highlights include fall-themed games, crafts, and activities for kids; pumpkins and a spooky trail (costumes encouraged!); a special presentation with Tenafly Nature Center in the outdoor amphitheater; and the Wisner House Art Exhibition, Nature’s Tapestry: Improvisational Quilts by Carolyn McKibbin. Families can visit the friendly goats, check out the food and market vendors, and take plenty of pictures in the gardens and woodland trails.
18th Century Field Day & Fall Harvest Festival
Red Bank Battlefield Park, National Park
Watch history unfold before your eyes during a battle reenactment from colonial times. The festival portion includes kids’ games and crafts, friendly farm animals, food vendors, local crafts, music, and a live magic show.
Race to Build 5K & One-Mile Walk
Overpeck Park, Ridgefield Park
Habitat for Humanity of Bergen County will hold a race and walk to benefit Habitat Bergen’s mission to build safe, affordable homes for local families in need. The event will take place on a USATF-certified course and is a Paul Miller Grand Prix series event worth 500 points.
Fair Lawn Street Fair & Craft Show
Fair Lawn
There will be arts and crafts, vendor shopping, live music, kids’ rides and food vendors.
Haunted Harvest Food Truck Festival
Sussex County Fairgrounds, Augusta
There will be “boo-tiful” vendors, a beer garden and live music.
Tenafly Fall Festival
Hulyer Park, Tenafly
There will be a curated artisan market, bubble fun, a slime bar, face painting, hair braiding, a pumpkin carving demo, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin decorating, a fall planting project, an animal encounter from Tenafly Nature Center, carnival rides, a petting zoo, art projects, craft projects, a costume contest, the Monster Mash DJ Dance Party, a football game viewing truck, live music and performances all day, and PSE&G’s new mobile escape room experience.
JFCS Wheels for Meals Bike Ride
Mercer County Community College, West Windsor
Choose your ride: there are 50Mi, 25Mi, 10Mi and 3Mi routes for all ages and abilities; or a 2-mile fun walk option.
Kids Hike for Fun
Cushetunk Mountain Preserve, Lebanon
Kids 5 and up (through teens) are encouraged to discover the great outdoors for some fresh air and exercise.
Haunted Hayride
Wells Fargo Bank, Freehold Borough
Take a hayride through the streets of town and watch for spooky haunters along the way as live Halloween-inspired scenes are performed during your route.
Wayne Valley H.S. Fall Craft Show
Wayne Valley High School, Wayne
This indoor event has more than 100 booths set up in the gym by exhibitors from three states. Breakfast and lunch menus will be available in the café, and a bake table will be set up in the entranceway. Homemade pickles and kettle korn will be set up outside.
Car/Truck and Motorcycle Show
Consumer Plaza, West Long Branch
Held by the VFW and Sports Clips Haircuts, this car show benefits the Help a Hero Scholarship Program. There will be vendors, food, music and kid-friendly games.
Run For Rescue 5K Run & Walk
TPC-Jasna Polana, Princeton
The 5K is open to anyone from the joyful walker to the competitive runner, and benefits Princeton First Aid & Rescue Squad.
Corvette Show
Historic Smithville, Galloway
Walk around the village shops and see about 100 Corvettes lined up.
Chuseok K-Fest
City Hall Plaza, Jersey City
Jersey City’s first official Korean festival will include traditional music and dance, a live showcase of martial arts, a Daegum solo performance on the Korean bamboo flute, a K-hip-hop showcase, a K-Pop dance finale, K-food, K-beauty and kids’ activities.
Family Woodland Hike
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
This is an easy, child-friendly hike in the garden’s woodlands.
Country Living Fair
Batsto Village, Hammonton
Take a fall hike through the Pine Barrens. Then, browse the vendor booths, see the historical exhibits, listen to live music, check out old-time engines and cars, have some food, shop for antiques and take a pony ride.
BlueClaws Flea Market
Jersey Shore Ballpark, Lakewood
Shop for treasures outside of the baseball stadium.
ONGOING
Brite Nites
Wagner Farm Arboretum, Warren
October 17-18, 24-25
The 1/4-mile walking path transforms into a glowing display of hand-carved, LED-lit pumpkins, skeletons interacting with excavation equipment, spooktacular games, Halloween-themed photo ops and local food trucks.
Pine Creek Railroad Halloween Train Rides
Pine Creek Railroad, Allaire State Park, Wall Twp.
October 17-18, 24-25
Hop on board for a Halloween train ride.
Montclair Film Festival
Montclair
October 17-26
Watch film screenings, attend filmmaker Q&As, and join live convos and educational programs about the movies.
Haunted Car Wash
Team Car Wash, Westfield
October 17-18, 24-25, 30
Teens from Play Theater, a performing arts program for kids in Union County, will dress up in creepy costumed characters and spook you while you wait in line. You’ll listen to Halloween-themed audio while your car gets washed.
Clean & Scream
Hopewell Valley Car Wash, Pennington
October 17-19, 23-26, 30-31
The Ghostbusters of NJ will try to take down some of the ghosts lurking around the car wash.
Brookdale’s Haunted Theater
Brookdale Performing Arts Center, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft
October 17-19, 24-26, 30, and November 1-2
The indoor, self-guided maze is built by more than 100 Brookdale students, faculty, alumni and community members. You’ll be screaming as you wander through pitch-black passages, immersive set designs and eerie special effects. If you don’t want to jump scares, consider taking a daytime, lights-on behind-the-scenes tour of the sets on October 26 or November 2.
Boo at the Boardwalk
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Pt. Pleasant
October 18-19, 25-26
Each day, activities include limited kiddie rides at the amusement park, face painting near the aquarium, trick-or-treating at eight different stops, Creepy Crawlers at the aquarium, and underwater pumpkin carving at the aquarium. On select dates, there will be additional spooky science shows, slime making and a magic show.
Boo at the Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia, PA
October 18-19, 25-26
Put on your favorite costume, bring a trick-or-treat bag, and visit the Trick-or-Tree House for a dance party and haybale maze, take a ride on the Boo Choo Train, compete at the Pumpkin Putt Putt mini golf course, join the costume parade, take a self-guided tour of the floral gardens, and watch as the animals eat from the pumpkin harvest.
Celebrating Diwali
BAPS Swaminaryan Akshardham North America, Robbinsville
October 18-26
There will be all-day festivities, including Shayona Café, special mahaprasad and a family unity abishek ceremony. Nighttime festivities include Diwali Diya experience, live traditional Indian music and Diwali Maha Arti in Nikanth Plaza. October 20 will include a fireworks display.
Highlights Tour
Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick
October 19, November 2, November 15, November 19, December 6, December 14
Student educators will take you on a free guided tour of the galleries, highlighting key artworks in the Zimmerli’s collection.
Legends Brunch
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream, East Rutherford
October 19, November 2 and 16
Giants and Jets fans can pregame at a two-hour breakfast buffet, which includes meet-and-greets with football legends. Stars on the schedule include Bart Oates, Joe Klecko, Wayne Chrebet, Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks.
LuminoCity Dino Safari
Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Twp.
Through October 25
The kids will be in awe as life-sized, animatronic dinosaurs move their heads and tails, open their mouths and roar. There’s also a Dino Speedway, bounce zone, playground, safari dig, fossil hunt and Dino Carousel.
Middlesex County 4-H Haunted House & Hayride
Middlesex County Fairgrounds, East Brunswick
Fridays – Saturdays, through October 25
Choose either the haunted house or hayride, or both, in this fundraiser that supports 4-H youth in Middlesex County.
Screamline Haunted Car Wash
Streamline Car Wash, Rockaway
Fridays – Saturdays, through October 25; October 31 and November 1 TBD
Stay in your car and get an actual car wash while costumed zombies and clowns pop out from every angle. The live actors, light displays, smoke machines and animatronics are meant to spook you.
Fall Funland at Harbaugh Village
Harbaugh Village, Mullica Hill
Fridays – Sundays, through October 26
Compete on the pedal car track, go sky high on the straw mountain, get lost in the corn maze and plunge down the mega slide.
Fall Festival
Snyders Farm, Somerset
Weekends, through October 26
The events and roadside stand will reopen in late September when the fall season begins. There will be festivals, pumpkin and sunflower picking, a corn maze, music, food trucks and kids’ activities on October weekends.
The Great Pumpkin Train
Delaware River Railroad Excursions, Phillipsburg
Saturdays – Sundays, through October 26
Ride along the Delaware River, then hop off at The Corn Maze/Susquehanna Mine (Snyders Station) and spend 2 hours panning for gemstones or going through the corn maze. Every train stops at the pumpkin patch on the way back.
Autumn Leaf Pumpkin Train
Woodstown-Central Railroad, Woodstown
Select dates, through October 26
After you ride the rails to Fenwick Grove, you’ll hop off for fall-themed games, pumpkin picking, and cider and donuts.
Black River and Western Railroad Pumpkin Train
Black River & Western Railroad, Ringoes/Flemington
Saturdays-Sundays, through October 26
Ride the train from Flemington Station to Everitt Farms to pick a pumpkin, explore the corn maze, take wagon rides, see sunflowers, and listen to music.
Pumpkin Days
Riamede Farm, Chester
Through October 26
Pumpkin Days include a pumpkin patch, apple picking, hay wagon rides, live music, and a variety of family-friendly activities.
Etsch Farms Fall Festival & Corn Maze
Etsch Farms, Monroe Twp.
Saturday – Sunday, through October 26
At the family-owned, fourth-generation farm, you can wander through the 8-acre corn maze. You can also take a hayride, meet the farm animals, sample apple cider donuts and slushies, and pick a pumpkin.
Tri State Sunflower Festival & Pumpkin Fest
Dalton Farms, Swedesboro
Daily, through October 26 (closed Tuesdays)
Daily activities include flower picking, a corn maze, a giant slide, a trike track, a playground area, a low ropes course, a pumpkin patch and fall photo ops. Weekend activities add a farmers market, live music, food vendors, a beer garden, and pedal boat rentals.
Terror in the Junkyard
Fleming’s Junkyard, Egg Harbor Twp.
Fridays – Sundays through October 26
Scullville Volunteer Fire Company will host a haunted hayride and maze. October 18 will be a free, sensory-friendly hayride with shorter lines, no pop-outs, and no startling noises or flashing lights.
Lentini Farms Fall Festival
Lentini Farms, Newton
Weekends, through October 26
Haunted hayrides will take place every Friday and Saturday night. Food trucks, live bands, Angry Erik’s Brewery, Milk Street Distillery and O’Reilly’s Pub will be part of the entire season.
Ascarium
New York Aquarium, Brooklyn, NY
Saturdays – Sundays, through October 26
“Spooktacular seaside fun” includes an interactive mural, digging for natural treasures, a “strange things” station, a mystery touch wall, lawn games, sea lion shows, face painting, storytelling, a costume parade, a spooky scavenger hunt, the Augusta Sea Lion’s Carnival of Aquatic Anomalies, and carnival games.
Boo at the Zoo
Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY
Saturdays – Sundays, through October 26
Aside from seeing 10,000 of your favorite animals, check out the new World of Darkness exhibit with nocturnal animals, Dinosaur Safari, Boo Dance Party, the pumpkin garden, a candy trail, shows in the wildlife theater, magic and mind reading, spooky stories, a costume parade, face painting, Halloween crafts, pumpkin carving demos, the trick-or-truth maze, the Boo Play Space, the Creepy Crawly Mystery Wall, the extinct animal graveyard, the Boo at the Zoo interactive mural, and a digital scavenger hunt.
Scarecrow Festival
Hillsborough Twp.
Through October 29
Residents, organizations and businesses will decorate their buildings with scarecrows, which you can view in the streets during Halloween time.
Fall Fest on the Delaware River Waterfront
Cherry Street Pier and Spruce Street Harbor Park, Philadelphia, PA
Select dates, through October 31
Autumn-themed activities include art exhibitions and studio tours, Villains Day cosplay party, scary movie screenings, Super Game Day, a Taste of the Philippines, a Halloween party, Summerween Weekend, and Tails and Ales.
Halloween Light Show
Demarest Farms, Hillsdale
Select dates, through October 31
Known for its Orchard of Lights at Christmastime, the Halloween Light Show is a family-friendly drive-through of 32 acres around the farm. After, park your car near the farm market for fall goodies.
Red Wagon Farm Fall Activities
136 Applegarth Rd., Monroe
Thursdays to Sundays, through Halloween
Activities include pumpkin picking, hayrides, farm animals, redneck basketball, a giant swing set, axe throwing, tic tac toe, checkers, rock hunt, cornhole, tug of war, bowling, a tire mountain, ring toss, Connect 4 and Jenga.
Fall Harvest Days
Norz Hill Farm, Hillsborough
Through October 31
There are farm tours, corn mazes, a kids’ corner, food, and a scenic pumpkin patch.
Harvest Glow
The Bronx Zoo, The Bronx, NY
Through October 31
Although the animals won’t be viewable at night, the nighttime Halloween spectacular features a trail of 5,000 hand-carved, animal-themed jack-o’-lanterns, Dinosaur Safari, pumpkin carving demos, games, face painting, illuminated characters, shows in the Wildlife Theater, photo ops and food trucks.
Indian Acres Tree Farm Fall Activities
Indian Acres Tree Farm, Medford
Daily, through October 31
There will be pumpkin picking, a giant sorghum maze with 40 scarecrows to find, Boo Buddies Maze with 19 kid-friendly scarecrows, a Ghoul Gang Maze with 21 “slightly scary” scarecrows, weekends-only barrel train rides, a free play area, live music, visits with goats and alpacas, grilled food, and apple cider donuts.
Harvest Moon Nights
Alstede Farms, Chester
Fridays – Saturdays, through November 1
After going through the corn maze, take a leisurely hayride through the fields, then have some snacks by the campfire. There will be locally crafted hard ciders from Ironbound Hard Cider.
Corn Maze, Hayrides & Pumpkin Adventures
Abma’s Farm, Wyckoff and Hillsborough
Select dates, through November 1
Depending on the location, there will be morning yoga, music classes, tractor time, spooky storytime, a Halloween dance party, a corn maze, hayrides, and pumpkin picking.
Maple Leaf Farms Fall Fun Fest
Maple Leaf Farms, Manalapan
Weekends, through November 1; plus Monday, October 13
Classic autumn adventures include hayrides through the farm, a sprawling corn maze, a festive pumpkin village, train rides, farm animal encounters, outdoor games, playgrounds, and interactive attractions for kids of all ages. There are live bull riding shows and pig races scheduled throughout each day.
Jacks & Lights
Argos Farm, Forked River
Select dates, through November 2
Included in admission are the lighted pumpkin trail, the pumpkin patch, a flashlight maze, access to fall treats and the Spook-Easy, and photo ops.
Von Thun Farms’ Fall Festival
Von Thun Farms, Washington Twp.
Saturday – Sunday, through November 2; plus school closure days
Come to the farm for apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, cider donuts, apple blasters, corn cannons, other kids’ activities, and a new Sesame Street-themed corn maze.
Fright Fest
Six Flags Great Adventure Resort, Jackson Twp.
Select dates, through November 2
Start in the daytime at Kids Boo Fest, a not-so-scary Halloween event with trick-or-treating, silly performances and fall photo ops. At night, dare to be scared inside movie-themed haunted houses, scare zones and themed performances.
GLOW Spooky Speedway
Through November 2
Take a light-filled journey as you figuratively drive along Route 66. Expect glowing pumpkins, ghosts and witches, all brought to life by thousands of synchronized lights.
Shades of Autumn Fall Foliage Tours
Port Imperial, Weehawken
Saturdays – Sundays, through November 2
NY Waterway offers two- and four-hour boat tours along the Hudson River so you can see the beautiful fall foliage in addition to the awesome NYC skyline. You’ll get food and drinks on board, plus a tour guide will point out historical sites along the way.
Fintastic Pumpkin Glow
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Through November 2
The aquarium’s fall festival puts glowing gourds of every shape, size and species both above the surface and deep below the sharks and stingrays. As part of the themed activities, you can paint and take home your own personalized pumpkin masterpiece.
Halloween House
Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Twp.
Deptford Mall, Deptford
Daily through November 2
This indoor experience transports you into a movie-based Halloween world that is more creative than scary. Each of the 10 rooms you walk through has a different scene, like the Beetlejuice Illusion Room, Glow Room, Halloweentown and Trick-or-Treat Room.
Happy Day Farm Fall Festival
Happy Day Farm, Manalapan
Select dates, through November 2
There’s a little bit of everything you love about fall here: sunflower and pumpkin picking, corn cannon and pumpkin blaster, animal zoo and pony rides, a real corn maze and an inflatable corn maze, pig races and a bee barn, pumpkin bowling and a spider web climb, and many more kid-friendly activities.
Great Pumpkin Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
Select dates, through November 2
There will be 35+ fall-themed attractions, plus food, games, a hayride to the pumpkin patch, an Alice in Wonderland-themed corn maze, farm animals and pig races, a dog show, a giant slingshot, a straw pyramid and a baseball speed through. For an additional fee, take the kids to the carnival ride area, apple cannon, paintball range and gem mining.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Select dates, through November 2
Sesame Street- and Halloween-themed activities include a castle maze, stage performance, trick-or-treating, costume contests, Halloween parade, pumpkin decorating, character shows, Halloween storytime, and a special Halloween dining op.
Winery Weekend Music Series
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturdays, through November 2
In the wine orchard among 100-year-old apple trees, have a glass of wine, listen to live music from local artists, snack on food, shop in the farm store, or take a stroll with the kids on the farm.
Halloween Haunt
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown, PA
Fridays – Saturdays, through November 1
Additional Sundays: October 12, 19 and 26, and November 2
There are seven haunted mazes, separate scare zones, access to the theme park’s 60 rides, musical stage shows, and seasonal food and drinks.
Hoboken Art Month
Throughout Hoboken
Through November 3
Highlights include a storefront art walk with a docent-led tour, Jazz on the Hudson, a public print event where families can squeegee their own hand-cut print on paper, storytelling, a lace exhibit, a screening of “Hocus Pocus,” a walking tour of Hoboken art studios, pop-up markets, musical performances, an improv workshop, hat making and pottery building.
Halloween Nights
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA
Select nights, through November 8
The ten-acre former prison site is transformed for Halloween with five haunted houses, historic tours, themed bars, live entertainment, and more. There’s an outdoor scare zone, food and drink vendors, a lineup of characters from Shadow of the Veil, and the ability to “opt in” to access hidden passageways.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Overpeck County Park, Leonia
Select dates, through November 9
This will be the final season of the dino-themed park, which has 30 life-sized dinosaurs, a bounce house, live musical shows, meetings with paleontologists and science shows.
Fall Theatre Season
All Children’s Art Center of New Jersey, Denville
Select dates, through November 26
ACACNJ’s fall productions include Aladdin, Camp Rock, The Sound of Music Jr., Shrek Jr., and The SpongeBob Musical.
Terhune Orchards Fall Art Show
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Through December 7
This year’s exhibit honors the Mount family with the theme “50 Years of Terhune Orchards.” Displayed inside the 250-year-old red barn, the art showcases original works inspired by the farm’s landscape, history and community over the past five decades.
Fall Planetarium Shows
Longo Planetarium, County College of Morris, Randolph
Select dates, through December 13
There are three shows to choose from: Cosmic Colors takes you on a journey across the entire electromagnetic spectrum; in Messengers of Time and Space, you can get an in-depth look at how large telescopes are mapping the universe and patrolling the sky for supernovas; or take a live tour of the night sky in Starlit Nights. All shows include a tour of the night sky and planets.
Hometown Pride: The Power of Sports in Middlesex County
Cornelius Low House Museum, Piscataway
Select dates through December 31
Middlesex County’s sports connections include the first-ever college football game played between Rutgers University and Princeton University; professional athletes and Olympians, Paralympians, and Special Olympians. You will see high school trophies from the 1930s to the present, NFL golden footballs for pro athletes, balls from the highest-scoring high school athletes, uniforms from the 1930s to the present, and more.
Springsteen in Long Branch: An exhibition telling the story of Born to Run
Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center, Long Branch
Ongoing through 2026
Fifty years ago, Bruce Springsteen wrote the “Born to Run” album in West End, Long Branch. A new exhibit showcases his life at the Jersey Shore through photos, posters, album promo materials and mementos – like his green drum set from his first band, and a replica of the guitar used on the album cover.
SUE The T. Rex Experience
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 25, 2026
The world’s most complete, most well-preserved T. rex skeleton is making a stop at LSC so you can see her bones, hear her growl and smell her breath (seriously!). There will be fossils on display, projection mapping of other prehistoric creatures, and a life-sized fleshed-out replica to show what the creature’s life was like in the Cretaceous era.
Editor’s Note: Always check times, dates and weather updates before heading out.
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