Check out all these great Halloween-themed events and activities in and around NJ.
NOT SCARY
Great for the youngest in your crew, these fright-free events offer lots of fun without the scares.
AddamsFest
Westfield
Westfield was home to Charles Addams, creator of The Addams Family, and that’s a big reason to celebrate. Through October, the town gets its Halloween on with everything from an art exhibit and wicked window decorations to a lantern sail and masquerade ball. You can even see the house that inspired the show, but only from the outside since it’s private property.
Boo at the Boardwalk
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, Pt. Pleasant
How fun does underwater pumpkin carving sound? At this two-weekend event (Oct. 22, 23, 29 and 30, weather permitting) your kids will love the crafts, face painting, trick-or-treating, entertainment and kiddie rides.
Boo at the Zoo
Bronx Zoo, The Bronx, NY
Come dressed in your Halloween best and walk along a candy trail, see a costume parade, crafts, a live bird meet-and-greet, magic and mind reading, pumpkin carving demos, a Wildlife Theater, Boo Playground, Extinct Animal Graveyard, pumpkin trail and Trick-or-Truth Trail. Come on Saturdays or Sundays from Oct. 1–30, plus Columbus Day. New this year for guests 13 and older is Dinosaurs in Darkness: The Hatching, a scary Halloween walk-thru experience that brings visitors up close with prehistoric creatures. Takes place Friday and Saturday nights from Oct. 7-29.
Brite Nites
Wagner Farm Arboretum, Warren
This year’s events will feature an elaborate display of hand-carved and LED-lit pumpkins. On Thursday nights the event will be a drive-thru, but on Fridays and Saturdays you can walk thru. Weekends from Oct. 13–29.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA
Kids can come in costume on select dates and see their favorite Sesame Street characters dressed up for the occasion. There are shows, trick-or-treating around the park, an interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt and Halloween-themed floats during the parade. Sept. 17–Nov. 6.
The Great Pumpkin Fest
Dorney Park, Allentown, PA
Dorney Park gets spooky after dark, but during the day it’s filled with family-friendly Halloween fun with Peanuts characters dressed in costumes. Snoopy and pals will be on hand for meet-and-greets, plus live music, activities, costume contests, dance parties and more, plus lots of cute kiddie rides on weekends from Sept. 17–Oct. 30.
Haunt O’ Ween
Bell Works, Holmdel
Explore 200,000 square feet of performances, games, rides, photo ops and more immersive Halloween fun. Kids can trick-or-treat inside, dance at the Beyond the Grave Rave, have their faces painted or jump around in the bounce houses. Come in costume and take photos amidst thousands of pumpkins. There’s $1 million worth of candy to be given out, too. Fridays through Sundays, Sept. 30–Oct. 30, plus Oct. 26, Oct. 27 and Oct. 31.
Halloween House
Edison, Lawrence Twp., Toms River, Rockaway, Paramus
This new indoor mall experience promises lots of fun without the fright. Immerse yourself in scenes from the screen, like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” or “Stranger Things,” minus all the gore and scares. Weekends, Oct. 1–Nov. 1.
Skyland Stadium Jack O’ Lantern Experience
Skylands Stadium, Augusta
Take a 45-minute walk around the stadium to see more than 6,000 hand-carved jack o’ lanterns. Then roast some s’mores with hot cider or cocoa at the fall festival. There’s also a Ferris wheel, carousel, live music and a craft beer selection planned for Sept. 23–Nov. 6.
Trick-or-Treat Train
DiDonato’s Family Fun Center Hammonton
This outdoor goblin-friendly Halloween town has tricks, treats and surprises for the kids with a rolling railway train ride. Afterwards, climb on the hay maze, pick a pumpkin from the patch, play on the racing slide and meet the local witch. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 24–Oct. 23.
LEGOLAND Brick-or-Treat
LEGOLAND New York, Goshen
Visit this theme park for a Brick-or-Treat extravaganza, which includes the Monster Party. There will be Halloween shows, dance parties, parades, costume contests and trick-or-treating. Saturdays and Sundays Sept. 24– Oct. 30.
SLIGHTLY SPOOKY
Come for good scares and frightful fun that won’t keep the kids up all night.
Boo Fest
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Six Flags is downright terrifying at night during Fright Fest, but also has its fair share of fun family thrills during the day, too. The kids can walk the sweet Pumpkin Patch Lane, grab candy on the trick-or-treat trail and show off their moves at a Spooktacular Dance Party. If they are feeling a bit brave, they can listen to some stories from a local witch. Select nights in September and October.
The Great Jack O’ Lantern Blaze
Van Cortlandt Manor Croton-on-Hudson
This event features more than 7,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns that light up the night. New for 2022, watch the animated “Jack” Smith Shop in action and keep an eye out for glowing bees, complete with synchronized lighting and an original soundtrack. While in the Hudson Valley, stop at Washington Irving’s Home and learn about the legend of Sleepy Hollow. The fun extends through Nov. 20!
Happy Halloween Event
Camelback Resort, Tannersville, PA
Calling all goblins, ghosts, witches and more—join the Howl O’Ween Doggie Parade and watch pups go through agility and rodeo courses and then visit pet-centric vendors. A treat trail, tote bag coloring, Boo Bar and a costume contest will be part of the day’s celebrations. The movie “Halloweentown” will be shown at dusk. Through Nov. 20.
Halloween in Cape May
Cape May
Ghost walks, graveyard tours, Ghosts of the Lighthouse Trolley Tour, historic haunts and a Magic & Mystery House Tour abound in Cape May, plus trick-or-treating and a Halloween Craft & Collectibles Show. There will also be a Halloween village exhibit on display. The festivities run from Sept. 9–Oct. 31.
Halloween Light Show
Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
Hop in the car for a family-friendly drive-thru light show. You’ll see 32 acres of light displays before trying some farm fresh goodies at the market. Stay to warm up by the fire pits and treat the kids to make-your-own s’mores and hot cocoa. Through Oct. 31.
Halloween Parade & Dance Party
Sea Isle City
The parade on Oct. 21 will feature live music, entertainers, floats and costumed participants. The Halloween Awards Ceremony and Family Dance Party will take place at the Excursion Park Band Shell right after the parade. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Historic Village of Allaire
Wall Twp.
Explore the village grounds and historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries—visit with ghosts, ghouls and monsters and listen to storytelling. Don’t miss a thrilling retelling of Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Ghoul Spring Village
Historic Cold Spring Village, Cape May
The historic village gets a little spooky on Oct. 21 and 22. This family-friendly haunted walk-thru will give you chills and it’s fun for all ages.
Zombie Walk
Boardwalk, Asbury Park
On Oct. 8, Convention Hall and the Asbury Park Boardwalk will be overtaken by the undead who are rocking out to ’80s and ’90s punk and heavy metal music. Kids and adults can get dressed up and walk in the parade or watch along the route.
REALLY SCARY
Only the brave should attempt these.
Fright Fest
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
During the day there are kid-friendly events, but after dark the zombies come out to play! The fear returns as terrifying haunted attractions, horrific shows and scare zones are packed with roaming zombies, blood thirsty cowboys, crazed clowns and so much more! Try riding any of the nine roller coasters in the dark if you dare. Through Oct. 31.
Brighton Asylum
2 Brighton Ave., Passaic
Brighton Asylum is a massive walk-thru dark attraction filled with live actors, horror movie-style scares and Hollywood-quality special effects. Choose from the original Brighton Asylum, The Bleeding Grounds and Port9l and—if you dare—add on The Hack Shack, Fear Pressure or The Twitching Hour.
Bloodshed Farms Drive-Thru
2919 Route 206, Columbus
Prepare yourself for terrifying encounters with twisted creatures as you drive though scenes that channel spirits using special effects that may or may not give you nightmares. Sept. 30–Oct. 30.
Night of Terror
Creamy Acres Farm, Mullica Hill
This massive 100-acre farm is inhabited by zombies, attack dogs, chainsaw-wielding maniacs and killer clowns. But the most unique attraction at Creamy Acres is the Haunted Paintball Hayride: visitors climb aboard a wagon and use mounted paintball guns to defend the crew. Sept. 30–Oct. 29.
Halloween Haunt
Dorney Park, Allentown, PA
Dorney Park will release hundreds of terrifying ghouls and ghosts into the park, ready to turn your nightmares into reality. Every corner is cursed with haunted scare mazes, scare zones and live entertainment. Hordes of hungry zombies and blood-thirsty vampires eagerly await you (as their next meal). Select nights Sept. 16–Oct. 29.
Field of Terror
831 Windsor-Perrineville Rd., East Windsor
Experience four unique terror-filled attractions where visitors encounter zombies of all shapes and sizes. By day, there’s a corn maze, pumpkin patch and haunted hayride. At night the farm transforms into The Karnival, the Killer Kornfield, the Haunted Hayride to Terror Town and Timmery Manor.
Nightmare at Gravity Hill
Cicconi Farms, 1005 Farmingdale Rd., Jackson
As you enter the gates of Gravity Hill, you’ll find over a dozen scenes spread out over 5 acres of walkable haunted trails and creepy themes and adventures. See which haunted house is the scariest! Weekends through Oct. 29.
C. Casola Farms Haunted Attractions
131 S. Main St., Marlboro
There are four terrifying attractions hidden in the woods here: Haunted Hayride of Terror, 3D Haunted Barn, The Living Maze and the Marlboro Zombie Breakout. Open every Friday and Saturday from Sept. 24–Oct. 29, plus every Sunday in October, and Halloween night!
Scare Farm
120 S. Branch Rd., Hillsborough
See three attractions for the price of one: try Creepy Hollow (a killer doesn’t like guests to leave the corn field), the Paranoia Walking Trails on sacred burial grounds, and The Slayride hayride of terrorizing scenes.
Farm of Horrors
Schaefer Farms, 1051 County Rd. 523, Flemington
Walk through 200 acres of fright beginning with a haunted hayride to the Trail of Terror where you’ll find your way through the MassAcre Maize. The final nightmare is the Carnevil of Chaos.
Scary Rotten Farms
Berry Fresh Farms, 151 Brick Blvd., Brick
Muster up the courage for three haunted attractions. Dellas lives behind the mask he wore as a child, inflicting revenge on all during Delirium’s Requiem. Sinister Sneed’s Chaotic Carnival of Chaos is where helpless souls are gathered for the devil. Twisted Tales are not the fairytales you remember from childhood!
13 Hour Haunted House
105 W. Dewey Ave., Wharton
Take your pick of three haunted house attractions, complete with special effects and movie quality sets. Stay for one of six 60-minute escape rooms (and try to make your way out alive).