The season of the witch is upon us. That means ghost tours, creepy mazes, spooky soirees, parades, and costume contests are on in towns across New Jersey. Here are some of our favorite spots to scare up the fun.
Westfield
Union County
A street stroller’s delight, Westfield drips charm with fantastic restaurants, killer boutiques, bakeries and cafes, and one of only two Trader Joe’s in NJ to stock booze. But it’s also got a gothic side. Da-da-da-DUM…
Known for: AddamsFest. Once again, the town will draw inspiration from cartoonist Charles Addams in celebrating everyone’s favorite creepy and kooky family. This year’s month-long roster of events takes inspiration from a Femme Fatale theme ala Morticia: art exhibits, decorating contests, cultural conversations, a wicked Wednesday (of course) bar crawl, and visits to the Addams Family House on Elm Street. If you do one thing, head to Quimby Street for Addams Family Fun Day on Sunday, October 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Don’t miss: Stop by Mindowaskin Park for Cops & Goblins on Sunday, October 27, from 12 to 2 p.m. Come for kids’ activities, municipal vehicles, food trucks, face painting, and a parade of costumed characters accompanied by the Westfield High School Marching Band.
That’s spooky: What better way to get in the “spirit” of the season than a 10-minute lantern tour of the historic burial grounds at The Presbyterian Church of Westfield? It takes place October 11 and 12 in 10-minute intervals, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Jackson Twp.
Ocean County
With everything from iconic amusements to supernatural haunts, Jackson is among the most popular spots to visit during spooky season.
Known for: Six Flags Great Adventure Resort’s iconic extravaganza Fright Fest is THE place to see and be screaming each fall. Bring the littles to Kids Boo Fest for wacky shows, park rides, photo-ops, candy collecting and more during the day. When night falls, be afraid, be very afraid…of terrifying mazes, scare zones, horror movie-inspired mayhem, blackout rides, freak shows, and a costumed cast set on scaring your pants off.
Don’t miss: United Skates of America will host a series of pre-Halloween themed events based on Zombies, Stranger Things, The Night Before Christmas and more.
That’s spooky: Jackson lays claim to one of the more notable “gravity roads” in NJ where freaky phenomena pull cars uphill. Why? Creepy urban myths abound, which are much preferred to scientific explanations.
Strange things happen at the physics-defying Gravity Hill at Cicconi Farms, which really comes alive (er, dead) each fall when guests are invited to explore its haunted trails and eerie attractions, along with a cast of zombies, ghouls, creepy clowns and other night-dwellers. No one under age 14 will be allowed in without a legal guardian.
Asbury Park
Monmouth County
Asbury Park was just voted the best small beach town by Travel + Leisure – but don’t let the charm fool you. As if it doesn’t already have its share of amazing restaurants, vintage shopping, and the iconic Stone Pony, it’s also one of the most eerie-obsessed towns in the entire state thanks to its ghost walks and freaky fetes.
Known for: The Zombie Walk, now in its 17th year. It’s exactly what you think it is: undead aficionados of all ages dressed to distress in a day of thrills, chills, and brain-eating fun. Come dressed to kill (figuratively), or get some help from a makeup artist on the scene. Stop by participating venues for afterparties. October 4.
Don’t miss: Come to the Asbury Halloween Park Food Truck & Music Festival on October 25 or 26 at Bradley Park, across from Convention Hall, for shopping, kids’ activities, costume contests, live music, plus 20 or so gourmet food trucks and a kid-free area to wash it down with a beverage.
That’s spooky: Even ghosts love Asbury Park! Victims of a deadly 1930s fire purportedly still catch shows from Paramount Theatre’s balcony. Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel guests report flickering lights and other odd activities. And a malevolent spirit is said to haunt Lane 3 at Asbury Lanes. Check out the Paranormal Museum, ground zero for supernatural happenings, for ghost tours, haunted pub tours, and a Jersey Devil-themed film festival October 10-12.
Ridgewood
Bergen County
Ridgewood shows off the spooky side of its picturesque village each October with an array of events and attractions leading up to Halloween. The Ridgewood Maze is popular well beyond the village for twisting turns and sinister surprises. Some homes go extra with décor here. The Ridgewood Halloween House, for example, has a zombie graveyard open for public viewing.
Known for: The Ridgewood Maze. For the past 30 years, this handcrafted, one-of-a-kind, 1,000-square-foot maze tucked away in the Stewart family’s backyard at 124 Sheridan Terrace has delighted and disoriented guests. Twisting loops, dead ends, and trap doors create a haunting labyrinth where once you step through a doorway, there’s no turning back. Most visitors spend plenty of time circling, doubling back, and starting over before they finally crack the code and find their way out. For many, this can take up to an hour. Mechanical ghouls greet guests at the curb, while eerie animatronic characters lurk along the path to the entrance. After nightfall, creepy clowns come out to play. Free. Starting October 6, it’s open Monday to Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., and 12 to 9 p.m. on weekends.
Don’t miss: Ridgewood Halloween House—the decor is killer—features a creepy zombie walk with a scare-free time slot for kids. 294 West End Ave. Stop by the annual Halloween Haunted Harvest on October 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., for a family-friendly, daytime celebration in Memorial Park at Van Neste Square hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. There’s a haunted graveyard, kid and pet parades, a pumpkin patch, music, and more. And do NOT miss the Ridgewood High School New Players Company performing Emily Bronte, Teenage Necromancer, from October 23-26. On Halloween, bring the kids to Village Hall for trick-or-treating from 3 to 4 p.m., where there will be plenty of candy and allergy-friendly alternatives, plus photo opportunities with costumed characters in the lobby. Stop at each department in Village Hall, then head over to the library, Ridgewood Water, The Stable and the fire department for more Halloween fun.
That’s spooky: Darkness there, and nothing more? Not true—the Woman’s Club of Ridgewood is hosting an Edgar Allan Poe-inspired speakeasy with dim lighting, moody decor, and a 90-minute show featuring themed cocktails paired with four chilling tales of love and madness. October 23-25. Tickets are $55.
Or head to next-door Ho-Ho-Kus for a candlelit, after-dark “Legends & Lore” tour of the gorgeous gothic Hermitage. Tickets are $25. October 18, 19, 24, 26 – at 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m.
Cape May
Cape May County
This delightful summer spot known for its charming historic district, with ice cream shops and cute boutiques, becomes a festive and freaky destination each Halloween. Cape May really leans into its Victorian history and architecture as a setting for celebrating the macabre.
Known for: The Emlen Physick Estate is Cape May’s Halloween hub. And why shouldn’t it be? The Victorian house-museum was made for those attempting to cross the veil. It’s the place for costumed cuties to be on Halloween proper from 5-7 p.m. with tunes, treats, and a few spooky tricks, too.
There are endless ways to scare up a good time here in October, but a necessary step is to explore Scarecrow Alley on the house grounds, admiring the parade of goofy to gruesome straw effigies.
Don’t miss: Cape May’s Annual Halloween Parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 19, beginning at 3 p.m. at Perry Street and Carpenters Lane. The beloved annual Boo at the Zoo on Saturday, October 25 – an all ages, family-fun fiesta at the Cape May County Park & Zoo – will feature kids’ crafts, activities, games, and of course, candy, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Highlights include an inflatable obstacle course, a bewitching musical trio, animal presentations in the boneyard, a DJ spinning tunes, and an awards presentation following the Halloween costume contest.
That’s spooky: Step back in time at Historic Cold Spring Village, New Jersey’s largest open-air living history museum, where the 1800s come alive through blacksmithing, printing, woodworking, basket weaving, and bookbinding demonstrations. But when October arrives, the past takes a spooky twist—on October 17, 18, 24, and 25, the village transforms into Ghoul Spring Village. From 5:30 to 8 p.m., visitors can stroll through a haunted yet family-friendly trail filled with ghostly reenactors, while enjoying food trucks and browsing juried vendors.
Mount Holly
Burlington County
Known for: The Burlington County Historic Prison Museum. Built in 1812, when it shuttered in 1965 it was the oldest operating prison in the U.S. Who would have thought it would become one of NJ’s most spectral spots? Learn about the prison’s haunted history—if you dare—during ghost tours on October 3, 10, 17, 24 or 30. Tours are every 30 minutes from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Don’t miss: Two Halloween-themed events make October 18 one thrillingly fun night. Haunted Hops and Bar Stops invites revelers to explore some of the town’s most enchanting kid-friendly eateries, as well as bewitching bars. As night falls, head over to A Witches Bazaar 2025 in Mill Race Village for tarot card readings, performers, vendors, live music, snacks and costumed fun. Both are from 4 to 10 p.m.
That’s spooky: They say that there’s a nearby altar named the Holy, Holy, Holy with the Jersey Devil trapped inside. It’s located near the also creepy Witches Well, which has been fenced off for trespasser safety.
Cranford
Union County
With upscale residential developments and authentic restaurants, Cranford is booming. Yet it still retains its warm, welcoming vibe, drawing visitors near and far–especially in October.
Known for: Scarecrow Stroll, now in its 18th year, turns the busy downtown into a cohesive Halloween celebration in partnership with local businesses from October 10 to 31. Along with 100 handcrafted scarecrows positioned around town competing for prizes – and two confirmed candy strolls on October 11 and 12 — events in years past have included dozens of events, big and small, from scary movie screenings to themed-art activities.
Don’t miss: It’s gonna be lit! Be dazzled at the 2025 Cranford Carve-Out & Parade of Pumpkins on Saturday, October 18, from 5-8:30 p.m. at Hanson Park, held by the Cranford Jaycees.
The Downtown Cranford 2025 LEGOween Spooktacular is 4-6 p.m. on Monday, October 13, for your little builders. Find the perfect hat for Witches Night Out, on Thursday, October 16, from 5:30-9 p.m. And bring your adorable pups to the Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade, starting at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 19.
And make sure you swing by the “Museum of Horror” at 22 Collins Street. Greg Metchnik’s collection of creepy, celluloid creations inspired by horror movies will be on display Saturday evenings in October (weather permitting) from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., plus on Halloween from 3-9 p.m.
That’s spooky: Rumor has it that Cyrus Drake, former owner of a Lenape Indian trading post, haunts the delightfully divey Riverside Inn.
Lambertville
Hunterdon County
There’s never a wrong time to experience Lambertville, the elegant, historic river town just across from New Hope, PA. Yet there’s something about this antique-y, artisan-y destination that’s just made for fall festivals and taking Halloween to the next level. Come for the celebrations, stay for the vintage Halloween decor being showcased at local shops.
What it’s known for: Doing it up! North Union Street’s elaborate decorations — the sort that only artists with time and resources can create—are truly to die for. This year, artist and former teacher Dolores Dragan, famously known for her “Halloween House,” will expand her vision to the entire town. Memory Maker’s Trail of Magic will see her hand-crafted sculptures on display throughout the business district through October 31.
Don’t miss: The Halloween Howl pet parade and costume contest on Saturday, October 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. will benefit a local rescue and pet food pantry. On Sunday, October 26, locals and visitors alike will come out en masse for Lambertville’s annual Family Halloween Parade, which traces its history back to the early 1900s! Kicking off at 3 p.m., young paraders will be accompanied ‘round town by the Lambertville Brass. And, we hear there will be donuts. Both events take place in Mary Sheridan Park. There are also film fests, ghost tours and house tours throughout the month.
That’s spooky: Love a good jump scare? The Lambertville Halloween Film Festival at the Acme Screening Room will showcase shorts categorized as heady horror, guts and gore, and happy Halloween, from Friday, October 17, to Sunday, October 19. And don’t miss your chance to check out VAMPA, a museum devoted to vampires and paranormal, located in nearby Doylestown, PA.
Morristown
Morris County
This town hums on any night of the week thanks to destination dining, lively bars, music and arts venues, walkable streets, and kid-friendly amenities. On Halloween, though, it positively buzzes. Reveling centers around and fans outward from Morristown Green, the historic park located in the heart of the booming downtown. Don’t let the modern vibe fool you; dating back to the colonial era, the town is rife with history—and allegedly, hauntings.
Known for: Pumpkin Illumination 2025. Each fall, seasonal festivities commence at the Vail Mansion Plaza for an evening of ghostly tales, art projects, a luminary mask parade, music, and a glorious display of jack-o-lanterns surrounding the property’s reflecting pool. Come in costume on Saturday, October 25, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and bring your own carved creation.
Don’t miss: Wightman Farms Fall Festival. This local favorite offers your classic autumn on the farm activities like hayrides, assorted mazes, and apple picking, plus something you won’t find everywhere—pumpkin slingshots (extra fees may apply)! It’s as fun as you think it is. The market also has great donuts and coffee. Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., through October 26.
On Halloween itself, the annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat in Downtown Morristown from 3-5 p.m. invites candy monsters to stroll the streets and gather sweets doled out by local businesses.
And nearby, Morristown Recreation’s Wicked Good Halloween will host a spooky obstacle course, snacks, photo booth snaps, and more on the front lawn of town hall from 2–5 p.m.
That’s spooky: Visitors claim to see apparitions and hear drumming at Jockey Hollow, located in Morristown National Historical Park. This is the site where Revolutionary soldiers suffered, starved, and were strung up (for insubordination) during the worst winter known to modern times.
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