Looking for things to do in NJ this weekend with your family? Halloween is only a few weeks away, which means there’s plenty of themed events to celebrate, like the Ghost Train show at Centenary Stage in Hackettstown, where you’ll watch passengers become captivated by the stories of ghostly apparitions. Head to iPlay America in Freehold for a free magic show, trick or treat trail, Halloween crafts and photo sessions, take a ride on the Great Pumpkin Train in Phillipsburg that’ll take you to pick your own pumpkin or try the Harvest Moon Hayride at Alstede Farms in Chester.
For more fun, check out our complete list of fairs and festivals. If you want to stay inside, take a look at our favorite indoor activities. Got a bunch of five-and-unders to entertain? We’ve got activities that cater just to them, plus free events for the whole fam. Check out our calendar for events near you, or browse things to do in NJ this weekend by county below.
THINGS TO DO IN NJ ALL WEEKEND
DiDonato’s Trick-or-Treat Train
Hammonton
Come aboard this outdoor train ride, which travels through a friendly goblin-friendly Halloween town. The kids can get their faces painted, pick a pumpkin from the patch, hit the hay maze or go bowling.
$12.95/online, $14.60/door
Morey’s Piers Oktoberfest
Wildwood
Celebrating its fourth year, this Oktoberfest on Wildwood’s boardwalk has special German menus, an outdoor biergarten, live entertainment and a kids’ zone for the little ones.
$19.95-39.95
Casola Farms Fall Fest
Holmdel
This fall fest at Casola Farms guarantees fun for all ages with Halloween-themed attractions like the haunted hayride and greenhouse, corn mazes, house of horror, cowboy shows and a petting zoo.
Prices vary
Foodstock 4th Annual Woodbridge Fall Food Truck Festival
Woodbridge
Unwind at the beer garden, listen to live entertainment (think bands and a DJ), try fare from more than 15 food trucks to try and go wild on games and rides.
$5, kids/ages under 12 free
Holland Ridge Farms Sunflower Festival 2019
Cream Ridge
Create memories at one of NJ’s sunflower festivals, which boasts more than 50 acres of flowers. If you get tired of picking, there are food trucks, live music and a fire pit to keep you busy.
$7-10
Halloween Fun at iPlay America
Freehold
Experience a free magic show, trick or treat trail and Halloween crafts before snapping some spooky photos.
Free
Ghost Train
Hackettstown
Suspense, laughter and thrills await at this show featuring a spooky train stranded for the night in a railway waiting station at the Centenary Stage Company. Passengers will be captivated by the psychic station master and his stories of ghostly apparitions.
$25
Alex Vincent Of Child’s Play Appearing At Demarest Farms
Hillsdale
Haunted Orchards has some ghoulish new additions this year. There’ll be scare actors, group nights, advanced tech and a celebrity appearance by Alex Vincent, who played Andy Barclay in four of the Child’s Play (aka Chucky) films.
$25/online, $30/door
Harvest Moon Hayride and Night Time Corn Maze
Chester
Spend an evening on a hayride at Alstede Farms—without the scares. Bring the whole family for a night filled with rides, pumpkin picking, relaxing around the campfire, apple cider and tasty s’mores.
$17
Sleepy Hollow
Piscataway
Watch this original retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, full of family-friendly comedy and the supernatural. In this story, a film crew is in production for a historic adaptation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. After a series of unexplained on-set disasters caused by mysterious specters, it’s at risk of being shut down.
Free
Fall Fun
Closter
This event boasts a tractor-pulled hayride to corn mazes, a feeding zoo, pumpkin painting and carving and tons of other fall-themed activities.
$6-20
Sunflower & Floral Festival
Chesterfield
Stroll through Paradise Farms where there’ll be acres of sunflowers, along with replicas to marvel at like England’s Hampton Court and Paris’s Parc De Bagatelle.
$5-8
21st Annual Festival of Fine Craft
Millville
Head to Paradise Organic Farms for more than 150 artists and craftspeople selling their works, plus special artist demonstrations, family art activities and a beer and wine garden for adults.
$7-12
Cranberry Fest 2019
Bordentown City
Celebrating its 30th year, this fest is one of the area’s largest arts and crafts shows with more than 150 crafters, artists and vendors to check out.
Free
FRIDAY (OCTOBER 4)
Dracula
Basking Ridge
Watch the historical classic Dracula adapted from Bram Stoker’s iconic novel, and dramatized and presented by The Lord Stirling Theater Company at the Farmstead Arts Center.
$15-20
Kids Jam Laser Concert
Branchburg
This concert at the planetarium at RVCC will pump up your kiddos with a mix of songs like “Bright” by Echosmith, “YMCA” by The Village People, “Mia” by Bad Bunn and “Waka Waka” by Shakira.
$10
SATURDAY (OCTOBER 5)
Ichabod Crane and Washington Irving: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Hillsborough
The American Historical Theater will perform a reenactment of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. How did Ichabod Crane lose his head?
Free
Ales ‘N Tails Oktoberfest
West Orange
If you can sneak away for a few hours, adults (21+) and over can explore the Reptile House at the Turtle Back Zoo sans kids. Sample dozens of seasonal brews, wine and other spirits, plus check out local food and craft vendors.
Prices vary
Learn to Make Your Own Scarecrow
Somerset
Colonial Park Gardens’ workshop will show participants how to make their own scarecrow with help from staff (materials will be provided). Bring your favorite scarecrow clothes to make it your own.
$25
Allendale Festival Day and Car Show
Allendale
Stop by the Allendale Chamber of Commerce for a pet parade, live entertainment, a pie baking contest and tons of hot rods.
Free
Wildwoods Food & Music Festival
Wildwood
This fall fest features two stages of live music, a pie eating contest and a Kids’ Korner with pumpkin painting, bounce houses and hat making.
Free
West Side Stories Festival
Jersey City
Spend a beautiful fall afternoon with the family in Lincoln Park, where local food trucks will be serving up delicious treats. There’ll be live entertainment and children’s activities to keep your crew busy.
Free
Woofstock
Harrison
Bring your four-legged pal along for the ride! This event celebrates our furry friends with live music, vendors, dog walking and mini training sessions.
Free
37th Annual Heritage Day
North Brunswick
Stop by the community park for live bands, dancing, food vendors, a beer garden and a petting zoo with pony rides.
Free
Polish Heritage Day Festival 2019
Linden
Experience Polish culture by trying authentic food, listening to live music and school performances, shopping Polish vendors’ crafts and visiting art exhibits.
Free
SUNDAY (OCTOBER 6)
The Great Pumpkin Train
Phillipsburg
The Delaware River Railroad Excursions’ Peanuts engine will take you from Phillipsburg straight to a pumpkin patch, plus try your luck in the corn maze or explore the Ol’ Susquehanna Mine, where the kids can pan for gems.
Prices vary
19th Annual Pumpkin Festival
Vernon
Grab a seat in an antique caboose, snap pics with scarecrows and pumpkins, check out vintage tractors and visit the not-too-scary haunted house aboard the Pumpkinliner train at the Whippany Railway Museum at Heaven Hill Farms.
Prices vary
Somerville Street Fair & Craft Show
Somerville
Bring the kids down for live music, children’s rides, a game trailer, petting zoo, martial arts exhibitions and more. Dig into street fare and peruse local wares.
Free
The Lord Stirling 1770s Festival
Basking Ridge
This 1770s fest will have plenty of special colonial treats from period reenactors and town criers to Revolutionary War militias and crafts. There’ll also be cider pressing, farm animals, hayrides and colonial music.
Prices vary
Woodland Park Food Truck & Music Festival
Woodland Park
Visit food trucks, listen to live music and stop for special kids activities like Sugar Sweet Farms’ petting zoo, face painting and more.
$5/kids, free/ages 12 and under
2019 Patriots’ Day Festival & Car Show
Springfield Twp.
This fest features local bands, a model railroad club demo, a horse and buggy show and a gallery showcasing classic cars at the Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
Free
A Celebration of Pets
Verona
Spend an afternoon at the Verona Town Square celebrating your furry friend with live music, pet and food vendors, crafts and pet adoptions.
Free
Autumn Arts Afternoon
Princeton
Come out for a day of artistic fun at the Nassau Park Pavilion with activity stations taught by artists for all ages and abilities.
Free
FIND MORE THINGS TO DO IN NJ THIS WEEKEND
If you have any upcoming events you’d like to add to our calendar, click here! And if you know of other things to do in NJ this weekend, leave us a comment.
