The weekend is almost here and we’ve found 90+ events around the state, including a dollhouse show, Kids Night Out and a Hobbit birthday party.
WEEKEND
Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off & Fiesta
Downtown Hammonton
Thursday
In the downtown area, there will be food, music from South and Central American cultures and fashion. Check out food vendors of all kinds of Latin countries and art that reflects the Hispanic scene. On the third Thursday of September, attend downtown’s Fiesta filled with Latin-inspired food, drinks, specials and the final GreenMarket of the season.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Kenilworth Public Library, Kenilworth
Join husband-and-wife duo MUSIQUITA for a musical celebration of Hispanic culture.
Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival
Bridgewater Commons, Bridgewater
Thursday – Sunday
The Center for Cultural & Creative Exchange presents a free traditional Chinese Folk celebration of light. The centerpiece will be a display of 15 illuminated handmade Chinese lanterns in various forms, from actual animals to mythical dragons, rising up to 10 feet high throughout the first two levels of the center, illuminating walkways and providing a guide to Chinese culture. There will be a Chinese Lantern Making Workshop on Sunday; additional fees apply.
Like Clockwork! Guinness Collection Conservation
Morris Museum, Morristown
Thursday – Sunday
Learn how the Morris Museum keeps hundreds of mechanical objects running like clockwork for twenty years.
Kustom Hot Rod and Muscle Car Show
Boardwalk and Wildwoods Convention Center, Wildwood
Thursday – Saturday
There will be classic cars, hot rods and vintage vehicles inside and out.
Medford Oktoberfest
Freedom Park, Medford
Friday – Saturday
There will be multiple stages of live music, a massive beer tent, German food, food trucks, local business setups, and a stein-holding competition. On Saturday only, there will be German music by Doppelganger throughout the festival grounds, a charity bratwurst eating contest, a cornhole competition, and kids’ activities. Live music on the Cornerstone PEO stage will be by JEM recording artists The Weeklings, Don’t Call Me Francis, Taylor Kelly, The Tisburys, Foes of Fern, Sug Daniels, Kenny Curcio, and Von Roz. Live music on the Archerlaw stage will be from All Systems Go, The Gender Gnomes, Romaine, Swing That Cat, The DT’s, Mars Counsel, Valendina, Tim W. Smith, The Loan Rangers, and more.
Irish Fall Festival
Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood
Friday – Sunday
Celebrate Irish heritage with dancing, music, food, and craft vendors. Other festivities include a golf tournament, boxing, Irish dance lessons, 5K run and 1 mile walk, a pipe exhibition, a food court, and Catholic Mass.
Bergen County 4-H Fair: Bergen County Fall Harvest Festival
Overpeck County Park, Ridgefield Park
Friday – Sunday
The Fall Harvest Festival features 4-H and Master Gardener displays and hands-on activities, a craft fair, carnival rides, a farmers market, a petting zoo, live music, face painting, food trucks, and more carnival attractions.
XPoNential Music Festival
Wiggins Waterfront Park, Camden
Friday – Sunday
A mega music festival that also has a children’s play area, XPoNential is produced by Philly radio station WXPN. This year’s acts include Grace Bowers, Ryan Miller of Guster, Julia Pratt, Rosanne Cash, Pete Yorn and The Walkmen.
Rose Squared Art Show
Anderson Park, Montclair
Saturday – Sunday
This event showcases more than 90 fine art and fine craft vendors with works in apothecary, artisanal foods, ceramics, jewelry, wood, digital art, decorative and wearable fiber, furniture, glass, painting, 2D/3D mixed media and photography.
Teachers in the Trees
TreEscape Aerial Adventure Park, Vernon Twp.
Saturday – Sunday
This weekend, educators can climb and zipline for free. Top attractions include the Aerial Obstacle Course and Black Creek Flyer. Teachers must email info@treescapeadventurepark.com to make a reservation and provide valid school ID at the time of redemption.
A Touch of Italy Festival
Laurita Winery, New Egypt
Saturday – Sunday
It’s time to mangia at this food and wine fest. Everyone is invited to pair wine with food truck offerings while listening to live music.
International Miniatures & Dollhouse Show
Hilton Hasbrouck Heights/Meadowlands, Hasbrouck Heights
Saturday – Sunday
See tiny art, furniture, lighting, animals, ceramics, dolls clothing, jewelry, food, room boxes, dioramas and more. Learn about clubs, the Guild School, online classes, model making and crafting small-scale art. The live auction of fine miniatures takes place Saturday at 5 pm.
TAVI Tours: Walking Tour Weekend
Historic Allentown
Saturday – Sunday
Four different tours will lead you approximately one mile around town so you can learn about architectural gems, the 19th Century Underground Railroad and notable residents buried in historic cemeteries. Each tour begins with a live introduction and includes a map for your own self-guided stroll through town.
Oktoberfest
Mountain Creek Resort, Vernon Twp.
Saturday – Sunday
Aside from a selection of beers, ciders, hard sodas and seltzers, and German foods, there will be sky rides, an activity ring, musical entertainment, a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting and balloon animals.
FRIDAY
Cedar Creek High School’s Annual Community Fall Festival
Cedar Creek High School, Egg Harbor City
Students helped organize an evening of food, music and inflatables for the entire community.
Kids Night Out
ACACNJ Studio, Denville
Drop off your kids, ages 4-15, for a night of activities, art, music, games and dance, sans the parents!
Fiesta Latina
Village Green, Summit
Summit’s annual Hispanic celebration features a free concert and dance party from Latin and South American bands. Dance demonstrations and lessons are provided for everyone, and food trucks will sell foods from all over Latin America.
Pueblos Originarios de Oaxaca Market: Demonstration of Technique and Fashion Show
CoLAB Arts, New Brunswick
Meet the artisans and their ancestral techniques, plus enjoy an exposition of dresses, a fashion show, a Q&A, and info about the CoLAB Collective in general.
SATURDAY
Hopewell Harvest Fair
Hopewell Elementary School, Hopewell Twp.
Crafters, farmers and food vendors will be part of the 36th annual Hopewell Harvest Fair. There will be entertainment, fun and games, a Kid’s Corner and contests, plus exhibits in Town Square.
Kean University Jazz & Roots Music Festival
The Lawn at Enlow Hall, Kean University, Hillside
Listen to performances by musicians who specialize in jazz, blues, reggae, fusion and more, including Third World, Stefon Harris & Blackout, Solomon Hicks, and Prince Hakim.
Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Biertümpfel Park, Union
Learn about Hispanic culture, the achievements of Hispanic individuals, and contributions made by some in the community at this celebration. This free family-friendly event has food vendors from Latin Bites Food Truck, Empanada Lady and more. See cultural performances from Latin musicians and shop at the booths set up by Hispanic-owned business vendors. A beer garden will be available.
Hispanic Heritage Festival
Vermeule Community Center, North Plainfield
Taste the foods and shop at Hispanic businesses. Take the kids to the bouncy house and have their faces painted by local artists.
Italian Festival
Historic Smithville, Galloway
Grab some Italian food and sit by any of the three entertainment stages for Italian jazz, a Sinatra/Bennett/Prima tribute show, dance, and the Atlantic City All-Star Band. There will be more than a dozen food trucks and dozens of vendors. Opt for a wine tasting or visit to the beer truck. Activities for kids include face painting, sand art and a wheel of chance. Other activities include free bocce ball and a raffle.
Fall NJ Jeep Invasion
Ocean City Boardwalk, Ocean City
400 Jeeps will be parked and displayed on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Burlington County Amphitheater, Westampton
Created by the Servicios Latinos de Burlington County, this is a one-of-a-kind event allowing families from Hispanic and non-Hispanic backgrounds access to free health screenings. Learn about county and state resources and social service providers and businesses. While you are learning, have fun by dancing to the music performed by live Latin bands and eat Hispanic food for sale at food trucks. Kids can have their faces painted or play on the bounce house.
Celebrate A Life 5K Walk
New Jersey State Fairgrounds, Augusta
There will be two color blast stations around the route, so wear white and be prepared to get dirty.
Horse & Carriage Day
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
While visiting the farm, make sure you take a carriage ride around the open field of the farm.
Allendale Festival Day
Downtown Allendale
There will be music, vendors, food trucks, and children’s activities.
Festival in the Borough
Downtown Washington Borough
There will be three stages of music with 18 acts, streets lined with vendors, a free children’s fun zone, the Solar Merry Go Round, a free photo booth, a beer garden, food trucks and local shopping.
Happy Birthday Bilbo Baggins!
Cotsen Children’s Gallery at Fireside Library, Princeton University campus, Princeton
You’ve got an invite to a birthday party for your favorite Hobbit. During the party, turn yourself invisible, craft a hobbit door, cultivate a garden, steal a coin from Smaug, embark on a campus quest, say hello to Gandalf, see the artwork of author J.R., Tolkien, and learn about the chemistry of fireworks.
Canines Of The Pines
Brendan T. Byrne State Forest Office, New Lisbon
Join the staff at the Brendan T. Byrne State Forest for a 2-mile hike down the Cranberry Dot Trail and learn all about the canine species that have lived in the Pine Barrens throughout its history. You can bring your dog with you for the hike.
Oktoberfest
Edmund Plaza, Red Bank
Red Bank RiverCenter is partnering with Triumph Brewing, Fresh Markets and The Two River Theater for the second annual Red Bank Oktoberfest.
Latino Festival of Monmouth County
Hall of Records Parking Lot, Freehold Borough
Latin food, music, games and entertainment will be used in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.
Wildwood Crest Seafarers Celebration
Sunset Lake and Centennial Park, Wildwood Crest
During the day, there is a fun street festival featuring craft and food vendors, children’s entertainment and live music. At night, move to the park for more music and a fireworks show.
Pet Palooza and Food Truck Festival
Bayer Campus, Whippany
There will be more than two dozen food trucks, multiple animal rescue partners, an array of vendors, live music, a Morris County K9 demonstration, a canine agility course, pet contests, a dog fashion show, and an abundance of family-friendly activities.
Festival of the Sea
Beach Area, Point Pleasant
More than 200 crafters and vendors will line the streets, along with live games, music, family activities and a beer and wine garden.
Soup For The Soul
Lunch Break, Red Bank
Teach your kids about other kids who need food assistance by buying an Empty Bowl to fill with soup that you’ll eat together in the Community Kitchen. There will also be interactive music and fall craft activities.
Incredible Duck Race
Military Row, Kearny
Join the Kearny-Belleville Elks as they race plastic ducks in the water. There will also be live music, food trucks, vendors and a beer garden.
Wigs & Wishes Gala
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City
To mark the end of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, celebrity hairstylist Martino Cartier will host the gala with New Jersey 101.5 morning show host Bill Spadea. There will be drinks, food and dancing. Cartier will crown a queen of the night during a live performance by Frankie Zulferino, who will also grant a wish to a child battling cancer during the event. Zulferino will also hold a 30-minute concert. Following the gala, Gimme Gimme Disco will turn the Mark Etess Arena into a disco-themed celebration.
Glassboro Craft Beer Festival
Glassboro Town Square, Glassboro
There will be 50+ breweries, food trucks, craft vendors, live entertainment, photo ops and more.
Merchantville Music Fest
Downtown Merchantville
Music Fest 2024 will feature local bands, a DJ, food trucks and an event-wide beer garden.
SUNDAY
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Live in Concert
NJPAC, Newark
Watch the epic animated film in HD on the big screen, accompanied by a full orchestra, a scratch DJ on turntables and electronic instrumentalists playing the music from the movie, live.
Westfield FestiFall
Downtown Westfield
Central Avenue will become a marketplace of crafters, retailers, food truck and a beer garden. The event will also include a kids zone with rides and inflatables.
Pinelands Nature Fest
Pinelands Preservation Alliance, Southampton
Mark 35 years of work protecting the Pinelands and the surrounding region with activities, a fungi foray and wildlife fun. There are morning field trips and a Moth Night after dark.
Central Jersey Family Fall Fest
MarketFair, Princeton
There will be live music, arts and crafts, character appearances, bounce houses, games and more – all for free. Food is available for purchase.
Princeton Community Chili Cook-Off
Updike Farmstead, Princeton
Chefs from Mediterra Restaurant and Taverna, Princeton Soup and Sandwich, Winberies Restaurant and Pub, and Jammin’ Crepes will make chili sample for all to try; then, vote for your favorite. SAVE Animal Shelter will bring adoptable dogs. Beer will be provided by River Horse Brewing Company. Sprouts will offer fresh-cut local flowers for a build-your-own-bouquet experience, both available for purchase. Lawn games and family-friendly activities round out the event.
Twilight Equinox Walk
Hunterdon County Arboretum, Lebanon
Join a twilight hike to observe the shift from summer to autumn and from daylight to nightfall.
Latino Heritage Celebration
Montclair Art Museum, Montclair
Latinos of Montclair hosts Ballet Hispanico, along with other performances. There will be live music, dancers, performers, singers, poets, crafts, arts, vendors, food, DJ music and the ballet.
Autumn With the Animals
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, Medford
Go wild for wildlife programs and meet-and-greets, storytelling, a guided trail hike, a raptor education program, a tour of the resident animal exhibits, a reptile encounter program, live music, canoeing, food, games, temporary tattoos, make-and-take crafts, food trucks, vendors, and a campfire.
Glow Art: Lantern Making Workshop
Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
Kids, teens and adults can work together in this beginner-friendly class to make their own paper lantern with glow-in-the-dark paints. The lantern will glow in regular light or under black light.
Antique Glass & Bottle Show
Historic Batsto Village, Hammonton
Spend the day outdoors browsing the items presented for sale by dozens of dealers. Wagon rides will be available, for a fee, through historic Batsto Village. Tours will be available through the mansion. A few of the craftsmen will be present in the carpenter and blacksmith shops.
Clover Market
735 N. Atlantic Ave., Collingswood
The award-winning, outdoor pop-up will feature 100 carefully curated vendors offering a selection of handmade and vintage goods. The market will also include a large lineup of food trucks, live music, and crafts and face painting for kids.
WhatsMyName 5K Run
Gazebo at Town Center, Robbinsville
The #Whatsmyname 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk is held every year in honor of Robbinsville’s Samantha Josephson. She was targeted by a person posing as a rideshare driver while away at college in 2019, and was murdered. Her parents put on the 5K event for the community every year to address the importance of rideshare safety.
ONGOING
Friday Night Live
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream
Every Friday
Harlem band The Nate Lucas All-Stars will perform every Friday night at Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant.
Tours of Crane House & Historic YWCA
Crane House & Historic YWCA, Montclair
Every Sunday
Take a self-guided tour to learn about the women of the Historic YWCA and the Crane family at your own pace. Take some time to walk through the gardens and meadow on site.
Vegan in NJ Monthly Market
American Legion Post 346, Neptune
First Sunday of every month
More than 20 vegan vendors will be set up indoors and outdoors, selling food, sweets and retail items.
Main Street Pops Artisan Market
Under the 14th Street Viaduct, Hoboken
Select Sundays, through December
Local makers and creators from the area sell their unique handmade creations, ranging from fashion and jewelry to art and photography to home decor and vintage finds to artisanal foods and pet products to kids stuff. There is also live music and outdoor games. Special holiday markets are planned for December 8, 15 and 22.
St. Peter’s Carnival
St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, River Edge
September 19-22
The annual St. Peter’s Carnival returns with rides for all ages, fun games, food, and a 50/50 raffle.
Fintastic Pumpkin Glow
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
During this fall festival, look for carved pumpkins that glow on land or in the water. New this year is a nearly 10-foot underwater octopus shaped out of pumpkins, and a snorkeling scarecrow that’s overlooking an underwater pumpkin patch. There will be seasonal sensory tables set up, with pumpkin slime and other hands-on sensory experiences. You can pay to paint a pumpkin, or buy pumpkin-themed souvenirs from the gift shop. You can also tune into the aquarium’s “What Goes Bump in the Midnight Zone” show, which focuses on animals that live in the depths of the ocean.
Harvest Moon Nights
Alstede Farm, Chester
Fridays – Saturdays, September 20 – November 1
After conquering the corn maze, relax on a leisurely hayride through the starlit fields, warm up by the cozy bonfires, and listen to local music. Try locally crafted hard ciders, apple cider donut ice cream or pumpkin ice cream, or food from the food trucks in the FarmHouse District.
Jacks & Lights
Argos Farm, Forked River
Select dates, September 20-November 3; plus Monday, October 14
Aside from the fall festival activities at Argos Farm, you can return at night for Jacks & Lights. The main hit is a quarter-mile walking trail of thousands of carved jack-o-lanterns. There is also a lighted pumpkin trail, pumpkin patch, flashlight maze, Spook-Easy, and tons of photo ops.
Jack ‘O Lantern Experience
Skylands Stadium, Augusta
Select dates, September 20 – November 3
Festival-like activities include seasonal food and drinks, outdoor games, pumpkin picking and painting, a beer garden, live music, and a 45-minute stroll through over 6,000 hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns.
Sustainable Health and Wellness Village Festival Tour
September 21: Branch Brook Park, Newark
October 5: Showboat Resort, Atlantic City
Among the family activities are live entertainment featuring local and regional artists, but the main focus is connecting with primary care providers and specialists so you can get free eye exams and eyeglasses, health screenings, vaccinations, fresh produce, and physician-led education and resources on maternal, infant, child, and senior health.
Farm of Horrors
Schaefer Farms, Flemington
Select dates, September 21 to October 27
Ride, walk then run for your life at New Jersey’s original Halloween-themed haunted attraction.
Sensory-Friendly Tour
Macculloch Hall Historical Museum, Morristown
Saturdays, September 21, October 19, November 16
Families and care partners with neurodiverse children and teens can experience the historic house with plenty to touch, and lots of time for questions. Plus, explore the new garden sensory pathway through sight, sound, touch and smell.
Middlesex County Jazz Festival
Wednesday: Edison
Thursday: Carteret
Saturday: New Brunswick and Edison
Sunday: Woodbridge
September 25-29
Each town has its own lineup of school performers, local artists and regional bands. Metuchen will pay special tribute to Russell Malone, who was set to take the stage but passed away in August while on tour.
Restaurant Week at The Dream
American Dream, East Rutherford
September 25 – October 6
Sit-down restaurants will offer prix fixe menus at special prices.
The BEAST NYC Speedboat Ride
Pier 83, New York, NY
Tuesdays – Sundays, through September 29
Roar down the Hudson River from Pier 83 to The Statue of Liberty on this high-speed boat.
Yoga on the Beach
Burk Avenue, behind the Wildwoods Convention Center
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through September 29
A traditional Hatha yoga-style class will be infused with Qi Gong, a variety of healing therapies and lots of modifications.
Funbox
Cherry Hill Mall, Cherry Hill
Fridays – Sundays, through September 29
There will be 25,000 square feet of inflatable bounce house space in 10 different bouncy sections, plus an inflatable obstacle course.
Family Photo Scavenger Hunt: It’s a Seedy Business
Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown
Through September 30
Search for all sorts of seeds, and complete the hunt to win a prize.
Empire Records
McCarter Theatre Center, Princeton
Through October 6
Nineties teens who loved the cult-classic film can see it brought to life on stage in a new musical comedy.
Morey’s Piers Oktoberfest
Morey’s Piers, Wildwood
Fridays – Sundays, through October 13
Bust out your lederhosen and raise your steins as you enjoy live music, traditional German food, and all the games and rides you love at Morey’s Piers. Bands play on the Coca-Cola stage all weekend long with daily strolling entertainment by the Oompah Delics.
Fall Flower Festival
Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge
Through October 14
There will be thousands of rainbow blooms including sunflowers, gladiolus, dahlias, calla lilies and mums; dozens of food options; dozens of floral photo activations; a hundred vendors; live music and more family-friendly activities.
New Jersey International Film Festival
Voorhees Hall of Rutgers University, New Brunswick; and virtually
Fridays – Sundays, through October 18
A series of films will be screened during the fall iteration of the film festival. On October 18, electronic music artist Jim Haynes will perform an audio-visual concert.
Free Guided Garden Tours
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Sundays, through the end of October
NJBG docents take you on a tour of what’s blooming around the Botanical Garden.
Friday Night Bites
The Hungry Puppy Dog Park, Farmingdale
Fridays, through October 25
Bring your pup and your friends to the double-gated, specially-designed dog park, where you can relax and listen to some music while mingling with other pet parents. There will be free snacks and treats from a sponsoring pet food manufacturer each week.
Festival of Fountains
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Through October 27
There are new garden spaces, the return of the Fireworks & Fountains Shows, performances in front of the Illuminated Fountain, a beer garden, Festive Fridays with live music, and a Wine & Jazz Festival (September 14), plus all the gorgeous landscapes we can’t get enough of.
Lentini Farms Fall Festival
Lentini Farms, Newton
Fridays – Sundays, through October 27
There will be a different live band and food trucks each weekend, along with a 10-acre corn maze, scenic hayrides, the sunflower field, a beer tent, a pumpkin patch and haunted hayrides (starting September 27).
Maple Leaf Farms Fall Fun Fest & Pumpkin Picking
Maple Leaf Farms, Manalapan
Saturdays – Sundays, through October 27; plus Monday, October 14
There will be live bull riding and country music, plus more than 30 activities, including a wooden train, pumpkin village, hay ride, corn maze, animal barnyard, pig races, hay maze, backhoe play yard, corn tunnel, rubber duck races, pillow jump, and candy corn toss.
Halloween Weekends
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp & Resort, Williamstown
Weekends, through October 27
Camp out in a tent, cabin or trailer for the weekend. Activities will include trick-or-treating, a pumpkin patch, and haunted hot cocoa, among sports, lakeside activities, a hayride, gem mining, candy bar bingo, and visits from Yogi Bear, Boo-Boo and Cindy Bear.
Fall Festival Weekends
Von Thun’s, South Brunswick and Washington Twp.
Saturdays – Sundays, through October 31
The weekend festivals feature hayrides, access to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch, and more than 20 games and attractions for kids and adults. The corn maze is open daily through Halloween.
Fall Fun Harvest Weekends
Donaldson Farms, Hackettstown
Saturdays – Sundays, through October 31
Plus Monday, October 14
During the apple and pumpkin harvest season, the 500+ acre family-owned and -operated farm market and activity area includes a 9-acre corn maze. This year, $1 from every ticket sold will be donated to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Fright Fest Extreme
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Select nights, through November 3
There will be haunted houses, scare zones, rides in the dark and special shows specially tailored for Halloween inside the theme park. Themes include Stranger Things, The Conjuring, SAW’s 20th anniversary, Army of the Dead and Texas Chain Saw.
Great Adventure’s Oktoberfest Food Festival
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Select dates, through November 3
Explore German-inspired cuisine, brews and desserts all around the theme park.
Happy Day Farm Fall Festival
Happy Day Farm, Manalapan
Select dates, through November 3
Activities include the sunflower field, Pumpkinville, corn maze, pig races, tractor rides, fun slide, feeding zoo and more – there are over 35 activities included with admission.
Peddler’s Village Scarecrow Season
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Through November 3
The next few months, celebrate everything Fall with various dates for the scarecrow display and festival, pet photo contest, Food Truck Thursdays, a murder mystery dinner, an outdoor screening of “The Wizard of Oz,” a wedding show, a Peddler’s Village Book Club, a terrarium-making workshop, the annual OctoberFeast weekend, Halloween parties, and the Peddler’s Village Apple Festival.
The Red Barn Farm Sunflower & Fall Festival
The Red Barn Farm, Hammonton
Fridays – Sundays, through November 3
Take a hayride to the sunflower fields for photo memories and a sunflower each. Get lost in nearly 10 acres of the giant corn maze, this year dedicated to country music star Luke Bryan. When you escape, head to the fairgrounds and bounce around on the Jumbo Air Pillow, try your hand at lassoing the bull targets and other activities at the fairgrounds.
We All Scream For Ice Cream
Emlen Physick Estate, Cape May
Through November 3
Learn about the history of ice cream dating back to the Victorian era. It started as an elite and expensive dish but by the end of the 1800s came in simpler flavors and was used in cones, sundaes and banana splits. You’ll see an authentic ice cream maker and other equipment, plus a Victorian ice cream wagon.
The Great Pumpkin Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
Select dates, through November 3
Included with admission are 35+ family fun outdoor activities, including hayrides to the pumpkin patch, “The Big Top” themed corn maze, farm animals, pig races, Canine Dog Show, pedal cars, touring cars, giant slingshot, giant straw pyramid, boo barn, Baseball Speed Throw, and more activities for the entire family. For an additional fee, there are carnival rides, apple cannon, paintball range, gem mining, wine tasting, food vendors, kettle corn, apple cider donuts, pumpkins and gourds, and mums.
Fall Festival
Argos Farm, Forked River
Select dates, through November 3; plus Monday, October 14
Walk through the Snoopy-shaped corn maze, take photos in the pumpkin field and listen to live music. There are tons of fun activities such as the Pumpkin Bounce Pad, Hayrides, Double Hay Slide, Gauntlet Obstacle Course, Bee Zip Line and Cow Train. There’s also a quarter-mile walking trail of thousands of carved pumpkins called Jacks & Lights that opens on September 20.
Kids Boo Fest
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Select dates, through November 3
The daytime Halloween event is family-friendly, with trick-or-treating, unique fall festivities, fun character photo opportunities and treats.
Fall Family Fun Weekends
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturdays-Sundays, through November 3
Family fun on the farm includes pumpkin painting, apple picking, pony rides, a corn stalk and hay bale maze, the Adventure Story Barn, farm animals, the sunflower trail, a scavenger hunt and live music.
The Count’s Spooktacular
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Select dates, through November 3
The theme park will be transformed for Halloween. Activities include Halloween-themed shows and parades, the Trick-or-Treat Trail, pumpkin decorating with Abby Cadabby, and a Halloween costume contest (October 27).
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Overpeck County Park, Leonia
Select dates through November 10
New for the season is the Feathered and Fearless exhibition, three new dinosaurs and tons of new games, activities, and shows featuring T-Rex, Toddlersaurus, dinosaur hatchlings and the park’s Dinosaur Troubadour.
Morning Walks
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Saturdays, through November 23
Enjoy a quiet morning walking the trails with an NJ Audubon staff or Associate Naturalist. You’ll learn about the birds, trees, tracks, wildflowers, reptiles and amphibians that are natural wonders of the area.
Nature-Infused Yoga
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville; or virtual
Saturdays, through November 23
Teens and adults can join a 75-minute yoga practice that will help you relax and stretch while immersed in nature.
Frank V. Marina Flea Market
Frank A. Vincent Marina, Kearny
Second Sunday of every month, through December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Main Memorial Park Flea Market
Memorial Park, Clifton
Second Saturday of every month, through December
There will be more than 100 vendors selling everything at bargain prices.
Dinosaurs: Fossils Exposed
Monmouth Museum, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft
Tuesdays – Sundays, through January 2, 2025
This interactive exhibit explores the bones and fossils of the giant creatures that once roamed the Earth. See full-size T-Rex and velociraptor models, footprints and eggs. Special events will be announced during the duration of the exhibit, including guided tours, a special museum fundraiser, a Christmas tree lighting and Noon Year’s Eve.
Blue Whale: The World’s Biggest Animal
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through January 5, 2025
The exhibition tells the story of the 60-ton whale that washed ashore in Trout River, Newfoundland, in 2014. You’ll see the enormous skeleton of a recovered blue whale and discover how whales evolved, the size of their heart, how they communicate, their decline, what’s being done to protect them, and how scientists are using DNA to unlock some of the secrets of these elusive creatures.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show
The Duke Theater at New 42 Studios, New York, NY
Through January 5, 2025
The show returns to NYC to celebrate its 10th anniversary. This production will feature two tales from Eric Carle: The Artist That Painted a Blue Horse and Mr. Seahorse. You will also see The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Hungry Caterpillar during the 50-minute show. During the holiday season, Dream Snow will be added to the story rotation for the first time in New York City.
New Jersey/New Sculpture
Morris Museum, Morristown
Wednesdays – Sundays, through February 2, 2025
Eleven sculptors who worked with malleable aluminum, cold-worked glass, and industrial robotics join the more traditional media of ceramics, forged iron, and steel in this exhibit that showcases 40 works based on The Garden State.
Morven Revealed: Untold Stories From New Jersey’s Most Historic Home
Morven Museum & Garden, Princeton
Wednesdays – Sundays, through March 2, 2025
This special exhibit is part of Morven’s 20th-anniversary celebration and will shed light on lesser-known stories of this historic home and its residents. You’ll see rarely-seen objects and newly discovered photos about American life: childhood, hosting guests, pets, fashion, and more.
Slow Motion
Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton
Through September 1, 2025
Five artists from Monument Lab in Philadelphia created gigantic, creative, introspective monuments that will be on display for their beauty, but also to address political, cultural and social issues.
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