Halloween is behind us but you can still hit up some pumpkin-themed events this weekend. It’s not too early to start holiday shopping and there are plenty of fairs with local vendors showcasing unique finds. All events are subject to change so check each event’s website before heading out.
ALL WEEKEND
Great Pumpkin Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
Thursday – Sunday
There is so much to do on the farm! There’s everything from a tractor hay ride to a corn maze to a hy crawl and barnyard sports ball-cade, plus a Chicken Little Show, the Boo Barn, a dancing robot show, pedal cars and an obstacle course, Skee-Ball, a giant straw bale pyramid, boat racing, pig racing and the Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show.
Fintastic Fall Days Festival
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Thursday – Sunday
See countless aquatically-themed displays throughout the aquarium, both floating on the surface and sunken deep below among sharks, rays, and other aquatic animals. Check out seasonal sensory tables featuring pumpkin slime and other hands-on sensory experiences. You can pay $5 to paint and take home your own pumpkin masterpiece. If you’re looking to learn more, dive into the “What Goes Bump in the Midnight Zone” show, which demystifies the animals living in the dark depths of the ocean’s Midnight Zone.
Oktoberfest
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Thursday – Sunday
This German heritage festival is a new fall tradition filled with authentic fare and a large selection of seasonal craft lagers and beers from around the world, including the Gutentag One Man Band.
Sting*Chronicity
Kutz Theatre, Hackettstown
Thursday – Sunday
Fringe*chronicity is a combination of monologues with a variety of musical arrangements by Sting. The show is set in Madison Square Garden on the occasion of the final reunion concert of the iconic band, The Police, which was headed by Sting.
LuminoCity Dino Safari
Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Twp.
Thursday – Sunday
From the triceratops to the Pterosauria to the brachiosaurus to the oviraptor, your kids will have a roarin’ good time checking out the lifelike animatronics that have special effects like their jaws opening, heads and tails swaying, the sound of breathing and wings fluttering. This is the final weekend.
Fintastic Fall Days Festival
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Thursday – Sunday
See countless aquatically-themed displays throughout the aquarium, both floating on the surface and sunken deep below among sharks, rays, and other aquatic animals. Check out seasonal sensory tables featuring pumpkin slime and other hands-on sensory experiences. You can pay $5 to paint and take home your pumpkin masterpiece. If you’re looking to learn more, dive into the “What Goes Bump in the Midnight Zone” show, which demystifies the animals living in the dark depths of the ocean’s Midnight Zone.
Truffle Week
Nunzio by Chef Michael DeLone, Collingswood
Thursday – Sunday
The five-course meal stars white and black truffles from Lazio, Lombardy, Tuscany and Veneto in Italy. Dishes include truffle potato croquette, black truffle cacio e pepe, seared scallops, braised veal shoulder and triple chocolate tiramisu (no mushrooms, just chocolate truffles here). Since the meal is $100 per person, you’ll have to decide if it’s worth it to take the kids. You can also order off the regular menu during Truffle Week.
Jurassic Quest
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City
Friday – Sunday
Jurassic Quest is known for its life-like dinos and for having some of the largest rideable dinos in North America. The event also includes live dinosaur shows and interactive science and art activities such as a fossil dig. Kids can see real fossils like T-Rex teeth, a triceratops horn and even a life-size dino skull. If you can’t make it to A.C., Jurassic Quest returns to NJ from December 28 to January 1 at the NJ Convention & Expo Center in Edison.
Jack O’Lantern Experience
Skylands Stadium, Augusta
Friday – Sunday
There will be thrills and chills for the whole family, including seasonal food and drinks, outdoor games, pumpkin picking and painting, and a stroll through over 6,000 hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns.
Hill Creek Farms Fall Season
Hill Creek Farms, Mullica Hill
Friday – Sunday
2023 season highlights include u-pick apples, Asian pears, sunflowers and vegetables; live music at The Loft; kids’ activities, including a moon bounce, barrel train rides, gem mining and a playground; photo ops around the farm; local wine, small bites, food trucks, ice cream and freshly baked apple cider donuts.
PA Bacon Fest
Downtown Easton, Easton, PA
Saturday – Sunday
There are so many ways to celebrate this beloved pork product! First off, get all the samples your stomach can handle. Then, taste beer if you are 21+, shop from more than 140 vendors, try hog calling, enter a bacon eating or bacon costume contest, watch amateur and pro chefs battle it out in bacon-cooking competitions, watch the pig and wiener dog races, watch football in the Pigskin Lounge, listen to a variety of musicians play, and join the Racin’ Bacon 5K Sunday morning.
New Jersey Paraunity Expo
Woodbridge High School, Woodbridge
Saturday – Sunday
There will be lectures, exhibit rooms, gallery readings, vendors, mediums and food trucks during this paranormal convention.
New Jersey Ballet: A Night on the Town
Two River Theater, Red Bank
Saturday – Sunday
A Night On the Town will feature Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, which was the inspiration for the full-length musical On the Town. The program will also feature George Balanchine’s Rubies. Set to Igor Stravinsky’s Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra, Rubies sends dancers racing across the stage to reflect Stravinsky’s jazz-inflected piano with movements that incorporate a sassy style and sharp attack.
Great Pumpkin Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
Saturday – Sunday
There is so much to do on the farm! There’s everything from a tractor hay ride to a corn maze to a hy crawl and barnyard sports ball-cade, plus a Chicken Little Show, the Boo Barn, a dancing robot show, pedal cars and an obstacle course, Skee-Ball, a giant straw bale pyramid, boat racing, pig racing and the Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show.
Oktoberfest
Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Saturday – Sunday
This German heritage festival is a new fall tradition filled with authentic fare and a large selection of seasonal craft lagers and beers from around the world, including the Gutentag One Man Band.
Apple Festival
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Saturday – Sunday
Entertainment will include live music, axe throwing, lawn games, bounce houses, pony rides and a petting zoo. Fresh apples, cider, apple fritters and apple pies will be available for sale at the festival, and apple-flavored food and drink specials will be featured in Peddler’s Village restaurants every day through November 12. You can also eat at the food trucks.
Alhayat Raksa (Life Is A Dance)
First Congregational Church of Montclair, Montclair
Saturday – Sunday
Mosaic Dance Theater Company will premiere this production, which centers around an Arab woman who, at the end of her life, resolves her conflicting emotions and resentments of having had to follow the traditional path for a woman of marriage and a family, instead of pursuing a career as a dancer.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
Sesame Place, Langhorne, PA
Saturday – Sunday
Dress your kids in their Halloween costumes and bring them to the Sesame Street-themed theme park for Halloween-themed shows and parades, a scavenger hunt, a trick-or-treat trail, pumpkin decorating, photo ops with their favorite furry friends, and the new Count’s Hello Halloween Spectacular.
FRIDAY
Touch-a-Truck Day
Deer Path Park, Flemington
There will be more than two dozen dump trucks, fire trucks, ambulances, police cars, military jeeps and other vehicles in one place, parked so kids of all ages can get a close-up look.
Free First Friday: Origami
The Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
Origami is the art of folding paper to create different shapes and figures. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of origami and how to create a variety of different models, including animals, flowers, and geometric shapes. This is a family-friendly event.
Puppy Pals Live
Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center, Carteret
The comedic stunt dog show as seen on America’s Got Talent is a presentation starring mostly rescued dogs. These pooches perform spectacular stunts like climbing a ladder, jumping rope, and even doing a backflip.
Little One’s Nature Class
Plainsboro Preserve, Cranbury
Learn about the squirrels, turkeys and changing leaves in the Plainsboro Preserve through stories, crafts and nature exploration. This series of classes is for kids ages 3 to 5, plus an adult.
Grow Little Gardner
Veblen House Lawn, Princeton
Certified Master Gardener and local mom Mathilde Burlion will teach a weekly youth gardening class in Herrontown Woods. In these sessions, kids ages 6-12 will learn and grow by exploring the woods and interacting with nature.
First Fridays With the Arts Institute
New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, New Brunswick
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month through live music, face and body painting, giveaways and free refreshments. Enjoy a range of activities where you can experience the beat of the drum circle, let your creativity bloom with flower-based art projects, adorn your hands with henna tattoos, and dance into the weekend with a lively Bollywood Zumba class.
Beaver Walk
Crystal Springs Reserve, Long Valley
Bring your binoculars so that when you explore the habitat of the beavers, you can see them up close. You’ll learn what they eat, how they raise their young, and more.
Jupiter at Opposition, Plus Saturn
Hoffman Park, Hampton
You’ll look high into the sky and view our solar system’s two biggest planets. First, look for Saturn and its rings. Then, observe the “King of Planets,” Jupiter. On this night Jupiter is at opposition, meaning it is at its closest approach to the Earth. You will be able to view the planet’s bands and its four largest moons, which will be at their brightest.
SATURDAY
Weehawken Diwali of Lights
Weehawken High School, Weehawken
The Bollywood dance party includes a DJ, Indian food, Bhangra, henna, games, prizes, and a Bhangra workshop by Megha Kalia of NYC Bhangra.
Healthy HeARTS Festival
Appel Farm Arts & Music Center, Elmer
This festival celebrates arts and wellness for the South Jersey community. There will be live music by local musicians on the Grove Stage; crafters of handmade goods; food trucks; locally crafted wine, beer and spirits; wellness demonstrations; and art-making activities for the whole family. You can also sign up for a fundraiser 5K race and a 1-mile walk on and around Appel Farm’s campus.
Diwali Celebration
Lake Papaianni Park, Edison
Jay Sean will headline the event, which will also have musical performances by Prudhvi Chandra and Véyah. There will be fireworks, a kid’s zone, performances by local groups, food and vendors. Expect to see 65,000 lights on display. A Diya lighting ceremony will take place after sundown.
NJ Audubon: November History and Nature
Hawk Rise Sanctuary, Linden
How did the Hawk Rise Sanctuary come to be? Join NJ Audubon Teacher Naturalist Angus Macauley for a nature walk interspersed with pertinent facts and dates from the Hawk Rise timeline.
Kids Paint and Plant: Turkey Time
Sea Ginger, Allentown
Kids will paint a festive feathered friend handcrafted by Swal’s Statuary and add a live air plant from Sea Ginger to a mini woven cornucopia. Parents can drop off their kids or stay and play. Then, stroll through the downtown and walk through Heritage Park.
Montclair History Center Walking Tour
Walnut Street Station, Montclair
Explore 150 years of history on Walnut and Label streets. As Montclair’s original industrial center, this guided walking tour will discuss the establishment of the train, notable businesses such as Crump Label factory, the founding of the YWCA for Black women and girls, and notables in the community such as composer Joseph Lamb.
Makerspace Saturday
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison
Whether you are looking for a kid-friendly project or for something creative to do after spending time at the museum, drop by Makerspace for hands-on activities in a new collaborative workspace geared toward kids ages 5 -12. Kids will build with LEGOs, paint, make jewelry, experiment with engineering and coding robots, and more.
Harvest Makers Market
Haddon Square, Haddon Twp.
The open-air market in the heart of downtown will offer a curated selection of local and regional artisans and makers and their handmade creations. Art, jewelry, accessories, homewares, clothing, beauty products and gourmet items will be available. There will also be live music and a beer garden.
Boonton Bookfest
Main Street, Boonton
This event will be a literary feast for foodies. To honor the town’s reputation as a North Jersey culinary mecca, writers and artists who celebrate food and drink of every kind will be featured. There will be novelists, restaurant critics, cookbook creators, food stylists, artists, and journalists appearing in town. At night, Top Chef contestant Ash Fulk will host a Community Storytime Event: Love in the Kitchen. Boonton residents will share memorable meals, food traditions, and stories from their kitchen.
Hello Franki Holiday Wishlist Shopping Event
Menlo Park Mall, Edison
A popular store amongst teens, check out what’s inside to shop for holiday gifts, win prizes, enter giveaways, make bracelets, and enjoy snacks and drinks.
Lake Hopatcong Community Cleanup
Lake Hopatcong
Volunteers are needed to help clean the shores of Lake Hopatcong during the 5-foot winter drawdown on New Jersey’s largest lake.
Bergen Philharmonic Young Artist Concert
Syriac Community Hall, Paramus
The 88th concert series kicks off with Maestro Yoon Sang Timothy Cho on the conductor’s podium. This concert features the 2023 Young Artist Competition winner, Jarod Apple, a saxophonist, performing a concerto of his choice. Music for the evening includes Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel’s Overture and Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony #3.
Guided Nature Therapy Walk
Montclair Community Farms, Montclair
Nature and Forest Therapy is a well-established wellness practice that has its roots in the Japanese practice of forest bathing and has physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual benefits. You are invited to explore your surroundings, slow down, be present and connect with your senses. Open to all ages.
El Dia de los Muertos
The Arts Council of Princeton, Princeton
This free, family-friendly outdoor festival will teach you about this culturally rich holiday with Mariachi, dance, food and hands-on projects inspired by traditional folk art.
Terrifying Tales: Chilly Stories for a Cool Night
The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster
Better Said Than Done storytellers Robin Bady, Sarah Brady, Megan Hicks and Jessica Robinson will present this storytelling concert that is a fundraiser for The Center. The stories are intended for a more mature audience since they will be scary.
Fall Harvest Sip & Shop Vendor Event
Garden State Distillery, Toms River
Support local businesses while you shop til you drop. There will be clothing, accessories, cosmetics, skincare, jewelry, hand-painted glasses and more unique creations for sale.
iLuminate
Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center, Carteret
iLuminate performed on America’s Got Talent in 2011. The dance group uses technology to light up on command.
Music From the Sole: I Didn’t Come to Stay
Pfleeger Concert Hall at Rowan University, Glassboro
Tap, percussive dance, samba, house and live music come together. Brazilian tap dancer/choreographer Leonardo Sandoval and bassist/composter Gregory Richardson lead eight dancers and a five-piece band in a performance that explores tap’s connections to other Afrodiasporic forms.
History Walk: Heritage Trail
Roebling Museum, Roebling
Join the group as they walk along the Delaware River Heritage Trail to explore the history of the former steel mill and the lives of the company town’s residents who once called this place home. It will be a unique blend of history and nature.
Cow Parade
Cherry Grove Farms, Lawrenceville
An afternoon of fun on the farm includes face painting, hay rides, games, races, a flower truck from Sprouts, lots of food trucks, music from This Old House Band, artisan local vendors, an owl and hawk from Birds and Bees Farm and butterflies from Monarch Journey. The stars of the show, the cows of Cherry Grove Farms, will be adorned with flowers and bells and parade around 4 pm.
Meadows Miler
Rosedale Park, Pennington
Support Princeton Child Development Institute by signing up for a 10K, 5K, Fun Run or 100-Yard Dash. You’ll go through the scenic trails of Rosedale Park.
Kingsway Education Foundation Holiday Craft Show
Kingsway Regional High School, Woolwich Twp.
There will be more than 170 vendors showcasing their handmade items. You can also get a jump on pictures with Santa.
Healing Art For A Hero’s Heart
Voorhees Town Center Mall, Voorhees Twp.
Paint a watercolor “Thank You For Your Service” card that will include a special note of gratitude for our veterans.
Cider Making
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
To earn a taste of some apple cider, all you have to do is turn the crank of the cider press and help re-fill the hopper with the Macs, Cortlands and Red Delicious apples that make for a perfect blend. Peel an apple with a hand-crank apple peeler and stop by the farmhouse for lunch.
Burlington City Food Tour
Burlington City
If you are looking for a little more history on a walking food tour, the first stop is the Armed Forces Heritage Museum, which highlights the history of the military in New Jersey and the neighboring regions. Also, visit the James Fenimore Cooper House (birthplace of the author of “The Last of the Mohicans”). Listen to the stories and see artifacts and furnishings at both locations.
Sparta Special Olympics 2023 Fall Vendor & Craft Fair
Sparta High School, Sparta
There will be more than 60 vendors of all types, including food trucks. While shopping for holiday gifts, meet the Athletes of Determination and wish them luck for the 2023-24 season.
Holiday Craft Market
Steinert High School, Hamilton
Support local artisans, crafters and shop owners by shopping early for holiday gifts. Bring a non-perishable food item for the HTSD Food Pantry.
SUNDAY
Fanwood Vendor Pop-Up Festival
Fanwood Train Station, Fanwood
The vendor fair will feature approximately 50 exhibitors selling very cool items. You will find arts & crafts, candles, jewelry, fashion & accessories, health & beauty, home decor, sports collectibles, and many other new items. Food trucks scheduled to be on site include: The Empanada Truck-Nan and Pop’s Concessions-Messy’s Lemonade and French Fries-Eat My Franks Truck-Dani’s Kettle Korn-Love JoJo’s Cookies-Candy Clouds Freeze Dried Candy. Entertainment is by Cold Sweat Band, a rock & roll band.
Diwali Fair 2023
The Westin at Forrestal Village, Princeton
Special attractions include tons of shopping, entertainment, fashion designers, jewelry, corporate booths and gift ideas for Diwali.
Tower of Power 55th Anniversary Tour
Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Tower of Power, known for their iconic horn-led funk and soul sound, is celebrating 55 years of touring.
Leonia Chamber Musicians’ 50-Year Anniversary Concert
Presbyterian Church of Leonia, Leonia
Members Theresa Norris, flute; Roy Lewis and Janey Choi, violins; Maggie Speier, viola; Daryl Goldberg, cello, and guest artist Richard Hagen, French horn, will perform the first of a three-concert series. The program will include Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s beloved Quintet in Eb for French horn, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello, the delightful Quintet in G Major for Flute, Violin, Two Violas, and Cello by Andreas Jakob Romberg, and the masterful Quartet of Dmitri Shostakovich No. 8 in C minor Op. 110 for Two Violins, Viola and Cello.
Pumpkin Plunge Halloween Party
Five Star Swim School, Princeton
Families can swim, play party games, eat snacks and decorate a pumpkin. Feel free to bring your Halloween costume or Halloween PJs to change into after swimming.
Bergen Town Center Fall Festival
Bergen Town Center, Paramus
The first-ever Fall Festival will include food trucks, a beer garden, music by Drop the Needle, pumpkin painting, henna, face painting and a bubble show.
Intro to Crochet
Kids Class, Ages 8-12
Teens and Adults Class
The Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
You will learn the basics of crochet, including the basic stitches and techniques, so you can make your own projects, like scarves and hats. You will also learn about different types of yarn and how to choose the right one for their project. Parents are welcome to hang out in the shop or explore the downtown area during the kids’ class.
Skylands Manor Tour
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
New Jersey Botanical Garden volunteer docents lead visitors on a tour of the architecture and history of Skylands Manor. In honor of Veterans Day, all veterans are invited to tour for free.
Taste of the Hills
Spring Brook Country Club, Morristown
Taste food and wine from the best restaurants and wineries in the area, then bid on auctions and raffle baskets. Funds raised through this event will benefit the Atlantic Adult Day Center in Basking Ridge.
Brides, Bubbles & Beers
Whitechapel Projects, Long Branch
Babes in Business, a national network of female entrepreneurs, is hosting a wedding event where you can shop for your dress, invitations, cookies, flowers and more. Each room will be themed with a different wedding vibe. There will be wedding selfie stations, themed rooms, drinks and local vendors for all your wedding details. Relax in a custom wedding lounge. There will also be champagne and seasonal hors d’oeuvres.
A Walk In Their Shoes
Asbury Park Boardwalk, Asbury Park
November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Ocean Harbor House holds this 2-mile walk to build awareness for children and families who are experiencing homelessness.
South Jersey ZERO Prostate Cancer Run/Walk
Valenzano Winery, Shamong
This race is part of a national event series to raise funds and awareness for the patients, caregivers, survivors and physicians who are active in the fight against prostate cancer. There will also be a special Kids Superhero Dash for Dad.
Youth Gaelic Football Fall Clinic and Kickoff Party
The Shillelagh Club, West Orange
The newly formed Essex Shillelaghs Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is launching a Gaelic football league. Gaelic football blends the physicality of soccer, the skill of basketball, and the high-scoring nature of Australian rules football. Now recruiting boys and girls ages 6-14 for its teams, the league’s schedule begins with a Fall Clinic and Kickoff Party where kids will learn the art of kicking, hand passing, and soloing from expert coaches – followed by burgers.
ONGOING
Makerspace Saturday
Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison
First Saturday of every month
Whether you are looking for a kid-friendly project or for something creative to do after spending time at the museum, drop by Makerspace for hands-on activities in a new collaborative workspace geared toward kids ages 5 -12. Kids will build with LEGOs, paint, make jewelry, experiment with engineering and coding robots, and more.
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.
Wayne PAL Antique Collectibles Show and Vintage Flea Market
Wayne PAL Athletic League Complex, Wayne
First Sunday of every month, through April
The show features over 150 vendor tables in two large rooms and the front lobby where you can find vintage and sterling jewelry, glassware and Lenox, toys and trains, antique and collectible dolls and action figures, vintage postcards and photos and artwork, military, political and sports memorabilia including cards, magazines and newspapers, vintage coins and watches, classic rock CDs and more.
Children of Eden
The Burgdorff Center for the Performing Arts, Maplewood
November 3-19
The trials and triumphs of the family are explored in this musical based on the book of Genesis. It’s a show for all ages, presented by The Strollers.
Off The Wall Holiday Market
West Windsor Arts Council, Princeton Junction
Select dates, November 4 – December 23
There will be more than 100 works of art and craft items at this holiday fair, which is part artisan market, part affordable art show, and part juried art exhibit.
Mercer County Ropes Course
Mercer County Park, West Windsor
November 5, 18
The ropes course contains 12 “challenges” or elements, including the Zigzag, Swinging Logs, and the Postman’s Walk. You’ll have to use balance, focus and teamwork skills to get across. There is also a zipline. The course is open to kids and adults 12 and older.
The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic
Rockefeller Center, New York, NY
November 5 – January 2, 2024
Start inside the trunk of a giant Christmas tree during this immersive experience, and then you’ll be given a map to scurry around Rockefeller Plaza looking for the ingredients for Christmas magic. When you’re done, head back to the cottage for a sweet treat that includes a personalized message.
Big Apple Circus: Journey to the Rainbow
Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park, New York, NY
November 8 – January 1, 2024
More than 30 artists from all over the world will perform in costumes specially designed for the show, and there will be a live orchestra of eight musicians.
Chrysanthemum Festival
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Through November 12
Walk through displays of 5,000 yellow, orange, lavender and maroon chrysanthemums. It’s based on an ancient art from Japan and China, where flowers are arranged in the shape of spirals, obelisks, columns and clouds.
Night Owl Markets
The Market Pavilion, Highland Park
November 12, 25 and 26; December 9-10
The outdoor markets feature local artists, artisans and crafters.
Duke Farms Market
Duke Farms, Hillsborough
Sundays, through November 12
The best farms and artisan vendors from the Raritan Watershed region will offer items for all your grocery needs.
Chrysanthemum Festival
Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA
Through November 12
Walk through displays of 5,000 yellow, orange, lavender and maroon chrysanthemums. It’s based on an ancient art from Japan and China, where flowers are arranged in the shape of spirals, obelisks, columns and clouds.
T-Rex Takeover
Field Station: Dinosaurs, Leonia
Select days, through November 12
The park is home to more than 30 larger-than-life-sized dinosaurs and includes the Jurassic Jump attraction, activities like dino trivia or feeding a T-Rex, time to speak with actual paleontologists and a scavenger hunt. Starting now, you can go for Dinosaurs After Dark on Friday and Saturday nights.
Circus Vazquez
Woodbridge Center Mall, Woodbridge
Through November 13
This is no ordinary circus. Instead, watch as an international cast of performers do trapeze acts, juggle faster than you can imagine, ride a unicycle through a 15-wheel vertical cycle; and perform a rarely seen Palo Hindu act.
Aerial Adventure Park Night Climb
Great Gorge Golf Club, Vernon
Select dates, through November 18
Night climbs give you three hours of access to the 10 original aerial obstacle courses, plus the new zipline course, The Black Creek Flyer. You can spend the night climbing, zipping, scrambling and scampering through the trees. Stop for something to eat or sit by the fire to relax before heading up again.
Morning Walks
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Saturdays, through November 18
During a quiet morning at the sanctuary, walk the trails with an NJ Audubon staff member or associate naturalist and learn about the birds, trees, tracks, wildflowers, reptiles and amphibians that you come across.
Food Truck Festival Season
Laurita Winery, New Egypt
Select Saturdays and Sundays, through November 19
Each weekend will have a different theme with food trucks to match, plus a glass of wine or two. There will be family activities, too.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
The Broadway Theatre of Pitman, Pitman
Weekends, through November 19
This musical stage play is based on the classic Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale and the popular Disney film.
Sensory Sundays
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Sundays, November 19 and December 17
This new program is part of the aquarium’s commitment to creating an inclusive, entertaining and educational experience for all guests, including anyone with autism or sensory sensitivities. There will be lower music and lighting as well as limited capacity.
Family Fun Football Sundays
Casino Pier, Seaside Heights
Sundays, through November 19
Sundays, November 26 – December 17
While the adults are watching NFL games, the kids can play in the arcade, get their face painted and meet special costumed characters.
Formula 1 at RPM Raceway
RPM Raceway, Jersey City
Through November 26
If you want in on the action, jump in an electric go-kart and race against time while virtually challenging famous Formula 1 racers’ scores and striving to outpace their legendary lap times. You can play in the arcade, at its state-of-the-art racing simulators, billiards, bowling alley and Hologate Virtual Reality center. If you want to sit on the sidelines, have lunch at RPM Sports Bar & Grill and watch F1 races in real time on larger-than-life screens throughout the venue.
Hopatcong Sunday Market & Craft Fair
Park & Ride, Hopatcong
Sundays, through November 26
Each week, bring the kids and shop from a variety of food, produce and craft vendors.
Diggerfest
Diggerland USA, West Berlin
Saturdays-Sundays, through November 26
Diggerland’s Fall Festival includes live music, special foods, hay rides, Circus Stella, fun and games, fire truck rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin decorating, a pipe roll, a corn maze, photo stands, fire pits and a fall parade.
Xiomáro’s Street Haunting: Photographs Virginia Woolf Might Have Taken
Starlight Gallery of the Mayo Performing Arts Center, Morristown
Through November 28
The artistic roots of street photography can be traced as far back as da Vinci’s street sketches. For Xiomaro, New York City is a source for creating candid photographs of dramatic, weird, and ghostly moments – while not using Photoshop, filters, or other manipulations. There are 16 large prints on view in this exhibition.
Counterpoint: Artists From The Arts Access Program at Matheny
The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster
Through December 8
For more than 25 years, The Matheny Arts Access Program has been empowering artists with disabilities to create art without limits. This gallery will showcase some of their work.
Kendra: A Celebration of Work by Contemporary Indo-American Artists
The Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster
Through December 8
Artists of all genres from the South Asian diaspora can participate and showcase their art and highlight the rich tradition of their native land through a contemporary art exhibition.
Winter Lantern Festival
American Dream, East Rutherford
Thursdays – Sundays, through January 2
More than 1,000 handcrafted Chinese lanterns and lights will be on display. The lanterns are made with hand-painted silk cloth and LED lights. There will be gorgeous displays of Chinese myths, legends and zodiac-inspired lanterns designed as an animal kingdom, a sea world and a theme park. Look for mammoths, polar bears, penguins, and a 50-foot-tall lantern display of Sun Wukong. You can also make your own lantern and dress up in traditional Chinese attire. The exhibit is open from Thursdays to Sundays.
Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park
Bryant Park, New York, NY
Holiday shops open through January 2
The Rink and The Lodge, open through March 3
The rink is the largest, free ice skating rink in New York. You can relax at The Lodge, where you can eat and drink while watching skaters from the rinkside or overlooking the gigantic Christmas tree. The Holiday Shops by Urbanspace Markets is another huge draw, and boasts more than 180 new and returning merchants in an open-air holiday market.
Threading Memories
Art@Bainbridge, Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton
Through January 7
Korean-born artist MiKyoung Lee hosts her first solo museum exhibition. The exhibition features richly textured large-scale sculptures and wall-mounted works, and explores themes of domesticity, family ties, and how we process memory and experience.
Ice Skating at Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Through March
The famous ice-skating rink returns to Rockefeller Center in NYC for its 87th season. While you’re watching the skating, or when you need to take a break from the ice, you can warm up inside the special skate chalets on the South Esplanade. This year will be the first time you can enjoy alcoholic beverages in the chalets, with a soon-to-be-announced menu of drinks by Other Half Brewery, served alongside a menu of après-skate bites. Skating runs through March but the chalets will be rentable from November 4 to January 14, 2024. Details on Family and Kids Day and opportunities to take photos with Santa will be announced.
The Science Behind Pixar
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 5
Learn all about the science behind Pixar’s animated films. Kids can try a bunch of hands-on experiences like making a short film, creating a robot friend for “WALL·E” and designing a new movie set using props from “Monsters University.” Learn what animation rendering is, then practice it by rendering a scene from “Inside Out.” Create a digital sculpture from an artist’s sketch. Use lights to solve challenges similar to the ones Pixar faced in creating underwater scenes with virtual light in “Finding Nemo.”
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