We hope Halloween isn’t a total rainout (check each event’s social media page before heading out!). It looks like the weather will clear up by Saturday though. We’ve rounded up plenty of spooky and not-so-spooky ways to spend HalloWeekend with the kids–from the final fall festivals to events to mark the Day of the Dead on November 1st. And don’t forget to turn your clocks back an hour on Saturday night!
WEEKEND
Jacks & Lights
Argos Farm, Forked River
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
Included in admission are the lighted pumpkin trail, the pumpkin patch, a flashlight maze, access to fall treats and the Spook-Easy, and photo ops.
Great Pumpkin Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
There will be 35+ fall-themed attractions, plus food, games, a hayride to the pumpkin patch, an Alice in Wonderland-themed corn maze, farm animals and pig races, a dog show, a giant slingshot, a straw pyramid and a baseball speed through. For an additional fee, take the kids to the carnival ride area, apple cannon, paintball range and gem mining.
Halloween at Marcus Live!
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream, East Rutherford
Wednesday – Friday
Make a reservation for dinner from Monday to Thursday and you’ll get to watch two Halloween movies during a double feature. On Halloween night, a Haunted Vibes party includes festive food, drinks and music.
Fall Harvest Days
Norz Hill Farm, Hillsborough
Wednesday – Friday
There are farm tours, corn mazes, a kids’ corner, food, and a scenic pumpkin patch.
Indian Acres Tree Farm Fall Activities
Indian Acres Tree Farm, Medford
Wednesday – Friday
There will be pumpkin picking, a giant sorghum maze with 40 scarecrows to find, Boo Buddies Maze with 19 kid-friendly scarecrows, a Ghoul Gang Maze with 21 “slightly scary” scarecrows, weekends-only barrel train rides, a free play area, live music, visits with goats and alpacas, grilled food, and apple cider donuts.
Harvest Glow
The Bronx Zoo, The Bronx, NY
Wednesday – Friday
Although the animals won’t be viewable at night, the nighttime Halloween spectacular features a trail of 5,000 hand-carved, animal-themed jack-o’-lanterns, Dinosaur Safari, pumpkin carving demos, games, face painting, illuminated characters, shows in the Wildlife Theater, photo ops and food trucks.
Halloween Light Show
Demarest Farms, Hillsdale
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Known for its Orchard of Lights at Christmastime, the Halloween Light Show is a family-friendly drive-through of 32 acres around the farm. After, park your car near the farm market for fall goodies.
Corn Maze, Hayrides & Pumpkin Adventures
Abma’s Farm, Wyckoff and Hillsborough
Wednesday and Saturday
Depending on the location, there will be morning yoga, music classes, tractor time, spooky storytime, a Halloween dance party, a corn maze, hayrides, and pumpkin picking.
GLOW Spooky Speedway
GLOW, Washington Twp. (Sicklerville)
Wednesday – Sunday
Take a light-filled journey as you figuratively drive along Route 66. Expect glowing pumpkins, ghosts and witches, all brought to life by thousands of synchronized lights.
Fintastic Pumpkin Glow
Adventure Aquarium, Camden
Wednesday – Sunday
The aquarium’s fall festival puts glowing gourds of every shape, size and species both above the surface and deep below the sharks and stingrays. As part of the themed activities, you can paint and take home your own personalized pumpkin masterpiece.
Halloween House
Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Twp.
Deptford Mall, Deptford
Wednesday – Sunday
This indoor experience transports you into a movie-based Halloween world that is more creative than scary. Each of the 10 rooms you walk through has a different scene, like the Beetlejuice Illusion Room, Glow Room, Halloweentown and Trick-or-Treat Room.
Halloween Parade
Asbury Avenue, Ocean City
Thursday
Celebrate Halloween by walking in the parade or lining the streets.
Haunted Car Wash
Team Car Wash, Westfield
Thursday
Teens from Play Theater, a performing arts program for kids in Union County, will dress up in creepy costumed characters and spook you while you wait in line. You’ll listen to Halloween-themed audio while your car gets washed.
Westmont Lions Club Parade
Haddon Avenue, Haddon Twp.
Thursday
At the end of the parade route, the celebration continues with a DJ and dance party.
Soccer Factory Legends Match
American Dream, East Rutherford
Thursday – Friday
American Dream will celebrate soccer history with a special Legends Match exhibition on Thursday, featuring an all-star lineup of soccer legends; followed by meet-and-greets with the legendary footballers on Friday.
Red Wagon Farm Fall Activities
136 Applegarth Rd., Monroe
Thursday – Friday
Activities include pumpkin picking, hayrides, farm animals, redneck basketball, a giant swing set, axe throwing, tic tac toe, checkers, rock hunt, cornhole, tug of war, bowling, a tire mountain, ring toss, Connect 4 and Jenga.
Clean & Scream
Hopewell Valley Car Wash, Pennington
Thursday – Friday
The Ghostbusters of NJ will try to take down some of the ghosts lurking around the car wash.
Brookdale’s Haunted Theater
Brookdale Performing Arts Center, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft
Thursday, Saturday and Sunday
The indoor, self-guided maze is built by more than 100 Brookdale students, faculty, alumni and community members. You’ll be screaming as you wander through pitch-black passages, immersive set designs and eerie special effects. If you don’t want to jump scares, consider taking a daytime, lights-on behind-the-scenes tour of the sets on October 26 or November 2.
Fright Fest
Six Flags Great Adventure Resort, Jackson Twp.
Thursday – Sunday
Start in the daytime at Kids Boo Fest, a not-so-scary Halloween event with trick-or-treating, silly performances and fall photo ops. At night, dare to be scared inside movie-themed haunted houses, scare zones and themed performances.
Samhain + Dia de los Muertos
San Patricios, Jersey City
Thursday – Sunday
This Mexican cantina and Irish pub fusion restaurant will celebrate both Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), the Irish pagan festival that predates Halloween, and Día de los Muertos. Events include live Irish music on Thursday; trick-or-treating with Irish and Mexican sweets, DJs, and a Day of the Dead Costume Party on Friday; kids’ face painting during the day and live music at night on Saturday; and a live four-piece Mexican band plus Catrina dancers on Sunday.
Harvest Moon Nights
Alstede Farms, Chester
Friday – Saturday
After going through the corn maze, take a leisurely hayride through the fields, then have some snacks by the campfire. There will be locally crafted hard ciders from Ironbound Hard Cider.
Reopening of Princeton University Art Museum
Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton University campus, Princeton
Friday – Saturday
A 24-hour open house begins Friday night to unveil the new building, which has undergone renovations since 2018. There are more than 117,000 objects representing over 5,000 years of artwork, spread out across three floors and nine pavilions. For the grand opening, expect programming, artist convos, panel discussions, film screenings, performances and art making projects.
Dracula’s Lair Haunted House
Mill Ballet School, New Hope, PA
Friday – Saturday
This is part live dance theater performance, part haunted attraction. You’ll start by wandering through a torch-lit haunted trail, and then sit down in the theater for a Halloween ballet performance.
Fall Harvest Festival
East Jersey Old Town Village, Piscataway
Friday – Sunday
There will be pumpkins, wagon rides to the farm fields, seasonal treats, interactive living history interpreters, tours of the historic buildings, live music by the Sawmill Run Old Time String Band, children’s crafts, goodies inside the gift shop, and BBQ fusion-inspired cuisine from Beastro. You can also explore the nearby Cornelius Low House Museum.
Happy Day Farm Fall Festival
Happy Day Farm, Manalapan
Friday – Sunday
There’s a little bit of everything you love about fall here: sunflower and pumpkin picking, corn cannon and pumpkin blaster, animal zoo and pony rides, a real corn maze and an inflatable corn maze, pig races and a bee barn, pumpkin bowling and a spider web climb, and many more kid-friendly activities.
Halloween Haunt
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown, PA
Friday – Sunday
There are seven haunted mazes, separate scare zones, access to the theme park’s 60 rides, musical stage shows, and seasonal food and drinks.
NJ Coffee Festival
iPlay America, Freehold Twp.
Saturday – Sunday
Get your caffeine fix during one of four sessions over the weekend, where you can try lots of samples, tag bags of coffee to go, create coffee-themed artwork, listen to live music, and shop from the crafters and food vendors.
Sip in Autumn Wine Festival
Veterans Park, Bayville
Saturday – Sunday
The autumn marketplace lets adults sample an array of local wines, while the whole family can browse the marketplace, order from the food trucks, and dance to the music of Right Turn at 40 on Saturday, and Goldenseal on Sunday.
Shades of Autumn Fall Foliage Tours
Port Imperial, Weehawken
Saturday – Sunday
NY Waterway offers two- and four-hour boat tours along the Hudson River so you can see the beautiful fall foliage in addition to the awesome NYC skyline. You’ll get food and drinks on board, plus a tour guide will point out historical sites along the way.
Von Thun Farms’ Fall Festival
Von Thun Farms, Washington Twp.
Saturday – Sunday
Come to the farm for apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, cider donuts, apple blasters, corn cannons, other kids’ activities, and a new Sesame Street-themed corn maze.
Gleneayre Horse Show & Hunter Derby
Gleneayre Farm, Lumberton
Saturday – Sunday
Watch elegant horses and riders in action, stroll the vendor market, bid in the basket auction, and order food from Red’s Rolling Restaurant.
Mrs. Doubtfire
State Theatre New Jersey, New Brunswick
Saturday – Sunday
The movie comes to life on stage in a musical comedy. There is a pre-performance talk before the 8 pm show on Saturday, which also includes audio description.
Revolutionary Philadelphia 1775
Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, PA
Saturday – Sunday
The living history event takes you back to Fall 1775, when Philly was on the road to Revolution. There will be walking tours, dramatic vignettes, hands-on activities, meet-and-greet with the residents of British Philadelphia, artisan demos, and old school political debates.
The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
Sesame Place Philadelphia, Langhorne, PA
Saturday – Sunday
Sesame Street- and Halloween-themed activities include a castle maze, stage performance, trick-or-treating, costume contests, Halloween parade, pumpkin decorating, character shows, Halloween storytime, and a special Halloween dining op.
Bank of America Museums on Us Weekend
Multiple locations
Saturday – Sunday
Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank cardholders can receive free general admission to various cultural attractions on the first full weekend of each month.
Apple Festival
Peddler’s Village, Lahaska, PA
Saturday – Sunday
The weekend festival will feature apple-inspired food and drinks, baked goods, live entertainment, and family activities – like axe throwing, lawn games, sand art, face painting, a petting zoo, a mobile escape room, and a pie-eating contest.
FRIDAY
Toms River’s Halloween Parade
Toms River Shopping Center / Highland Parkway, Toms River
Hosted by Toms River Fire Co. No. 1, this annual parade is one of the biggest in the state.
Hoboken’s Legendary Ragamuffin Parade
Washington Street, Hoboken
Marchers will start at the Elks Club and walk along Washington Street in their costumes.
Halloween Game Night: Dungeons & Dragons
Eclectic Chic Boutique, Montclair
If your teens are “over” trick-or-treating, they can still dress in costume and play a game of D&D.
Pokeween
Progress CCG, West Milford
This free Pokémon-sanctioned event includes themed activities, cake from the Cake Boss, and trick-or-treating in costume.
Halloween at Museum of the American Revolution
Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, PA
Revolutionary, family-friendly frights include turnip-carving demos and Revolutionary stencils for your jack-o-lantern.
Byrne Community Center Haunted Gym
Byrne Community Center, Wildwood
Walk through the haunted gym and receive tricks – or treats – along the way.
Spooktacular Halloween Party
Sofia, Englewood
Moms and dads – don your most creative Halloween costume and dance the night away while the kids sleep off their sugar high. There will be free bar bites at midnight.
Halloween at Marcus Live!
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream, East Rutherford
On Halloween night, a Haunted Vibes party includes festive food, drinks and music.
SATURDAY
Trail of Two Cities 5K Run/Walk
Ocean City
This 5K race goes from Ocean City to Somers Point. The route travels the length of the Route 52 causeway in the lanes usually reserved for cars.
Festival de Dia de Muertos
War Memorial Park, New Brunswick
French Street will be packed with a community altar, traditional folklore dances, traditional music, a contest for Catrinas (traditional dress for Day of the Dead), storytelling, and Mexican food and drinks.
Fall Foliage Walk
Hawk Rise Sanctuary, Linden
Bring the kids for walk through Hawk Rise forest, where you’ll see the beautiful colors of fall. You’ll also learn about the wildlife that lives at Hawk Rise.
Makerspace
Museum of Early Trades & Crafts, Madison
Kids ages 5 to 12 can use the 3D printer, build with LEGOs, make jewelry, experiment with a marble run and use coding robots.
Five-Mile Beach Half Marathon, 10K and 5K
The Wildwoods (begins and ends at Rambler Road park in Wildwood Crest)
The races take place just after sunrise. You’ll take on a fast, flat course that winds through the coastal communities of Wildwood, North Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. An inflatable finish line arch will be waiting for all runners, plus food and drink post-race.
Cider Making
Howell Living History Farm, Hopewell Twp.
To earn a taste of some fresh apple cider, you have to turn the crank of the cider press and help refill the hopper with the Macintosh, Cortland and Red Delicious apples that make for a perfect blend. Then, stop by the farmhouse for lunch.
Artisan Market
Bergen Town Center, Paramus
Take a stroll through this market in the mall, featuring 25+ artisans and vendors selling handcrafted jewelry, home decor, pet products, sweet treats, handmade gifts and more.
Meadows Miler
Rosedale Park, Pennington
Take on the USATF-NJ certified 5K or 10K trail races, opt for a slower Fun Run, or watch kids 10 and under dash across the meadow. After the race, celebrate at the post-race party with a bubble party, face painting, balloon art, music and vendors. Every step supports Princeton Child Development Institute (PCDI) and its programs for people with autism. You can take part virtually, too.
Maple Leaf Farms Fall Fun Fest
Maple Leaf Farms, Manalapan
Classic autumn adventures include hayrides through the farm, a sprawling corn maze, a festive pumpkin village, train rides, farm animal encounters, outdoor games, playgrounds, and interactive attractions for kids of all ages. There are live bull riding shows and pig races scheduled throughout each day.
Choo Choo & Boo Halloween
Northlandz, Flemington
At the world’s largest miniature wonderland, there will be a kids’ costume contest, trunk-or-treat, a pumpkin hunt, pumpkin carving, a scavenger hunt, a spooky tour, and An outdoor train ride.
Dia de los Muertos Celebration
Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City
As part of the year-long programming by Prudential North to Shore, celebrate Mexican heritage through a community altar contest, live performances and music, a Catrin competition (attire), an artisan market, hands-on activities, face painting, food and a pop-up art exhibit.
Cow Parade
Cherry Grove Farm, Lawrenceville
Based on the Swiss autumnal tradition of bringing the cows down from the high mountains where they have been grazing all summer, farmers at Cherry Grove will decorate their cows with flower garlands and bells and have them parade around the pastures. The afternoon will include a fall festival with food trucks, vendors, activities for children, hayrides, obstacle courses, artists, animals and more.
Winery Weekend Music Series
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
In the wine orchard among 100-year-old apple trees, have a glass of wine, listen to live music from local artists, snack on food, shop in the farm store, or take a stroll with the kids on the farm.
SUNDAY
Dia De Los Muertos
Princeton Shopping Center, Princeton
The outdoor festival will include Mariachi, dance, Mexican food and hands-on projects inspired by traditional folk art (like painting sugar skulls).
Holiday Flea & Gift Fair
Fanwood Train Station, Fanwood
There will be roughly 75 vendors set up indoors and possibly outdoors so you can start your holiday shopping.
RWJBarnabas Health Running With the Devils 5K Run & Walk
Cherry Lane and South Mountain Recreation Complex, West Orange
Plus Virtual Option
After the competitive 5K race and more laid-back wellness walk (both go along the scenic reservoir), you’ll get free admission to Turtle Back Zoo. You can also choose the virtual option, which lets you run or walk at the location of your choice, at your own pace, from October 2 to November 2.
Sunday Afternoon Bird Walk
Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville
Jeremy Cohen, Associate Naturalist for NJ Audubon, will help you look for late migrant birds and the birds that will be staying at the sanctuary for the winter.
Kids Craft Drop-In Days
Wicoff House Museum, Plainsboro
Kids can choose to make a variety of crafts inspired by history, art and the season.
Day of the Dead Celebration
Riverview Fisk Park, Jersey City
The festival will include a giant puppet parade at 12 pm, a community Ofrenda (altar), live Mariachi and music, traditional dance, and a community party.
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company: Día de Muertos
Pfleeger Concert Hall, Rowan University, Glassboro
Mexican-American culture is presented through folk and classical music and dance.
Emerald City Character Brunch
The Bistro at iPlay America
Take pictures and go home with a free coloring book after having brunch with two characters based off of The Wizard of Oz.
Main Street Pops Artisan Market
Monroe Plaza, Hoboken
There will be dozens of artisan vendors, live music and food vendors.
Duck Donuts 5K & 10K Run
Duke Island Park, Bridgewater
After you run or walk a flat fast 5K or 10K, a free Duck Donut will be waiting for you at the finish line. The race supports GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough, whose mission is to increase positive awareness of Down syndrome.
ONGOING
Disney on Ice: Jump In!
Prudential Center, Newark: October 29 – November 2
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City: November 7-9
Catch characters from Moana 2, Inside Out 2, Toy Story, Encanto, Zootopia and Frozen skate around. There will be a special festive holiday sing-along with Olaf. You can add on a meet-and-greet with Moana. On Halloween, come in costume for a special show.
Highlights Tour
Zimmerli Art Museum, New Brunswick
November 2, November 15, November 19, December 6, December 14
Student educators will take you on a free guided tour of the galleries, highlighting key artworks in the Zimmerli’s collection.
Legends Brunch
Marcus Live! Bar & Grille, American Dream, East Rutherford
November 2 and 16
Giants and Jets fans can pregame at a two-hour breakfast buffet, which includes meet-and-greets with football legends. Stars on the schedule include Bart Oates, Joe Klecko, Wayne Chrebet, Ahmad Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks.
Hoboken Art Month
Throughout Hoboken
Through November 3
Highlights include a storefront art walk with a docent-led tour, Jazz on the Hudson, a public print event where families can squeegee their own hand-cut print on paper, storytelling, a lace exhibit, a screening of “Hocus Pocus,” a walking tour of Hoboken art studios, pop-up markets, musical performances, an improv workshop, hat making and pottery building.
Halloween Nights
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA
Select nights, through November 8
The ten-acre former prison site is transformed for Halloween with five haunted houses, historic tours, themed bars, live entertainment, and more. There’s an outdoor scare zone, food and drink vendors, a lineup of characters from Shadow of the Veil, and the ability to “opt in” to access hidden passageways.
Field Station: Dinosaurs
Overpeck County Park, Leonia
Select dates, through November 9
This will be the final season of the dino-themed park, which has 30 life-sized dinosaurs, a bounce house, live musical shows, meetings with paleontologists and science shows.
Fall Theatre Season
All Children’s Art Center of New Jersey, Denville
Select dates, through November 26
ACACNJ’s fall productions include Aladdin, Camp Rock, The Sound of Music Jr., Shrek Jr., and The SpongeBob Musical.
Terhune Orchards Fall Art Show
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Through December 7
This year’s exhibit honors the Mount family with the theme “50 Years of Terhune Orchards.” Displayed inside the 250-year-old red barn, the art showcases original works inspired by the farm’s landscape, history and community over the past five decades.
Fall Planetarium Shows
Longo Planetarium, County College of Morris, Randolph
Select dates, through December 13
There are three shows to choose from: Cosmic Colors takes you on a journey across the entire electromagnetic spectrum; in Messengers of Time and Space, you can get an in-depth look at how large telescopes are mapping the universe and patrolling the sky for supernovas; or take a live tour of the night sky in Starlit Nights. All shows include a tour of the night sky and planets.
Hometown Pride: The Power of Sports in Middlesex County
Cornelius Low House Museum, Piscataway
Select dates through December 31
Middlesex County’s sports connections include the first-ever college football game played between Rutgers University and Princeton University; professional athletes and Olympians, Paralympians, and Special Olympians. You will see high school trophies from the 1930s to the present, NFL golden footballs for pro athletes, balls from the highest-scoring high school athletes, uniforms from the 1930s to the present, and more.
Springsteen in Long Branch: An exhibition telling the story of Born to Run
Long Branch Arts & Cultural Center, Long Branch
Ongoing through 2026
Fifty years ago, Bruce Springsteen wrote the “Born to Run” album in West End, Long Branch. A new exhibit showcases his life at the Jersey Shore through photos, posters, album promo materials and mementos – like his green drum set from his first band, and a replica of the guitar used on the album cover.
SUE The T. Rex Experience
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City
Through May 25, 2026
The world’s most complete, most well-preserved T. rex skeleton is making a stop at LSC so you can see her bones, hear her growl and smell her breath (seriously!). There will be fossils on display, projection mapping of other prehistoric creatures, and a life-sized fleshed-out replica to show what the creature’s life was like in the Cretaceous era.
Editor’s Note: Always check times, dates and weather updates before heading out.
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Read More:
Fall Fun in New Jersey
Celebrate Halloween at These Spooky (and Not-So-Spooky) Events
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