Now that fall is officially here, it’s time to plan your first weekend of amazing autumn activities. Head out to a family-friendly Oktoberfest celebration, hit the farm for a harvest moon hayride or enjoy food and music at a jazz festival that will have you dancing in the streets. Don’t forget the pumpkin spice latte on your way out the door as its’ time to celebrate all things fall!
All Weekend
Oktoberfest at Morey’s Piers
Mariner’s Pier, Wildwood
Friday – Sunday, various times
This fall guests can enjoy four consecutive weekends of German-themed revelry, live entertainment, kids “Rootbier Garten” activity area and more. A full line-up of bands will rock the Coca-Cola stage at Mariner’s Pier near the Giant Wheel during the Oktoberfest weekends. Musical performances are scheduled for Fridays from 6:30pm-10:30pm; Saturdays from 1:00pm 5:00pm, then again from 6:30pm-10:30pm; and Sundays from 1:00pm-4:00pm.
Harvest Moon Nights at Alstede Farms
Alstede Farms, Chester
Friday, Saturday 6 – 10 pm
Fall is a fabulous season for families to spend quality time enjoying the scenic outdoors on the farm. The selection of fall activities here offers something for everyone, from delightful harvest moon hayrides to night time corn maze fun. Delight in picking your own pumpkin, enjoy live entertainment, sip fresh pressed cider, all while creating the perfect family memories around a campfire.
Halloween Light Show
Demarest Farms, Hillsdale
Friday – Sunday, 7 – 9:30 pm
It’s the most Spooky time of year at Demarest Farms! Take your vehicle on a guided tour through 32 acres of brilliant Halloween light displays, warm up by the fire pit and enjoy hot cocoa and treats in the retail farm market. This experience is appropriate for all ages!
Heart of Oneness Holistic Expo
NJ Convention Center, Edison
Friday-Sunday, 10 am – 9pm
This 3-day, family-friendly event aims to bring together a community of love, kindness and oneness to remind everyone of the normalcy before the world got so dark. With holistic health vendors/healers, workshops, presentations and more. The event supports the NJ small business community and focuses on wellness and spirituality through interactive exhibits such as crystal energy, oils, reiki healing and more.
Roseland Greek Fest
Ss. Nicholas Constantine & Helen Church, Roseland
Friday- Sunday 12 – 7pm
Roseland Greek Fest is back! Join for authentic Greek food like delicious gyros, souvlaki, pastitsio and more. Don’t miss the decadent baklava and Greek pastries. Enjoy music from a live Greek band, church tours, and games for the kids. Free Parking and shuttle bus available. $2 daily admission.
Fall Family Fun Weekends at Terhune Orchards
Terhune Orchards, Princeton
Saturday- Sunday, 10am – 5pm
Visit the barnyard of animals, adventure barn, hay bale & corn mazes, pony rides, pumpkin picking & painting, pedal tractors, and enjoy fresh, open air. Have fun at the hippity-hop corral and duck races. Explore the hands-on fun in the discovery barn, little tots farm store and junior mechanics shop. Enjoy the live music while taking in the fresh air and open space of the farm. Walk among nature on the farm trail and wind your way through the cornstalk maze.
The Hot Air Balloon Fun & Games Festival
Warren Community College, Washington
Friday – Sunday, 3 – 8 pm
Event highlights include mass hot air balloon launches nightly at 5:15 pm and tethered rides will be offered during the events, $15 for adults and $10 for ages up to 12 years. Times will be announced, based on wind conditions.
AsburyFest
Across from Conventional Hall, Asbury Park
Friday – Sunday, 11 am – 10 pm
The Annual AsburyFest (formerly Asbury Park Oysterfest) is back and better than ever! What’s the perfect recipe for a cool weekend in the hottest town at the Jersey Shore? Start with some of the best festival food around, add a dash of music, and a pinch of surprises and you have AsburyFest, a three-day culinary event you don’t want to miss. This year’s event will be held across the street from the iconic Convention Hall, in Bradley Park.
Hackettstown Oktoberfest 2021
Main St., Hackettstown
Saturday – Sunday, 12 – 6 pm
Join to celebrate the 5th annual Hackettstown Oktoberfest! Czig Meister Brewing Company, Man Skirt Brewing and Bea McNally’s Irish Pub and Eatery will host activities, contests, craft vendors, music, drinks and food. This Oktoberfest is a family friendly event; there will be kids activities and other non-alcohol related activities.
DiDonato’s Trick-or-Treat Train
DiDonato Family Fun Center, Hammonton
Saturday – Sunday, 12-5 pm
This little goblin-friendly Halloween outdoor train ride will leave the whole family laughing and gasping for more! Tricks, treats, and surprises are included for kids and grownups. Admission includes a train ride through a little-goblin friendly Halloween Town, Halloween Hay Maze, a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch and more!
37th Annual Mountain Creek Oktoberfest
Mountain Creek Resort, Vernon
Saturday – Sunday, 12 – 6 pm
This fest is more than just 100 varieties of beer and cider and authentic German food. It includes pony rides, a petting zoo, reptile and bird shows, a bounce house, sack races and more for the kids, plus a lumberjack contest, hay bale toss, stein holding contest and more for adults.
Ho-Ho-Kus Oktoberfest
Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern, Ho-Ho-Kus
Thursday – Saturday, 7 – 10 pm
Join and help celebrate Oktoberfest like the Germans have for generations! Grab your special date, some friends, and don’t forget your lederhosen and dirndl and make your reservations now!
Friday
Smithsonian Spark!Lab
Morris Museum, Morristown
Friday, 12-4pm
Spark!Lab offers any child (ages 5-12 years old and accompanied by an adult) a new, informal approach to hands-on learning. Instead of following step-by-step instructions, young inventors will be empowered to problem-solve and overcome real-world obstacles. Spark!Lab offers many unique, project-specific stations, where inventors can engage directly with engineering and design challenges.
Saturday
Picture Book Palooza
Cranford Community Center, Cranford
Saturday, 10am – 12pm
Join the Cranford Public Library for their third annual Picture Book Palooza, featuring Anne Appert, Mike Ciccotello, Rosanne Kurstedt and Laura Sassi! Picture book authors will be sharing books and crafts on Saturday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m. in the Cranford Community Center. This free event, for children ages 4-8 and their families, will provide young readers with an opportunity to meet the creators of some truly amazing stories! No registration is required. Books will be on hand for purchase and autographing — cash or check only, please.
Holi Hai Color Walk
City Hall, Jersey City
Saturday, 10am – 8 pm
Celebrate Holi in the Fall outdoors with a family-friendly Hudson River Color Walk beginning in City Hall, Jersey City followed by the all-day festival at the sprawling Pier A Park in Hoboken with Colors, Live performances, Vendors, Cash bar, Food, DJ, and Dancing.
Italian Festival
Historic Smithville, Smithville
Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm
The Festival will feature an Italian Market offering a spectacular variety of wares and food. The day will be filled with live Italian music, bocce ball on the Greene, folk dancing, children activities and more.
Edison Fall Family Spectacular
Amboy Ave., Edison
Saturday, 11 am – 11 pm
Edison’s Fall Family Spectacular is hosted by the Township of Edison and the Edison Recreation Department and held along Amboy Ave in the Clara Barton Section from Waltuma Ave. to Jackson Ave. Opening ceremony is 1 pm on 5th St. stage. Bring the kids to this family event for kiddie rides, games, face painting, sand art, pro wrestling ring, remote control car track and much more! Over eight blocks of food, crafts, exhibitors and a wine & beer garden.
Passaic County BBQ Festival
Weasel Brook Park, Clifton
Saturday, 11 am – 7 pm
This event will feature approximately 20 food trucks and vendors to tantalize a variety of taste buds. The delectable offerings can be washed down with Ghost Hawk beer, Passaic County’s first microbrewery, wine, hard seltzers and soft drinks. Entertainment at the Food Truck Festival will include hatchet toss, boardwalk games, and face painting for the kids as well as a vintage base ball game played by the rules of 1864. Live music will be on hand in the form of Wolf Gang Jack, Grand Theft Audio and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.
2021 Roselle Park Art Festival
Roselle Park, Roselle Park
Saturday, 12 – 6 pm
The Roselle Park Art Festival returns with local, regional and professional artists, artisans and performers. Rain or shine, the free festivities start on Chestnut Street and Grant Avenue in downtown Roselle Park, which will be transformed into a celebration of the arts.
Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
Yogi Berra Stadium, Little Falls
Saturday, 12 – 7 pm
The Food Truck and Craft Beer Fest makes its grand comeback this fall at Yogi Berra Stadium. It’s a day of food, fun and family that you won’t want to miss and the event has entertainment for all ages. Spend a special day enjoying the outdoors, delicious food, craft beer, music and more.
Jersey City Jazz Festival
Harborside Parking Lot, Jersey City
Saturday, 12- 9 pm
The annual Jersey City Jazz Festival has returned. The event will include access to a variety of food trucks and the chance to see world-class performances by eight bands.
Trenton 2021 Riverfest
Trenton Thunder Ballpark, Trenton
Saturday, 12 – 5 pm
Riverfest features games, live music, craft beers, pork roll eating contest and menu items inspired by the Trenton-founded Case’s Pork Roll.
Tewksbury Harvest Festival
Christie Hoffman Farm Park, Tewksbury
Saturday, 12 – 5 pm
This festival features food trucks, beer garden, craft vendors, music by Bonnie Boland Band, classic car show, petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides, tethered hot air balloon, silent auction and other attractions to benefit Tewksbury First Aid and Rescue Squad and Tewksbury Library.
Sunday
22nd Annual Leonia Oktoberfest
American Legion Post 1, Leonia
Sunday, 2 – 8 pm
The 22nd Annual Leonia Oktoberfest is a fundraiser for the Rotary Club of The Palisades and the Center For Food Action in Englewood. It features beer, live music, entertainment, food sold by the Flying Deutschman food truck and the annual Beer Stemming contest. The event is family-friendly.
Jersey Shore Comic Book Show
Toms River Elks Lodge, Toms River
Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm
Comic book show with vendors, artists, writers and costume groups. Meet characters from Star Wars and The Avengers. Fun for the whole family. Costume contest with prizes for all ages. Admission is $3 for adults. Children under 12 are admitted free.
The SwingTime Dolls
Investors Bank Theater, Succasunna
Sunday, 4 – 6:30 pm
The SwingTime Dolls is an all-female vocal group consisting of three of the area’s most accomplished vocalists that shine a new light on the tunes of the American Hit Parade of the 1940s and beyond. Drawing on inspiration from The Andrews Sisters, the Dolls pride themselves on tight and intricate harmonies that are sure to keep any listener engaged.
Audubon: Autumn Nature Walk
New Jersey Botanical Garden, Ringwood
Sunday, 10 am
The Bergen County Audubon Society will lead a walk through the gardens and fields looking for and identifying the migrating birds and butterflies that visit the New Jersey Botanical Gardens. They will discuss the many important trees, shrubs, and plants that provide much needed food and cover during migration.
Kessler Foundation Stroll n’ Roll 2021
Verona Park, Verona
Sunday, 10 am – 1 pm
Join Kessler Foundation for the best—and first—hybrid Stroll ‘N Roll in Verona Park and virtually, from our own neighborhoods to change lives and show the world that abilities—not disabilities—are what matter. Form a fundraising team with your friends, family, and coworkers or post the most about Stroll ‘N Roll on social media using the hashtag #StrollNRoll2021 for a chance to win prizes!
MarketFair Health & Wellness Expo
MarketFair, Princeton
Sunday, 11 am – 3 pm
Join MarketFair in partnership with CentralJersey.com for our 2021 Health & Wellness Expo as they open the doors to the community to learn how to live a healthy life. This event will provide information, resources and interactive activities for people of all ages. The event is free to attend but registration is requested.
Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival
Downtown Red Bank
Sunday 12 – 6 pm
Come out for this fundraiser for Red Bank RiverCenter which will feature food, beer, music, local artisans and rides for the kids.
Plainsboro AutumnFest 2021
Wicoff House Museum, Plainsboro
Sunday, 2 -4 pm
The museum is unveiling of two new temporary exhibits, outdoor games, crafts, scavenger hunts and other activities. Refreshments will be provided, including warm apple cider and snacks.