Best New Jersey Fall Activities, Attractions, and Festivals

This is an exciting time of the year to experience the many fall activities, attractions, and festivals and to get out and see the beautiful fall foiiage and the many harvest end of the growing season celebrations that occur throughout the State of NJ.

Northern NJ Fall Activities

Learn How to Make Apple Cider
Cooper Gristmill
Chester Township
The Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
Chatham Township
For scheduling and information:
Call 973-326-760 or visit www.morrisparks.net
New Jersey with a rich history in apple growing and cider production has several free educational and fun programs offered by The Morris County Park Commission take you back to the 1800s when apple cider was made in NJ. These programs are offered at two locations during the month of October and November. While the events are free, donations are appreciated.

Annual New Jersey Botanical Gardens Harvest Fest and Craft Fair
New Jersey Botanical Gardens
Ringwood, NJ
(973) 962-9534
njbg.org/events.shtml
This event is usually held the first weekend in October October 1st- 2nd Here Here you can tour and explore the Gardens at their yearly Harvest Fest, where you'll find a day full of face painting, hayrides and pumpkin decorating. Oktoberfest foods, fall treats and beer tastings will be served throughout the weekend. They also have had a craft fair with many local artisans selling autumn plants.

Hike The Appalachian Trail - The New Jersey section is a non-governmental, independently managed recreation facility of the national park system and is the nation's longest marked hiking trail at 2,180 miles. It traverses 14 states from Maine's Mount Katahdin to Georgia's Springer Mountain over scenic, wooded, pastoral and rugged terrain. More....

Central NJ Fall Activities

Annual Howell Living History Farm Fall Festival
1.5 miles east of Belle Mountain Ski Area on Valley Rd.
off Rt. 29 two miles south of Lambertville, NJ
For information and confirmation of dates call (609)737-3299 or
pwatson@howellfarm.com
A great fall family event that takes place the first weekend in October and features a look back in time at the harvest season when giant threshing rigs rumbled through the Mercer countryside stopping at farms to help families thresh their wheat. Visitors to this festival take on the role of "helping neighbors," joining farmers as they plant, thresh, winnow and grind wheat. Visitors can also watch the planting of next year's grain crop. Special maps with corresponding field markers are used to guide visitors to areas where they can watch or help with the harvest before sampling the finished product–freshly baked wheat bread. Visitors who have their maps stamped at each of six "Help-the-Farmer" stations will take home their share of the harvest–a bag of freshly milled whole wheat flour complete with recipe.

Southern NJ Fall Activities

Annual Cranberry Festival in Chatsworth
Downtown Chatsworth, NJ
For information and dates call (609)726-9237 or email: lgiamalis@aol.com
This two day festival is usually held the 2nd or 3rd weekend in October from 9am to 4pm each year. The event is a celebration of New Jersey's cranberry harvest, the 3rd largest in the United States' it has grown to become a tribute to the Pine Barrens & Local Culture. The event features many family activities and attractions including: artists & craftsmen, an information booth with a brochure with a brief history about Chatsworth and the White Horse Inn, Southern/Classic rock music, and an Antique and Classic Automobile. Parking is provided at the school.

Annual South Jersey Pumpkin Show
Atlantic County 4-H Fairground
Route 3210, Route 50
Egg Harbor City, NJ
For information and dates call (856) 765-0118 or email: sjpumpkinshow@aol.com
This event usually takes place the first weekend in October and is a great wayh to kick off the fall season. This is a family event that features family contests, pumpkin themed activities, live music, and a wide variety crafts with atrisans selling handmade pottery, soaps, paintings and knitwear, and of course the annual weigh-off of gigantic sized pumpkins with prizes and awards for the big winners.

Best Places to See Fall Foliage in NJ- With the turning of the foliage to bright colors being only second best to New England, watching the leaves turn in NJ is one of the most romantic things you can do in the fall, even if only to for a day trip to check out the scenery.