New Jersey Leisure Guide Monthly Newsletter
November, 2020

At this time, and until further notice,  COVID-19 executive orders  in effect apply to large public gatherings such as concerts, festivals, and fireworks. Outdoor public gatherings are limited to 500 people.
Indoor performance venues, including concert venues are open with limited restrictions, Face masks and social distancing will be required and capacity will be capped at the lesser of either 25% of the venue's capacity, or 150 people.. Indoor nightclubs that have dance floors have to remain closed. 
Bars and restaurants are open with indoor dining at 25% capacity and with social distancing between tables
Atlantic City's casinos are open at 25% capacity.

With near term cancellations occurring at a rapid rate, and despite trying to remove them as soon as we learn of the cancellations or restrictions, we  recommend viewers contact the event sponsors before heading out to a listed event to confirm their status.

The month of November is the beginning of the winter holiday season with Thanksgiving, and the holiday festivals and events that begin as early as the Friday after Thanksgiving

This Edition's Contents...

• Popular November Things To Do
• Seasonal Frequently Asked Question
• This Month's Featured Restaurant

November 2020 Things To Do

As of the date of the publication, the listed activities have not been cancelled, though many are operating with some restructions.

HallowFest
Now through November 1, 2020: The park will operate from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 5 p.m. with varying closing times on Friday evenings
Six Flags Great Adventure
1 Six Flags Boulevard
Jackson, NJ 08527
Website & Tickets
Caution: The park is family-friendly by day, but they turn up the terror at dusk!
From 2 to 6 p.m, families and young thrill-seekers will experience HALLOWFEST Thrills by Day.
Chills by Night begins at 6 p.m. and will feature four scare zones, three shows, and three haunted mazes available outdoors in the wide-open midways, plus one indoor haunted maze:

Jack O' Lantern Drive - Thru Eperience
Skylands Stadium
94 Championship Place
Augusta, NJ 07822
Tickets
Cost: $25/car
Now thru November 1st, 2020. ( rain or shine)
For 6 weeks of Pure Halloween Madness, Skylands Stadium will be decorated with over 5,000+ Jack-O-Lanterns throughout the stadium, property and surrounding corn fields! Sussex County's Family Entertainment Destination will be set ablaze with some of the most spectacular visuals you'll ever see. Perfect for families of all ages, date nights, and all lovers of Halloween Spirit. The drive-thru event is safe and spacious, with distancing in mind.

 Barefoot Grape Stomping
November 7th & 8th, 14th & 15th, December 12th & 13th, 2020; 4-7pm
Four Sisters Winery
783 N. Bridgeville Rd
Belvidere, NJ 07823
Website
Cost: $42 per person includes tax. & a wine glass to take home
This is the perfect opportunity to embrace any season with their barefoot grape stomping events held on select dates throughout the year!
Kick off your shoes and get ready for an unforgettable experience with some barefoot grape stomping fun! Spend the afternoon enjoying good company and of course, some delicious wine! Yes, take off those shoes and socks and roll up your pants and get ready to do some barefoot grape stomping. Bring out the Lucy in you while you stomp to the music and feel the sensation between your toe's. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have some real fun using only your feet. Formal wine tasting, delicious Chicken Parmesean dinner with pasta, Caesar salad and bread, wine cellar tour and ending with a tasting of our dessert wines. The day is sure to leave you satisfied with award winning wines from the list of over 25 varieties produced at the winery. But the fun isn't over yet, it's time to step into a barrel and feel the grapes between your toes which never fails to be the perfect photo op! The afternoon concludes with an educational wine cellar tour and a chance to sample the specialty dessert wines & one of our after dinner port-style wines.

Heaven Hill Farm's The Great Pumpkin Festival
Now thru November 8th, 2020
Heaven Hill Farm
451 State Route 94
Vernon, NJ 07462
Web Site
Contact: Darlene Brozowski, Phone: 973-764-5144, Email: [email protected]
The Great Pumpkin Festival is one of the largest fall festivals in Northern NJ. Your admission includes over 30 fun-filled
activities: Pig Racing*, Hay Maze, Spider Web Crawl, Maggie The Milking Cow, Monster Sling Shots, Barnyard Sports Ball-cade, Post Pounders, Hay Crawl, Corn Boxes, Bee Barn with Glass Bee Hive,Visiting Farm Animals, Boo Barn, Chicken Little Show, Chick Barn, Dancing Robot Show, Duck Racing, Vortex Tunnel, Obstacle course, Tether ball, Poly Pong, Lincoln Log Cabin builder, Giant Sand Box and the “Pirate Treasure Corn Maze Adventure” and the Fabulous Finger find maze game for your young corn maze adventurers. --- plus for additional nominal fees: Carnival Rides, Food, Pony Rides, Face Painting, Gem Mining and more.

Magic of Lights at PNC Bank Arts Center
November 13th - January 2nd, 2021: Sunday - Thursday 5pm - 10 pm. Friday - Saturday 5pm - 11pm.
PNC Bank Arts Center
Exit 116
Garden State Parkway
Holmdel, NJ
Website/Tickets
Cost: $25-$35, standard vehicle
This popular Holiday event features more than a mile of festival and vibrant light displays celebrating the joy of the holidays. Experience the drive-through from the comfort of your car! At every turn, and in every direction, the magical route is overflowing with spectacular light displays and animations. Multiple holiday themes come to life with hundreds of sparking lights.

South Jersey Holiday Lights Show
Selected nights from November 19 until December 30, 2020; Opens at 5pm
Bridgeport Speedway
83 Flood Gate Rd
Swedesboro, NJ 08085
(856) 213-2838
Tickets - Tickets bought online are $23per, Prices at the gate are $25 per car.
The South Jersey Holiday Light Show is the only drive-through holiday light spectacular in Southern New Jersey! Featuring dozens of dazzling, larger-than-life holiday themed displays to delight the entire family! Visitors are welcomed to bundle up in their car, pack a favorite snack or beverage and tune their radio to enjoy the synced light performance as they travel the more than 1 mile route through the holiday light show!
The show is approximately 20-25 minutes long.

Skylands Christmas Light Show & Christmas Village
November 20th until January 3, 2021
Skylands Stadium
94 Championship Pl.
Augusta, NJ 07822
Website
973-383-7644
Cost:
Light Show: $29 per carload (all tickets to be purchased at drive-thru entrance or box office, there are no online ticket sales) Save $3! Buy Advance Sale tickets at the box office (Monday–Thursday, 9–2 PM)
Outdoor Village: FREE admission
With more than two million dazzling lights on a mile-long drive-through course PLUS a new outdoor village, it's a must-see holiday attraction for your whole family.
Christmas Joy is coming back to Sussex County…Bigger, and Better than Ever. This Winter, Skylands Stadium will be Dazzled with Lights on a Mile Long Drive-Thru course that now goes ON THE FIELD. Plus a NEW & EXPANDED Outdoor Village & Winter Carnival. It's a Must-See Holiday Attraction for the Whole Family. The event is Safe, Spacious, and Distanced.

Early 19th Century Thanksgiving
Saturday, November 21, 2020 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Allaire Village
4265 Atlantic Ave
Farmingdale, NJ
Website/Tickets
Celebrate an early 19th Century Thanksgiving with the villagers of James P. Allaire's Howell Iron Works Company! The historic homes, craft shops, and retail buildings will be open to welcome you for a special "Day of Thanks."
Starting at 11:30am, special program at the historic chapel, craft demonstrations (Blacksmith, Tinsmith, Carpentry, Leather-Making and more), cooking at the Manager's House over its 18th century open hearth, and other special activities for adults and children. Bakery, General Store, and Enameling Building's Museum Store open for early holiday shopping. Additional early 19th century period cooking and other activities to "give thanks" will be spread throughout the village!
COVID-19 VISITOR RULES • ALL VISITORS MUST WEAR A MASK inside the historic buildings and throughout the village grounds.

Long Branch Holiday Bazaar
November 27th through December 20th, 2020; 12PM - 5PM
Festival Plaza
Pier Village
Long Branch, NJ
Website
This open-air market will feature shopping, holiday workshops, festive decor, music & entertainment, holiday-inspired food & hot drinks, photos and more! The event will kick off on Black Friday weekend, Nov 27, 28 & 29 and take place every week Thursday through Sunday until Dec 20th under a giant (heated!) tent.

Red Mill - 11th Annual Festival of Trees
Friday, November 27th through Sunday, November 29th, 2020 from 10am - 4pm
56 Main Street
Clinton, NJ
908.735.4101
Tickets - $10
This event features Christmas trees, designed and decorated by community members, local businesses and organizations, will be displayed on the grounds of the Red Mill Museum Village. The kick-off begins on Thanksgiving weekend (Friday, November 27th through Sunday, November 29th from 10am -4pm).
The opening weekend coincides with the very popular Winter Village, an outdoor holiday market hosted by Marketspace Vendors with over 40 unique vendors. The display of trees placed outdoors among the historical buildings will continue to be on view Saturdays and Sundays, December 5th – 20th from 12-6pm.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the Red Mill Museum Village, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization

Seasonal Frequently Asked Question:

Question: Traditional/Colonial Restaurant to Celebrate Thanksgiving Day. We are a multi-generational family looking to celebrate Thanksgiving in a colonial restaurant serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Willing to travel and stay overnight. Any suggestions?
Answer: New Jersey has a rich Colonial & Revolutionary War history with many historic towns and Colonial buildings. However, few of the colonial era buildings now used as restaurants have been restored to maintain their original authenticity. Here are suggestions for colonial era restaurants serving traditional Thanksgiving dinners:
Clinton House
Clinton, NJ.
Website
This historic restaurant circa 1743, located in the heart of the Historical Community of Clinton, serves up traditional American food in a rustic country setting. It has recently been renovated to restore its 18th century atmosphere. Child Friendly.
The Cranbury Inn
Cranbury, NJ
Website
This historic restaurant at dates back to the mid 1700's.They are open on Thanksgiving serving a special Thanksgiving menu
Read review
Grain House Restaurant - At The Olde Mill Inn
Basking Ridge, NJ
Website
This historic building dates back to the 18th century when it was used as storage for the Continental Army in the winter of 1779. The ambiance is historic with a fireplace in the main dining room. On Thanksgiving they offer a special Thanksgiving menu. Child Friendly.
Read review
Sergeantsville Inn
Sergeantsville, NJ
Website
This historic inn offers fireside dining in a 1700's stone building. A terrific place to experience wild game dishes and traditional country American fare. Child Friendly.
Read review
Ye Olde Centerton Inn
Pittsgrove, NJ
Website
This historic inn dates back to 1706 when it was a former stage coach stop between Philadelphia and Greenwich, NJ. Beneath the inn are the graves of three Revolutionary War soldiers. Child Friendly.
Read review

For more information on Historic, Colonial restaurants open on Thanksgiving visit Historic Thanksgiving Day Restaurants With Reviews

This Months Featured Restaurant

The Fox and Hound Tavern
Lebanon, NJ
Website
The Fox and Hound Tavern is an historic restaurant with Cozy, warm, historic ambiance, especially during the winter holiday season with fireplaces and holiday decorations
Review

Top Ten Things To Do in November - The popular NJ seasonal outdoor and indoor activities, events, attractions, and points of interest for people of all ages.

The Best Thanksgiving Weekend Events in New Jersey - Your guide to the top 10 New Jersey Thanksgiving weekend events and festivals

Monthly Events - This page has links to events that appear in future months, usually 3-4 months in advance. The Monthly newsletter that you are receiving includes many of the events found on the pages.