Best New Jersey Fall Activities, Festivals, and Events

Experience the many 2019 NJ fall activities, attractions, and festivals.

This is an exciting time of the year to experience the many fall activities, attractions, and festivals.

It's also an ideal time of the year to get out and see the beautiful fall foliage and the many harvest end of the growing season celebrations that occur throughout the State of NJ.

Note: This information is provided by event sponsors as a service to our viewers. Sometimes conditions require cancellations or changes of dates, times and location which are not reflected in the original schedule. Before planning a trip to visit one of the listed events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event.

Northern NJ Fall Activities

Great Pumpkin Festival
Weekends from September 14th – November 3rd, 2019, plus Columbus Day, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur; 9am – 6pm
Heaven Hill Farm
Rt. 94N
Vernon, NJ
973-764-5144
Website
$15 per person weekends, (under 2 free) Free Parking
Their Pumpkin Land Fall Festival features a variety of country-style family entertainment for all ages. Enjoy Pumpkin Picking, Indian Corn & Gourds, Farm Animals, Boo Barn, an old-fashioned hayride, Corn Maze, Hay Maze, Pig Races, Carnival Rides, Gem Mining, Pony Rides, Face Painting, and Sand Art. Weekend & Holidays

Fosterfield's Fall Harvest Fest
Sunday, September 15, 2019; noon - 5pm
Fosterfields Living History Farm
73 Kahdena Road
Morris Township, NJ
Website
973-326-7645
Admission: $8 per adult, $7 per senior, $6 per child 3 - 16, and FREE per child age 3 and under. Friends members half price with a current membership card.
This family event features wagon rides, live music, food trucks, farm animals, exhibits, old fashioned games, and hands on helping churning butter and pressing apples into cider.

Ralston Cider Mill Museun Tours
September: Sundays during the last 2 weeks & October every Saturday & Sunday; 1pm-5pm
336 Mendham Road West
Mendham, NJ
Website
Admission: General Admission $5, Children 7 & under free
This is the only operational cider mill in New Jersey functioning as a privately funded museum and educational experience for students of all ages. Built in 1848 with massive stone walls anda heavy timber structure, visitors can discover the hidden still that allowed this distillery to operate through prohibition.

Annual Peters Valley Fall Craft Fair
September 28 & 29, 2019: Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Augusta, NJ
Website/Tickets
Admission: $10 one day pass, Children under 12: Free
This annual event showcases beautiful American Craft made by 150+ exhibiting artists from across the country. Come & discover the pleasure of living with handmade objects and the beauty they bring to your life. Browse five buildings of amazing artwork, meet the makers, watch an array of artist demonstrations and find the perfect gift for yourself or someone special. There are also ongoing artist demonstrations, live music, great food and kid's art activities.

Hoboken Fall Arts & Music Festival
September 29, 2019; 11am -6pm
Washington St.
bet. Observer Highway and 7th St.
Hoboken, NJ
Website
Cost: Free
This family event features over 300 artists and crafters will exhibit their work Great food. Kids activities on 3rd Street including rides, games, craft activities, face painting & sand art. 3 stages of live music performances.

The Corn Maze Train
Trips run from September 29th until October 27th, 2019
The Delaware River Railroad Excursions
99 Elizabeth St.
Phillipsburg, NJ
877-872-4674
Website
Ride the train to the beautiful century old Snyder farm. At the farm the fun begins! There are two games we can play in the maze. While visiting the farm� feel free to use our beautiful picnic grove and return on any train during the day!

Learn How to Make Apple Cider
Hacklebarney Farm Cider Mill
104 State Park Rd.
Chester, NJ 07930
(908) 879-6593
Website
Fall activities on October weekends include PYO Pumpkins, Twisty Corn Maze, & Cider Pressing Demonstrations
The historic cider mill built in 1860, is the centerpiece of a farm of 23 varieties of apples. This is a popular place to see the cider making process in action Please call ahead during our hours of operation for cider pressing demonstration times. The demonstration times do vary slightly each weekend. Dogs Welcome on a leash

19th Annual Pumpkin Festival
Sunday, October 6, 2019; 12:30 - 5:00 PM (Rain or Shine)
Whippany Railway Museum
1 Railroad plaza
Whippany, NJ 07981
Website/Tickets
Celebrate the Fall Harvest and the Season of the Witch with train rides and a Halloween crafts/vendor fair. Autumn is a Season of Family Fun, and the Pumpkin, the reassuring signal of seasonal passage, never fails to bring forth the image of cool nights, bright harvest moons, crackling fires, and the warmth of family and friends. And when pumpkins appear, they take on a playful appearance, alerting everyone that the special magic of Halloween, with its goblins, ghouls, and witches lies just around the corner. On-line ticket are is available for this event up to 2 hours before departure.

Lenape Day
Saturday, October 12, 2019: 12 PM - 4 PM
Great Swamp Outdoor Education Center
247 Southern Blvd.
Chatham Township, NJ
973.635.6629
Website
This popular annual family event celebrates the Lenape people with dancing, drums, vendors, and historical talks by the Ramapough Lenape People. Enjoy games, crafts, touring a replica wigwam, and more! Great fun for the entire family

10th Annual Sussex County Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival
October 12, 2019; 10am - 4pm
Sussex County Fairgrounds
37 Plains Road
Branchville, NJ
Free event
Website
This family festival is a celebration of agritourism, ecotourism and arts & heritage tourism. The County of Sussex, the Sussex County Beekeepers Association and the Garden State Garlic Growers are joining with the Sussex County Farm and Horse Show to showcase New Jersey's great northwest. There will be a farmers market where you can buy fresh, local Sussex County and Jersey Fresh products including fruit, vegetables, flowers and wine. The Sussex County Beekeepers Association will have educational displays and materials along with an array of honey products

West Milford Autumn Lights Festival
October 12, 2019; 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Union Valley Rd
West Milford, NJ
Website
The Autumn Lights Festival first started 20 years ago as a celebration to West Milford for getting its first traffic light! In the beginning it was just the town gathering on the lawn of Town Hall.
Today it has grown to a street fair that has over 300 vendors, live music, child activities, games and rides. With about 20,000 'ALFers' that visit throughout the day.

Annual New Jersey Botanical Gardens Harvest Fest and Craft Fair
October 19, 2019; 10 am-5 pm – rain or shine
New Jersey Botanical Gardens
2 Morris Road
Ringwood, N.J. 07456
Website
Free admission. Parking: $5/car
This family friendly, fun event features Hayrides and pumpkin games, face painting, applesauce making, tasty food, music and dancing, great photo ops, free Garden tours, booths, exhibits, an autumn Plant Sale and lots more!

Chester’s 36th Annual Harvest Celebration
October 19, 20, 2019: 11am - 5pm
Historic Downtown Chester
Main Street, and throughout Historic Downtown
Chester, New Jersey 07930
Web Site
Contact: Toni Perry, Phone: 973-223-2665, Email: toni@twdirection.com
Event Cost: Free
Come and enjoy this FREE 2-day event in Historic Downtown Chester.
Meet NBC Celebrity-Produce Pete* on Saturday, October 19th from 12:00pm-3:00pm and revel in the historic sounds of the American Revolution's Fife and Drum as performed by New Jersey's own Colonial Musketeers Junior Fife and Drum Corp.
Other activities that are back by popular demand include:
*Antique Apple Press Demo (Sunday, Oct. 20th only) *Blacksmith Demo *Clown Performances *Country Square Dancing ((Sunday, Oct. 20th only) *Face Painting *Ford V-8 Antique Car Show (Sunday, Oct. 20th only) *Guess the Pumpkin Weight *Pumpkin Painting . . . LIVE MUSIC and more!
Special Musical Guest The Morris Music Men Barbershop Chorus performing on Sunday, October 20th, 2:00pm-4:00pm

Fall Bird Walk
Saturday, October 19th, 2019; 10:00 AM to Noon
Liberty State Park Nature Center
200 Morris Pesin Drive
Jersey City, NJ
Website
Cost: Free, Pre-registration required Please call or email to register at 201-915-3400 x202 or email LSPNatureCenter@dep.nj.gov
Located along the Atlantic Flyway, Liberty State Park is home to over 250 different species of birds. Join us as we explore varied habitats and learn to identify some of the species that frequent the park in the fall. Please dress to be outside and bring binoculars if you have them. We have a limited number that can be borrowed.
We will meet at the Park Office located at 200 Morris Pesin Drive, and the walk will begin from there. This program is recommended for adults and families with children ages 5 and up. Children must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event. Groups of six or more, please call for special arrangements.

Lord Stirling Fall Festival
Saturday, October 19, 2019; (Rain date October 26th)
Lord Stirling Stable
256 South Maple Avenue,
Basking Ridge, NJ
908-766-2489
Website
Cost: Admission and parking are free. Activity tickets are available in bundles of 12 for $10.00
They will be offering pony rides, Halloween themed games and activities, fall themed food, and fun, event filled hayrides on our trails! Costumes are accepted and encouraged!

Central NJ Fall Activities

Autumn Skies & Apple Pies
Saturday, September 21, 2019; 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Historic Allaire Village
4263 Atlantic Avenue
Farmingdale, NJ
732-919-3500
Website/Tickets
Admission: On-line - Adults $8 each, Children $4 each ages 2-12 years, Under 2 years Free. No Parking fees.
The Harvest has been gathered and now it is time for the families of the Howell Iron Works to relax.
Visitors will get to the villagers in celebrating the harvest and try your hand at apple cider pressing, apple pie baking contest, strolling villagers, historic demonstrations, games and historic hat making for kids, hearth cooking with apple recipes, militia demonstrations, old fashioned games, music & so much more! There will be demonstrations of blacksmithing, carpentry, fibre arts, tinsmithings & weaving throughout the day. Our Historic Buildings, Enameling Building, Pilsen Gourmet Food Truck, Bakery, and General Store will be open for you to visit.

Sunflower Festival
September 21st through October 27th, 2019: 9am to 6pm, 7 days per week
Holland Ridge Farms
86 Rues Road
Cream Ridge, New Jersey 08514
Website
In the fall, the fields come alive again for the Sunflower Festival. Guests can wander through the towering rows of Sunflower and enjoy the warmth and happiness they inspire. While you are at the farm take the time to stroll through our barns, visit the animals and enjoy some of the charm of Holland in the Good 'ole Days museum and Holland Shop. Learn about Holland in the Hollandwood Theatre and get all your questions about flowers, including how they get their color, from their Pollinator. The Pollinator helps to create the rainbow of color in our fields.

Pumpkin Train
Every Saturday and Sunday from September 28 to October 27, 2019; 3 times a day
Black River & Western Railroad Flemington Station
80 Stangl Road
Flemington, NJ 08822
Website
This event includes:
Entry to 6 acre corn maze.
Tractor-pulled wagon ride.
Petting zoo (additional charge to feed the animals).
Kids' corn box play area.
Hay bale maze for smaller children.
Music / DJ and games.
Aadditional purchase required for:
Pick-your-own pumpkins, cash only.
Concession stand with seasonal treats.
Local produce and seasonal decor for sale.

Annual Fall Forestry Festival
Saturday, October 5, 2019: 10am - 3pm
The Forest Resource Education Center
495 Don Connor Blvd
Jackson, NJ
(732) 928-2360
Website
Free parking, and admission! There is no reservation or fee for programs or activities
This annual Fall family friendly event features over 40 nature themed exhibits, hikes, programs, and activities. Explore the pinelands forest and discover unique plants and creatures on interpreter led hikes. Get crafty and paint a pumpkin or make a wooden Smokey helicopter. Use your detective skills to find the cause of a wildfire. See foresters turn logs into lumber on sawmill and basket makers, chainsaw carvers, and traditional wood carvers demonstrate artistic uses for wood. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring insect repellant. Refreshments and forest products such as NJ pure Maple Syrup will be available to purchase.

5th Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve
Friday October 11 – Monday October 14, 2019 (Columbus Day – Kid's Day!)
Woosley Park
221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road
Hopewell Township, New Jersey
(609) 281-5887
info@hvartscouncil.org
Website
Admission: Adults: $15; Youth: $5; 4 & under: Free!
This family event features a four-day exhibition and celebration of giant carved pumpkins carved by local artists. This event has become a local autumn tradition. with evening storytelling around fire pits, pumpkin sales & painting for kids, humongous hay bale playground, scarecrows decorated by participating community groups, (a new) Art Walk art show & sale, live music and dance performances, s'more kits & cider, photo op-boards, and more!

Beachwood Harvest Bonfire
October 26, 2019; 6pm-9pm
Beachwood Beach
Beachwood, NJ
Website
This family event features food, music, games and all kinds of fun. Come relax by the fire and enjoy a great night on the beautiful beach.

Southern NJ Fall Activities

Margate Fall FunFest by the Bay
September 21 & 22. 2019: Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m
Amherst Avenue between Decatur and Coolidge Avenues
Margate, NJ
Website
The family event will feature food, live music from a dozen bands, educational exhibits, nature tours, crafters, vendors, games, back-bay nature tours, and a Cornhole Tournament with cash prizes and open to all ages.
A featured entertainer this year on the 95.1 WAYV Kid's Stage will be Magician Joe Holiday, performing his jaw dropping show with comedy, audience participation and magic. This year's attractions will include special guests, Miss New Jersey Jade Glab and from the upcoming 2020 Philadelphia Mummers Parade we have Jersey String Band Captain Pat Walton. There will be a character's parade, autographs and pictures with Snow White, Woody, Chewbacca, Buzz Lightyear and Superhero Minion. All of this will be in addition to children's gymnastics and yoga demonstrations, games, giveaways and more.

Glocester County 4H Fall Festival
Saturday, September 28, 2019; 4 - 9pm (rain date: September 29th)
Gloucester County 4-H Fairgrounds
275 Bridgeton Pike
Mullica Hill, NJ 08062
Website
(856) 224-8040 x3
Cost: $10/car
This family event features some great fall activities including: a slingshot pumpkin chunkin, hayrides, a haunted house, games, activities, and more.

16th Annual Woodstown Fall Festival
Saturday, September 28, 2019; 10AM-4PM (Rain or shine)
downtown shopping district
Woodstown, NJ
Website
Woodstown's historic district comes alive; scarecrows by the dozens keep watch along the streets; historic houses are decorated in their fall best; and vendors, crafters and local shops line their food and wares along Main Street. Local South Jersey wineries and breweries bring out their best wines and beerd for tasting in in the tent on Main St. There will also be a car show on North Main Street

Annual Cranberry Harvest Tour
Tours run the month of October. Tours begin at 9:00 am
Pine Barrens Native Fruits
1 Pasadena Road
Browns Mills, NJ 08015
609-500-1074
Website & Tour Booking
Expect to spend approximately 3 hours experiencing everything cranberry!
Learn about the native agriculture difference and how the cranberry industry preserved the Pine Barrens, the largest wilderness area between Boston and Richmond. Learn about the local history and cranberry culture through personal stories and entertaining, but little-known facts.Then it is out to the bogs on a specially designed bus. Every seat is a window seat with panoramic views. Unlike demonstration farms, your experience will take you right into the heart of a working cranberry farm. See the crews picking and gathering the fruit as they work in a sea of floating cranberries. The narrated tour guide will explain everything that is happening as the crew works to water harvest the cranberries … it's even better than the two guys from the commercials! And a trip to the farm just wouldn't be complete without the opportunity to eat some cranberries!! Enjoy a cooking demonstration that will include family recipes as well as those from Brenda's own kitchen. Learn about the health benefits as you get to see and taste cranberries prepared in a variety of ways. Throughout the presentation lots of easy serving and gifting ideas will be shared and all participants get a free recipe booklet.

20th Annual WheatonArts Festival of Fine Craft
October 5, 6, 2019
WheatonArts & Cultural Center
1501 Glasstown Road
Millville, NJ 08332
Website
Admission: $12.00 Adults $11.00 Senior Adults (62+) $7.00 Students Children 5 + under are free
This two day family event features an art and shopping experience for the entire family with over 150 artists and craftspeople that will present and sell traditional and contemporary works. A highlight is the WheatonArts Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch with over 7,000 Glass pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors on display and available for purchase. Other things to experience include live music, a beer and wine garden, and children's activities
The WheatonArts Center, with a history dating back to 1888, began as a glass factory making pharmaceutical bottles, and later in 1970 as a glass museum when the first buildings at opened to the public. Today the complex of 18 buidings is spread over 45 acres. The Museum of American Glass houses over 22,000 objects, both historic and contemporary. The fully operational Glass Studio presents daily, interpretive demonstrations for the public with artists showing traditional and contemporary glassblowing techniques. In the Artist Studios, artists demonstrate the traditional southern New Jersey crafts of pottery and flameworking.

Annual Cranberry Fest
October 5, 6, 2019; 11am -5pm
Downtown Bordentown, Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ
609-414-0828
Website
This family event features live music. a beer garden. "Family Friendly" Kids Zone, and over 150 artists and artisans, crafters and makers in offering one of a kind, handmade, vintage, and upcycled treats to nourish both the heart and the home.

28th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival
Sunday, October 6, 2019; 11am - 4pm (raindate: Oct. 13th)
The Studio at Mainstage
27 South Black Horse Pike
Blackwood, NJ
Website
This annual festival features food, games, live music, and crafters, including four stages of entertainment, amusement rides, hayrides, pumpkin painting and carving, scarecrow making, a costume contest, and more.

Family Fall Float Festival
Sunday, October 6, 2019; 9am - 2pm
Historic Smilville Park
803 Smithville Road
East Hampton, NJ
Website/Registration
This event features a variety of family fun activities including:Canoe/Kayak on the Rancocas Creek or Smithville Lake and see the fall foliage as you float along. Launching takes place at Historic Smithville Park. Paddlers will be shuttled back to Smithville Park for food, entertainment and activities for all ages. Enjoy the park on a fun-filled Autumn day! Pre-registration online will make check-in fast and easy! Canoe and kayak services provided by Pinelands Adventures @ 609-268-0189

Annual Deerfield Township Harvest Festival
October 10, 11, 12, 13, 2019; 12:00 PM until 10:00 PM
Rosenhayn Fire and Rescue and Frank LoBiondo, Sr. Park
GPS: 678 Morton Avenue
Bridgeton, NJ
Website & Entertainment Schedule
This event pays tribute to local farmers and salutes Country Stars & Stripes. The festival's outstanding entertainment lineup features local and regional entertainers coupled with established and rising national performers. It also includes a parade, arts & crafts show, mascot mania, amusement rides and games, a Songfest competition, dessert baking challenge, multi-cultural food court and fireworks on Sunday @ 9:30pm. Bring your own chairs.

Lima Bean Festival
Saturday, October 12, 2019; 9am-5pm (rain date Oct 13th)
Wilbraham Park
Perry Street
West Cape May, NJ
609-884-9325
Website
The lowly legume takes center stage delighting locals and visitors alike with her vast array of recipes, crafts and products available. Come out and celebrate West Cape May's farming heritage with lima bean soup, tacos, salad, jewelry, T-shirts and more! Enjoy great food, quality vendors, antiques, entertainment and fun.

South Jersey Pumpkin Show
October 12, 13, 2019; Saturday 10am to 8pm and Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
Salem County Fairgrounds
735 Harding Highway
Woodstown, NJ 08098
Web Site
Contact: Kathryn Wright, Phone: 856-765-0118, Email: sjpumpkinshow@aol.com
This festival features three- days of family fun with contests, artists, craftsmen, home products, a pumpkin pyramid, entertainment, food, wine, amusement rides, a Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off, headless horsemen, scarecrows, Little Miss & Mister Pageant, dog parade, Boo Barn and more.
Contact: Kathryn Wright, Phone: 856-765-0118, Email: sjpumpkinshow@aol.com
The South Jersey Pumpkin Show has become one of the best ways to welcome the autumn harvest with kids and parents alike.Festival goers visiting will enjoy pumpkin desserts, 100+ craftsmen, Salem County Fall Home Show, fun contests, give-a-ways, wine sampling, giant food court, NJ Largest Baked Pumpkin Pie, pony rides and hayrides around the fairgrounds. The festival will host a variety of live musical acts daily.
The giant Pumpkin Pyramid, filled with pumpkins, gourds and mums, represents everything beautiful about the fall harvest. Each year many of our vendors create hand-crafted scarecrows and festival goers are invited to judge our entries.
The "Fall Festival of Trees Exhibit" is a must see when visiting the festival. Colorful trees will be decorated in Halloween, Thanksgiving and Autumn themes. Contest is open to adults, clubs and groups. There will be a pumpkin patch for kids, corn maze and pumpkin painting for the whole family.
Saturday activities includes the Decorated Wagons and Stroller Contest and the Adults Pumpkin Toss with over USD 500 in prize money awarded. The best pumpkin desserts are being sought for the Fun Pumpkin Food contest and free sampling. Saturday will showcase the reading of the Sleepy Hollow legend and the arrival of the Headless Horsemen.

Annual Pine Barrens Jamboree at Wells Mills Park
October 12th, 2019; 11am - 4pm (rain or shine)
905 Wells Mills Rd,
Waretown, NJ
Website
Parking and admission FREE
This annual family event features a fun filled day of music of the pines, cultural demonstrations, traditional crafts, & Crafts, Kids Crafts and Games, nature and history programs. Attendees will sit under the big tent and enjoy a fun filled day of county, bluegrass and traditional music presented by the musicians from Albert Music Hall.

28th Annual Pumpkin Festival & Share the Harvest Food Drive
Saturday, October 19, 2019 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Historic Cold Spring Village
720 Route 9
South Cape May, NJ 08204
Website
Cost: Free Admission, please bring a non-perishable food item
This family event features pumpkin painting and games throughout the day. A variety of crafters will sell their wares along the Village's shell-paved lanes. Vendors will be selling hot dogs, funnel cake, and other snacks. Visit a haunted house at the Village Barn and hop on a fall hayride through the farm. Don't miss the Children's Halloween Parade at 11 am.

Annual Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
October 19, 20, 2019; 9am to 4pm
Downtown, Chatsworth NJ
Website
The Cranberry Festival is a celebration of New Jersey's cranberry harvest, the 3rd largest in the United States, and offers a tribute to the Pine Barrens & Local Culture. This family event features live entertainment many artists & craftsmen demonstrating their crafts and offering them for sales.
Admission is FREE. Parking is available at the school. Signs will be posted and traffic will be directed.