Oktoberfests, Family, and Fall Festivals: Check out New Jersey's October Events: 2025
Enjoy UNLIMITED rides all summer long with our Summer Season Pass, now through September 30! Buy now for just $54.99 and you’ll also get FREE iPlay America coupons.
Discover the best of fall with unique experiences at a New Jersey October 2025 festival or event. Here’s what makes October in the Garden State so special:
Unbeatable Fall Views:
Leaves hit their peak mid to late month. Parks and small towns burst into color, turning weekend drives and outdoor events into memory-making moments.
Family Fun for All Ages:
October brings a packed calendar. You’ll find haunted houses, pumpkin picking, live music, and harvest fairs. Whether you want ghost stories or hayrides, there’s something for everyone.
Charming Settings:
Many festivals happen in cozy villages, on historic farmland, or by the coast. You get small-town hospitality and natural beauty, all in the same day.
Active travelers will find weekends filled with community spirit, music, crafts, food, and seasonal treats. Check out some of the top New Jersey October 2025 festivals and themed events below.
Northern New Jersey October 2025 Festivals
Jack O’Lantern Experience
Sept 26 – Nov 2, 2025 | Skylands Stadium, Augusta
Skylands Stadium hosts a huge display with over 6,000 hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns. Enjoy this 45-minute walk-through filled with glowing pumpkins, fall treats, and festive fun. Great for families or a Halloween-themed date night.
Mountain Creek Fall Festival
Weekends Sept 27 – Nov 2, 2025 | Vernon
Ride the Mountain Coaster for sweeping fall views, listen to live music, and let the kids loose in the hay maze. Activities include lawn games and bounce houses.
JC Harvest Festival
Sat, Oct 4, 10am–2pm | Hamilton Park, Jersey City
Pumpkin decorating, music, arts & crafts, food trucks, and more. A relaxed way to enjoy all things fall with the family.
PuchiCon NJ 2025
Oct 4–5, 2025 | Doubletree Hilton, Ft. Lee
A gathering for anime, manga, comics, and gaming fans. Meet cosplayers, artists, and voice actors. This event supports kindness and welcomes everyone.
Pumpkin Patch Trains
Oct 5, 11, 12, 2025 | Whippany Railway Museum
Take a 45-minute train ride, then each child can pick a pumpkin and get a kit for decorating. Costumes are encouraged.
Oktoberfest at Turkey Brook Park
Oct 11–12, 2025 | Flanders
Sample German food and beer, play games, and listen to live music. Kids’ activities include inflatables, pony rides, and yard games.
Brite Nites at Wagner Farm Arboretum
Fridays & Saturdays: Oct 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 2025 | Warren Township
See creative hand-carved pumpkins and light displays. Perfect for an evening stroll with friends or family.
Queen City Film Festival
Oct 16–19, 2025 | Cinemark Watchung
Watch films from new and underrepresented voices. The festival includes youth programs and panels for aspiring filmmakers.
Sussex County Harvest, Honey & Garlic Festival
Oct 18, 2025 | Sussex County Fairgrounds
A day of local food, artisan booths, hayrides, pumpkin painting, and hands-on activities for kids.
Celebrate Fall at Reeves-Reed Arboretum
Oct 19, 2025 | Summit
Enjoy games, crafts, music, a Spooky Trail, and meet the resident goats. Seasonal treats from market vendors.
Dia De Los Muertos in Washington Boro
Oct 23, 2025 | Veterans Park, Washington
Celebrate with mariachi music, face painting, local vendors, and traditional Day of the Dead activities. Free entry and parking.
Central New Jersey October 2025 Festivals
Hightstown Family Fair
Oct 4, 2025 | Downtown Hightstown
Enjoy arts, crafts, small business vendors, food, entertainment, and children’s activities.
U-Pick Sunflowers: Fall Festival
Sept 12 – Oct 13, 2025 | Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge
Pick sunflowers and dahlias by the stem, tour the barns, and see animals. The whole farm is full of photo spots.
Mercer County Italian American Festival
Oct 4–5, 2025 | West Windsor Township
Enjoy rides, plenty of food, Italian culture, music, and family fun.
North Brunswick Heritage Day
Oct 4, 2025 | Community Park
Local bands, food trucks, a beer garden, and fireworks cap off this celebration of the town’s history.
Freehold Oktoberfest
Oct 5, 2025 | Downtown Freehold
Sip beer, enjoy German food and music, browse crafters, and join the fun during this Main Street celebration.
Amazing Pumpkin Carve
Oct 9–12, 2025 | Hopewell Township
Marvel at massive carved pumpkins, listen to music by the fire, try pumpkin painting and enjoy food trucks.
Lawrenceville Fall Arts Fest
Oct 11, 2025 | Main Street, Lawrenceville
Find handmade goods from artists and crafters, enjoy local music, and let the kids play in the free Kids Zone.
Red Bank Oktoberfest
Oct 11, 2025 | Red Bank
Taste beer, wine, and spirits, listen to live music, shop the vendor market, and let the kids play at their own zone.
Allentown Fall Festival
Oct 11–12, 2025 | Allentown
Spend the weekend shopping for handmade items, listening to live music, and sampling local food and drinks.
Fall Taste of Highlands
Oct 11, 2025 | Atlantic Highlands
Sample food and cocktails from dozens of local spots during this town-wide tasting event.
Somerset County’s Journey Through the Past
Oct 11–12, 2025 | Multiple historic sites
Visit up to 30 historic places across Somerset County for free, meet costumed guides, and enjoy family activities.
Hub City Sounds: Corazon Latino Festival
Oct 12, 2025 | Joyce Kilmer Park, New Brunswick
DJs, food, dance, live performances, and interactive activities celebrating Latinx heritage.
Lambertville Halloween Film Festival
Oct 17–19, 2025 | Lambertville
A short film festival with blocks for thrillers, horror, and Halloween-themed stories.
East Brunswick Restaurant Week
Oct 20–26, 2025 | East Brunswick
Sample deals and special menus all week as area restaurants celebrate local flavors.
Night of Frights
Oct 25, 2025 | Historic Village at Allaire, Wall Township
Haunted buildings, ghostly storytelling, and creepy costumed actors set the mood for a thrilling night.
Southern New Jersey October 2025 Festivals
Submersion Festival
Oct 3–4, 2025 | Paradise Lakes Campground, Hammonton
A 2-day camping and music festival with performances on two stages and plenty of chances to dance under the stars.
Bordentown Cranberry Fest
Oct 4–5, 2025 | Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown
Shop from 100+ artisans, enjoy food, live music, a beer garden, and kids’ activities.
Festival of Fine Craft
Oct 4–5, 2025 | WheatonArts, Millville
Browse handmade works from more than 25 artists, watch craft demos, try art projects, and snack on food from local trucks.
Smithville Oktoberfest
Oct 4–5, 2025 | Smithville and Village Green
Oktoberfest fun with crafters, international food, live music, rides, and shopping at the village’s specialty stores.
Atlantic City Restaurant Week
Oct 5–10, 2025 | Atlantic City
Enjoy multi-course, fixed-price meals at top restaurants across the city for a whole week.
Agora Greek Festival
Oct 9–12, 2025 | St. Thomas Greek Orthodox Church, Cherry Hill
Enjoy classic Greek food, music, and dancing at one of South Jersey’s largest Greek festivals.
Annual LBI FLY International Kite Festival
Oct 10–11, 2025 | Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island
The sky fills with bright, colorful kites of every shape. See kite experts show tricks and check out artist displays.
Atlantic City Comedy Festival
Oct 11–12, 2025 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City
Top comedians take the stage for two days of back-to-back stand-up shows.
Berlin Fall Festival
Oct 11, 2025 | Berlin Boro County Park
See classic cars, listen to local bands, enjoy food vendors, and bring the kids for pumpkin painting.
Lima Bean Festival
Oct 11, 2025 | Wilbraham Park, West Cape May
Try dishes and products made with lima beans, shop crafts, and celebrate the region’s farming traditions.
Ocean City Fall Block Party
Oct 11, 2025 | Asbury Ave, Ocean City
A full day of live music, shopping, food, and fun for all ages along Ocean City's storied streets.
Smithville Irish Festival
Oct 11–12, 2025 | Smithville
Irish music, food, crafts, and family activities with a lively atmosphere.
Stafford Fall Harvest & Wine Festival
Oct 11–12, 2025 | Heritage Park, Manahawkin
Sip New Jersey wines, listen to bands, explore food trucks, and browse craft booths.
Circus Stella
Oct 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 2025 | Diggerland USA, West Berlin
Watch acrobatic stunts, comedy, and rescued dog performances at this family-friendly circus.
Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
Oct 18–19, 2025 | Downtown Chatsworth
Shop crafts from more than 150 vendors, sample food, and hear live music.
The Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey
Oct 18–19, 2025 | Multiple sites
Visit 11 lighthouses, three lifesaving stations, and a maritime museum along the coast. Each stop offers a small souvenir and stories of maritime history.
Cape May Restaurant Weekend – Fall
Oct 30 – Nov 2, 2025 | Cape May
Sample three-course meals at some of the best restaurants in Cape May for a set price.
Find more family activities, event tickets, and schedules by checking the links above. These New Jersey October 2025 festival ideas let you create your own perfect fall adventure, from lively community celebrations to cozy local fairs.
Some links above are affiliate links. These help support the guide and keep it packed with free, up-to-date event information for travelers.
Note: All of our ticket partners are legitimate, official, recommended ticket sellers and guaranteed to sell you official tickets.
Affiliate Disclosure: Many of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you click through them and buy tickets, I receive a commission at no cost to you. This money helps support my site, and I do my best to use the profits to provide you with as much detail and free information about New Jersey leisure activities as I am able.
