22 of the best things to do this weekend in NJ — Oct. 20-22
Looking for some fall fun this weekend? We’ve got you covered. Check out our complete list of great events and fun things do right here in the great Garden State!
ATLANTIC COUNTY
Paw Dazzle will host the Annual Costume Pet Parade starting at 1 pm. Spectators can watch 100+ pets show off their unique Halloween costumes! To enter your pet you must be pre-registered by calling Paw Dazzle at 609-748-7110. Historic Smithville offers 60 shoppes, 7 eateries, carousel ride, train ride, paddleboats and arcade, on site lodging at the Colonial Inn and over 26 free weekend events!
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Historic Smithville
615 East Moss Mill Rd., Smithville, NJ 08205
BURLINGTON COUNTY
RiverFest is a family friendly event. It's a four acre beer garden with over 12 beers on tap and wine too, over 15 restaurants, live bands all day, over 24 unique vendors and a free kids area with bounce attractions, magicians and face painters.We have everything there that you may need from onsite restrooms, free parking and shuttle services from three offsite locations, ATM machines, and over 3,600 square feet of tents to relax under. SECURITY: Bags will be checked at the gate prior to entry. No Pets allowed unless properly identified as a service animal. Check us out on the web or email us or call for general event information.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Bordentown City Beach
100 W. Park St., Bordentown, NJ 08505
Back by popular demand, explore Whitesbog Historic Village by an going on an old fashioned wagon ride. Come enjoy the fun, good music and great company. Keep warm by the campfire, roast marshmallows and experience the glow of a wood fire with family and friends.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Historic Whitesbog Village
120 W. Whitesbog Rd., Browns Mills, NJ 08015
Presented by The Festival Committee of Chatsworth for the benefit of the restoration & preservation of the White Horse Inn. The Cranberry Festival is a celebration of New Jersey's cranberry harvest, and offers a tribute to the Pine Barrens & local culture. The main attraction is the diverse showing of many artists & craftsmen, some of which will also be demonstrating their crafts as well as displaying them for sale. Hours: 9 am - 4 pm. Admission to the festival is FREE. A donation of $5 will be accepted if you use our parking area at the school located off of Second Street.
Date: October 21st, 2017 - October 22nd, 2017
Location: Downtown Rt. 563, Chatsworth, NJ 08019
CAPE MAY COUNTY
Join NJ Audubon for our 71st annual fall festival, a 3-day event celebrating bird migration and Cape May. SO.MANY.BIRDS! Friday evening Cape May locals Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson unveil their visually stunning new book Birds of Prey. Saturday evening, we welcome our bird observatory partners from Sweden and the UK, Falsterbo and SPURN, to learn of international collaborations in migration monitoring. Come for a day or the weekend -- there's something for everyone! Registration of $65/day or $175 for all three includes walks for all skill levels, as well as enlightening indoor programs. The festival highlight is Cape May Convention Hall. Admission is FREE; vendors include artists, crafters & Cape May Bird Observatory's nature store with the latest in binoculars and scopes. Kids activities include crafts, a live touch tank, and scavenger hunt. Jonathan Wood and The Raptor Project brings live raptors - 3 shows daily.
Date: October 20th, 2017 - October 22nd, 2017
Location: Cape May Convention Hall
714 Beach Ave., Cape May, NJ 08210
Sea Isle City's Halloween Parade is one of the resort's many long-standing traditions. The parade features a wide variety of eye-catching costumes, floats, musical entertainment and mascots. Those wishing to enter the Halloween Parade can do so by downloading an application on the website. A free Halloween Family Dance Party will take place immediately following this year's parade, at the Excursion Park Band Shell, JFK Blvd. & the Beach. Winning parade entrants will receive their awards at the start of the Dance Party. 7 pm.
Date: October 20th, 2017
Location: Landis Ave., 45th - 40th St., Sea Isle City, NJ 08243
Hayrides, pumpkin decorating, trick or treating in our shops, and creepy & crawly, but cute animals! 11 - 4 pm.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Shopping District
96th St., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
ESSEX
Join us for the fourth annual Seton Village South Orange Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival from 5 - 10 pm! More than 20 area Food Trucks ; Craft Beer Garden featuring more than 25 NJ craft beers, hosted by the Gaslight Brewery and Restaurant; Live music featuring Bullshark and Flip da Skrip; Appearance by the Seton Hall University Pirate and much more! The festival is produced by the Seton Village Committee in conjunction with the Village of South Orange, the South Orange Department of Recreation and Cultural Affairs, and the South Orange Department of Public Works. Generous support has been provided by Gaslight Brewery, Premiere Sponsor CheeZen, Premium Sponsors Natalie Farrell and Seton Hall University, and Supporting Sponsors interACT Theater Productions and Stop & Shop.
Date: October 20th, 2017
Location: Seton Village
Irvington Ave., South Orange, NJ 07079
Enjoy an evening of fine art, entertainment, captivating music, auctions, fine food, and drink. Studio Montclair takes pride in our mission of promoting culture and education in the visual arts by connecting artists to community. In the past year, SMI has exhibited more than 280 works of art and interacted with almost 1,000 artists. Proceeds from this event will help us find a permanent home for SMI, start a scholarship fund for emerging young artists, and fund our ongoing projects. 7 pm. For ticket information visit the website.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Studio Montclair
18 Label St., Montclair, NJ 07042
GLOUCESTER COUNTY
Join us for the first Pitman Potter Festival! Pitman Potter Fans are excited to bring the magic of the wizarding world to Pitman! Follow us on social media for additional information regarding obtaining tickets for festival events! Tickets will be limited so that it is a fun event for all!
Date: October 20th, 2017 - October 21st, 2017
Location: Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071
HUDSON COUNTY
Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the City of Hoboken present the Hoboken Harvest Festival.There will be lots of free family fun activities. Live music & dancing, pumpkin painting, a hay maze, horse & carriage rides, a trackless train, inflatable rides, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, craft activities, local vendors, food and much more. Located just 1 block from all public transportation including: PATH, Hudson Bergen Lightrail, NJ Tranist trains & buses. 11 am - 3 pm.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Pier A Park
100 Sinatra Dr., Hoboken, NJ 07030
HUNTERDON COUNTY
Enjoy the beautiful fall foliage in our estate vineyard and experience great cuisine from local food trucks, sample our award-winning wines, and enjoy the sounds of The VooDUDES. Admission includes entrance to the event, parking, and music. $10 for adults 21 and over, $5 for ages 13 to 20, and children 12 and under are complimentary. Reservations are not required. Food prices vary by truck. Wine tastings are available for an additional $10 per person, 21 and older, which includes eight samplings of our nationally award-winning wines in an etched Alba Vineyard wine glass. You are welcome to bring a lawn chair, blanket, or beach umbrella. No pets, canopies, or EZ-Up shelters.
Date: October 21st, 2017 - October 22nd, 2017
Location: Alba Vineyard
269 Riegelsville Warren Glen Rd., Milford, NJ 08848
MERCER COUNTY
The Garden Bros celebrate 100 years of entertaining families throughout North America. Take advantage of this last chance to see the elephants live! 'Motorcycle Madness' has motorcycle daredevils somersaulting and spinning in a big Globe of Doom. Chinese Acrobats, the Human Slingshot, Racing Camels, crazy comedy with Circus Clowns, daring aerialists, and cirque artists. Its 1½ hours of excitement and fun. The first one hundred adult tickets sold online are only $9.95. Showtimes: 4:30 & 7:30 pm.
Date: October 20th, 2017
Location: Sun National Bank Center
81 Hamilton Ave., Trenton, NJ 08611
MONMOUTH COUNTY
Find fun for the whole family - including your dog - at Marty's Place Howl-O-Ween Family Fest. Please join us on for this spook-tacular event, which will feature a Ruff Mudder Canine Obstacle Challenge (for dogs and their owners), a Canine Costume Contest, Hay Rides, Dog Photo Sessions, K-9 (police dog) Demonstration, Kids' Crafts, food truck, 50-50 cash raffle and more. Outdoors on the grounds of Marty's Place Senior Dog Sanctuary in Upper Freehold (outside Allentown), NJ. Free admission - with fees for some activities. All proceeds go directly for the care of Sanctuary residents. Please check our website for additional details.
Date: October 22nd, 2017
Location: Marty's Place Senior Dog Sanctuary
118 Rt. 526, Upper Freehold Township, NJ 08501
Our spells are all friendly and our brews are delicious! Join us for some not-to-scary fun! A tasting and a self-guided 'haunted' wine walk are part of a wicked good time. Plan on having a bit of seasonal fun while sipping our delicious wines. While the little ones are always welcomed with their parents, the fun is intended for the over 21 crowd. (the "walk" portion of the weekend is weather permitting. However, RAIN OR SHINE, we still pour wine! In the case of inclement weather, we will be inside for all of the scary fun)
Date: October 21st, 2017 - October 22nd, 2017
Location: 4JGs Orchards and Vineyards
127 Hillsdale Rd., Colts Neck, NJ 07722
MORRIS COUNTY
Kids Cancer needs Heroes! JOIN US to walk or run, and be a HERO for Kids Cancer!
Raise a minimum of $100 in sponsorship and receive a GOLD CAPE to wear and show your HEROISM! Gold is the color for Kids Cancer, so let the Gold Capes Fly! Form teams with friends and co-workers... the more Heroes the better!
Let's see the Gold Capes Fly!
Date: Sunday, October 22 at 9 AM - 12:30 PM
Location: 1 Giralda Farms, Madison, NJ 07940
OCEAN COUNTY
FREE admission, prizes, fun for everyone including pumpkin decorating, dog parade and kids' costume parade, trick or treating, and pumpkin chunkin' competition. Activities Schedule: 10 am - Noon – Dog & Kids' Costume Parade Registration located at the Visitor Center on the Boardwalk at Blaine Ave. Noon - 5 pm – Pumpkin Decorating on the Boardwalk nearest Lucky Leo's Arcade, as well as, Vendors & Crafters along the Boardwalk by the Visitor Center at Blaine Ave. 1 pm – Dog & Kids' Costume Parade along the Boardwalk starting at Hancock Avenue with prizes awarded immediately following the parade at the Franklin Avenue Stage 1:00 PM – Pumpkin Chunkin' Team Registration begins at EJ's Tap House. 2 - 5 pm – Kids are welcome to Trick or Treat at participating businesses along the Boardwalk. 3 pm – Pumpkin Chunkin' Competition on Sheridan Ave. Beach.
Date: October 22nd, 2017
Location: Boardwalk, Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
The streets of downtown will be lined with artists, merchandise, handcrafters and food vendors. Free kids games and pumpkin painting. Live entertainment and a beer and wine garden. 11:30 am - 5 pm.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Washington St., Toms River, NJ 08753
PASSAIC COUNTY
Tap into the fun at the first annual Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival presented by the New Jersey Jackals. They are combining two great festivals into one HUGE event and it all takes place right ON THE FIELD at Yogi Berra Stadium! This all-day party is fun for the whole family. The Fest will feature more than 20 food trucks with a variety of delicious fare and a beer garden with over 50 different craft beers. There will be great live music by GRAFFITI CANNON. Family fun will also include a Bounce House, a Mechanical Bull and plenty of backyard games including Knocker ball, Ladder ball, Kan Jam and Corn Hole. Parking is free. Entry is $5 for 13 & Older; kids 12 & younger are FREE.
Date: October 21st, 2017
Location: Yogi Berra Stadium
8 Yogi Berra Dr., Little Falls, NJ 07424
UNION COUNTY
Fun for the whole family with crafts, games, entertainment, apple cidering & cooking demonstrations, art exhibit, spooky trail walk, lots of pumpkins, the grazing goats & more! For details about the day's events, visit reeves-reedarboretum.org. RRA membes & children under 3 are free; Non-members $10/person, $25/family. 11 am - 4 pm.
Date: October 22nd, 2017
Location: Reeves-Reed Arboretum
165 Hobart Ave., Summit, NJ 07901
More than 200 artists, crafters and vendors. Free admission and parking. 25,000 spectators.
Date: October 22nd, 2017
Location: Downtown Cranford, Cranford, NJ 07016
Non-stop music and entertainment along with family fun attractions. Over 150 exhibitors, kiddie rides & climbing wall , kids games, face painters, amusements, temp tattoos, & more. A special section with craft exhibitors & artists. Fabulous festival foods, everything from shishkabobs, kettle corn, pulled pork, sausage sandwiches to ice cream, zeppoles, funnel cakes, and Italian ices. Come eat, shop & play! Free Kids Kids Art Tent sponsored by Prestige Diner Event Sponsor is the New Providence Business Community. Event presented by the Union County Board of Freeholders. 10 am - 5 pm. Rain or Shine.
Date: October 22nd, 2017
Location: 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974
More From New Jersey 101.5 FM
