1- Fall Festivals & Fairs
Great Pumpkin Festival October 6-8 Vernon, NJ (1 hour 15 min from Hoboken/JC) Visit theHeven Hill Farm for more than 30 family-friendly activities including visits with animals, a hay maze, spider web crawl, Maggie the milking cow, monster sling shots, a barnyard sports ball-cade, post pounders, a hay crawl, corn boxes, bee barn with glass bee hive, a “boo barn,” chicken little show, a chick barn, a dancing robot show, duck racing, a vortex tunnel, an obstacle course, tether ball, poly pong, a Lincoln Log cabin builder, maize quest games, and more
NJ Botanical Gardens Fall Festival October 13-14 Ringwood, NJ (1 hour from Hoboken/JC) Enjoy fall in the beautiful setting of Ringwood State Park. Hayrides, pumpkin painting, plant sale, children’s games, arts and crafts, free activities, garden tours, live music and dancing, and delicious food and drink await your family for a weekend of fun.
Hoboken Harvest Festival October 20th Hoboken, NJ Free activities include pony rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin painting, hayrides, a trackless train, music, a hay maze, face painting, a moonwalk, balloon art, craft activities and more. Food vendors will offer tasty delights for purchase.
Celebrate Fall Festival October 21st Summit, NJ (30 minutes from Hoboken/JC) The Reeves Reed Arboretum hosts games, crafts, music, face painting, seasonal cooking demonstrations and of course goats for an afternoon of seasonal fun at this eagerly anticipated fall festival. With Halloween right around the corner, families can explore the Spooky Trail, decorate a pumpkin, and join the costume parade. Or enjoy the golden autumn colors and crisp weather with some yummy fare from one of the vendors. The pumpkin carving contest will return!
2-Apple Picking
We have gathered the five closest spots for awesome apple picking for all ages- Click and pick from over 100 types of apples!
3- Corn Mazes
Giant Corn Maze Adventures through October 31st Chatham, NJ (40 minutes from Hoboken/JC) Rush to explore Alstede Farms’ popular corn maze. This year’s theme is Alstede Fresh, spotlighting fresh and healthy local produce. Skate over to the expansive 10-acre maze boasting a family-friendly and educational experience with fun facts and features about healthy eating. Navigate the twists and turns to avoid a penalty as you rebound to the bridge for a beautiful view and score a perfect photo opportunity. Little ones can take on a kiddie-sized corn maze.
Hayrides and Mazes at Secor Farms – through October 31st Mahwah, NJ (1 hour from Hoboken/JC) This farm has it all, including a petting zoo, hayrides, pumpkin patch, and yes, a corn maze (plus an easier hay maze for younger kids). Don’t forget to grab an apple cider doughnut on your way out!
Stony Hill Farm Market – Through November 15th Chester, NJ (40 minutes from Hoboken/JC) With so many mazes to choose from at Stony Hill, you may never find your way out of there! Explore the 10-acre corn maze, with this year’s theme, “Age of Edison”; or try a simpler, one-acre corn maze, a rope maze, and tile maze. Plus, partake in a life-size agricultural Candy Land game, and let the kids burn energy in the Noah’s Ark playground. Mazes are open daily through mid-November. (Strollers are permitted but not recommended due to the difficult terrain.)
4- Kid-Friendly Fright Fests
Gardens Aglow October 26th 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Montclair, NJ The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens come alive at night this Halloween season. View the gardens at dusk as they come to life with artfully carved jack-o-lanterns supplied by local high school art departments. Enjoy a glass of cider at sunset while watching the gardens glow! Activities, entertainment, a mad science show and refreshments will be on-going throughout the event. Visitors can see a display of artfully-carved Jack-O-Lanterns provided by art students at local high schools.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze – through November 24th Croton-On-Hudson, NY (1 hour 30 minutes from Hoboken/JC)
The granddaddy of Westchester Halloween events returns to Van Cortlandt Manor this year with nearly 7,000 glowing pumpkins. Located just over the NJ state line, this stunning event features carved pumpkins creatively displayed in the form of dinosaurs, a circus train, animals, local landmarks, and more. This event often sells out early in the season especially for dusk timed tickets.
5-Pumpkin Patch
Abma’s Farm Through October 27th Wyckoff, NJ (40 minutes from Hoboken/JC) This family-owned farm celebrates fall with hayrides and pumpkin picking each Saturday (plus Columbus Day) Before leaving, savor some apple cider and doughnuts from the farm market.
Riamede Farm Chester, NJ (30 minutes from Hoboken/JC ) For some real pumpkin picking, the kind where you cut the pumpkin right off the vine yourself, go to Riamede Farm. This quiet, simple, laid-back farm includes a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Don’t forget to bring your own clippers!
Williams Nursery – Westfield, NJ (40 minutes from Hoboken/JC)
The perfect “starter” pumpkin patch for little ones, Williams is an adorable garden center with a small homemade pumpkin patch. You’ll also find wagons to pull, a maze, hayride, pony rides, and apple cider. Keep an eye out for fall events, such as a scarecrow contest and free mini-pumpkin weekends. Pumpkin picking is offered weekends in October and Columbus Day.
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