New Jersey Fall Festivals and Fairs You Won’t Want to Miss

Nothing says fall in New Jersey like a seasonal festival or fair. From classic Oktoberfest celebrations to family-friendly happenings at farms and orchards, the Garden State offers loads of fun events all autumn long.

NORTH JERSEY

Great Pumpkin Festival, Vernon

📅: Thru Sunday, November 2
📍: Heaven Hill Farm
ℹ️: More than 35 family-friendly activities are on offer: hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, carnival rides and more, plus food.
💸: $10.99+

Bergen County Fall Harvest Festival, Ridgefield Park

📅: Friday, September 26-Sunday, September 28
📍: Overpeck County Park
ℹ️: Enjoy a farmers market, rides, a petting zoo, food trucks and more.
💸: Free

Oktoberfest at the Park, Berkeley Heights

📅: Thursday, October 2 (5:30-8 pm)
📍: Table & Banter Market
ℹ️: Enjoy beer flights, food, live music, a stein-holding challenge and more.
💸: $65

JC Harvest Fest, Jersey City

📅: Saturday, October 4 (10 am-2 pm)
📍: Hamilton Park
ℹ️: This year, the Harvest Festival is being combined with the city’s Cultural Diversity Festival.
💸: Free

Oktoberfest at Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit

📅: Saturday, October 4 (4-8 pm)
📍: Reeves-Reed Arboretum
ℹ️: This public garden in Summit is hosting a celebration with bottomless beer, German food, lawn games and live German music.
💸: $85 for members; $95 for non-members

Grand Harvest Wine Festival, Morristown

📅: Saturday, October 4-Sunday, October 5 (noon-5 pm)
📍: Fosterfields Living Historical Farm
ℹ️: Sample Jersey wines at the farm alongside food trucks, craft vendors, live music and more.
💸: $25+

Pumpkin Patch Train, Whippany

📅: Sunday, October 5; Saturday, October 11-Sunday, October 12
📍: Whippany Railway Museum
ℹ️: Families take a round-trip train ride to pick pumpkins. Everyone receives a pumpkin-decorating kit. Wear your costume!
💸: $13+

Oktoberfest at Turkey Brook Park, Flanders

📅: Saturday, October 11 (noon-8 pm); Sunday, October 12 (noon-5 pm)
📍: Turkey Brook Park
ℹ️: This celebration in Flanders features beer, food and music, plus hay rides and axe throwing.
💸: $5; free for ages 17 and under

CENTRAL JERSEY

Downtown Freehold’s Oktoberfest, Freehold

📅: Sunday, October 5 (noon-5 pm)
📍: West Main Street
ℹ️: Vendors, beer, food, live music and more await.
💸: Free

Oktoberfest at Forest Lodge, Warren

📅: Saturday, October 11 (11 am-6 pm)
📍: Forest Lodge
ℹ️: Dance to a live German band while sampling craft beer and enjoying family-friendly entertainment.
💸: $10 for ticket at door; $11.63 for online ticket; $32.64 for entry and unlimited rides; children under 10 enter free

Red Bank Oktoberfest, Red Bank

📅: Saturday, October 11 (noon-5 pm)
📍: Edmund Wilson Plaza
ℹ️: Enjoy food, drinks, a craft market, live music and a kids zone. There are also two tasting sessions (noon-2:30 pm & 2:30-5 pm); tickets must be purchased.
💸: Free

Dunellen HarvestFest, Dunellen

📅: Sunday, October 12 (11 am-4 pm)
📍: Washington Park
ℹ️: Activities include a pumpkin-decorating contest and apple pie competition, plus crafters, food and more.
💸: Free

Middlesex College HarvestFest, Edison

📅: Thursday, October 16 (5-8 pm)
📍: Middlesex College
ℹ️: Enjoy hayrides, inflatables, food trucks, a car show and more.
💸: Free

Hamilton’s Annual Oktoberfest, Hamilton

📅: Sunday, October 19 (11 am-5 pm)
📍: Veterans Park
ℹ️: Celebrate Oktoberfest with food, alcohol and fall activities like hay rides and a corn maze.

SOUTH JERSEY

Oktoberfest in Historic Smithville Village, Smithville

📅: Saturday, October 4-Sunday, October 5 (10 am-5 pm)
📍: Smithville
ℹ️: Food, beer and music—plus 100 craft vendors, kids’ activities and more—make this annual celebration a perfect fall day out for the family in this charming village in Galloway. A free shuttle bus runs from Smithville Square.
💸: Free

Blackwood Pumpkin Festival, Blackwood

📅: Sunday, October 5 (11 am-4 pm)
📍: Mainstage Center for the Arts
ℹ️: Now in its 32nd year, this festival features pumpkin painting, vendors and games.
💸: Free

Medford Apple Festival, Medford

📅: Saturday, October 11 (9 am-4 pm)
📍: Kirby’s Mill
ℹ️: Indulge in apple butter, cider, cider donuts and even apple ice cream.
💸: Free

Stafford Fall Harvest & Wine Festival, Manahawkin

📅: Saturday, October 11-Sunday, October 12 (noon-5 pm)
📍: Heritage Park
ℹ️: Sip from local wineries while taking in music and eating fall fare.
💸: $20+

Chatsworth Cranberry Festival, Chatsworth

📅: Saturday, October 18-Sunday, October 19 (9 am-4 pm)
📍: White Horse Inn
ℹ️: Celebrate the cranberry-harvest season with 100-plus vendors, music and even a car show.
💸: Free

Cherry Hill Harvest Festival, Cherry Hill

📅: Saturday, October 19 (noon-4 pm)
📍: Croft Farm
ℹ️: Enjoy food trucks, a beer garden and plenty of games for the family—not to mention free pumpkins.