Things To Do

Your Fall Guide to Visiting Farms & Vineyards

Head to farm country for a season of harvest fun.

Long Branch Fall Bazaar

Shopping

Oct 24–25: Celebrate fall and shop small at this outdoor event.

Addamsfest in Westfield

Family/Kids

Oct 1–31: This year’s Addamsfest in Westfield will include virtual and in-person events, such as Halloween-themed drive-in movies, a haunted trail and an online conversation wtih the director of the Tee & Charles Addams Foundation.

6 Haunted Attractions to Visit in New Jersey

Scare yourself silly at these statewide walk-throughs, escape rooms and more.

Skylands Stadium Jack-O-Lantern Experience

Family/Kids

Sept 25–Nov 1: Welcome fall at the Skylands Stadium Jack-O-Lantern Experience, a drive-thru course with more than 5,000 intricate jack-o-lanterns, craft beer and food.

See Halloween Movies All Month at the Cranford Theater Drive-In

Film

Thru Oct 31: Leading up to Halloween, the Cranford Theater Drive-In will screen spooky family favorites.

The Delaware River Towns Annual Scarecrow Contest

Family/Kids

Oct 1–31: The Delaware River Towns Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau invites visitors to celebrate Halloween all month long at the 3rd annual Scarecrow Contest.

Savor Sunflower Season at Holland Ridge Farms

The fields buzz each fall with vibrant blooms and visitors by the thousands.

At Ironbound Farm, Connect with Food from Ground to Glass

The 108-acre regenerative farm in Asbury provides the opportunity to experience food at every stage.

A Safe Space for Animals—and Autumn Visits

At Tamerlaine Sanctuary & Preserve, a 336-acre farm in Sussex County, book a private tour to meet, pet and feed the 200-plus residents.

At the Delaware River Railroad, Chug Along on a Seasonal Adventure

Fall excursions include such add-on activities as pumpkin picking, gem mining and wine tasting.

Hunterdon’s 579 Trail is a Day-Tripper’s Dream

Fresh-picked fruit, vegetables and plants, as well as dairy and meat products, take center stage.

Behind the Backyard Stage at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Following Gov. Murphy’s summer approval of 250-person outdoor gatherings, three staff members hastened to build a safe environment in Florham Park.

East Lynne Theater Company presents “Poe by Candlelight” Outdoors

Holiday

Oct 24: Just in time for Halloween, actors will read their favorite stories by master of the macabre, Edgar Allan Poe. 

Collingswood Book Festival

Authors/Books

Usually held outdoors along Haddon Avenue, the 18th annual book bash will be presented mainly virtually but some socially distant in-person events are also planned. 

NJPAC Presents Live Virtual Conversation With “Hocus Pocus” Actress Kathy Najimy

Holiday

Oct 24: Grab your broom (or vacuum) and join this live Zoom discussion with Kathy Najimy about the Halloween classic film Hocus Pocus.

George Street Playhouse’s ‘Conscience’ Returns for Limited Virtual Run

Theater

Oct 27–30: The original cast of Joe DiPietro’s Conscience comes together for a virtual version of the production that closed due to the pandemic just days after it opened in March.

Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival Goes Virtual

Oct 22-Nov 1:Typically held in venues throughout Newark, the 18th biennial festival will offer free live-streamed events, such as group poetry readings and panel talks.

Can Virtual Fundraising Save Our State’s Nonprofits?

Online events help nonprofits raise money, but for many cultural and charitable institutions, pandemic-related revenue shortfalls are staggering.

Comedy Web Series Follows Millennial Women of Color

New episodes of Codependent will be released on YouTube from October 15–29.

Upcoming Free Online Programming With the Grammy Museum Experience

Music

Thru Nov 10: The Grammy Museum Experience museum continues its online programming, including two video series and a podcast.

Oral History Project Documents Storied Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital

Stephanie Kip’s online interviews feature a range of subjects associated with the now-demolished Morris Plains hospital, including Woody Guthrie’s daughter and a former girlfriend of Bob Dylan’s.

Princeton Symphony Orchestra Goes Virtual this Fall

Music

Oct 4-Nov 15: The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) introduces a new fall series, Virtual Concerts: Your Orchestra, Your Home, offering the opportunity to hear works rarely performed in the concert hall.

This Holiday Season, American Repertory Ballet’s “Nutcracker” Goes Virtual

Performance/Dance

For communities throughout New Jersey, American Repertory Ballet’s Nutcracker marks the start of the holiday season. This year, however, the annual production will not be performed in its traditional fashion.  

Fall 2020 New Jersey Film Festival Goes Virtual

Festival

Sept 13–Oct 25: View more than 40 films, most of which are New Jersey or area premieres, from the comfort of your home during the 39th annual New Jersey Film Festival.

The Montclair Film Festival Returns With Drive-In & Virtual Programming

Festival

Oct 16–25: Originally scheduled for May 1–10, the the 9th Annual Montclair Film Festival will feature a combination of drive-in and virtual screenings, as well as special events and conversations. 

Newark Moonlight Cinema Extended Through December 6

Family/Kids

Thru Dec 6: Newark Moonlight Cinema is a pop-up drive-in movie theater screens cult classics and recent releases that highlight Black filmmakers and actors.

Fosterfields Farm Tours

Family/Kids

Sept 4–Oct 30: Visit the farm animals and catch a special demonstration, such as butter-churning, during 45-minute drive-thru or walk-thru tours.

WheatonArts Reopens

Art

Find solace and inspiration at WheatonArts during the first phase of the center’s public reopening. Visit the Museum of American Glass, Down Jersey Folklife Center, and museum stores.

MPAC Launches Fall Events, Including Indoor Concerts

Film

Thru Oct 24: Mayo Performing Arts Center will stage a series of intimate performances for audiences of up to 150 this fall inside the theater.

Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Reopens

Art

Sept 26–Nov 15: The Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion invites the community back for in-person visits following a Covid-19 closure of more than six months.

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey Reopens

Art

On Saturday, October 3, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will reopen its spring exhibitions that were closed this past March due to Covid-19.

Hunterdon Art Museum To Highlight Peters Valley School of Craft in New Exhibit

Art

Oct 4-Jan 10: Hunterdon Art Museum will exhibit “From the Ground Up: Peters Valley School of Craft,” the first-ever exhibition examining Peters Valley’s fifty-year history and key moments that have defined the institution.

6 Museums & Galleries Reopening This Fall

Wander through indoor exhibits again (while adhering to updated protocols, of course).

Peters Valley Gallery Reopens

Art

Peters Valley Gallery is now open for in-person shopping by appointment only during limited hours.

Field Station Dinosaurs Reopens

Family/Kids

Thru Nov 15: Embark on an expedition to the prehistoric ages at this outdoor theme park. Encounter animatronic triceratops, stegosaurus and Tyrannosaurus rex in Bergen County’s Overpeck Park.

Sojo Spa Club Reopens

Fitness/Sports

Sojo Spa Club reopened earlier this month with a new online reservation system for daily admission and protocols to ensure a safe and rejuvenating spa day.

Grounds for Sculpture Open to Public

Art

Founded by the late Seward Johnson in 1992, Grounds for Sculpture, an outdoor museum features more than 400 larger-than-life works.

Coronavirus Update: Canceled & Rescheduled Events in NJ

An updated list of event cancellations and postponements in NJ due to the coronavirus health crisis.

New Jersey Lottery Festival of Ballooning Postponed Until 2021

Family/Kids

The 38th edition of the annual summer event is now scheduled for July 23-24-25, 2021.