We will soon be saying hello to fall here in New Jersey — and that means all the fall festivals in 2023. Whether you enjoy a hay ride, sipping on apple cider, or taking photos at a pumpkin patch, there are many ways to capture those fall memories. Music festivals, food festivals, and more will be taking place in the New Jersey area. Read on for a list of festivals taking place this upcoming fall season in New Jersey.
Six Flags’ Fright Fest | 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson
September 8th – October 31st
We are always about supporting towns locally, but this particular festival is definitely a must in Jackson, New Jersey. Six Flags is home to rollercoaster rides and more, but at Fright Fest, things worked differently. Haunted attractions and real-life encounters with zombies, witches, and other characters are what guests may encounter when visiting.
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All About Downtown Street Fair | Newark Avenue, Jersey City
September 9th | 12PM – 8PM
This Jersey City fair is back again for another year. Since 2011, over a hundred vendors have been coming together to sell an assortment of products from jewelry to artwork. To add to the fun, food trucks also show up to satisfy food lovers’ cravings. The fair will take place on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza across from the Grove Street PATH Station.
Central Jersey Jazz Festival | Flemington + Somerville
September 9th + 10th
Visitors to this event can experience the sounds of today’s best live jazz music at two different outdoor venues in Flemington and Somerville. An exact list of performances can be found here. Local businesses will have food and beverages for sale on-site.
Fall Festival Weekends at VonThun Farms | 438 NJ-57, Washington
September 16th – October 29th | Saturdays + Sundays | 10AM – 5PM
Every weekend during the fall, VonThun hosts a fall festival. Unlimited hay rides, duck races, giant pumpkin checkers, barnyard mini golf, and other activities will be available for everyone of all ages to enjoy. Guests will also have access to VonThun’s apple orchard and pumpkin fields when attending the fall festival.
Great Pumpkin Festival | 451 State Route 94, Vernon
September 16th – November 5th
Heaven Hill Farm in Vernon will be celebrating the fall season with its Great Pumpkin Festival. Hayrides, an Alien Invasion-themed corn maze, farm animals, live entertainment, and more are just some of the activities Heaven Hill Farm has planned.
Roseland Greek Festival | 80 Laurel Avenue, Roseland
September 22nd – 24th | Various times
For all things Greek, this festival will have delicious Greek-inspired food, shopping, live music, and more in Roseland. The event is family-friendly and a great way to try traditional Greek food, which will be available for purchase on-site and pre-order. Items available from vendors will include Greek treats, artwork of Greek scenes, iconography, Greek jewelry, and more.
The Jack O’ Lantern Experience | 94 Championship Place, Augusta
September 22nd – November 5th
The Jack O’Lantern Experience is back for its third year at Skylands Stadium in Augusta. The festival will run for 30 days. Live music, a beer garden, free parking, and most importantly, 6,000 jack-o’ lanterns will be on display to make for some incredible photo opportunities.
Hopewell Harvest Fair | 35 Princeton Avenue, Hopewell
September 23rd | 10AM – 4PM
The Harvest Fair is designed to bring the entire community together for a day of fun, entertainment, and family. Activities like hay rides, pony rides, a petting zoo, and even contests like a bake-off and homegrown vegetable contest will be held. Local vendors will be on hand with produce, baked goods, crafts, and more.
Bound Brook Street Fair + Craft Show | Main Street + Mountain Avenue, Bound Brook
September 23rd | 11AM – 5PM
StreetFairs.org will be bringing back this fair in September in Bound Brook. Artists, crafters, and vendors will come together to showcase their works + products to festival-goers. Children’s rides, food, live music, and more are expected at this event.
Milford Alive! | Milford
September 23rd | 12PM
Milford Alive! is a full-day street festival that will feature live music, street performances, vendors, food, and fireworks in Milford. Highlights from last year’s event included a pie-baking contest, a mini tarot card reading, and a face painter. Each year, Milford brings different activities to the mix to keep the festival unique.
The Tewksbury Harvest Festival | 108 Fairmount Road West, Tewksbury
September 23rd | 12PM – 5PM
Tewksbury, New Jersey will host its harvest festival for the 25th year. An arts + crafts sale, food trucks, beer garden, pie baking contest, car show, free kids’ activities, silent auction, hayrides, and more are just some of the many amenities this festival will have. Live music is also part of the fun, with the entire event being a primary fundraiser for the Tewksbury First Aid & Rescue Squad.
Garfield Fall Family Street Fest | 500 Midland Avenue, Garfield
September 24th |10AM – 5PM
The Garfield Fall Family Street Fest event will be held at Midland Avenue between Krakow & Elizabeth Streets in Garfield. It will be a great street festival for all families. There will be live entertainment, kiddie rides + games, great festival foods + food trucks, and more.
Newark Arts Festival | Newark
September 27th – October 1st
New Jersey’s largest city will be home to a free four-day celebration of the arts and culture. Visitors can expect each day of the festival to feature artistic works from Newark’s creative community, including pop-up art installations, performances, and poetry experiences. The Open Doors Kids Festival, film and media events, nightlife, and other panels are planned.
Fall Fest at Mountain Creek Resort | Vernon
September 30th – October 22nd
This first-ever Fall Fest happens every Saturday and Sunday from Saturday, September 30 to Sunday, October 22. Guests can enjoy unlimited sky rides to view the fall foliage, unlimited rides on the Alpine Mountain Coaster, and more.
Cultural Diversity Festival + Harvest Festival | Hamilton Park, Jersey City
September 30th | 10AM – 2PM
The Cultural Diversity Festival was started to showcase Jersey City’s cultural diversity, and this year has been combined with the Harvest Festival, making for a day jam-packed with all kinds of fun. In addition to fall-themed attractions like pumpkin painting, the festival will feature musical and dance performances from different traditional dance groups, including flamenco, Indian classical dance, and a martial arts demonstration. The event will take place in Hamilton Park and there will be food, craft, and other vendors on site.
Montclair History Center + Montclair Community Farm Fall Fest | 110 Orange Road, Montclair
September 30th | 11AM – 4PM
To celebrate the end of the harvest season, the Montclair History Center + Montclair Community Farm will co-host a fun-filled day for all ages. Food and drinks will be sold by local vendors. Various fall activities will be held throughout Montclair History Center’s gardens and property. Festival organizers will bring farm animals from all over Essex County. While enjoying the activities at this fest, live music will be performed by Montclair’s School of Rock.
Hoboken Fall Arts and Music Festival | Observer Highway to Seventh Street, Hoboken
October 1st
Washington Street in Hoboken from Observer Highway to Seventh Street will be home to the Hoboken Arts + Music Festival on October 1st. Local artisans, food vendors, and businesses will share their products and services with festival goers. Hence, it’s an arts + music festival — there will be two stages of live musical performances between Sixth and Seventh Streets on Washington Street.
Morristown Festival on the Green | 10 N Park Place, Morristown
October 1st | 12PM – 5PM
Since 1994, the community of Morristown has hosted its Festival on the Green. Carnival games, a beer tent, and more than 150 exhibitors will showcase local businesses. Over 60,000 attendees are expected to attend and enjoy a day full of live music on three stages.
Caldwell Street Fair | Caldwell
October 1st | 12PM – 5PM
The Caldwell Street Fair is both a community celebration and a community fundraiser. Proceeds from the event support grants to the West Essex First Aid Squad, the police departments and fire departments of the Caldwells, and other community-focused projects. Raffles, arts + crafts, kids’ rides, vendor booths, and a wide variety of food + drinks will make for the ultimate street festival. Last year, 30,000 people attended the event.
Autumn Lights Festival | 1 Marshall Hill Road, West Milford
October 7th
What started as a community event 27 years ago has now grown into a huge annual event. The West Milford Autumn Lights Festival welcomes over 300 vendors and bills itself as New Jersey’s largest street fair. The event will feature food and beverage vendors, live music, children’s activities, games, and more.
OktoberFest | 88 New Jersey 173, Hampton
October 8th | 1PM – 7PM
This day-long event is both a music festival and an homage to the traditional German Oktoberfest, with performances from Rusted Root’s Michael Glabicki and others. The Hunterdon Hills Playhouse plays host to the event, which is family-friendly. Guests can savor beer and brats alongside craft beer, whiskey, and wine while musicians play.
Art Walk + Music Fest | Maplewood
October 15th | 11AM – 5PM
Every fall, Maplewood Village hosts its Art Walk + Music Fest. This family-friendly event winds its way through Maplewood Village, allowing guests to stroll the streets to see the various arts, ceramics, jewelry, and more available for purchase. Three stages of live music make up the rest of the festival, as well as children’s activities and local restaurants.
Cape May Fall Festival | 714 Beach Avenue, Cape May
October 19th – 22nd
Cape May will host a three-day-long festival. At this event, festival-goers will experience field trips, trolley trips, indoor programs, and even boat trips. Also, this Cape May-based festival will be hosting once again the live program, Animal Adventures with Nature Nick. In this segment, Nick has live birds and other animals for people to take a look at.
Montclair Film Festival | 505 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
October 20th – 29th
The 12th annual Montclair Film Festival welcomes film lovers and professionals from across the region and country. At this festival, independent films, comedies, documentaries, panels, family events, and work by upcoming artists are expected to be shown. Also, the festival will expand its local roots and invite filmmakers from around the world to give them a platform to discuss their work.
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Donaldson Farms Harvest Weekends | 358 Allen Road, Hackettstown
Saturdays + Sundays | 11AM – 5PM
To get in the full fall spirit, this family-friendly farm in Hackettstown holds special fall harvest weekends every weekend from September until the end of October. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, corn mazes, and hayrides are just some of the activities to do when visiting. Also, guests will enjoy the various views of grown crops and mountains as the farm is 500 acres long.
Sussex County Harvest, Honey, + Garlic Festival | 37 Plains Road, Augusta
October 21st | 10AM – 4PM
This annual festival in Augusta returns to celebrate agritourism, ecotourism, and arts + heritage tourism. A farmer’s market will be available to purchase locally sourced produce like fruit, vegetables, cheese, wine, and more. Kids can join in on the fall-themed activities planned, such as a hay ride, pumpkin painting, face painting, and crafts.
