Meg McClenahan 
This October, the Montclair area will be home to all kinds of fun, festive events. It’s time to put on your best costume and check out what spooky things you can do this October to keep those Halloween vibes high. Read on to find out what kind of spooky Halloween events and activities are happening in Montclair and Essex County, New Jersey for 2025.
Have a Halloween event to add? Email [email protected].
Fairfield Farms Fall Festival | 177 Big Piece Road, Fairfield
Weekends in October | 10AM – 6PM
The Fairfield Farms fall festival is back. Spooky trails and haunted hayrides are the perfect way to get a light scare in preparation for Halloween. Daytime haunted hayrides start at 10AM and Nighttime hayrides start at 6:30PM. If frights aren’t your thing, Fairfield Farms also has corn mazes and pumpkin slingshots in addition to your classic pumpkin patch. See here for more.
Read More: New Jersey Festivals Happening This Fall 2025
Harvest Fest At South Mountain Reservation | South Mountain Reservation Oakdale Parking Lot on Cherry Lane
October 18th | 1:00PM – 4:00PM
The Essex County Sheriff’s Office will host the first annual Harvest Festival. For no fee you can expect pumpkin painting, apple cider, donuts, hayrides, music, games, and more. See here for more.
Various Events at The Eclectic Chic Boutique | 547 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Various days, October
The Eclectic Chic Boutique is a hot spot for all things Halloween this October. Starting October 3rd, you can join the Eclectic Chic for Witchy Rituals + Metaphysical Tools. Beyond that class, the spot is hosting Express Your Inner Goth Through Bracelet Design, Halloween-themed Dungeons and Dragons, a Halloween Paint and Pour candle workshop, Wood Pumpkin Painting, and Scrap Fabric Pumpkin Making. See here for more.
Tales on the Trails – Pumpkin Pals | 21 Van Vleck Street, Montclair
October 22nd | 1:00PM -1:45PM
Learn about the lifecycle of pumpkin at The Van Vleck gardens. Hear a story, walk the grounds, and finish with a craft or activity. See here for more.
Cemetery Tour with the Montclair History Center | 110 Orange Road, Montclair
October 27th | 1:30PM
Join the MHC for a walking tour of Rosedale Cemetery. Hear the stories of the people buried there like, Molly Maggia, the first recorded Radium Girl victim. See here for more.
GUIDED HOUSE TOUR: MANY VOICES | 110 Orange Road, Montclair
October 18th | 12:00PM
Join the Montclair History Center in a tour of the historic Crane House. Learn more about the people who shaped Montclair from 1796 to 1965. See here for more.
Gardens Aglow at Presby Memorial Iris Gardens | 474 Upper Mountain Avenue, Upper Montclair
October 17th | 6PM – 9PM
View the gardens at dusk with artfully carved jack-o-lanterns from local high school art departments, enjoy cider at sunset, activities, entertainment, a mad science show, and refreshments. See here for more.
Pumpkins on the Plaza | Wellmont Arts Plaza, Montclair
October 25th | 3:00PM – 5:00PM
BYOP (Bring Your Own Pumpkin) to this fall event at the Wellmont Plaza hosted by One River School. There will be a pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, snacks, and a movie. See here for more.
BOO-GA! Littles Halloween Yoga Celebration With SPOGA | 15 Union Avenue, Rutherford
Oct 31st | 11:00AM-12:00PM
Put on your costume and join SPOGA for yoga for kids. There will be stories, treats, and crafts. See here for more.
M&M’S Halloween in Newark | Location Varies
October 18th and 19th | 5:00PM
Join Mars’ M&M for the 11th annual M&M’s Halloween in Newark. The free event will give patrons halloween tote bags filled with an assortment of candy, festive goodies and the chance to pick from a spooky selection of size-inclusive costume kits for all ages. There will be a sensory safe zone. The location is Boylan Recreation Center, 916 South Orange Avenue on October 18th. And, JFK Recreation Center, 211 West Kinney Street for October 19th. See here fore more.
Halloween Movies at Lackawanna Station | 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair
Every Wednesday and Thursday in October | 3:30PM – 7:30PM
Head to Lackawanna Plaza Wednesdays and Thursdays this October for a kid-friendly and spooky Halloween movies. The first kid-friendly flick will be at 3:30 and a second, more spooky, movie will start at 5:30. See here for more.
Tween Halloween Movie Madness | 50 S Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
October 23rd | 6:00PM – 8:00PM
There’s options for everyone in Montclair this October. Come to the Montclair Main Story time Room for a tween movie showing of the Adams Family Values. See here for more.
Boogie Bash Trunk or Treat | Bellevue Avenue Parking Lot, Montclair
October 25th | 11:30AM
Beyond the Boogie Dance is inviting you to put your costume on for trick or treating and a dance party. See here for more.
MPD Trunk or Treat | 647 Bloomfield Avenue (Rear Lot), Montclair
October 25th | 1:00PM
The Montclair Police Department will be hosting their 8th annual Trunk or Treat with The Montclair Police foundation at the Montclair Police Headquarters. See here for more.
MBC’s Haunted Funhouse | 221 Gelnridge Avenue, Montclair
October 24th – October 26th | 7:00PM – 8:30PM
Looking for a fight in Montclair? The Montclair Book Center has you covered. In partnership with White Rabbit Black Heart, DollyMoo, and Libéula The Montclair Book Center is hosting their third annual Haunted Funhouse. The theme is childhood nightmares, are you brave enough? See here for more.
Park or Treat with Porter Park | 2 Harrison Avenue, Montclair
October 31st | 5:00PM – 7:00PM
Friends of Porter Park is hosting trick or treating at Porter Park. The Friends of The Park are always looking for volunteers, if interested Volunteer here. See here for more.
Infant Halloween Party | 113 Walnut Street, Montclair
October 31st | 12:15AM – 1:30PM
Register your infant (0-12 months) here for this free baby costume party that will be an spooktacular photo-op. See herefor more.
Halloween Spooktacular | 84 Broad Street, Bloomfield
October 18th | 4:00PM – 6:45PM
Enjoy an evening of fun on the Historic Green across from the City Center. Trick or Treating, A Magic Show, Movie, and more! See what this event has to offer here.
Count Boooo-mfield 5K | 33 Carteret Street, Bloomfield
October 18th | 9AM
Part race and part block party, this Halloween-themed 5k starts and finishes at Skidoo Café. Bring your costume to this Halloween-themed 5K run benefiting the Friends of Watsessing Park Conservancy and the Bloomfield High School Cross Country + Track and Field teams. See here for more.
The Vampire Circus: A Cirque Spectacular | 1 Center St, Newark
October 23rd | 8:00PM
Come see acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, jugglers, illusionists and clowns with the whole family this October. NJPAC is hosting this family halloween activity at The Prudential Hall Betty Wold Johnson stage. See here for more.
Crane House Murder at the Museum! A Murder Mystery Fundraiser | 110 Orange Road, Montclair
October 18th | 4PM – 6PM
In this Clue-style game, guests will explore the Crane House and YWCA museum as the backdrop to a murder mystery. With characters and cocktails, participants can live out their true-crime detective dreams and support the Montclair Historical Society. See here for more.
Spooktacular Carnival at Verona Park | Verona Park, Verona
October 24th | 4PM – 6PM
Treats, trains, and crafts mean that the Spooktacular Carnival in Verona is a great place to bring kids. Trick-or-treating in costume with your favorite characters is the perfect way to spend an October day, especially when you can see those same characters perform all on the same day. See here for more.
Newark Ghost Tour Hosted by Newark Local Beer | 538 Broad Street, Newark
October 24th | 7PM – 8PM
For this special event, you are invited to bring your flashlight and your best costume and join fellow fright-seekers for a fun night out learning about localized spooky stories. Beginning and ending at Newark Local Beer, this two-mile trek will help you uncover some eerie tales about Newark’s past. See here for more.
Mommy + Me Halloween Cookie Decorating with Kitchen al a Mode | 59 South Orange Avenue, South Orange Village
October 25th | 10AM
Decorate your own cookies with enough to bring home at this special chance for a parent and child to get in the festive mood by taking this Halloween cookie decorating class. See here for more.
Fall-O-Ween Festival at Verona’s Civic Center | 600 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
October 25th | 11AM – 2PM
At the Fall-O-Ween Festival, you can sport your costume and enjoy a spooky afternoon, including pumpkin painting, inflatables, a costume parade, goodie bags, and a petting zoo. Notably, 11AM to 11:30AM is sensory-friendly. And remember to trick-or-treat down Bloomfield Avenue with the local vendors. See here for more.
The Dog Market: Howl-O-Ween at Memorial Park | 580 Valley Street, Maplewood
October 26th | 10AM – 4PM
Support this adoption event by bringing your furry friend to visit the varied dog-themed vendors. Also enjoy dog trick-or-treating and the dog costume contest at 1PM. See here for more.
Howl-O-Ween at Turtle Back Zoo | 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange
October 31st | 4PM – 8PM
It’s that time of year to don your Halloween costume and trick or treat among stilt-walkers at the Turtle Back Zoo. Additionally, you can check out the spooky story time and take home your own craft. See here for more.
See More: 40 Fall Festivals Happening in Hoboken, Jersey City, + Beyond for 2025
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