Top New Jersey Events October 6 -8, 2023
Hello Fall! It’s time for cooler weather, apple cider donuts, pumpkin picking and so much more. New Jersey has a lot of great festivals and events this weekend including Oktoberfests, restaurant weeks, free activities, and much more. Check out our list of the top New Jersey events from October 6-8, 2023.
Always check the weather and the event links before you attend in case of cancellations and rescheduling.
For more New Jersey events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide.
For more New Jersey adventures and New Jersey Events, be sure to follow along on Instagram, @newjerseyisntboring, and Insta Stories! Don’t forget to tag your own NJ fun with #NJisntBoring.
New Jersey Events October 6 – 8:
Featured Event:
Crystal Springs Music Festival
October 7, 2 pm – 6 pm
Crystal Springs Resort is thrilled to announce the inaugural Crystal Springs Music Festival. This eagerly anticipated event is set to occur on Saturday, October 7, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and is presented in collaboration with Raydar Entertainment. The Crystal Springs Music Festival promises to be a day of music, fun, and entertainment for all ages, set against the backdrop of the resort’s breathtaking fall mountain scenery. Festival-goers can expect an impressive lineup of musical talent, including the Fleetwood Mac tribute band Gypsy, The Nerds, the 70s Rock Parade, local favorite Sean O’Flynn, and the melodious stylings of guitarist-singer Joe Var Veri. But that’s not all – the festival offers an array of exciting activities, making it the perfect outing for families and music enthusiasts alike. Guests can enjoy hot air balloon rides, engage in friendly competition with lawn games, embark on tractor rides to a pumpkin patch, and indulge in delicious food and beverages from the Crystal Springs culinary team and various food trucks.
Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, NJ
Cost: Adults 18 and over: $65, Ages 4 – 17: $20, 3 & Under: Free
Holland Ridge Farms Fall Flower Festival
Now – October 15, 9 am – 6 pm
Experience an array of vibrant flowers including sunflowers, gladiolus, calla lilies, and dahlias. Handpick your favorites at just $1 per stem, crafting exquisite bouquets to take home. Immerse yourself in interactive floral installations tailored for captivating photos. Don’t miss the centerpiece – Blooming Boulevard! Support local farmers and artisans at the weekend market, showcasing farm-fresh produce and unique creations. Groove to live music by talented local artists every Saturday and Sunday, embracing the harmonious atmosphere. A captivating experience for all ages awaits, including free hayrides, a hay maze, pony and horse rides, petting zoo, and a gift shop.
Holland Ridge Farms, 86 Rues Rd. Cream Ridge, NJ
Cost: $20
Happy Day Farm’s Fall Festival
Now – October 29
This popular fall event features over 35 family activities including tractor rides, a sunflower maze, pig races, a kid-friendly feeding zoo, a fun slide for thrill-seekers, and more!
Happy Day Farm, 106 Iron Ore Rd, Manalapan Township, NJ
Cost: Tickets are required to enter all areas of the farm, Fri – Sun ($27 per person, includes NJ sales tax).
Skylands Stadium Jack O’Lantern Experience
Now– November 5
This 30-day event guarantees thrills and chills for the whole family! Enjoy seasonal food and drinks, carnival rides, pumpkin picking/painting, and a stroll through over 6,000 hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns in the crisp fall air with family and friends.
Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Pl. Augusta, NJ
Cost: $19 – $24
Great Adventure’s Fright Fest/Kids Boo Fest
Now – October 31
This year Six Flags Great Adventure theme park will be celebrating 30 years of Fright Fest. The notorious event returns with 30 nights of a thrilling experience from eight heart-racing haunted houses, six terrifying scare zones and four ghoulishly entertaining shows. And there’s something for the whole family. Kids Boo Fest is open on the weekends starting Sept. 16 through Oct. 29. Six Flags theme park will be decorated in its fall finest with mums, pumpkins, cornstalks and hay bales. Attractions include trick-or-treating in Cornstalk National Park, the Hunt for Boo, fun-filled wagon rides, and a live show called Witch’s Brew.
Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Boulevard Jackson, NJ
Cost: Varies
Atlantic City Restaurant Week
October 1 – 6
Restaurant Week is a 7-day celebration of the culinary scene in Atlantic City. During Restaurant Week, participating restaurants offer a multi-course meal for a fixed price.
Atlantic City, NJ
Ani Ramen’s 6th Annual Ramen Eating Contest
October 5, 6 pm – 8 pm
Get ready for the ultimate noodle showdown at Ani Ramen’s 6th Annual Ramen Eating Contest, sponsored by Sun Noodles and taking place at Ani Ramen (109 Walnut Ave. Cranford, NJ) on Thursday, October 5, from 6pm to 8pm. The special eve of National Noodle Day activity will host giveaways and three exciting seatings. The first seating kicks off at 6:15pm, followed by the second at 6:45pm, and the final showdown at 7:30pm. Contestants will down as much ramen as they can in 8 minutes to win cash prizes.
109 Walnut Ave, Cranford, NJ
Cost: $25
Greek Agora Food Festival
October 6 – 8
The largest Wine & Food Festival in the Delaware Valley! Since 1974, the Greek Agora signature event kicks off with all-day festivals of food, wine, music, dance and song. The four-day-long festival is an annual initiative of the Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, NJ which, every October, stages a number of events that represent the Greek way of life.
615 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend
SJ Pumpkins Show & Carve
October 6, 5 pm- 9pm, October 7 10 am -8 pm, October 8, 10 am – 5 pm
Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of pumpkins, creativity, live music, and Halloween fun. At the SJ Pumpkin Show & Carve, you’ll witness incredible pumpkin carvings by talented artists who will transform ordinary pumpkins into extraordinary works of art. Marvel at the intricate designs and stunning craftsmanship as these artists bring pumpkins to life.
But that’s not all! The event also offers a wide range of activities for all ages. Take a stroll through the pumpkin patch and pick your favorite pumpkin to take home. Enjoy delicious treats from food vendors, indulge in seasonal delights, and sip on warm apple cider. Whether you’re a pumpkin enthusiast or just looking for a fun-filled day, the SJ Pumpkin Show & Carve is the place to be. So mark your calendars and join us for an unforgettable Halloween experience!
735 Harding Highway, Woodstown, NJ 08098.
Cost: $20 carload
Annual LBI FLY International Kite Festival
October 6 – 8
The event features a weekend with brilliant colorful artist design kites, fun flying giant inflatable kites and the amazing show of sport kiting to our beautiful island. Many of these fliers are invited guests in prestigious festivals around the world. This free and cross-generational event will yield even more spectacular and unusual kites this year – as well as displayed at local galleries prior to the festivalShip Bottom, Long Beach Island, NJ
Cost: Free
Haunted Wild West Fest
October 6 & 7
When the sun sets, fear goes up at Wild West City. Enter the town at your own risk… there is only one way into the town, first you must endure the perilous journey aboard the Wild West City Train Line and then walk the old Frontiersman Trail where the ghost of John West the Frontiersman lingers. The nightime Fest is considered to be PG-13. For younger children and a less spooky event, the daytime festival from 10:30am- 4:00pm, features the ghost town, Western entertainment and a costume contest.
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ
Cost: $18 Online/$20 at the door
Blood Shed Farms Fear Fest – Drive Thru
October 6 – 8
BloodShed Farms “The Last Drive Haunted Drive Thru” is an Immersive, Terrifying, Halloween experience. From the safety of your own vehicle, you will have frightening encounters with twisted creatures and menacing characters as you journey through theatrical sets full of terrifying displays and special effects.
2919 Route 206, Columbus, NJ
Cost: $60
Halloween Light Show at Demarest Farms
October 6 – 9
See the largest light show in NJ on a guided drive-through tour of brilliant Halloween light displays. Stop by the farm to enjoy goodies from the market and warm up by the fire pits with make-your-own s’mores and hot cocoa.
244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale, NJ
Cost: $35 per car
Charlotte Joy Touch-a-Truck Fundraiser Festival
October 7, 11 am – 4 pm
The highly anticipated 2nd Annual Charlotte Joy Touch-a-Truck Festival is set to return to the East Freehold Showgrounds, promising an even more thrilling experience for attendees. This year’s event is slated to be bigger and better than ever before, featuring an impressive lineup of over 100 emergency vehicles, trucks, utility vehicles, a helicopter, a hot air balloon, classic cars, and an array of exciting attractions for the whole family.
East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Rd, Freehold, NJ
Cost: $10 for Adults, $5 for Children, and 2 and under are free
Asbury Park Zombie Walk and Undead Festival
October 7, 1 pm – 6 pm
The New Jersey Zombie Walk is dedicated to all things horror and zombie. The undead outbreak was born in Asbury Park in 2008, and every year since the zombie horde has increased in size, rocketing the event further and further towards a total citywide takeover. Prior to 2014 when the Zombie Pub Crawl in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, with over 15,000 zombies was listed by the Guinness Book of World records for the “largest gathering of zombies”, the Asbury Park Zombie Walk with over 10,000 held that record.
Asbury Park Boardwalk, Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: Free
Collingswood Book Festival
October 7, 10 am – 4 pm
The award-winning Collingswood Book Festival features over 50 presenting authors and an additional 250 authors and exhibitors. Known as the longest running literary event in the Delaware Valley, book lovers of all ages can find authors and book signings, new and used book sales, exhibitors, vendors, poetry, storytellers, rare book appraisals, Loompaland kids zone and more.
Haddon Avenue and Irvin Avenue, Collingswood, NJ
Cost: Free
Avalon Art & Seafood Festival
October 7, 10 am – 5 pm
Taste delectable treats from the sea at the Chamber’s Annual Seafood Festival. Featuring fresh seafood vendors,chowder contest, live music, vendors and more. The annual Avalon Seafood Festival has changed a bit for 2022! This year, the Avalon Arts & Seafood Festival will feature a focus on vendors with original artwork and photography, craft and artisan items, food, and island businesses!
30th Street and the Beach, Avalon, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
It’s Bulldogs Y’all
October 7, 11 am – 3 pm
An afternoon of games and activities for dogs and humans. There will be rescues in attendance as well as a doggy Kissing Booth. Plus food trucks for eating. All Proceeds to benefit bulldogs in rescue – helping to pay for medical needs of Bulldogs in Rescue
144 US -202, Ringoes, NJ
Cost: Free
JBJ Soul Kitchen Chili Cookoff
October 7, 11 am – 4 pm
Calling all chili lovers! Get ready for the spiciest showdown at JBJ Soul Kitchen in Toms River, NJ. Join them at this special event, where local first responders compete to win the best chili of the day. Each entry ticket will entitle the bearer to taste and vote for their favorite chili of the day! Only entry ticket holders will be able to cast a vote for the best chili. Bring your friends and family to enjoy a day filled with delicious food, great music, and a lively atmosphere, all while supporting a wonderful mission.
JBJ Soul Kitchen, 1769 Hooper Avenue Toms River, NJ
Cost: $20, Presale Tickets via Eventbrite, $30 Event Day Admission at Door, 12 and under free
Fall Food Truck and Craft Fair Festival
October 7, 11 am – 5 pm
Camden County Technical Schools will be sponsoring a Food Truck and Craft Fair Fall Festival on Saturday, October 7th from 11 am to 5 pm. The school is located in Gloucester Township at 343 Berlin Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville, NJ. Rain date for severe weather is October 8th. All are invited to attend this family friendly event. FREE admission and FREE parking. There will be 12 assorted food trucks plus a bake sale; 80 crafters & artisans; games and prizes for children; a scarecrow making station, pumpkins and mums for sale; pumpkin painting; sand art; live music, fall photo op stations, and much more.
343 Berlin Cross Keys Road, Sicklerville, NJ
Cost: Free
Sussex County ‘Last Blast’ Food Truck and Music Festival
October 7, 11 am – 6 pm
JOIN THE FUN ON October 7th FOR A DELIGHTFUL DAY AT SUSSEX COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS! Sponsored by The Sussex County Arts & Heritage Council They have a terrific lineup of food trucks, tent vendors and live music for this event. Adult beverages will also be available. Bring your family – plenty of fun for all. Bring your dog – we’ll have plenty of water bowls. Bring blankets and chairs – pop up tents permitted
37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ
Cost: $5 Kids under 10 – Free
Highlands Annual Oktoberfest
October 7, 12 pm – 7 pm
The feel-good spirit of Highlands 19th ANNUAL Oktoberfest is modeled after the traditional Munich, Germany Oktoberfest with an emphasis on eating; drinking and being merry while providing something for everyone. Authentic German food, live music, dancing and other great entertainment will be part of the Annual Oktoberfest celebration taking place in Veterans Park on Bay & Shrewsbury Avenues. The park is festive with fall decorations, the food is great and the varieties of German beers are even better. Authentic German food is a highlight of this famous festival. Executive Chef Butch Greenwaldt is preparing the menu with plenty of traditional German favorites hot off the grill such as bratwurst, knockwurst, kraut, potato pancakes, goulash, sauerbraten, and Bavarian noodles along with another tasty fare those less adventurous.
Veterans Park, 23 Bay Ave. (GPS) Highlands, NJ
Cost: Free
Oktoberfest at Turkey Brook Park
October 7, 12 pm – 9 pm
The Mount Olive Recreation Department is hosting an Oktoberfest Celebration with Beer, Food, Music, and traditional German Dance. Bring the whole family for fun, food, and games.
Turkey Brook Park, Flanders, NJ
Cost: $5, $5 per car to park
Oktoberfest
October 7, 1 pm – 6 pm
Join the Greenwich Township Emergency Fund for their 2nd annual Oktoberfest, celebrating 77 years of volunteer service to the community. They’re thrilled to bring back this event for a day of socializing with the local and extended community, rain or shine. The 21+ ticket includes festival access, live entertainment, unlimited 4oz. pours from participating local breweries, and more. Discounted tickets are available online, and designated driver tickets are also an option. Expect a variety of craft brews, live music by the Harmony Garage Band, steel fighting performances by ‘South Jersey Pine Barrens,’ local food vendors, raffles, and retail vendors for shopping while you sip!
Thomas Stewart Park, 112 Greenwich Street, Stewartsville, NJ
Cost: $15 – $35
Belleville Food Truck and Music Fest
October 7, 2 pm – 9 pm
Food! Beer! Music! Fun! It’s a fun filled family day. Over 20 Gourmet Food Trucks, music, pony rides, petting zoo, knockerball, hatchet tossing, inflatables, face painting, sand art, vendors & a beer, sangria & margarita garden. Bring your appetite, lawn chairs, pop ups and blankets.
Belleville High School, 100 Passaic Ave, Belleville, NJ
Cost: Free
North Brunswick Annual Heritage Day
October 7, 3 pm – 10 pm
Join North Brunswick Township and celebrate at one of their biggest events of the year. Heritage Day is held annually during the fall to celebrate North Brunswick’s rich history and diverse cultural heritage. Live cultural music all day, vendors, food and ending the night with a performance by Valerie & The Dimensions and Fireworks!
North Brunswick Community Park, 2051 Rt. 130 North Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free
Jersey City Night Market
October 7, 3 pm – 9 pm
It’s back! The newest edition to the JC foodie scene is a hyper-local, evening market that’s hosted at City Hall – City of Jersey City. Celebrate small business and all that is chill about Jersey City! Eat delicious and international bites, shop from our artists and artisans & vibe to some music.
City Hall Lot, 179 Montgomery Street Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Free
Cranberry Fest
October 7 & 8, 11 am – 5 pm
This two-day event features over 150 crafters, artists, and vendors offering handmade, vintage, and upcycled items for the heart and home! One of the oldest and largest juried craft shows in NJ. “Craft” beer garden and food court, plus live music throughout both days
Farnsworth Ave, Bordentown, NJ
Cost: Free
Stafford Fall Wine Festival
October 7 & 8, 12 pm – 5 pm
Celebrate Fall at the Jersey Shore! Sample nearly 100 wines from some of New Jersey’s leading wineries. Enjoy the beautiful lake-front setting while sampling an array of wines from some of New Jersey’s leading wineries, browsing crafters, vendors and food. Guests are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets to sit and enjoy the music.
Manahawkin Train Station Museum aka. Heritage Park, 49 West Bay Avenue, Stafford Township, NJ
Cost: $20, $25 at the gate
Day Time Spooky Wild West Fest
October 7 & 8
Take part in a fun and spooky interactive Western experience. Watch tales of the Wild West come to life through historical characters, live action dramatizations and demonstrations by period craftsmen. Intended for younger children, this is a less spooky event that features a ghost town, Western entertainment, and a costume contest.
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ
Cost: Adults: $29/Children (Age 2-12): $24
The Wildwoods Food & Music Festival
October 8, 11 am – 7 pm
Formerly known as Wildwoods Seafood and Music Festival. The Greater Wildwood Chamber of Commerce presents a food and music street fair featuring a full day of fantastic food options, music, shopping and more. The festival will take place in Downtown Wildwood starting at Byrne Plaza along Pacific Avenue between Oak and Schellenger Avenues in Wildwood. The festival will include live music, delicious food, messy pie-eating contests, craft vendors and much more. The festival will provide fun for the kids with a “Kids Korner,” open from noon – 5 p.m., featuring games, pumpkin painting, and inflatable bounce houses. The festival is FREE to attend.
Byrne Plaza, 3400 Pacific Ave. Wildwood City, NJ
Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market
October 8, 11 am – 5 pm
The APPRFM is back in it’s home of Asbury Park NJ!! This year they will take over Bradley Park with amazing and creative vendors selling records, vintage, artwork, jewelry and other creepy and music-related items.
Bradley Park (across from Convention Hall), Asbury Park NJ
Flower Power Flea Market Fall Festival
October 8, 11 am – 5 pm (rain or shine)
A collection of North Jersey artists, small businesses and organizations. Spend a groovy day: get your cards read, do some shopping, eat good food, take an Instagram picture or 20, learn about some amazing local organizations, and maybe even adopt a new furry friend!
15 Perrin Ave, Pompton Lakes, NJ
Cost: $5 cash entry
Califon Borough’s Annual Fall Street Fair
October 8, 11 am – 5 pm
Sections of Main Street will be closed to automobile traffic and the historic downtown area will be transformed into a communal scene of fall fun, shopping, food, and entertainment. Attendees will be able to stroll through Califon’s picturesque downtown and enjoy exquisite artisans and crafters, a variety of tasty food trucks, vendors, and live music. Boutiques and family-owned businesses will be open for browsers to find one of a kind treasures and enjoy unique Street Fair specials. Area businesses, artisans, and other vendors will have tables set up along the street, and attractions will include the return of the pie eating contest, the kids zone, a pumpkin carving demonstration, and a beer garden hosted by Califon’s Station 44 Volunteer Fire Company—making it the perfect day out with friends and/or family.
53 Main Street, Califon, NJ
OKTOBERFEST at the Hunterdon Hills Playhouse
October 8, 1 pm – 7 pm
Enjoy tradition German fare including beer, brats, and live music while surrounded by the beautiful scenery of Hunterdon County. Also featuring craft beer, whiskey, and wine tastings, from dozens of craft breweries, distilleries, and wineries. With family friendly vendors and activities, there will be something for everyone.
Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, 88 New Jersey 173 Hampton, NJ
Cost: $10 – $30
