NJIB’s Guide to 30+ New Jersey Halloween Events & Festivals 2024
Get ready for spooky season, New Jersey! October is packed with fang-tastic Halloween events across the Garden State for all ages. Whether you are looking for haunted hayrides, eerie ghost tours, family-friendly pumpkin patches, or a chance to show off your costume at a trunk-or-treat, New Jersey has something to offer every ghost and ghoul. From scare zones that will leave you trembling to not-so-spooky activities perfect for little monsters, it’s time to embrace the Halloween spirit and explore all the thrilling events NJ has to offer this fall. Grab your costumes and candy bags—Halloween fun awaits!
For more events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide.
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New Jersey Halloween Events & Festivals 2024:
Jack O’Lantern Experience
Now – November 3
Running from now to November 3, 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.
94 Championship Place Augusta, NJ
Cost: $19
Halloween House Freehold
Now – November 3
Halloween House Freehold is a completely immersive, one of a kind Halloween experience where you are transported to an all Halloween world. Every one of our impeccably detailed, fully realized rooms is a different Halloween theme designed to make every Halloween lover’s experience unforgettable. Visit the #1 ranked Halloween attraction for all ages! If you love the decor of a haunted house, but don’t want the stress of being touched and scared, Halloween House Freehold is for you. And if you do love haunted houses, you’ll love Halloween House Freehold too!
Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold, NJ
Cost: $24.99+
Great Adventure’s Fright Fest/Kids Boo Fest
Now – November 23
Six Flags Great Adventure offers two Halloween events: Fright Fest for older audiences and Kids Boo Fest for families. Fright Fest features haunted houses, scare zones, twisted shows, and devilish treats, while Kids Boo Fest offers kid-friendly attractions like a trick-or-treat trail, a hay maze, a costume contest, and a pumpkin patch. Both events run throughout the fall season.
Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Boulevard Jackson, NJ
Cost: Varies
All A Boo DiDonato’s Trick or Treat Train
September 28 – October 27
Don’t miss out on the “ALL A BOO DiDonato’s Trick-or-Treat Train,” a Halloween outdoor train ride designed for goblin-friendly family fun. The admission includes a train ride through a Halloween Town, exploration of the Halloween Corn Maze, a pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch, exhilarating experiences on the giant slide, a 40′ inflatable obstacle course, visits to 5 Trick-or-Treat spots, a Meet & Greet with the Local Witch, and a Toy Market at their Pop-up Snack & Toy Cottage. Plus, there’s endless play and enjoyment on a custom-made interactive train, with additional options like a game of Bowling and one shoe rental with socks for $7 per person at the door. It’s a spooky, delightful adventure for everyone!
1151 S. White Horse Pike, Hammonton, NJ
Cost: Varies
Halloween Light Show at Demarest Farms
September 27 – 29, October 4-6, 11-13, 17-21
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
Addams Fest
October 1 – October 31
The town-wide celebration of Charles Addams, the creator of the Addams Family, is returning with old favorites and new surprises. The event includes art galleries, window displays, tours, an ale garden, a masquerade ball and so much more.
Westfield, NJ
Cost: Varies
Monsterville
October 1 – 31
Throughout October, Merchantville transforms into “Monsterville” with a variety of festive activities. Residents can participate in a home decorating contest, while creative minds can take part in a pumpkin carving project. Thrill-seekers will enjoy the haunted house and zombie run, while the town comes alive with a lively street fair. The spooky celebrations culminate with a town-wide trick-or-treat, ensuring fun for all ages.
Merchantville, NJ
Cost: Varies per activity
A Special Pumpkin Patch Benefitting Secaucus High School Returns to Carnegie Diner & Cafe Until 10/31
October 1 – 31, 7 am to 11 pm
Carnegie Diner & Cafe is bringing back its festival fall Pumpkin Patch to their Secaucus location (700 Plaza Dr) just in time for Halloween! In an effort to support the community, the outdoor area at Carnegie Diner & Cafe will become a sprawling autumn hotspot, selling pumpkins to benefit students in Secaucus. In cooperation with Secaucus High School, all pumpkin sales earnings will be donated to the Secaucus High School’s Class of 2025 Project Graduation, which consists of 150 seniors. The primary aim of Project Graduation is to increase awareness of the dangers of drinking, drugging and driving and to reduce the number of youth involved in alcohol and other drug-related crashes. Carnegie Diner’s outdoor space will be transformed with hay, autumn decor, and a photo-genic array of small and large pumpkins available for sale now until October 31st.
700 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ 07094
Cost: Charity Event
LSC After Dark
Thursdays, October 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31
A great party, delicious bites and drinks, and a twist of science! Liberty Science Center presents LSC After Dark, exclusively for guests 18 and up, every Thursday from 6:00 – 10:00 pm. Each event features a fun theme with a menu to match, dance floor, live DJ, a full bar (for guests 21+) and planetarium and laser shows. And all of the museum’s exhibits are open, too! In October LSC After Dark will have a different Halloween theme! Event themes include Murder at the Museum and Freak Show. When you purchase LSC After Dark tickets, you help the nonprofit Liberty Science Center provide even more programs for our community and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: $25 at the door, save $3 buying online in advance
Fintastic Pumpkin Glow @ Adventure Aquarium
October 1 – November 3 (Weekdays: 10 AM – 4 PM | Weekends: 9:30 AM – 5 PM)
Get ready to explore the glow deep below this fall during Adventure Aquarium’s Fintastic Pumpkin Glow festival, September 19 through November 3. During the fall festivities, guests can discover a mesmerizing collection of glowing gourds in every shape, size, and species shining above the surface or illuminating the depths among sharks, stingrays, and other unique aquatic life. NEW to this year’s festival is a nearly 10-foot underwater octopus shaped out of pumpkins and a snorkeling Scarecrow tasked with keeping watch over the Aquarium’s underwater pumpkin patch. In addition to the fall-themed sights, guests can check out the Aquarium’s seasonal sensory tables, which feature pumpkin slime and other hands-on sensory experiences—all included with admission. For an extra special experience, guests can pay $5 to paint and take home their own pumpkin masterpiece. The Aquarium’s gift shop will also be selling various pumpkin-themed souvenirs. Visitors looking to learn more about ocean life can deepen their aquatic knowledge by tuning into the Aquarium’s “What Goes Bump in the Midnight Zone” show. This show demystifies the animals living in the dark depths of the ocean’s Midnight Zone.
1 Riverside Dr., Camden, N.J., 08103
Cost: Ticket prices vary by date
Blood Shed Farms Fear Fest – Drive Thru
October 4 – November 2 (Fri-Sun)
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
Day Time Spooky Wild West Fest & Haunted Train + Trail
October 5-27
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. Cow-boos and cow-ghouls can participate in the Wild West Fest costume contest and help the Marshal hunt down the Headless Horseman Gang. After sunset enjoy the Haunted Train and Trail.
50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ
Cost: Adults: $29/Children (Age 2-12): $24
Howl-O-Ween
October 5, 3 pm – 6 pm
The Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest and Parade will take place on October 5, 2024, in Keyport, NJ, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The event will be held at 70 W Front Street and features a fun dog costume contest and parade, along with a rescue and vendor market. It’s a great opportunity for dog lovers to showcase their pets in Halloween costumes, meet adoptable dogs, and enjoy browsing through local vendors. Make sure to attend and enjoy the festivities!
70 W Front St, Keyport, NJ
Cost: Free
SpookyFest 2024
October 5, 7 pm – 11 pm
SpookyFest 2024 kicks off with the 1st Annual HuntersWorld Costume Gala at Salumeria Ercolano, a lively evening filled with food, drinks, costume contests, games, DJ, and dancing. This fun, spirited event celebrates Tracy and Hunter’s love for the spooky season while raising vital funds to support peer mentor programs that empower teens. Attendees can show off their best costumes, enjoy entertainment, and help make a positive impact in the community. Don’t miss this thrilling night of Halloween fun and meaningful support at SpookyFest 2024!
Salumeria Ercolano, 1072 West Side Avenue, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: $75 – $100
Brite Nites 2024 at Wagner Farm Arboretum
October 11 & 12, 18 & 19, 25 & 26, 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Brite Nites transforms the Arboretum into a mesmerizing Halloween experience, featuring a 0.25-mile path of hand-carved, LED-lit pumpkins along with themed attractions like pumpkin bowling, spooky games, and food trucks. This event offers affordable family fun while supporting vital community programs, such as The Giving Garden and the Children’s Garden. Brite Nites, a cornerstone of the Arboretum’s annual fundraising efforts, promises an unforgettable
experience for families and community members. This year’s event features new and exciting pumpkin
displays, adding even more magic to the already enchanting walk-through.
Wagner Farm Arboretum, 197 Mountain Ave, Warren, NJ
Cost: $15 adults, $10 kids (5-12), Free for kids 5 and under
Brookdale Haunted Theater
October 11 – 27 (Fri – Sun)
Brookdale’s annual Haunted Theater – designed, built and run by current and former students – is a delightfully scary, tormented trip through evil creatures, ghouls and ghosts, bloody body parts, and more. The popular Haunted Theater redefines “stage fright” for its many visitors during the walking tour of a maze of blood-chilling rooms. “Scaredy Cat” performance are available during the afternoon. Special “Rocky Horror Picture Show” event on October 18
Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center, 765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ
Cost: $20
Night of Frights + Ghost Tour
October 11 – 26 (Night of Frights Sat & Sun, Ghost Tours on Sun)
Allaire Village invites you to experience a spooky night where ghosts, ghouls, and monsters come to life. Explore the historic village grounds and buildings, enjoy glow-in-the-dark bubble shows, fire juggling, sword swallowing, scary displays, fortune telling, storytelling, blacksmith demonstrations, a special dinner scene, and more. New this year! Allaire Village offers a new, spooky walking tour that delves into the village’s ghostly history. Learn about tales of paranormal experiences and explore parts of the buildings not usually open to the public. The tour is challenging due to darkness and limited accessibility, and is recommended for ages 12 and up. Only 15 people are allowed per group, and there are 4 groups per 90-minute session.
Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall Township, NJ
Cost: $20 adults, $15 kids. Ghost Tour $50
Witches Paddle for a Cause
October 12, 10 am
The witches and warlocks are coming back to Spring Lake to paddle on October 12th at 10 am (rain date Oct 13th @ 10 am). Registration is $35 per paddler, a portion to be paid to this year’s recipient – Friends of the Monmouth County Child Advocacy Center which supports the facility designed to minimize the trauma child victims experience in a physically and psychologically safe environment.
1207 Third Ave Spring Lake, NJ
Cost: The cost is participate is $35. Free for spectators. Donations accepted!
Gardens Aglow Presby Memorial Iris
October 18, 6 pm – 9 pm
View the gardens at dusk as they come to life with artfully carved jack-o-lanterns supplied by local high school art departments. Enjoy a glass of cider at sunset while watching the gardens glow! Activities, entertainment, a mad science show and refreshments will be on-going throughout the event.
474 Upper Mountain Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ
Cost: Free
Annual Ghoul Spring Village
October 18 & 19, 5:30 pm
This event is a family-friendly haunted walk-thru for young and old alike. Proceeds benefit HCSV Foundation, a non-profit living history museum. Join in as they pierce the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead.
Historic Cold Spring Village, 720 US 9, Cape May, NJ
Cost: $5 for children and adults.
Lambertville Halloween Film Festival
October 18 – 20
Welcome to the first annual Lambertville Halloween Film Festival! In addition to showcasing filmmakers and other talented artists, the goal of this year’s festival is to give you an unforgettable Halloween experience. This year’s festival spans 4 days of events, including a masquerade party, a selection of creepy thrillers and horror films, a demonstration of Hollywood monster makeup by SFX artist Bec Johnson, and a Ghost Tour. At the film festival, the best of the best will be awarded a Golden Pumpkin. As an audience member, you have the power to make sure your favorite receives the Audience Selection Award.
25 South Union St, Lambertville, NJ
JEKYLL & HYDE: The Musical
October 18 – 20, 25 – 27
Start your Halloween off right as you step into the gripping tale of the ultimate conflict of good versus evil in this theatrical masterpiece based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Explore the Gothic landscape where the boundaries of light and darkness blur, and the thin line between sanity and madness teeters.Thrill to the stunning score of pop-rock hits crafted by the multi-Grammy and To- ny-nominated Frank Wildhorn and Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse.
1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor, NJ
Cost: Adults $26/Seniors, Students $24
Smithville Costume Pet Parade
October 19, 1 pm
Paw Dazzle will host the Annual Costume Pet Parade starting at 1:00 pm. This is, by far, Historic Smithville’s cutest event. Spectators can watch 100+ pets show off their unique Halloween costumes! To enter your pet, you must be pre-registered by calling Paw Dazzle at 609-748-7110. Historic Smithville offers 60 Shoppes, 7 eateries, a carousel ride, train ride, paddle boats and arcade, on site lodging at the Colonial Inn, and over 26 free weekend events!
615 East Moss Mill Road, Galloway, NJ
Cost: Free
Highlands Annual Howl-O-Ween
October 19, 3 pm
Join the Annual Howl-O-Ween, at the Seafarer, 1 Atlantic St., Highlands, NJ, 07732, on October 29th at 3 pm! There will be a free costume contest for dogs and their humans, with prizes for the scariest, most original, and funniest costumes. Discounted drinks for dog owners and Trivia Contests. Judging begins promptly at 4 pm. Consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food items for the Fall Food Drive. All donations will be given to the OLPH Pantry.
Seafarer, 1 Atlantic St., Highlands, NJ
Cost: Free
Boo at the Boardwalk
October 19 & 20, 26 & 27, 12 pm – 4 pm
Join Jenkinson’s for Boo at the Boardwalk, a family-friendly Halloween event featuring kiddie rides, face painting, trick-or-treating, underwater pumpkin carving, magic shows, and more. Enjoy special packages and discounted admission to other attractions. Some activities may be subject to weather conditions.
Jenkinson’s Boardwalk, 300 Ocean Ave, Point Pleasant, NJ
Cost: Varies per activity
Storybook Land Trick or Treat Weekends
October 19, 20, 26 & 27
Dress up in your Halloween best and get ready to collect treats throughout the park. Littles will love hopping on the fun rides in their costumes and gathering goodies with special Trick or Treat bags (included with admission).
6415 Black Horse Pike (Routes 40/322), Egg Harbor Township, NJ
Cost: Price of Admission
All Barracks Eve at the Old Barracks Museum
October 25, 5 pm
On Friday, October 25th, attendees can enjoy cider and donuts around a bonfire while listening to chilling tales told by historically outfitted storytellers. Festivities commence at 5 pm and will include living history demonstrations and kids’ activities. Spooky stories will commence at 6 pm. All proceeds from this event support the mission of preservation and education. The Old Barracks Museum, known as a touchstone for colonial and revolutionary history in New Jersey, strives to bring the world of colonial America to life through interpretive programs, exhibits, and preservation efforts. Their goal is to help visitors appreciate New Jersey’s history, the diverse people who shaped it, and its enduring significance.
Old Barracks Museum, 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ
Cost: $5 per person, children 5 and under are free.
Historic Smithville’s Monster Bash
October 26, 10 am – 6 pm
This Halloween event features the areas largest Zombie Walk. That’s not the undead walking the streets of Galloway Twp.. it’s Smithville’s annual Zombie Walk!, People from south Jersey and the surrounding areas find their way to Smithville either in full zombie gear or ready to be painted to look like a zombie (for a small fee)
Historic Smithville, 615 E. Moss Mill Rd, Smithville, NJ
Cost: Free to Register
North Wildwood Trunk-or-Treat Halloween Block Party
October 26, 5:30 pm
The annual family fun event! features Music, Magic, Balloon Twisting and more! Families are encouraged to bring their vehicles decorated for Halloween. Children will come in costume and visit each car where families will provide treats from the trunks of their cars. There will be no judging of the children’s costumes, but prizes will be awarded to the best-decorated vehicles. Registration is free and forms are available at 900 Central Avenue in North Wildwood or at City Hall.
Olde NJ Avenue, North Wildwood, NJ
Cost: Free
HalloWheaton and The Multiverse of African Cultural Heritage
October 26, 1 pm – 4 pm
WheatonArts presents an afternoon of family activities on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 1 to 4 p.m., featuring Trick-or-Treating, live performances by Mystic Realms actors, and “The Multiverse of African Cultural Heritage,” showcasing West African traditions through mask dances, drumming, and crafts. Visitors can explore cultural connections to Halloween, Ancestral Connections, and the Day of the Dead, with a focus on African and Afro-Caribbean influences. Additional activities include scavenger hunts, live demonstrations, museum tours, and more. This free event, part of WheatonArts Family Days, is supported by PNC Arts Alive and the NJ Council for the Humanities.
1000 Village Drive, Millville, NJ
Cost: Free
1830s All Hallow’s Eve Celebration
October 27, 11 am – 4 pm
Step back in time and celebrate Halloween with our villagers as they would have in the 19th century! Learn about Halloween’s long rich history and the origin of the traditions we know of today! Participate in the “Allaire Scare Pumpkin Dare” – a carved pumpkin contest! Contestants need to have a pre-purchased ticket for All Hallow’s Eve and bring a carved pumpkin to the Event (Day Of) where it will be entered into a “scare” category and judged! Winner gets a trophy and a gift bag
The Historic Village at Allaire, 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Wall Township, NJ
Cost: $10 Adults, $5 Children (age 4-12)
Witches Day Out
October 27, 12 pm – 5 pm
Enjoy some magical shopping and scary good deals. Enjoy shop treats and discounts for anyone wearing a witches hat. This year expect activities, specials, and lots of fun will be going on all day long including a scavenger hunt, raffles and parade.
615 East Moss Mill Road, Galloway, NJ
Cost: Free
Turtle Back Zoo Howl-O-Ween
October 31, 4 pm
Come trick-or-treating at the Zoo. With candy stations throughout the grounds, everyone is sure to have a “sweet” time. What to Expect: Candy Stations for Trick or Treating, Stilt walkers, and shows. Come in your Halloween costume and bring your own reusable candy bag
560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, NJ
Cost: $5
Annual Toms River Halloween Parade
October 31, 7 pm
Reported to be the 2nd largest Parade of its type in the world by the Guinness Book of World Records! It’s a parade with plenty of floats and decorative Halloween-themed attractions. Arrive early. It is recommended you arrive about 2 hours prior to the start of the parade. This allows time to get settled and comfortable so the parade can begin on time. In the past, people have put chairs out even earlier. The parade starts at 7:00 pm, from the Toms River Center located at Main Street and Route 37, proceeding South on Main Street, then east on Washington Street, and concludes at Hooper Avenue. Most trophies will be distributed at 101 Hooper Avenue, Ocean County Administration Building.
Toms River Center, Main Street and Route 37, Toms River, NJ
Blithe Spirit
October 31, November 1 – 3
When author Charles Condomine invites an eccentric medium to conduct a séance as research for his new book, and for an evening’s entertainment, the Condomines’ pristine English country house is turned upside down because Elvira, the stylish ghost of Charles’s past wife, is conjured up. Hilarious mayhem ensues as the wife from the afterlife and the wife from this life battle over Charles’ affections. From the delightfully wicked mind of Noël Coward comes this ghostly tale, where love and marriage devolve into laughter and mayhem – and ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ no longer applies. October 31, Halloween Special Performance Come dressed in costume and stay for Halloween Party.
Kelsey Theater @ Mercer County Community College 1200 Old Trenton Rd, West Windsor NJ
Cost: Adults $22/Seniors, Students $20
