NJIB’s Guide to 40+ New Jersey Events October 16 – 18, 2026
We are loving this time of year! New Jersey Isn’t Boring’s Guide to New Jersey Events October 16th – 18th is your go-to source for the best events across the Garden State! From fun festivals and food-filled weekends to family-friendly expos, live entertainment, and unique celebrations – there’s plenty to do this weekend!
As a reminder, NJIB can’t control the weather or whether (see what I did there) an event is canceled. Please make sure an event is still active before attending.
For more New Jersey events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide
For more New Jersey adventures and New Jersey Events, follow along on Instagram, @newjerseyisntboring, and Insta Stories! Don’t forget to tag your own NJ fun with #NJisntBoring.
Bonus! See NJIB at Bell Works Fresh on Wednesday, October 14th, Lunar Faire: Dark Carnival on Friday, October 16th, and Howl-O-Ween Family Fest on Saturday, October 17th.
For a list of Halloween Festivals and Multi-Day Events, click here.
For all Halloween Events (1-day events), click here.
NJIB’s Guide to New Jersey Events October 14th – 18th:
Featured!!
Lunar Faire: Dark Carnival
October 16, 5 pm – 10 pm
Shopping, potions, attractions, food, mayhem, & the best Friday night out you’ve had in at least a moon! Blending shopping, oddities, and moonlit entertainment, this spooky season-themed gathering features a variety of unique attractions, including a group spell ritual led by the Lunar Queene, a fire wire walker, a levitating witch, a drag show with Cookie Doe & Friends, and a tap-dancing medium. Attendees can explore local artisan vendors offering witchy items and potions, enjoy food trucks, and experience live variety acts and chaotic carnivalesque entertainment designed for an offbeat Friday night out.
East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Rd, Freehold, NJ
Cost: $15 in advance, $25 day of. Kids 10 and under are free
Howl-O-Ween Family Fest
October 17, 12 pm – 5 pm
The event is Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary’s largest annual fundraiser, bringing together animal lovers, families, and canine companions for a festive afternoon supporting senior dogs. Highlights include:
– K9 Costume Contest: A main highlight of the afternoon, allowing attending pets to show off their festive outfits. Registration takes place on-site and closes at 2:15 PM, right before resident sanctuary dogs and alumni are introduced to kick off the contest.
– Pie-Eating Contest: Dogs (and their human companions) can compete in speed-eating challenges divided into size categories (Small, Medium, Large/XL).
– Mini Swim Sessions: Hosted in partnership with 4Paws Adrift, dogs can take a splash in the sanctuary pool. Proof of rabies vaccination is required to participate.
Attendees can sample offerings from local food trucks—including Nomad Pizza, Relish the Dog, The Sandwich Shop Mobile, and Swal Family Creamery. Adults aged 21 and older can visit the designated Beer Garden to enjoy beer and wine selections. A vendor fair featuring dozens of local artisans, pet care specialists, and craft makers will offer custom goods, pet treats, and handmade gifts throughout the afternoon.
118 Route 526, Allentown, NJ
Cost: $10, kids under 10 are free
Flavor of Freehold
October 13 & 14, 5:30 pm – 8 pm
A unique tour of Downtown Freehold’s venerable restaurants, bars, and shops held over two days. Participants walk from place to place with their “Passport” used as a guide of where to go. Everyone will receive signature samples from some of Freehold’s most loved establishments.
Downtown Freehold, 10 East Main Street, Freehold, NJ
Cost: $25
Queen City Film Festival
October 15 – 18
Watch films from new and underrepresented voices. The festival includes youth programs and panels for aspiring filmmakers.
Various Locations in Plainfield and Watchung, NJ
Cost: $0 – $85
Pink Witches Night Out
October 16
Pink Witches was started in 2012 after Meg Olenowski lost her mom to cancer. Over the last 12 years the Pink Witches committee has raised over $150,000 for local women going through cancer treatments. This annual celebration combines fun, community spirit, and a vital cause—supporting breast cancer awareness and research. The event is free to attend and welcomes individuals of all ages. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pink Witches Night Out will once again unite the Denville community in a vibrant display of solidarity with breast cancer survivors and those currently battling the disease. Participants are encouraged to don their best pink witch costumes, with prizes awarded for the most creative and eye-catching outfits. Attendees will enjoy a lively evening filled with entertainment, including: Live music and street performers, Shopping specials from local businesses, offering unique deals and products, Food and drink specials from participating restaurants, Raffles with exciting prizes from local merchants, Pink-themed giveaways, and activities for all.
Broadway, Denville, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend. Donations appreciated
AWA’s annual Howl-O-Ween
October 16, 5 pm – 8 pm
Join us for a night of ghoulish fun for all ages! Trunk or Treat, spooky vendors, crafts for little monsters, wicked music and spooktacular food await!
Animal Welfare Association; 509 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees, NJ
Cost: Free
Gardens Aglow at Essex County Presby Memorial Iris Gardens
October 16, 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.
Presby Memorial Iris Gardens, Montclair, NJ
Cost: Free
Annual Ghoul Spring Village
October 16 & 17, 5:30 pm
This event is a family-friendly haunted walk-through 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 $10 for adults.
Lambertville Halloween Film Festival
October 16 – 18
The curtain rises on an evening ripped from horror’s greatest eras, both old and new. Dust off your finest, round up your fellow fiends, and prepare your most spine-tingling ensemble for a party fit for the silver screen’s most legendary ghouls. Events include “Fright bites” by Tod the Mod’s Starving Artist Cafe, THE VINCENT PRICE COSTUME CONTEST plus prizes for Best Costume Overall, A silent auction and raffles of curiosities and treasures, THE DRACULA DANCE, performed with the Roxey Ballet as you witness the Count himself take the floor. A photo booth, Tarot Readings and other ghoulish surprises…
25 South Union St, Lambertville, NJ
Cost: $35/$55 VIP
Middlesex County Fall Harvest Festival
October 16 – 18
Visitors will get to interact with living history interpreters, listen to live music by the Sawmill Run Old Time String Band, participate in children’s crafts, and enjoy food from Beastro. The festival will include your photo op, wagon rides to the farm fields, pick your pumpkins, with a variety of pies, cider donuts, pickles, salsa, and preserves.
East Jersey Old Town Village, 1050 River Rd, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: Free
New Jersey Restaurant Week
October 16 – 21
The New Jersey Restaurant Week is a statewide event hosted by the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association in an effort to promote restaurants across the state.
State Wide
Annual Montclair Film Festival
October 16 – 25
The annual Montclair Film Festival will entertain film lovers and professionals from across the region and country with ten days of compelling independent films, comedies, documentaries, panels, family events and work by emerging artists. The festival will provide a platform for talented filmmakers from around the world and give special recognition to New Jersey artists
486 Bloomfield Ave, Montclair, NJ
Cost: Varies
Annual Sussex County Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival
October 17, 10 am – 4 pm
This family festival celebrates agritourism, ecotourism, and arts & heritage tourism. The Festival will include local artisans, crafters, and vendors, plus displays highlighting northern New Jersey’s great open spaces and natural history. Kids can enjoy a hay ride, pumpkin painting, face painting, and crafts.
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Branchville, NJ
Cost: Free
Rutherford PorchFest
October 17
PorchFest is one of those much-anticipated events presented by the Rutherford Arts Committee. Throughout the day, musicians share their music from porches and front lawns around Rutherford. Artists also assist with this event by creating the designs for the T-shirts and signs.
New Jersey Seafood Festival
October 17, 11 am – 7 pm
The event celebrates the best of the Jersey Shore’s seafood offerings and brings together seafood lovers from across the state. Attendees can expect an array of fresh, local seafood dishes from various vendors, including oysters, lobster, crab cakes, and more. Along with the fantastic food, the festival will feature live music, entertainment, and local vendors offering unique crafts and products. Bell Works’ vibrant atmosphere provides the perfect setting for a day filled with great food, drinks, and fun.
Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ
Cost: $5; kids under 5 are free
New Jersey Oyster Festival
October 17, 12 pm – 5 pm
Celebrate New Jersey’s oyster heritage along the Delaware Bay waterfront with local oysters, live music, food and drinks, festival activities, and more.
2800 High Street, Port Norris, NJ
Cost: $50 in advance, $60 per person at the door. Includes a commemorative wine or beer glass and a sampling of oysters
Haddon Township Annual Music Festival
October 17, 12 pm – 9 pm
Haddon Township will hold its Annual Music Festival on Haddon Ave. between Strawbridge Ave. and Cooper St. in the heart of downtown. The Haddon Township Music Festival is a perfect getaway for music aficionados who prefer to “experience” live music and interact with artists from across the Delaware Valley. The lineup features a diverse range of acts across many musical genres on two separate stages. The avenue will feature food trucks, local artisans, beer gardens, a kid zone, and a 70-foot Ferris wheel. The event is free and open to the public and approximately four blocks from the Westmont PATCO Speedline.
Haddon Ave. between Strawbridge Ave. and Cooper St., Haddon Twp., NJ
Cost: Free
Smithville Costume Pet Parade
October 17, 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 Shops, 7 eateries, a carousel ride, a train ride, paddle boats and an arcade, on-site lodging at the Colonial Inn, and over 26 free weekend events!615 East Moss Mill Road, Galloway, NJ
Cost: Free
Montclair Zombie Walk
October 17, 2 pm – 6 pm
Indie Arts Montclair, in association with East Side Mags, are proud to bring back their annual ZOMBIE WALK 2026! Make-up is $5 per person (all ages) and consists of basic zombie make up including face paint and some “blood” (no prosthetics or latex). The actual walk will start at 5:30pm SHARP and you’ll creep, meander and claw our way around Montclair Center – horrifying businesses and patrons alike – in a zombie-like but non-aggressive manner.
491 Bloomfield Ave Ste 102, Montclair, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
New Jersey Punk Rock Flea Market: Jersey Devil Night Market
October 17, 3 pm – 11 pm
100+ artists, makers, vintage sellers, record dealers, collectors, small businesses, tattooers, piercers, oddballs, weirdos, goblins, and the kind of people who know exactly why shopping in the dark is better.
NJ Convention & Expo Center, Edison, NJ
Cost: $20
The Witchery
October 17, 4 pm – 9 pm
A Mystical Night Where Folklore Meets Magick. Shop from 50+ vendors selling natural, holistic, or handmade goods. You’ll find handcrafted art, jewelry, decor, clothing, spell jars, crystals, leatherwork, candles, and more! Experienced practitioners will provide on-site services (many available to pre-book), including mediums, tarot and oracle readers, reiki masters, energy healers, hand-drawn temporary tattoos, a live artist, and more. The evening will have a full schedule of performers and lecturers.
Ayres Knuth Farm, 25 Cooper Rd, Denville, NJ
Cost: $10
Cranford Pumpkin Carve Out
October 17, 5 pm
Cranford’s Annual Pumpkin Carve-Out and Parade of Pumpkins returns to Hanson Park hosted by Jersey Central Art Studios with support from the Cranford Jaycees and Hanson Park Conservancy. This free, family-friendly tradition invites participants to drop off carved pumpkins between 9 AM and 2 PM, then return in the evening from 5 to 8:30 PM to stroll candlelit paths lined with pumpkins on display. Prizes will be awarded for the funniest, scariest, and most original carvings in age groups 4–8, 9–16, and 17+, with pumpkins available for pickup after 9 PM.
38 Springfield Ave, Cranford, NJ
Cost: Free
Monster Halloween Car Show
October 17, 6 pm
Come see iconic movie cars up close, grab some Halloween photos, meet characters and monsters, and enjoy a night of spooky fun for the whole family.
300 Ralph Street, Belleville, NJ
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Boo at the Refuge
October 17 & 18
A spooktacular Halloween weekend will feature a variety of festive activities, including trick-or-treating, crafts, games, animal encounters, and a costume parade and contest. Guests can meet animal ambassadors, while adult attendees age 21 and older can enjoy spooky Halloween cocktails and craft beer served at the event’s Wicked Whispers and Restless Spirits bar.
Popcorn Park 1 Humane Way Forked River, NJ
Cost: $25 – $35
The New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge
October 17 & 18
The New Jersey Lighthouses and select museums happily announce that they are again hosting the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge weekend. Visitors can tour the state, visit each lighthouse over the weekend, and help raise needed funds for the continued preservation of our treasured landmarks. The challenge is to visit 10 land-based lighthouses, 3 lifesaving stations, 1 museum, 1 virtual site, and the Lighthouse Society of NJ site over the two-day weekend. The challenge route covers the Atlantic Coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May and the Delaware Bay and River Coast from Cape May to Paulsboro. A small registration fee enables you to collect a souvenir from each site.
At Participating NJ Lighthouses
Annual Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
October 17 & 18, 9 am – 4 pm
This family event features a juried craft show with over 150 vendors, 15 food vendors, and live music.
Downtown Chatsworth, NJ
Cost: Free
Rose Squared Art Show Fall Brookdale Park
October 17 & 18, 10 am – 5 pm. Rain or Shine
Rose Squared Art Shows presents more than 130 artisans at Brookdale Park. This event showcases both fine art and fine craft with works in apothecary, artisanal foods, ceramics, jewelry, wood, digital art, decorative and wearable fiber, furniture, glass, painting, 2D/3D mixed media and photography.
Brookdale Park, 473 Watchung Ave, Bloomfield, NJ
Cost: Free
New Jersey African Restaurant Festival
October 17 & 18
Experience the rich cultural tapestry of the diaspora during the Newark, New Jersey African Restaurant Festival. This vibrant community celebration invites diners to explore an array of authentic flavors from across the continent and beyond, featuring everything from spicy West African jollof rice and grilled suya to fragrant Ethiopian injera platters and North African couscous.
Newark, NJ
Cost: Small bites ranging from $5 to $25. Special prix-fixe menus ranging from $10 to $30 for lunch and $25 to $50 for multi-course dinners.
Boo at the Boardwalk
October 17 & 18, 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 17 & 18
Dress up in your Halloween best and 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: $42.95
Clinton Road Zombie Run
October 18, 9 am check in
Clinton Road, infamous for its eerie legends and haunted reputation, becomes the ultimate backdrop for a chilling challenge. Runners will test their speed, stamina, and courage as they race through shadowy woods, foggy stretches, and the unsettling silence of one of New Jersey’s most mysterious roads.
Race Distances
– Zombie Crawl: This walk/run is guaranteed to get you moving. Grab your missing limbs and hit the road for a brisk “tour” of Clinton Road. Come costumed and ready to show that the undead don’t stay dead. (This is a 1 mile FUN Run and will not be Timed. Costumes are encouraged. Participants running taking part in the 5k and 10k will be welcome to join in as well)
– 5k: A fast-paced sprint across NJ’s most haunted road, perfect for beginners or thrill-seekers.
– 10k: The full endurance test—only the bravest survive the whispers, shadows, and lurking zombies.
103 Paradise Road, Oak Ridge, NJ
Cost: $20 – $65
Art City Festival New Brunswick
October 18
Join coLAB Arts on Sunday, October 18 for Art City, when New Brunswick transforms into a bold, open-air festival of contemporary art, culture and community featuring visionary artists alongside immersive installations, live performance, and large-scale creative experiences. Rooted in the energy and diversity of New Brunswick, Art City is a modern cultural gathering space where people, and place collide.
Downtown New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free
Essex County Turtle Back Zoo Penguin Waddle
October 18
Get ready to waddle, run, or walk your way through a 3-mile course (or take the 1.3-mile Safari Shortcut) before crossing the finish line inside the Zoo for a one-of-a-kind celebration! Post-run Essex County Turtle Back Zoo admission is included with registration. Stick around after the run to explore and say hello to the animals. The first 300 participants to register will receive custom pom-pom beanie. This event is perfect for the whole family—whether you sprint like a cheetah, stroll like a tortoise, or waddle like a penguin, everyone’s invited to join the fun. Costumes, animal spirit, and family smiles are highly encouraged!
9 Cherry Lane, West Orange, NJ
Cost: $10 – $45
Bark for Life of Central Jersey
October 18, 9 am – 1 pm
Join participants for the Annual Bark For Life of Central NJ – a certified 5K Fun Walk and festival to honor canine caregivers and cancer survivors.
Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ
Cost: Register here
18th Century Field Day and Fall Harvest Festival
October 18, 10 am – 4 pm
Step back in time and bring history to life! Enjoy thrilling battle reenactments, hands-on colonial demonstrations, and meet friendly farm animals. Kids can dive into fun with games, crafts, and interactive activities, while the whole family will be entertained by a magical performance and other surprises throughout the day
Red Bank Battlefield, 100 Hessian Ave. National Park, NJ
Cost: Free
Celebrate Fall
October 18, 11 am – 3 pm
This family event features games, crafts, music, and of course goats…these are just a few of the activities that are part of our eagerly anticipated Celebrate Fall Festival! With Halloween right around the corner, families can explore the Spooky Trail and enjoy the golden, autumn colors of our gardens, crisp weather, and some yummy treats from market vendors.
Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave, Summit, NJ
Cost: $15, free for under 3
Springfield’s Annual Fall Festival and Car Show
October 18, 11 am – 5 pm
The Springfield Fall Festival & Car Show returns to Mountain Avenue with free admission, food trucks, vendors, live music, a beer garden, and family fun including pony rides, a petting zoo, a trackless train, a $5 Inflatable Kids Zone, and a pumpkin patch. The car show will feature both exotic and classic vehicles, with registration available online or at the gate for $20.
100 Mountain Avenue, Springfield NJ
Cost: Free Admission
Hamilton Oktoberfest
October 18, 11 am – 5 pm
Oktoberfest is an annual event combining Fall activities and excitement into one fun-packed day! Family favorite activities include a pumpkin patch, hay rides, corn maze, amusements, crafters, and vendors.
Veterans Park, 2306 Kuser Rd, Hamilton Township, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend
Chester PTO’s Food Truck and Music Fest
October 18, 11 am – 6:30 pm
A community gathering to benefit the Chester PTO, featuring sixteen gourmet food trucks, live music performances, a selection of adult beverages, and a food drive accepting non-perishable donations. The dog- and family-friendly outdoor event also offers a variety of vendor booths, lawn space for blankets and chairs, and interactive activities for children.
Chubb Park, Chester, NJ
Cost: $5
Cherry Hill Harvest Festival
October 18, 12 pm – 4 pm
Cherry Hill Township is partnering with the police and fire departments for the township’s largest community event. The event includes pony rides, a petting zoo, a craft fair, pumpkins, live music, food trucks, a beer garden by Forgotten Boardwalk Brewery, and more.
Croft Farms, 100 Bortons Mills Road, Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: Free
Red Bank Halloween Parade
October 18, 1 pm
Enjoy an afternoon of Halloween fun with live music, a petting zoo, food, floats, costume contests, and more.
Hudson Ave. & E. Bergen Pl., Red Bank, NJ
Cost: Free
Diwali in Norwood
October 18, 3 pm – 7 pm
“Diwali in Norwood-Curated by Kanika” is truly back by popular demand for the second year in a row and proudly focuses on being a family-friendly where parents can engage with their children at each culturally focused, interactive station. The event will showcase food, dance, music, arts & crafts, henna, and shopping from India. The event is open to all, and free to attend! Most activities are free of charge thanks to all that donated to the GoFundMe campaign though guests will have to pay for their own food and henna tattoos. Diwali in Norwood is the passion project of Kanika Chadha. Inspired by her then 5 year old son, who after attending Christmas tree lightings and menorah lightings, curiously asked his Mom why there wasn’t a Diwali Diya lighting, Kanika decided to create a family-friendly showcase of Indian culture.
Kennedy Field, Norwood NJ
Cost: Free
East Brunswick Restaurant Week
October 19 – 25
Sample deals and special menus all week as area restaurants celebrate local flavors.
East Brunswick, NJ
