NJIB’s Guide to 40+ New Jersey Events October 17th – 19th, 2025
Well, well, well – it’s October! New Jersey Isn’t Boring’s Guide to New Jersey Events, October 17th – 19th, 2025, is your go-to source for the best events happening across the Garden State! Whether you’re searching for Oktoberfests, Halloween events, lively festivals, captivating performances, family-friendly fun, or seasonal activities, our guide has you covered. From local craft fairs and art exhibits to outdoor adventures and winter celebrations, there’s something everyone can enjoy. Explore new experiences, create unforgettable memories, and stay connected with the local community with New Jersey Isn’t Boring’s expertly curated event lineup.
As a reminder, NJIB has no control over the weather or whether (see what I did there) an event is canceled. Please make sure an event is still active before attending.
BONUS! See NJIB at Bell Works Fresh in Holmdel on Wednesday, October 15th and The Marlboro Farmers Market on Sunday, October 19th.
Check out our Event Guide for more events throughout the year. To submit your event, click here.
For more New Jersey Events and Adventures, follow along on Instagram, @newjerseyisntboring, and Insta Stories! Don’t forget to tag your own NJ fun with #NJisntBoring.
New Jersey Events October 14 – 19:
Featured!
New Jersey Restaurant Week
October 17 – 23
The New Jersey Restaurant Week is a statewide event hosted by the New Jersey Restaurant & Hospitality Association in effort to promote restaurants across the state. The event will take place from Friday, October 17, through Thursday, October 23, 2025, and is open to all Garden State restaurants.
State Wide
Festival of the Moon
Now – October 20
The Festival of the Moon (Rahway Moon Fest) — held October 4–20, 2025 at UCPAC in Rahway — centers around Luke Jerram’s luminous Museum of the Moon installation and features a mix of music, theater, dance, family programming, and community events such as a Moonlit Market, live orchestral performances, a Pink Floyd tribute, a children’s STEAM musical, ballet, opera, story time under the moon, and timed public tours.
Rahway, NJ
Cost: Varies per event
Witches Night Out
October 16, 5:30 pm – 9 pm
Support your local witches on Thursday, October 16th in Downtown Cranford! This will be a fun evening of gathering, shopping and more. The event includes special offers at retailers and restaurants, drink specials, hat decorating contest, two tickets for the tricky tray, and a scavenger hunt.
Downtown Cranford, 100 North Union Avenue Cranford, NJ
Cost: $20 – $40
Queen City Film Festival
October 16 – 19
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
AWA Howl-O-Ween Bash
October 17, 5 pm – 8 pm
Your presence is requested… at AWA’s annual Howl-O-Ween bash! Join for a night of Ghoulish fun for all age. Spooky vendors, free activities and crafts for little monsters, trunk or treat, a 50/50, eerie cocktails and wicked music await you. Come creep it real and raise money for animals in need!
Animal Welfare Association, 509 Centennial Blvd, Voorhees, NJ
Cost: Free
Seton Village Food Truck & Craft Beer Festival
October 17, 5 pm – 10 pm
This lively event will feature some of the area’s best food trucks offering a variety of culinary delights, perfect for food enthusiasts and comfort food lovers alike. Beer lovers can enjoy the return of the Beer Garden, sponsored by Gaslight Brewery, which will serve a selection of craft beers. With live entertainment, delicious food, refreshing drinks, and a festive atmosphere, the event is a perfect opportunity to gather with family, friends, and neighbors.
Irvington Ave, South Orange, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Pink Witches Night Out
October 17, 5:30 pm
The evening will feature live music, shopping, specialty cocktails, raffles, a Tricky Tray fundraiser, and a VIP experience, with all proceeds benefiting Francesca and other women in treatment. The event is free to attend and open to the public.
Downtown Denville, NJ
Cost: Free
Gardens Aglow Presby Memorial Iris
October 17, 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 17 & 18, 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 $10 adults.
Brite Nites at Wagner Farm Arboretum
October 17 & 18
The event features a 0.25-mile walk illuminated by intricately hand-carved, LED-lit pumpkins, along with interactive games such as Pumpkin Bowling, Witch Hat Ring Toss, and Pumpkin Bucket Toss. Guests can also enjoy delicious offerings from local food trucks and capture memories at themed photo opportunities. A special “spooky section” is available for those seeking a thrill, though it’s separate from the main path to accommodate all guests. Proceeds support Wagner Farm Arboretum’s community programs, including The Giving Garden and The Children’s Garden .
Wagner Farm Arboretum, 197 Mountain Ave, Warren, NJ
Cost: $10, Kids $5, Kids under 5 are free
Brookdale Haunted Theater
October 17 – 19 (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. “Lights on, Scares Off” performance are available during the afternoon.
Brookdale Community College Performing Arts Center, 765 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ
Cost: $10 – $20
Night of Frights + Ghost Tour
October 17 – 19 (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
Lambertville Halloween Film Fest and Monster Homecoming Bash
October 17 – 19
Acme Screening Room presents: The annual Lambertville Halloween Film Festival opening party is going back to school this year with a ‘Monster Homecoming’ themed dance party. Ask your date early, put on your best costume, and get your tickets now! The night includes special guest MCs, Danny Tamberelli & Michael Maronna of The Adventures of Pete and Pete. Live Music w/ Danny’s Band “Jounce”, appetizers, drinks, tarot card readings, a photobooth, costume contest, silent auction, and of course dancing. Saturday night special event includes “Nostalgia Personified™, a nationally touring live comedy clip show where beloved TV stars like Danny Tamberelli, Michael C. Maronna and Lori Beth Denberg relive the awkward glory of their on-screen youth.
Acme Screening Room, 25 S Union St, Lambertville, NJ
Cost: $35
Annual Montclair Film Festival
October 17 – 26
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
OK4WD Trucks & Coffee
October 18, 8:30 am – 12 pm
OK4WD Trucks & Coffee is the premier offroad community event in New Jersey for truck and 4×4 enthusiasts. Whether you drive a lifted Jeep, a rugged Tacoma, a classic Land Cruiser, or a fully built overland rig, this is your spot to connect with fellow adventurers who share your passion for the trail. Bring your offroad truck, enjoy great coffee, and talk everything from tires and suspension setups to overlanding gear and trail experiences. Their expert technicians and partners will be on-site to discuss tire upgrades, alignment services, and custom offroad installations — everything you need to keep your vehicle ready for the next adventure. Come for the rigs, stay for the people. Discover new tire options, meet vendors, swap trail stories, and get inspired for your next offroad adventure right here in New Jersey.
2621 NJ-57 Stewartsville, 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 – $40
Annual Sussex County Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival
October 18, 10 am – 4 pm
This family festival is a celebration of 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. For kids there’ll be a hay ride, pumpkin painting, face painting and crafts.
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Branchville, NJ
Cost: Free
Darkside Art and Oddities Market
October 18, 10 am – 8 pm
Darkside New Jersey Art & Oddities Expo invites you to a sinister celebration of the strange and macabre. Spawned from the legendary Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market, the birthplace of the nationwide DIY flea movement, this eerie festival offers vendors selling taxidermy, preserved specimens, occult-inspired items, funeral curiosities, and more. Here, the peculiar and the grotesque are for sale, with everything from handmade dark art to vintage medical tools, drawing those with a taste for the uncanny.
New Jersey Expo Center, Edison, NJ
Cost: $20+
Rahway Day
October 18, 11 am – 3 pm
Rahway Day will feature local vendors, live entertainment, food trucks, and family activities. Guests can enjoy pumpkin painting for children (12 and under), pickleball classes, karate demonstrations, yoga sessions, and more, along with performances by Rahway High School students and local dance troupes. Hourly door prizes, a selfie station, and a 360° photo booth will add to the excitement, while outdoors, families can explore “Touch a Truck” experiences, view an antique police car, and sample fare from local food trucks.
Rahway Recreation Center, 275 E. Milton Ave, Rahway, NJ
Cost: Free
Fall Fest at Somers Mansion
October 18, 11 am – 8 pm
Fun for the whole family! Vendors, food trucks, tarot, candlelit tours, ghost stories, costume contest and more.
1000 Shore Rd, Somers Point, NJ
New Jersey Seafood Festival
October 18, 11 am – 7 pm
The event celebrates the best of the Jersey Shore’s seafood offerings, bringing 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 18, 12 pm – 5 pm
This event features local oyster purveyors featuring their oysters. Taste them all and vote for you favorite for the People’s Choice Award! If you’re more surf than turf, they will have local food trucks serving delicious choices for you. The activities and vendors include: Shucking Contest! Vendors! Brewing companies! Wine! Silent Auction! Special Speakers!
2800 High Street, Port Norris, NJ
Cost: $50 per person and includes a commemorative wine or beer glass and a sampling of oysters
Smithville Costume Pet Parade
October 18, 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
Celebrate Diwali in Newark
October 18, 4 pm – 8 pm
Councilman Carlos M. Gonzalez, together with community leaders and partners, is proud to invite you to the 2025 Newark Diwali Celebration — an unforgettable evening filled with lights, music, dance, food, and family fun. This FREE, family-friendly festival welcomes everyone to join in the joy of the Festival of Lights. Come experience breathtaking cultural performances, taste delicious traditional foods, enjoy lively music, and connect with neighbors as we celebrate Newark’s vibrant diversity.
Cherry Blossom Welcome Center, Branch Brook Park, Newark, NJ
Cost: Free
The Witchery
October 18, 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, leather-work, 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 Pumkin Carve Out
October 18, 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
Hairy’s Dog House 1st Annual Charity Wine Tasting
October 18, 6 pm
This isn’t just any wine tasting—it’s an unforgettable evening of exceptional wines, hand-selected from top vineyards and my personal cellar treasures. Every glass poured supports a meaningful cause, helping Hairy spread Love, Peace, and Comfort one Tail Wag at a Time to those who need it most. And here’s the heartwarming highlight: Hairy himself will be making his very first public appearance at this event! Come meet the adorable BellaDoodle whose gentle spirit brings comfort and joy to children’s hospitals, nursing homes, and disaster areas. Every ticket purchased helps Hairy continue his mission of sharing love and healing, one tail wag at a time.
Cranbury Inn, 21 S Main St, Cranbury, NJ
Cost: $125+
Strangest Things
October 18, 7 pm – 9 pm
Calling all thrill seekers! Do you love the macabre and stranger side of history? Listen to a dramatic retelling of the last public hanging on the Morristown Green, unlock a spooky escape room, and experience 19th-century spiritualism practices led by real paranormal investigators.
333 Speedwell Avenue, Morristown, NJ
Cost: $25 per person
The Hocus Pocus Interactive Experience
October 18, 8 pm
Guests can join the delightfully wicked Sanderson Sisters—Winifred, Sarah, and Mary (yes, in full cackling, corseted glory)—as they rise once again to wreak havoc on happy hour. These three not-so-retired witches will enchant guests with interactive performances, devilish games, and just enough chaos to keep your potions bubbling. Expect spooky sing-alongs, a cauldron of cackles, and maybe even a few black flame candles. Costumes are encouraged. 21+ only — because some potions are very potent.
Resorts Casino’s Starlight Ballroom, Atlantic City, NJ
Cost: $30
The New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge
October 18 & 19
The New Jersey Lighthouses and select museums happily announce that they are again hosting New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge weekend. Visitors can enjoy an opportunity to tour the state and 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
Cost: $10
Rose Squared Art Show Fall Brookdale Park
October 18 & 19, 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
Boo at the Boardwalk
October 18 & 19, 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 18 & 19
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
Annual Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
October 18 & 19
This family event features a juried craft show with over 150 vendors, 15 food vendors, and live music.
Downtown Chatsworth, NJ
Cost: Free
Oktoberfest Food Truck Festival
October 18 & 19
Join in for a day of outdoor enjoyment and relaxation at the picturesque grounds of Laurita Winery. It’s the perfect destination to savor exceptional wines in the company of friends and family. Complement the exquisite wines with a diverse range of delectable food options from the assortment of onsite food trucks.
Laurita Winery; 85 Archertown Rd, New Egypt, NJ
Cost: $13
Downtown Cranford Howl-O-Ween Parade
October 19, 11 am
A pet parade and costume contest! The Howl-o-Ween Pet Parade is done in partnership with Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Cranford-Westfield and The Barker Lounge – Cranford. Pre-Register you dog Here
Post Office Plaza, Cranford, NJ
Cost: Free
18th Century Field Day and Fall Harvest Festival
October 19, 10 am – 4 pm
Step back in time and experience history come alive! 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
Wayne Valley H.S. Fall Craft Show
October 19, 10 am – 5pm
The annual Wayne Valley Fall Craft Show brings over 100 exhibitors from three states together under one roof at Wayne Valley High School. shoppers can explore a wide variety of arts and crafts, including pressed flower art, hand-crafted jewelry, wind chimes, florals, decorated porch signs, ornaments, apparel, fiber art, stained glass, birdhouses, seasonal décor, pottery, ceramics, chain saw animals, tie dye, charcuterie boards, crochet animals, children’s items, and much more. a breakfast and lunch menu will be available in the café, with a bake table at the entrance and homemade pickles and kettle korn outside—perfect for early holiday shopping.
Wayne Valley High School, 551 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ
Cost: $3
Hamilton Oktoberfest
October 19, 11 am – 5 pm
A family Oktoberfest celebration with many family-oriented activities. Note: Alcoholic beverages will not be served at, nor permitted at, this event. This family event features, Amusements, Pumpkin Patch, Hay Rides, Corn Maze, Crafters, fire pits, a Jack ‘O Lantern Carving Contest, and the grand finale fireworks at dusk.
Veterans Park, 2306 Kuser Rd, Hamilton Township, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend
Celebrate Fall
October 19, 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
Cherry Hill Harvest Festival
October 19, 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, 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
Tenafly’s Annual Fall Festival
October 19, 12 pm – 5 pm
The Tenafly Fall Festival brings seasonal fun to Downtown Tenafly with live music, dance performances, food trucks, artisanal vendors, kids’ rides, pumpkin activities, a Monster Mash DJ dance party, and the always-popular Halloween Costume Contest. Visitors can also enjoy seasonal cocktails at the Hive & Honey mobile bar, catch the big game on a giant LED screen, or test their skills in PSE&G’s mobile escape room.
Downtown Tenafly, NJ
Cost: Free
Tavern Talks @ Tindall Road Brewing
October 19, 4 pm – 6 pm
Calling all history-curious brewery enthusiasts to join RevolutionNJ in the age old tradition of debating revolutionary ideas in bars with friends! In this interactive event, attendees will get the chance to talk with reenactors and draw their own conclusions about the past. Tindall Road Brewing Company hosts RevolutionNJ and friends to explore the aftermath of the Revolution in New Jersey. Participants are invited to imagine that you are in a colonial tavern after the Treaty of Paris was signed. The tavern air smells like beer and fresh government. Reenactors and participants will come up with new and exciting ways to fill the British Empire-shaped hole left behind by the War. What kind of government do we want? What will representation look like? Who will have a say in how things are done? What exactly should this new constitution consider?
102 Farnsworth Avenue #110 Bordentown, NJ
Cost: $5
Frankenstein (Musical): Film Screening & Talkback
October 19, 7:30 pm
A sweeping romantic musical film about the human need for love and companionship. Based on Mary Shelley’s novel, FRANKENSTEIN, is a sweeping romantic musical about the human need for love and companionship. Having lost his mother at a young age, Victor Frankenstein seeks to end human mortality and arrogantly enters territory beyond his control. While he enjoys unconditional love from Elizabeth, he grants none to his creation. Written and composed by Eric B. Sirota, this compelling, thought-provoking adaptation with passionate melodies and a “Phantom-like” award-winning score, was first produced onstage Off-Broadway in NY, and ran for 3 years until the pandemic. Re-conceived for screen and directed by Joe LoBianco, it was filmed in Union City, New Jersey and has gone on to win numerous film festival awards.
345 Marin Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: $20
