NJIB’s Guide to 40+ New Jersey October Food Festivals and Events
October in New Jersey is all about great food. Enjoy cultural events, fun food festivals, restaurant weeks, and delicious fall treats all month long. Grab some friends and enjoy the season’s best flavors!
For more events year-round, check out our Event Guide. To submit your event, click here.
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NJIB’s Guide to New Jersey October Food Festivals and Events:
Seton Village Food Truck Festival
October 2, 5 pm – 9:30 pm
The Seton Village Food Truck Festival returns Friday, October 2 from 5–9:30 PM on Irvington Avenue with food trucks, craft beer & wine, music and plenty of fun!
Irvington Ave, South Orange, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Olde Tyme Italian Festival
October 2 & 3
The Olde Tyme Italian Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey, is a delightful celebration of Italian heritage, culture, and cuisine that transports visitors straight to the heart of Italy. This two-day festival is a feast for the senses, with the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling sausage and peppers, fresh cannoli, and pizza filling the air. Rows of vendors showcase Italian specialties, while live music and performances keep the crowd entertained.
Fox Park: 4501 Atlantic Avenue, Wildwood, NJ
Cost: Free
JC Harvest Festival and Cultural Diversity Festival
October 3, 10 am – 2 pm
This family event features many fun fall festivities including pumpkin decorating, arts & crafts, music, food vendors, and more!
Hamilton Park, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Free
25th Annual Highlands Oktoberfest
October 3, 12 pm – 7 pm, Rain Date: October 4
There is something for everyone at the Highlands Oktoberfest. The festival is family-friendly, with a wide variety of retail, specialty, and craft vendors. 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. There will be live music and Bahrs Landing Restaurant 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 other tasty fare for those less adventurous. Quench your thirst with a large variety of Oktoberfest Beers, both light and dark. Festivities will include a “Best-Dressed” Contest, and a “Beer Stein Holding” Contest with special prizes. There will also be 50/50 drawings with 50% of the proceeds going to the lucky winners.
Veterans Park, 51 Bay Ave. Highlands, NJ
Cost: Free
Little Falls PBA #346’s Oktoberfest
October 3, 12 pm – 7 pm
The 10th Annual Oktoberfest brings a festive, family-friendly fall celebration complete with a lively beer garden and a competitive cornhole tournament. Attendees can enjoy live music and local food trucks, browse offerings from craft vendors and neighborhood businesses, and explore seasonal attractions like a pumpkin patch. With a wide array of entertainment and community activities, the milestone anniversary event delivers a vibrant Oktoberfest experience for guests of all ages.
65 Union Ave, Little Falls, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Hackensacktoberfest
October 3, 1 pm – 8 pm
Get ready for the annual fall celebration of North Jersey breweries, local food trucks and Hackensack restaurants, music, and shopping! The event is FREE for everyone, but you must be 21+ to enter the beer garden and enjoy the incredible brews from local breweries.
Atlantic Street Park, Hackensack, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Sayreville Diwali Festival of Lights
October 3, 3 pm – 9 pm. Rain Date: Oct 10
This festive event features live cultural performances, music, a Garba dance celebration (a traditional folk dance often performed during Diwali celebrations), international food vendors, arts and crafts, specialty vendors, and activities for all ages. The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display.
John F. Kennedy Park, 807 Washington Road, Sayreville, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
North Brunswick Heritage Day
October 3, 3 pm – 10 pm
Heritage Day celebrates the people, cultures, and traditions that make North Brunswick a vibrant and diverse community. Each year, residents, local businesses, civic organizations, and visitors come together to enjoy live entertainment, great food, children’s activities, exhibits, community organizations, and plenty of Township pride.
2051 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free
Jersey City Y2K Night Market
October 3, 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
Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off
October 3 & 4, 10 am – 4 pm
This annual culinary festival gathers chowder enthusiasts, local restaurants, and food lovers for a day of taste-testing, entertainment, and community fun in the Queen City. Enjoy live music, food, 100 vendors, and more. Sunday is the official Chowder Cook-Off!
Taylor Avenue, Behind Bay Village, Beach Haven, NJ
Cost: $35. Kids under 10 years old free
Smithville’s Oktoberfest
October 3 & 4, 10 am – 5 pm
Historic Smithville’s famous Oktoberfest brings together over 100 juried crafters along with an international food court, live music, kids’ activities, non-profit organizations, and more — creating a festive, family-friendly celebration in a charming village setting. All of this takes place alongside the Village’s year-round attractions, including 60+ shops, a carousel ride, a train ride, paddle boats, 7 eateries, and antique arcades, making it a full day of shopping, food, and fun for all ages.Route 9 & Moss Mill Road, Smithville, NJ
Cost: Free
Oktoberfest at The Red Barn Farm
October 3 & 4, 10 am – 8 pm
Raise a stein of ice-cold local craft beer from Spellbound Brewing, sip cocktails from Blue Rascal Distillery, and dig into authentic German food as the whole farm transforms into a festive fall celebration. Live oompah keeps the biergarten moving all weekend: Doppelgänger takes the stage Saturday, and Polka Delphia brings the polka Sunday. Test your strength in our stein-holding showdowns, snap a photo in your best lederhosen, and toast with friends and family under the autumn sky. And because you’re at The Red Barn Farm, all the fall favorites are here too: the giant corn maze, sunflower walk & u-pick hayrides (pumpkin picking starts this very weekend), the giant bounce pillow, and our free, open fairgrounds.
391 Route 206, Hammonton, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Deutscher Club of Clark Oktoberfest
October 3 & 4
The Deutscher Club of Clark’s Oktoberfest transforms its tree-shaded New Jersey grounds into an authentic Bavarian festival filled with live polka music, folk dancing, and communal beer garden seating. Guests in traditional lederhosen and dirndls gather to enjoy imported German draft beers alongside classic fare like grilled bratwurst, warm potato salad, soft pretzels, and homemade apple strudel.
787 Featherbed Ln, Clark, NJ
Cost: $10
Cranberry Fest
October 3 & 4, 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
Atlantic Highlands Day and Touch a Truck
October 4, 11 am – 5 pm
Don’t miss this year’s Atlantic Highlands Day Music featuring TOUCH-A-TRUCK, 2 BANDS and 12 FOOD TRUCKS being held on SUNDAY, October 4th at the borough’s picturesque Marina Lawn. Featuring 12 food trucks with something for everyone!
Atlantic Highlands Marina Lawn, 10 Simon Way, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Cost: Free
Cranford Street Fest
October 4, 11 am – 5 pm
Step into a world of vibrant crafts, tantalizing tastes, and endless entertainment! The Cranford Street Fair transforms downtown Cranford into a bustling playground of vendors and festivities! Stroll through a kaleidoscope of crafts, flavors, and rhythms, where every corner holds a new adventure. This street-fair-style event features 100+ artisans and Cranford Businesses along North Union Ave and Alden St. Admission is free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Union Ave, Cranford, NJ
Cost: Free
Freehold Octoberfest
October 4, 12 pm – 5 pm
DowntownFreehold.com is proud to present their 4rd Annual Oktoberfest, a street festival that transforms West Main Street into a lively celebration of music, food, beer, and community spirit. Raise a glass at this year’s expanded Beer Garden featuring local favorites: Twin Lights Brewing, Seven Sons Brewing, Birdsmouth Beer, and Tall Oaks Farm & Brewery. Enjoy nonstop entertainment with performances by: Swedish Meatballs, Pat Guadagno & Richard Blackwell. Explore a wide variety of vendors, delicious food options, crafters, games, and specialty items—all set up with plenty of seating so you can relax and enjoy the fall festivities.
West Main Street, Freehold, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Denville Food Truck Festival
October 4, 12 pm – 6 pm
Bring your appetite and enjoy a wide variety of food trucks serving up everything from savory bites to sweet treats. Groove to live music, shop unique finds from local vendors, sip on cold beer, and let the kids enjoy fun activities made just for them. There’s something for everyone at this community favorite! Proceeds benefit Denville PAL (youth sports) and American Legion Post #390.
Gardner Field, 2 Savage Rd, Denville, NJ
Cost: $10, kids under 5 are free
Greek Agora Food Festival
October 8 – 11
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 festival is an annual initiative of the Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, NJ, which, every October, stages events that represent the Greek way of life.
615 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend
Ocean County Columbus Day Parade & Italian Street Festival
October 9 – 11
Celebrating the Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Heritage Festival. A fun-filled weekend of food, friends, and Italian Culture. The Parade will be held on Sunday at 1 pm, on the Boulevard from J Street to Sampson Avenue.
Grant Ave, Seaside Heights, NJ
Cost: Free
Lima Bean Festival
October 10, 9 am – 4 pm
The lowly legume takes center stage, delighting locals and visitors alike with a wide array of recipes, crafts, and products. Come out and celebrate West Cape May’s farming heritage with lima bean soup, tacos, salad, jewelry, T-shirts, and more! Enjoy great food, quality vendors, antiques, crafts, entertainment, and fun.
Wilbraham Park, Perry S, West Cape May, NJ
Cost: Free
Avalon Art & Seafood Festival
October 10, 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. 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
Red Bank Oktoberfest
October 10, 1 pm – 5 pm
RiverCenter is proud to team with Triumph Brewing, Fresh Markets, and The Two River Theater for the Annual Red Bank Oktoberfest from 1pm to 5pm in Edmund Wilson Plaza (between Triumph Brewing & The Two River Theater)! Admission is free for visitors of all ages! Tasters ages 21+ can purchase sampling packages.
Downtown Red Bank, NJ
Cost: Free, tasting packages available
Taste of Italy Italian Festival
October 10, 11 am – 7 pm
The event offers attendees a celebration of Italian culture and cuisine featuring an array of food vendors—such as pizza, made-to-order pasta, rice balls, and specialty items like “The Mozzarella God”—alongside an artisan marketplace, an adult beverage bar serving beer and Italian cocktails, live accordion and Sinatra-style musical performances, a classic Italian car display, and various family-friendly activities like crafts and face painting.
Mine Hill Firemans Field, 230 Route 46, Mine Hill, NJ
Cost: $5
Annual Fall Taste of Highlands
October 10, 12 pm – 5 pm
The event features a fall theme and offers five hours of food samplings and cocktails from 18 local restaurants and retailers, rain or shine. Tickets are $50 and include a map of participating businesses, tastings, access to the Seastreak Courtesy Shuttle, and free parking. Attendees check in at Huddy Park to receive their map and bracelet, collect stamps at each stop, and can enter to win tickets to future events by visiting all stops and returning the completed map. Tickets are available at highlandsnj.com or on the day of the event.
Huddy Park Check-in, 329 Bay Ave. Highlands, NJ
Cost: $50
Oktoberfest at Turkey Brook Park
October 10 & 11
Turkey Brook Park invites guests to celebrate the autumn season with an afternoon filled with Oktoberfest traditions, family fun, and festive entertainment. This outdoor event showcases authentic German culture through live music and traditional dance performances, complemented by a selection of vendors, food, pretzels, and beer. Attendees of all ages can enjoy a wide array of activities, including axe throwing, flying chickens, inflatable rides, streaming football on a big screen, and a free hayride.
Turkey Brook Park, 30 Flanders Rd, Flanders, NJ
Cost: $5 per person ages 18+ / 17 & Under FREE
Pork Roll Palooza
October 10, 10 am – 5 pm. Rain Date: Oct 11
Norwescap, in partnership with the Phillipsburg Downtown Association, is hosting the Annual Pork Roll Palooza. The event will take place at Shappell Park in the heart of downtown and offers a family-friendly day of live music, games, and delicious food. Vendors are invited to showcase and sell their gourmet creations, arts and crafts, products, and services to a crowd of more than 3,000 visitors from across the region.
Shappell Park, Phillipsburg, NJ
Cost: Free
Sparta Food Truck and Music Fest
October 11, 11 am – 6:30 pm
The fall-themed event serves as a charitable benefit for the Sparta Benevolent Organization and features fifteen gourmet food trucks, a beer garden, and live musical performances from three bands throughout the day. Designed as a family-friendly community gathering, it also offers a variety of children’s entertainment, including pony rides, a petting zoo, bounce houses, face painting, and local vendor booths.
White Lake Park, White Lake Rd, Sparta, NJ
Cost: $5
GP’s Festa Italiana
October 11, 12 pm – 5 pm
GP’s Festa Italiana is back on Bellevue Avenue transforming the block into a celebration of food, family, and flavor.
What to Expect:
– Fresh Italian favorites from GP’s kitchen
– Live music and performances all afternoon
– Wine tastings and specialty drinks
– Local vendors and artisan goods
– Games and activities for all ages
GP’s Restaurant & Bellevue Avenue, 24 69th Street, Guttenberg, NJ (Between 69th & 70th Streets on Bellevue Avenue)
Cost: Free
New Brunswick Oktoberfest
October 11, 12 pm – 6 pm
This highly anticipated, must-see festival is FREE and action-packed with food & beverage vendors, retailers, interactive activities, a Steinholding contest, and live entertainment from the main stage. Enjoy a variety of local and traditional food, craft brews, and German beers. Bring your friends and family to enjoy an afternoon of music, games, activities, and so much more!. Partygoers are encouraged to get into the Oktoberfest spirit by wearing their best dirndl or lederhosen. The fun continues with a music line-up that will keep you entertained all afternoon and feature a combination of music for a broad mix for all age groups, including Traditional German music!
Monument Square Park, 2 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: Free
Marlboro Restaurant Week
October 11 – 18
Explore Marlboro’s diverse restaurants, enjoy exclusive Restaurant Week specials, and support the local businesses that make our community thrive. Invite friends, reserve a table, and savor every bite!
Marlboro, NJ
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
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 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. For kids, there’ll be a hay ride, pumpkin painting, face painting, and crafts.
Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Branchville, NJ
Cost: Free
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
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.
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
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
East Brunswick Restaurant Week
October 19 – 25
Sample deals and special menus all week as area restaurants celebrate local flavors.
East Brunswick, NJ
Halloween Food Truck or Treat Festival
October 24, 11 am – 6 pm
Grab your little ghosts and goblins, put on your best costumes, and join us for a fang-tastic family day filled with treats, eats, music and plenty of Halloween surprises! Come dressed to impress—or scare! Cash prizes will be awarded for the best costumes, so get creative and bring your Halloween A-game!
Washington Lake Park, 626 Hurffville Crosskeys Rd, Sewell, NJ
Cost: $5
Halloween Food Truck or Treat Festival
October 24, 11 am – 6 pm
The festive holiday event combines a gourmet food truck festival with seasonal family activities, featuring a variety of food vendors, live music, craft vendors, and a beer and spirit garden. Attendees of all ages are encouraged to wear costumes, and children can participate in “truck-or-treating” directly at the food trucks alongside bounce houses, face painting, and other seasonal entertainment.
Paramus Park Mall, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, NJ
Cost: $5
Asbury Park Halloween Food Truck and Music Festival
October 24 & 25, 11 am – 7 pm
Celebrate spooky season at the Asbury Park Halloween Food Truck and Music Festival, a two-day family-friendly event across from Convention Hall. Featuring 20 gourmet food trucks, live bands, costume contests for all ages, a vendor shopping village, and an adult beverage garden, this festive fall gathering blends delicious eats with seasonal entertainment in one of New Jersey’s most iconic shore towns.
Bradley Park, 101 5th Ave, Asbury Park, NJ
Cost: $5, Childen under 10, free
