NJIB’s Guide to 30+ New Jersey Events October 9th – 11th, 2026
We are loving this time of year! New Jersey Isn’t Boring’s Guide to New Jersey Events October 9th – 11th 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 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.
For more New Jersey events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide
For more New Jersey adventures and New Jersey Events, be sure to follow along on Instagram, @newjerseyisntboring, and Insta Stories! Don’t forget to tag your own NJ fun with #NJisntBoring.
Bonus! See NJIB at Bell Works Fresh on Saturday, October 10th and Winter Fresh on Sunday, October 11th.
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 7 – 11th:
Newark Arts Festival
October 7 – 11
The Newark Arts Festival will be held in various locations throughout Newark, NJ. The festival invites attendees to envision a world where art, culture, and interconnectedness are foundational to systems and beliefs. It encourages participants to deconstruct and rebuild societal norms to promote equity and justice through creativity and cultural strategy. By reimagining life and embracing collaborative problem-solving, the event aims to create enriching communities, honor past triumphs, and inspire future generations.
Newark Museum of Art, 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ, and several locations within Newark, NJ
Hopewell’s Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve
October 8 – 11
This event is an old-time festival with expanded activities – including live music, fire pits with storytelling, games, face painting…and of course, the outrageously carved giant pumpkins.
Woosley Park, 221 Washington Crossing-Pennington Rd, Hopewell Township, NJ
Cost: $6 – $20
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-long festival is an annual initiative of the Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, NJ, which, every October, stages a number of events that represent the Greek way of life.
615 Mercer Street, Cherry Hill, NJ
Cost: Free to Attend
ProgStock Festival
October 8 – 10
ProgStock is the American Northeast’s only international progressive rock festival, a three-day event taking place on the weekend in the Rivoli Theater of the Williams Center, located at 15 Sylvan Street.
Williams Center, 15 Sylvan St, Rutherford, NJ
Cost: Varies
Annual LBI FLY International Kite Festival
October 9 & 10
The event features a weekend with brilliant, colorful artist-designed kites, fun flying giant inflatable kites, and the amazing show of sport kiting on our beautiful island. Many of these fliers are invited guests at prestigious festivals worldwide. This free, cross-generational event will feature even more spectacular and unusual kites this year, and they’ll be on display at local galleries before the festival.
Ship Bottom, Long Beach Island, NJ
Cost: Free
Atlantic City Comedy Festival
October 9 & 10
The Atlantic City Comedy Festival features two days of hilarious entertainment. There are a total of 2 shows, with one show each day. Each show typically features 5, and sometimes more, comedians each day.
Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ
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
East Rutherford’s Annual Fall Festival
October 9 – 11
This year there are over 40 food and merchandise vendors, live music at TWO stages all weekend, 4 outdoor bars, pet adoptions, LIVE dinosaurs (Saturday and Sunday), mechanical bull, axe throwing bay, pumpkin patch, and so much more.
Park Ave, East Rutherford, NJ
Cost: Free
Cape May’s Annual Victorian Weekend
October 9 – 12
This is the best time of year to visit Victorian Cape May and celebrate the unique heritage of America’s first seashore resort. Enjoy a weekend of exciting and entertaining activities focused on history and Victorian Cape May culture.
Downtown, Cape May, NJ
Cost: Varies depending on booked tours
Lima Bean Festival
October 10, 9 am – 4 pm
The lowly legume takes center stage delighting locals and visitors alike with her vast array of recipes, crafts and products available. 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
The Charlotte Joy Touch A Truck Festival
October 10, 10 am – 4 pm, rain date October 11
Get ready to explore big trucks up close at the 5th Annual Charlotte Joy Touch-A-Truck Festival- the largest in the Northeast! 100% of the proceeds raised from this fundraiser go directly to The Ashley Lauren Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that assists children and families in NJ as they navigate childhood cancer. This year’s event is slated to be bigger and better than ever before, featuring an impressive lineup of over 100 emergency vehicles, trucks, utility vehicles, a helicopter, a hot air balloon, classic cars, and an array of exciting attractions for the whole family.
East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road in Freehold, NJ
Cost: Adults $20, Kids $12
OCNJ Fall Block Party
October 10, 9 am – 5 pm
This annual family event features over 400 crafters, food vendors, music, and more. In the evening, fireworks over the boardwalk from 6th Street – 14th Street.
6th – 14th Streets on Asbury Ave., Ocean City, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Berlin’s Annual Fall Festival
October 10, 10 am – 4 pm
This event features a Mutt Strut dog costume parade, pumpkin painting, a car show, food merchants and a beer garden.
Berlin Boro County Park, 43 S Park Drive, Berlin, 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
Westfield Street Fair & Craft Show NJ
October 10, 11 am – 5 pm
Come on down to Westfield for the Annual Westfield Street Fair & Craft Show and enjoy a day of family fun with original and interesting Arts & Crafts, Artists, Crafters, Vendors, Food, Games, Family Fun, live music, DJ, performances and more.
South Ave and Boulevard, Westfield, NJ
Cost: Free
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
MGK’s Red White and Brew Blast 2026
October 10, 1 pm – 5 pm
Great American craft beers … Delicious American comfort food! Keep America’s 250th celebration going and join us aboard the battleship New Jersey. Enjoy the views, rock out to the ‘MGK House Band – Jolly Monroe while you enjoy a little taste of America! Each $50 ticket includes unlimited sampling of 50 beers and a Battleship tour voucher for future use (the tour voucher alone is a $35 value, valid through December 31, 2026).
62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ
Cost: $50, DD $20
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
BarronFest: Woodbridge’s Annual Fine Arts & Crafts Festival
October 10, 12 pm – 4 pm
Woodbridge’s annual fine arts and crafts festival is back, featuring pottery, paintings, glasswork, ceramics, photography, metalwork, handcrafted jewelry, fabric art, weaving, and more—featuring 40+ talented artists and crafters.
400 Rahway Ave, Woodbridge, NJ
Cost: Free
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
Cranford Porchfest
October 10, 2 pm – 6 pm
Porchfest is a celebration of music for all ages where porches, stoops, and lawns throughout Cranford become stages for an afternoon of strolling, listening, singing, dancing, and connecting with neighbors.
The NJ Big Flea
October 10 & 11
The Big Flea returns in Edison for amazing finds of jewelry, art, vintage clothing, sustainable, furniture, repurposed, mid-century, art deco, and so much more. All at affordable prices! Sat. 9-6 Sun. 10-4
97 Sunfield Ave, Edison NJ
Cost: $15 good for both days, Children 12 and under are free
Somerset County’s Journey Through The Past
October 10 & 11
Make a vibrant connection to history at Somerset County’s annual Journey Through the Past! Bring the whole family as you explore Somerset County’s rich history and discover what life was like 50, 100, or even 200 years ago! 30 historic sites throughout Somerset County will be open for free to the public.
Somerset County, NJ
Cost: Free
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
Stafford Fall & Harvest Wine Festival
October 10 & 11, 12 pm – 5 pm
The Stafford Fall Harvest & Wine Festival returns to Heritage Park in Manahawkin offering the perfect autumn celebration along the foot of Long Beach Island. Guests can sample and purchase wines from nine New Jersey wineries, including Tomasello, Valenzano, and Wagonhouse, while enjoying live music, local food trucks, and artisan crafters. With delicious bites ranging from BBQ to seafood and Cuban cuisine, plus handmade goods like candles, soaps, desserts, and cheeses, the festival combines seasonal flavors, shopping, and entertainment into one of the region’s most anticipated fall events.
49 West Bay Avenue, Manahawkin, NJ
Cost: $20 in advance $25 at the door. Free for non-samplers
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
Catsbury Park Cat Convention
October 10 & 11
Catsbury Park Cat Convention brings cat lovers, artists, advocates, rescue organizations, special guests and pet focused businesses together for a full weekend at Bell Works. Shop, meet adoptable animals, catch talks and entertainment in the theatre, take part in activities and spend the weekend celebrating all things cat.
Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ
Cost: $30 per day, $48 for weekend pass
Califon Street Fair
October 11, 11 am – 4 pm
All are welcome to attend this free event. Sections of Main Street will be closed to automobile traffic and the historic downtown area will be transformed into a communal scene of fall fun, shopping, food, and entertainment. Attendees will be able to stroll through Califon’s picturesque downtown and enjoy exquisite artisans and crafters, a variety of tasty food trucks and vendors, a beer garden, a pie-eating contest, and live music.
Downtown Califon, 53 Main Street, Califon, 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, make reservations, and savor every bite!
Marlboro, NJ
