NJIB’s Guide to New Jersey October Beer and Wine Festivals
October in New Jersey is the perfect time to raise a glass and celebrate, and New Jersey Isn’t Boring has you covered with the ultimate guide to the Garden State’s beer and wine festivals this month. From lively Oktoberfests to festivals with food, music, and entertainment, there’s no shortage of opportunities to enjoy local brews and wine. Whether you’re a dedicated wine and beer enthusiast or just looking for a fun way to spend a crisp September day, these events are sure to offer something for everyone. Cheers to a month filled with plenty of good times!
For more events throughout the year, check out our Event Guide.
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NJIB’s Guide to New Jersey October Beer and Wine Festivals and Events:
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
Autodidact’s Oktoberfest
October 3, 12 pm – 10 pm
The taproom will play host to live German folk music, a Steinholding competition, food trucks, and additional events and activities. Engel, Autodidact’s annual Marzen release, will be available on tap alongside other soon-to-be-announced special beer releases. Guests will also be able to purchase limited-edition themed merch.
1745 NJ-10 Suite 6, Morris Plains, NJ
Cost: Free to attend
Wild Fern Brewing Oktoberfest
October 3, 12 pm – 10 pm
Wild Fern Brewing’s Oktoberfest is hosting a full day of live music, specialty eats, and festive traditions. Musical acts include Barry Wahrhaftig performing from 3:00 to 5:00 PM, followed by The Scheier Project from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Guests can enjoy a diverse food selection from High Tide Oyster Co.’s mobile raw bar, La Tradizione Homemade Pasta, and Triton Pizza. Alongside the annual release of their Harvest Festbier, the event offers competitive stein-holding contests, traditional bierstacheln (beer poking), and plenty of Underberg to keep the celebration going.
62A Trenton Ave, Frenchtown, NJ
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
Jersey City Cocktail Fest
October 3, 6 pm – 9:30 pm
Jersey City Cocktail Fest is your all-access pass to emerging and renowned whiskies and spirits from around the corner to across the globe. Guests will enjoy samples for the entire evening paired with live entertainment, food, and interactive games. With over 100 different samples to try, it’s a great place to discover new spirits and speak to representatives and master distillers. Beer, Wine, and Spirits Fest will also feature amazing local food vendors.
Harborside Atrium, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: Tickets
Grand Harvest Wine Festival
October 3 & 4, 12 pm – 5 pm
The Grand Harvest Wine Festival returns to Fosterfields Living Historical Farm for a weekend of fall fun, wine tasting, and artisan shopping. Sample wines from top New Jersey wineries, grab bites from gourmet food trucks, and browse unique hand-made goods from local artisans. It’s the perfect autumn outing for wine lovers and festival fans alike.
73 Kahdena Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960
Cost: $25 for Guests 21+ Ticket price goes up to $30 CASH ONLY at the door. All Spectators and Non-Samplers are $5 Guests under 21 are FREE
Fall Festival at Laurita Winery
October 3 & 4, 10 & 11, 24 & 25
Celebrate the beauty of autumn at Laurita Winery, surrounded by vibrant vineyard views, seasonal favorites, and the warmth of fall in wine country! Live music, vendors, fall activities, food trucks, and more.
Laurita Winery, New Egypt, NJ
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of
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
Witch Craft
October 9 & 10
This much-anticipated fun, Fall festivity will have you in a hex. Paradise Lakes Campgrounds in Hammonton will be transformed into a mysterious wooded village of local partners serving up savory stews and seasonal brews so magical it must be Witch Craft. This experience is unlike any other beer festival, autumn activity, or spook show. Imagine a one-of-a-kind Halloween-lifestyle extravaganza. Tents will be decked to the nines in mysterious haunt or corny charm, with approximately 60 brewmasters and distillery wizards pouring their classics, as well as some seasonal debuts. Guests will stroll along an enchanted path throughout the campgrounds while sampling all of the magical liquid being poured. At the night’s end, it will be up to the attendees to decide which tent should be awarded “best dressed” with bragging rights until next year.
Route 206 & West Mills Rd, Hammonton, NJ
Cost: $30+
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
Cape May Beer Trail
October 10, 10:45 am – 5 pm
Discover the craft beer scene right where it’s brewed! Relax on board the cheerful Cape May MAC trolley and visit four local breweries: Cape May Brewing Co., Behr Brewing, Cold Spring Brewery and Gusto Brewing Co. You’ll learn from passionate brewers how they turn simple ingredients into exceptional beer. Visit a hand-picked selection of favorites, learn about different brewing styles and techniques, and enjoy tastings of signature and seasonal beers at each stop. This tour offers a fun, flavorful way to experience the Cape May County beer scene — one pint at a time. Lunch is included at Cold Spring Grange Restaurant. Beverages are purchased separately. This tour is for adults ages 21 and over. Advance purchase required. Tour begins and ends at the Emlen Physick Estate grounds.
Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington St., Cape May, NJ
Cost: $50
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
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
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
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
Oktoberfest at Laurita Winery
October 17 & 18
PROST TO FALL! Join Laurita Winery for a spectacular German-inspired OktoberFEST celebration filled with delicious food, fantastic music, beautiful vineyard views, and all your favorite fall fun. Live music, vendors, fall activities, food trucks, and more.
Laurita Winery, New Egypt, NJ
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of
Run the Vineyards Bellview Winery 5 Miler and Food Truck Festival
October 24, 8 am – 1 pm
Participate in this popular 5 Mile course and conclude your experience with a premier food truck festival showcasing notable vendors from New Jersey. The course is on (3.5 miles) flat country paved roads and 1.5 Miles on hard packed dirt trails in the vineyard. After the race, attendees can enjoy live music performed by TJ Fry and sample exceptional handcrafted wines at Bellview Winery. Each participant will receive a complimentary drink ticket, a souvenir wine glass, and an event shirt. Complimentary photography services and parking are also provided.
Bellview Winery, 150 Atlantic St, Landisville, NJ
Cost: $50
Oktoberfest at Laurita Winery
October 24 & 25
PROST TO FALL! Join Laurita Winery for a spectacular German-inspired OktoberFEST celebration filled with delicious food, fantastic music, beautiful vineyard views, and all your favorite fall fun. Live music, vendors, fall activities, food trucks, and more.
Laurita Winery, New Egypt, NJ
Cost: $15 in advance, $20 day of
HalloWine Fest
October 31, 12 pm – 7:30 pm
HalloWine is back this year, and it’s bigger and better than ever! The event features 20+ craft vendors, two live musical acts, food trucks, wine, activities, and more. Come dressed for the occasion! This year, they’ll be hosting both a Human Costume Contest and a Pet Costume Contest. Bring the kids in costume and let them join in on the Halloween fun! Participating vendors will be handing out candy throughout the festival, so kids can make their way around the vendor area and trick-or-treat at each participating booth. The event ends with a fireworks finale at 7:15 PM
Cedar Rose Vineyards 431 Kenyon Avenue Millville, NJ
Cost: $15
