Pumpkins, brightly colored leaves, hot apple cider, hoodies and fire pits. These are the many things associated with fall in New Jersey.
Yes, it’s still summer, and it’s hot. But it’s not too early to think about and plan what festivals to take the family to this fall.
There’s a ton of things to do in the state, from pumpkin and apple festivals and Italian festivals to bark parties in the park and beer parties.
These are 15 of the best 2022 fall festivals happening in the Garden State.
Autumn colorful leaves with water drops background
Scottish plains
Unico Italian Festival of St. Barts
2032 Westfield Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ
https://sbuitalianfestival.com/
Date: September 2-5
Time: to be determined
No cost
Authentic Italian cuisine, rides, raffles, games and live music
Vernon
Great Pumpkin Festival
Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon, NJ
https://heavenhillfarm.com/events/great-pumpkin-festival/
Date: September 10 – November 6
Time: to be determined
Cost: to be determined
There will be over 40 activities, including a mad scientist-themed corn maze, pedal carts, gem mining, carnival rides, paintball field, apple cannons, sand art, pig racing, etc. Plus, food concessions with apple cider donuts, gourmet chocolate, and candy apples.
Halloween pumpkin in the autumn forest
Woodstown
South Jersey Apple Festival
Salem County Fairgrounds, 735 Harding Highway (Route 40), Woodstown, NJ
https://www.sjapplefest.com/SJ-Apple-Fest.html
Date: September 10 and 11
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days
Cost: $5 for parking
This apple-themed festival features live music and a DJ, performers, food, wine tastings, crafts for kids, train rides, antiques, a dessert competition at apples, a fall house and garden show, and much more.
May’s Landing
Bark in the Park Festival
4H Fairgrounds, 3210 NJ-50, Mays Landing, NJ
https://abseconvet.com/upcoming-events
Date: September 17 (rain date: September 18)
Time: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: to be determined
This dog-friendly fall festival includes a dog show, kid and dog pie contests, raffle baskets, food trucks, pony rides, and more. Proceeds will benefit Absecon Veterinary Hospital’s non-profit Veterinary Bill Assistance Program called Laddie’s Legacy. Laddie was a Maine Coon cat who was put back in the hospital because her owner couldn’t afford the increased medical bills.
Autumn, fall, pumpkins, gourds and colorful mums
roseland
Roseland Greek Day 2022
Ss Nicholas, Constantine and Helen Greek Church, 80 Laurel Ave., Roseland, NJ
http://roselandgreekfest.com/index.html
Date: September 23-25
Time: Fri. 4 p.m. to 12 a.m., Sat. 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Sun. 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: food menus have prices and each shop is different
This is a real Greek party with lots of Greek food including spanakopita, lamb shank and baklava, plus a cafe bar, outdoor Greek music and tons of shopping to do shopping.
glassboro
Glassboro Craft Beer Festival 2022
Glassboro Town Square, 1 West High Street, Glassboro, NJ
https://glassborobeerfest.com/
Date: September 24
Time: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $50
When they say beer, they mean beer. There will be over 40 brew vendors in attendance, plus over a dozen food and craft vendors, and live music to make it the perfect way to spend a fall Saturday in New Jersey.
Photo Dennis Malloy
Seaside Heights
rock the farm
Grant Avenue, Seaside Heights, NJ
https://www.rockthefarmnj.com/
Date: September 24
Time: 11:45 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Cost: $40 and $45 at the door. Children 10 and under are free.
For 10 hours, fall festival-goers will enjoy a beer and wine garden, unique food trucks, a kids’ zone with face painting, balloon art, a foam dance floor and a braid bar. There will be live music with cover bands from artists Fleetwood Mac, Red Hot Chili Peppers, AC/DC, ELO, Eagles, Billy Joel, Carole King, Alanis Morrissette, ZZ Top and Bon Jovi.
Cape May
Fall 2022 Exit Zero Jazz Festival
Zero Ferry Park Exit, 1200 Lincoln Blvd., Cape May, NJ
https://www.exitzerojazzfestival.com/
Date: September 29 – October 2
Time: 7 p.m.
Cost: 3-day admission: $180. Single day tickets: $65
If you like jazz, then you will love this festival. The three-day music festival features hundreds of musicians and attracts thousands of visitors each year. International touring artists perform on two outdoor stages at Exit Zero Ferry Park, overlooking the Delaware Bay. One minute you might be listening to a New Orleans marching band and the next a bloco of 22 Brazilian drummers, according to the website.
(Erin Vogt, Townsquare Media)
Galloway
Oktoberfest
Historic Smithville, 615 E. Moss Mill Rd., Galloway, NJ
https://www.historicsmithville.com/smithville-events/oktoberfest/
Date: October 1 and 2
Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: to be determined
Over 100 artisans, live music, an international food court, carousel rides, paddle boats and more complete this incredible festival. In addition, there will be activities for children such as the famous giant jumping house, the duck pond game and face painting.
The 60 shops, the train, the 7 restaurants and the ancient arcades of the village will also be open. There will also be nonprofits on site with raffles, information and items for sale.
Hightstown
The Annual Hightstown Harvest Fair and Tercentenary Anniversary
Hightstown Memorial Park, N. Main Street, Hightstown, NJ
http://www.hightstownfair.org/
Date: October 1
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: to be determined
It’s a day filled with small businesses, local artists, live entertainment, artisans, kids’ activities, tons of food, rides and more. The festival is designed to raise community awareness, bring commerce to local businesses and sponsors, and provide fun for children, according to the website.
(Farms R and J Facebook page)
Hawthorne
paws in the park
Goffle Brook Park, Hawthorne, New Jersey
https://visitnj.org/nj-events/paws-park-0
Date: October 8 (rain date: October 9)
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost: to be determined
The 6th Annual Paws in the Park Fall Festival features demonstrations by the Sheriff’s K-9 Unit, Mounted Patrol, an animal blessing, animal adoptions, animal contests, raffles, food trucks, pet vendors and their people, and a beer garden.
Woodstown
South Jersey Pumpkin Show Fall Festival
Salem County Fairgrounds, 760 Harding Hwy., Woodstown, NJ
https://www.sjpumpkinshow.com/
Date: October 8 and 9
Time: October 8: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., October 9: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: to be determined
This two-day festival features everything associated with fall: a fall fair, wagon rides, pumpkin pie by the slice, the Little Miss and Mister Pumpkin show, a tower of giant pumpkins, moms for sale, food trucks, over 125 artisans, wine tastings, rides, New Jersey’s Largest Baked Pumpkin Pie, a pumpkin dessert contest, scarecrows and more.
South Toms River
The 4th Annual South Toms River Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival
100 Atlantic City Boulevard, South Toms River, NJ
https://visitnj.org/nj-events/south-toms-river-annual-foodtrucks-and-craft-beer-festival
Date: October 8
Time: 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: to be determined
This fall festival features craft beer, food trucks, vendors, demos, auctions, live music, and fireworks!
Chatsworth
Chatsworth Cranberry Festival
3980 Main Street, Chatsworth, NJ
Date: October 15 and 16
Time: to be determined
Cost: N/A
Always on the third full weekend in October, this cranberry festival screams “autumn.” Start your holiday shopping with over 150 vendors at your fingertips, many offering unique handmade items, food vendors, wine tastings, live music and, yes, fresh New Jersey cranberries .
Tewksbury
Tewksbury Harvest Festival
Christie Hoffman Farm Park, 108 Fairmount Rd, W., Califon, NJ
https://www.tewksburyharvestfest.com/
Date: September 24 (rain date: September 25)
Time: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: $20 per car
This dog-friendly festival is a fundraiser for the Tewksbury First and Rescue Squad. There will be crafts, food trucks, wagon rides, a pie contest, car show, beer garden, cornhole tournament, silent auction, and more.
There are so many other festivals, which of course take place in The Garden State. These just give you a taste of all the fun the state has to offer this fall.
Jen Ursillo is a reporter and anchor for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach her at [email protected]
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