The air is getting a little cooler, and New Jersey is starting to embrace the fall spirit. From apple picking and pumpkin patches to hayrides and live music, the Garden State offers plenty of ways to celebrate the season. We’ve gathered the best fall-themed festivals happening across New Jersey—here are 30 fall events you won’t want to miss this season.

Apple Festival – Mullica Hill

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 6
Location: Mood’s Farm Market, 901 Bridgeton Pike, Mullica Hill, NJ
Pick fresh apples, snack on cider donuts, and sip sweet cider. Kids and adults can compete in donut-eating contests, explore the corn maze with an ‘80s theme, and enjoy live music from the Jazztones and The One Way Express.

Fall Kickoff Festival – Chester

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 6–7
Location: Alstede Farms, Chester, NJ
Celebrate the start of fall with apple picking, corn mazes, live music, and hard cider. Later in the month, Harvest Moon Nights offer evening hayrides and nighttime corn maze adventures.

Fall Family Fun Weekends – Princeton

Dates: Saturdays–Sundays, Sept. 6–Oct. 12
Location: Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ
Pumpkin picking, pony rides, barnyard animals, corn mazes, and pumpkin painting await at Terhune Orchards. Families can enjoy live music, wine or sangria tastings, and fun outdoor games.

Beach Plum Festival – Island Beach State Park

Dates: Sunday, Sept. 7
Location: Island Beach State Park, Seaside Park, NJ
Celebrate the beach plum harvest with artisan vendors, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. Sample beach plum jelly, ice cream, and support local nonprofits in a beautiful seaside setting.

Tri State Sunflower Festival & Pumpkin Fest – Swedesboro

Dates: Sept. 6–Oct. 26
Location: Dalton Farms, Swedesboro, NJ
Pick pumpkins and sunflowers, ride a giant slide or trike track, and explore the corn maze. Weekends feature live music, food vendors, a beer garden, and pedal boat rentals.

Food Truck & Apple Festival – Sewell

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 13
Location: Duffield’s Farm, Sewell, NJ
Take a scenic hayride to the orchard for apple picking, explore the corn maze, and enjoy the Barnyard Express rides or Barn Bounce. Food trucks will also be on site.

50th Anniversary Apple Day Celebration – Princeton

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 13–14
Location: Terhune Orchards, Princeton, NJ
Pick-your-own apples, visit barnyard animals, enjoy pony rides, a corn maze, pumpkin picking and painting, and barnyard sports. Live music completes the festive experience.

Grape Stomping Festival – New Egypt

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 13, 12–9 p.m.
Location: Laurita Winery, 85 Archertown Rd., New Egypt, NJ
Step into the wine-making tradition with grape stomping. Enjoy live music, food trucks, and wine tastings. Kids can roll up their sleeves and help sort grape clusters or take themed photos, while adults sip local wines. Admission is $14 in advance, $15 at the gate, free for under 21.

Fall Harvest Days – Hillsborough

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 13–Thursday, Oct. 31
Location: Norz Hill Farm, Hillsborough, NJ
Enjoy farm tours, corn mazes, and kids’ activities while sampling seasonal treats at Café 120. Live entertainment and a pumpkin patch make it a perfect autumn outing for families.

Holland Ridge Fall Flower Festival – Cream Ridge

Dates: Sept. 12–Oct. 13
Location: Holland Ridge Farms, Cream Ridge, NJ
Admire millions of flowers from sunflowers, dahlias, mums, and many more. Highlights include photo opportunities, a windmill tour, the Bloom Bar, and hayrides.

Happy Day Farm Fall Festival – Manalapan

Dates: Select dates, Sept. 13–Nov. 2
Location: Happy Day Farm, Manalapan, NJ
Pick sunflowers and pumpkins, watch pig races, play in the corn cannons, or explore the petting zoo. Kids can ride ponies, launch pumpkins from the corn cannons, and wander through the sunflower fields, while parents enjoy cider donuts and fall photo ops.

Great Pumpkin Festival – Vernon

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 13–Sunday, Nov. 2
Location: Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon, NJ
From hayrides and corn mazes to farm animals, pig races, a dog show, and a straw pyramid, this festival has over 35 fall-themed attractions. Carnival rides, apple cannons, paintball, and gem mining round out the weekend fun.

Von Thun Farms’ Fall Festival – Washington Twp.

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 13–Sunday, Nov. 2
Location: Von Thun Farms, Washington Twp., NJ
Pick apples and pumpkins, ride hayrides, enjoy cider donuts and apple blasters, and navigate a Sesame Street-themed corn maze.

Etsch Farms Fall Festival & Corn Maze – Monroe Twp.

Dates: Weekends, Sept. 20–Oct. 26
Location: Etsch Farms, Monroe Twp., NJ
Navigate the 8-acre corn maze, take a hayride, meet farm animals, sample apple cider donuts, and pick a pumpkin for the season.

Maple Leaf Farms Fall Fun Fest – Manalapan

Dates: Weekends, Sept. 20–Nov. 1 (Plus Monday, Oct. 13)
Location: Maple Leaf Farms, Manalapan, NJ
Hayrides, corn mazes, pumpkin villages, train rides, and farm animal encounters keep kids and adults entertained. Live bull riding shows and pig races happen daily, alongside interactive outdoor games.

Bergen County Harvestfest – Over Peck Park, NJ

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Sept. 27–28
Location: Over Peck Park, NJ
Shop from over 75 exhibitors selling arts, crafts, and collectibles. Enjoy food trucks, a petting zoo, carnival rides, hands-on activities, live music, and family-friendly entertainment.

Tewksbury Harvest Festival – Tewksbury

Dates: Saturday, Sept. 27 (rain date Oct. 5)
Location: Christie Hoffman Farm Park, Tewksbury, NJ
Hayrides, 10 food trucks, live music, 40+ antique and craft vendors, a beer garden, pet adoptions, and kids’ activities make this festival a full day of autumn fun.

Smithville Oktoberfest – Galloway

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 4–5
Location: Historic Smithville Village Greene, Galloway, NJ
Celebrate fall with over 150 juried crafters, an international food court, live music, and kids’ activities. Explore the village’s carousel, train rides, paddle boats, and seven eateries. Admission is free with a complimentary shuttle.

Laurita Winery Fall Festival I & II – New Egypt

Dates: Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 5, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 12, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Location: Laurita Winery, New Egypt, NJ
Two weekends of fall fun feature local wines, food trucks like Tacoholics and NJ Ghostburger, live music, vendors, and family activities. Kids can enjoy face painting, a clown show, and playground fun. Admission is free for anyone under 21.

Snyder’s Farm Fall Festival – Somerset

Dates: Weekends, Oct. 5–26
Location: Snyders Farm, Somerset, NJ
Pick pumpkins and sunflowers, explore the corn maze, enjoy live music, food trucks, and kid-friendly activities.

Stafford Fall Harvest & Wine Festival – Manahawkin

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 11–12, 12–5 p.m.
Location: Heritage Park, Manahawkin, NJ
Sip New Jersey wines from Tomasello and Salem Oak, sample eats from Cubano Express and Station One Seafood, browse handmade goods, and enjoy live music. Family-friendly activities make it a perfect autumn outing.

Waggin’ Tails Fall Fest – Skillman

Dates: Friday, Oct. 11
Location: SAVE, A Friend to Homeless Animals, Skillman, NJ
Celebrate adoptable dogs in costume, enjoy a parade, bounce houses, scavenger hunts, live music, pumpkin decorating, food, and craft vendors.

Palmer Square Fall Fest – Princeton

Dates: Saturday, Oct. 12
Location: Palmer Square, Princeton, NJ
Enjoy live music, food, and autumn-themed festivities in a family-friendly outdoor atmosphere.

Dunellen HarvestFest – Dunellen

Dates: Sunday, Oct. 12
Location: Washington Park, Dunellen, NJ
Local artists, crafters, nonprofits, and live music come together for pumpkin decorating, apple pie contests, and family entertainment.

Heartstrings Fall Festival – Colts Neck

Dates: Friday, Oct. 18
Location: Colts Neck Firehouse, Colts Neck, NJ
Enjoy a petting zoo, face art, inflatables, live music, and shopping from local vendors at this fall festival. This event creates a perfect day for families.

Chatsworth Cranberry Festival – Chatsworth

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 18–19
Location: Downtown Chatsworth, NJ
Celebrate the Pine Barrens’ cranberry harvest with a juried craft show, live music, and seasonal food. On Sunday, car lovers can visit the PTO Car Show at the Woodland Township Municipal Building.

18th Century Field Day & Fall Harvest Festival – National Park

Dates: Saturday, Oct. 19
Location: Red Bank Battlefield Park, National Park, NJ
Watch colonial battle reenactments, meet farm animals, participate in kids’ games and crafts, enjoy live music, and sample local food vendors.

Fall Harvest Festival – Piscataway

Dates: Saturday–Sunday, Oct. 24–26 and Oct. 31–Nov. 2
Location: East Jersey Old Town Village, Piscataway, NJ
Pick pumpkins, ride in a wagon, enjoy children’s arts and crafts, and savor seasonal foods like pies and cider donuts at this historic village.

Argos Farm Fall Festival – Forked River

Dates: Select dates, Sept. 13–Nov. 2
Location: 1250 Lacey Road, Forked River, NJ
Enjoy farm attractions including a petting zoo, pony rides, corn maze, pumpkin picking, wagon rides, double hay slide, and obstacle courses. Pony rides run weekends and Columbus Day. Tickets are required.

Fall Family Festival – Holmdel

Dates: Saturday, Nov. 1
Location: 2139 NJ-35, Holmdel, NJ
Family fun with food, music, vendors, raffles supporting Monmouth SPCA, and a petting zoo. Activities are designed for all ages while benefiting a good cause.