With trick-or-treating up in the air this year, there’s one thing we know for sure: Halloween happenings and fall celebrations are still a go – with a bit of modification. Costumes will still be worn, candy will still be consumed by the pound and NJ will always find a way to provide spooky and spookless fun this time of year. So put on your best Halloween mask (that covers the nose and mouth!) and check out these 21 places for Halloween and fall fun in New Jersey.
NOT SO SCARY
Skylands Stadium Jack O’Lantern Experience, Augusta, NJ New to 2020, the stadium and surrounding corn fields are brightened by thousands of Jack O’Lanterns to bring Halloween to life. Ticket holders can also enjoy food, rides, a petting zoo and more before or after their pumpkin journey at the fall festival. Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place, Augusta, Open Thursdays-Sundays through November 1, 6:30-10 pm, $39 per car
Sesame Place Not-Too-Spooky Halloween Drive-Thru, Langhorne, PA Take a drive through Sesame Street for this new family-friendly event. Halloween tunes, millions of lights and of course, your child’s fave friendly monster monsters in their own costumes will greet you. All kids will leave with a bag of treats to help you last the car ride home. Grab bags with souvenirs, drinks and cotton candy are also available for purchase. Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA, open Tuesdays and Wednesdays through October 28th, $35 per car, $30 grab bag
Great Jack O Lantern Blaze The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze is guaranteed to sell out, so grab your tickets soon. Walk along Pumpkin Promenade on Van Cortlandt Manor and the surrounding historic 18th century landscape and marvel at the Jack O’Lantern Statue of Liberty, dinosaurs, the Pumpkin Zee Bridge and the all new medieval castle and signs of the zodiac. Then watch a star show in the Pumpkin Planetarium before heading home with visions of pumpkins dancing in your head. New this year: a second location in Old Bethpage Village Restoration, Long Island, for an extra chance to snag your tix. 525 S. Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson and 1303 Round Swamp Rd., Old Bethpage, Open through Saturday November 21 at Van Cortlandt Manor, through Sunday November 1 in Long Island. Online tickets start at $44 for adults/$36 for kids.
Westfield Garden State Plaza Fall Pumpkin Display Experience, Paramus, NJ Bring the kids to GSP for a festive pumpkin display with your fave superheroes, princesses and spooky characters carved into pumpkins. And don’t forget your camera! Snap a cute insta-worthy shot in costume or Autumn-themed attire at the display, then follow and tag @GSPlaza for a chance to win a $100 Westfield gift card. Plus, Westfield Rewards members will receive a complimentary Halloween treat and mini Lego set. Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza
Fall Events at Abma’s Farm, Abma’s Farm is the place to be for kid-friendly fall and Halloween fun. Hop on a hayride for pumpkin picking at the pumpkin patch daily, which also includes access to their petting zoo. Scarecrow Making is also available weekly, where kids get the material to design their own scarecrow to take home. Or, decorate your own pumpkin in this weekly event, where kids are provided with a pumpkin, stickers, markers and more. 700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff, Hayrides daily through Saturday October 31, weekdays 1-5 pm, Saturdays 9 am-4 pm, Scarecrows every Tuesday through October 20, Pumpkin decorating every Wednesday through October 28.
The Great Pumpkin Train, Phillipsburg, NJ Hop aboard a vintage steam engine train and take the 90 minute, round trip ride to the pumpkin patch. Along the way, try out the corn maze or explore the Susquehanna Mine (additional charges apply). Everyone gets to pick a pumpkin on this scenic trip. Delaware River Railroad Excursions, 100 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg, weekends through Sunday November 1. Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children.
Ort Farms Fall Festival, Long Valley, NJ Whether you visit during the week or on a weekend, this super spacious farms has plenty of fun for the family, while maintaining proper social distance. Activities include visits with the animals, pony-train-hay-monster truck rides, a corn maze and plenty more. Be sure to make a reservation to visit their pumpkin patch this year, and grab a freshly-baked dessert on your way out. Ort Farms, 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley, open daily 9 am-7 pm, weekend admission $4 with additional fees per activity.
Pumpkin Trains, Black River & Western Railroad, 2.5 Hours, $15-$21, Climb aboard for a scenic train ride to Everitt Farms at Pumpkin Junction. While at the farm, you’ll find a corn maze, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, pumpkin bowling and much more fun. Black River & Western Railroad, departs Flemington Station, 80 Stangl Rd., Flemington, open weekends through Sunday October 25, Tickets are $15 for kids, $21 for adults
Fall Harvest at Happy Day Farm, Manalapan, NJ For Halloween fun at the farm, check out the myriad activities happening now at Happy Day Farm. Kids will be entertained all day exploring the corn maze, watching pig races, and check out Pumpkinville, with decorating available for an additional fee. 106 Iron Ore Rd., open daily 10 am-5 pm, $14
Zoo Boo, Bergen County Zoo, Van Saun Park, Paramus, NJ At Zoo Boo, hop on the Erie Express train ride for a friendly ride. Then have fun trick-or-treating in the zoo and enjoy more activities and watch a magic show during this two-day event. 216 Forest Ave, Paramus. Saturday October 24th, 10 am-5 pm, Saturday October 31st, 10 am-5 pm. Tickets go on sale on October 5th. $6/per person, $5 per person for train. 2 and under are free.
The Great Pumpkin Path If you ever thought about seeing a 2,000 pound pumpkin in person, NYBG has a BIG surprise. Pumpkins, gourds and scarecrows line the Great Pumpkin Path, with the biggest pumpkins in the world arriving at the end of October. New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, Open through Sunday November 1, giant pumpkins arrive October 24-November 1
Boo at the Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY You’ve come to love Boo at the Zoo for the magic shows, interactive presentations with zoo keepers and animals, pumpkin trail, extinct animal graveyard, candy trail and costume parade. 2300 Southern Boulevard, Bronx. Weekends October 1 – November 1 plus Monday, October 14th. Zoo admission starts at $39.95 for adults/$29.95 for children 3-12. Kids 2 and under are free.
Stew Leonard’s Halloween Happenings, Paramus, NJ Take a ride through a spook-free Halloween trail filled with characters and animatronics in dressed in festive Halloween gear. Tune your car’s radio to WSTU-FM for a spooky Halloween soundtrack. On Monday October 26-Saturday October 31 kids get a free ice cream cone and small treat bag at checkout! Paramus Park Mall, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus, now through Saturday October 31, 11 am-9 pm
Laurie Berkner Virtual Halloween Virtual fun is just behind the screen with little-kid-fave-musician Laurie Berkner’s Halloween Party Family Concerts. Throw on your costume and get ready for a party with dancing, interactive games and plenty of surprises. Plus, if the kids are asking for more (which they always seem to do), the good news is one ticket buys access to both performances for hours of entertainment. Laurie Berkner website, Saturday October 31, 12 pm and 5 pm.
Fall Harvest at Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon Township, NJ This super popular event looks a bit different this year, but is still bringing plenty of family fun to your fall. Activities include hayrides, chicken little show, obstacle courses, skee-ball and more, plus pumpkins, gem mining and carnival rides are available for an additional fee. Be sure not to leave without biting into a fresh apple cider donut. 451 NJ-94, Vernon Township, open Wednesdays through Sundays, $12.99-$15.99.
Brite Nites, Wagner Farm Arboretum Wednesday October 14-Saturday October 31, More than 1,000 pumpkins are aglow at this drive-thru display of hand carved, lighted pumpkins. New themes and special effects for 2020, including a tribute to first responders and essential workers. 197 Mountain Ave., Warren, entry times 6:30-9:45, $25 per vehicle
Home of the “Legend” Join master storyteller Jonathan Kruk as he offers a 45-minute dramatic performance of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Organ music enhances this tale of Ichabod Crane, the Headless Horseman and all the other characters in this unforgettable tale. 381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow. Fridays-Sundays through November 8. Tickets are $28 for adults/ $22 for children under 18.
Six Flags Hallowfest Grab your boos and ghouls for family-friendly scares at this theme park. Younger kids will enjoy the daytime thrills including Magic on the Move, Hay Bale Maze and Trick-or-Treat Trail, while older kids can get more spooks with nighttime ClownTown, and the Emergence. Attractions are scattered through the park for a wicked good time. Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd. Jackson Township, thrills by day 2-6 pm, chills by nights 6 pm to closing, tickets start at $29.99
SCARY
Brighton Asylum, Brighton Industrial Complex, Passaic, NJ Legend has it that hundreds of inmates lost their minds amidst the harsh living conditions and grotesque medical experiments conducted at the Brighton Asylumin the 1940s. Now you can visit and see the place where insane patients still roam the halls and descend in an old elevator to The Tunnel where more horrors await. This attraction is not for the faint of heart 2 Brighton Avenue, Passaic. Open through November 1st. Tickets start at $25.
Pure Terror Scream Park, Monroe, NY Pure Terror Scream Park is really ten terrifying experiences in one. Enter the Terror in the Woods and hope you make it out alive. Walk through the clown’s mouth and into Twisted Terror Under the Big Top with new 3D scares for 2020, then take yourself to church, like no church you've ever seen before in Desecration. Match wits with witches in Coven then run from horrifying killers in Legends of Horror. 299 Museum Village Road, Monroe, NY. Open Fridays-Sundays, through November 1st. Tickets start at $49.75.
Scare Farm, Hillsborough Three attractions for the price of one on this “terrorized” piece of land. Explore the fields of Creepy Hollow where creepy scarecrows and more spooks await, take a haunted hayride, aka The Slayride, and check out Paranoia where “Everyone really is out to get you.” 120 South Branch Rd., Hillsborough, Fridays-Sundays, October 2-October 31, 6:30-10 pm (closes 9 pm Sundays).
The 13th Hour Haunted House Step inside a haunted house, throw glow-in-the-dark hatchets or solve clues in the private escape room at these three spooky attractions. Each is filled with special effects, live actors movie-quality sets for a riveting and fully immersive experience. 105 W Dewey Ave., Wharton Fridays-Sundays, October 2-November 1, doors open at 7 pm, $29-$59 depending on attractions purchased.
Headless Horseman, Ulster Park This year, the haunted hayride get social distance-friendly with a new drive-thru experience. Tune into the drive-thru soundtrack as you explore the Horseman’s Trail. The corn maze and haunted houses are open for you to walk through – if you dare. Plus, little ones can get a taste of the thrills on Children’s Day, October 10th and 25th from 11:30 am-3 pm. 778 Broadway, Route 9W, Ulster Park, NY , open Fridays-Sundays at 7 pm, tickets start at $39.95
