We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
Sponsored Post: If you’re like a lot of parents these days, your kids have a more robust social life than you do. So, could you please check their calendar to see if they’re free on Sunday, October 14th? If they are, they’re probably going to want to pencil in the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Fall Family Festival. Come early and enjoy interactive, fun activities including a petting zoo, pony rides, bounce houses, pumpkin decorating, art activities and more. And when they need to refuel, local food trucks Shakshooka and JJ’s Holy Cow will be onsite offering their incredible food for purchase. The best part? Your kid won’t have to raid their piggy bank to attend. This event is free and open to the community. For more information, visit the Parenting Special Programs website. (Fall Family Festival, Sunday, October 14th,11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Avenue, Tenafly, 201.569.7900)
Book Now:
Why: Fill your pumpkins with candy while you shop, then put on a lab coat for spooky science experiments at the Mad Science show.
When: Wednesday October 31, 4-6 pm, 5-6 pm Mad Science Spooktacular, $10 VIP package
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus
Events Not To Miss:
What: Dinosaurs After Dark
Why: Search for dino surprises after dark, then gather around the campfire for songs and s’mores.
When: Fridays and Saturdays through October 27, 7-9:30 pm, $24
Where: Field Station Dinosaurs, 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia
Why: Hop on a hayride to pick a perfect pumpkin and enjoy cider and donuts.
When: Saturdays through October 27, 10:30 am-4 pm, $5
Where: Abmas Farm, 700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff
Why: Feed the animals, run through the corn maze or explore the haunted greenhouse.
When: Open weekends through Sunday October 28, 10 am-5 pm, $15 wristbands plus add-ons available
Where: Lupardi’s Nursery, 75 Blanch Ave., Closter
What: Appletree Preschool Fall Carnival
Why: Celebrate the school’s new opening with games, a magic show, clowns and plenty more fun.
When: Saturday October 13, 11 am-3 pm, rain or shine
Where: 24 Booker St., Westwood
Why: Visit the slime table, take in a magic show or ride the train.
When: Saturday October 13, 12-4 pm, $15 wristbands or $25 for 25 tickets
Where: 700 Floyd Street, Englewood Cliffs
What: Dandiya Dhamaka 2018
Why: Celebrate the Hindu Navratri festival with Bollywood music and authentic Indian food.
When: Saturday October 13, 6-11 pm, $20
Where: American Legion, 1165 River Road, Edgewater
Why: German music and food, plus bouncing for the kids.
When: Saturday October 13, 10 am-5 pm
Where: Demarest Nature Center, 324 County Rd., Demarest
What: Haworth Day
Why: Support the community and have fun with rides, games and music.
When: Saturday October 13, 12-4 pm
Where: Terrace St., Haworth
What: Pumpkin Painting Weekend
Why: Get your house Halloween-ready painting your own pumpkin, plus a pony ride for kids.
When: Saturday October 13-Sunday October 14, 10 am-4 pm, $8.99
Where: Forcellati Brothers In., Nursery & Garden Center, 691 Rivervale Road, River Vale
What: Open Cockpit Weekends
Why: Hop into the pilot seat of a number of aircraft.
When: Saturday October 13-Sunday October 14, 10 am-4 pm, kids/$9, adults/$12
Where: The Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey, 400 Fred Wehran Drive, Teterboro
What: Harvest Festival
Why: Go back in time for civil war reenactments, kids activities and 19th century recipes.
When: Sunday October 14, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Garretson Forge & Farm, 4-02 River Rd., Fair Lawn
What: Richard’s Run HHK 5K
Why: Lace up your shoes to benefit the Go4Goal Foundation, and enjoy a post-race party.
When: Sunday October 14, 8:30 am, kids/$15, adults/$25, registration ends October 12
Where: Borough Hall, 333 Warren Ave., Ho-Ho-Kus
What: River Vale Day
Why: Bring the fam for rides, animals, pumpkins and a bake off.
When: Sunday October 14, 11 am-3 pm
Where: Mark Lane Sports Complex, River Vale
What: Fall Family Festival
Why: Celebrate the season with pumpkin decorating, pony rides and food trucks.
When: Sunday October 14, 11 am-2 pm
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly
Why: Build a Lego robot, create a science project, do improv in the theater center or enjoy a music class.
When: Sunday October 14, 2-4 pm
Where: Ridgewood YMCA, 112 Oak St., Ridgewood
What: Apple Cider Making
Why: Press your own apple cider in this cider making 101.
When: Sundays through October 28, 12:30-1:30 pm, 2-3 pm, 3:30-4:30 pm, member/$5, non-member/$10
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Avenue, Tenafly
Why: The finalists on the hit show shake up the stage with their hottest moves.
When: Monday October 15, 7:30 pm, $39-$129
Where: Bergen PAC, 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood
What: Candace Cameron Bure
Why: The actress signs her new children’s book, Candace Center Stage.
When: Tuesday October 16, 6 pm
Where: Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
Why: Tour the school, sample classes and meet the staff.
When: Lower School: Wednesday October 17, Wednesdays from November 7-December 5, 9-11 am
Where: Dwight-Englewood School, 315 E Palisade Ave., Englewood
Why: Check out the collection and shop the latest styles.
When: Thursday October 18, 10:30 am-2 pm
Where: Marcia's Attic, 32 North Dean St., Englewood
Why: Get Halloween-ready with pumpkin picking and enjoy fall treats at the market.
When: Weekdays 3-5 pm, Weekends 10 am-4 pm through October 31, $4 hayride
Where: Secor Farms, 85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah
What: Pick Your Own Pumpkins
Why: Get in the fall spirit with hay rides, a corn box and adventure playground.
When: Open through Monday November 5, Weekends 9 am-4:30 pm, Weekdays 3-4:30 pm, $7
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
What: Pick Your Own Apples
Why: Take a hay wagon to the orchard and enjoy a petting zoo, crooked house village and more fall fun.
When: Open through Monday October 22, 9 am-4:30 pm, $7
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
Why: Have a roaring good time with the dinos.
When: Open through Sunday November 11, 10 am-5 pm, $16.75
Where: Field Station Dinosaurs, 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia
If you’re heading out of Bergen:
What: 2018 Oktoberfest New York
Why: Authentic German beer, food and games hit the streets of NY.
When: Thursday October 11- Sunday October 14, 12 pm-12 am
Where: 78 South Street, NYC
Why: Authentic German beer, food and games hit the streets of NY.
When: Thursday October 11- Sunday October 14, 12 pm-12 am
Where: 78 South Street, NYC
What: Fall Fair 2018
Why: Dig into a caramel apple, carve a pumpkin or zipline.
When: Saturday October 13, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Green Meadow Waldorf School, 307 Hungry Hollow Rd., Chestnut Ridge
Why: Enjoy Halloween songs and meet the Headless Horseman.
When: Saturday October 13, 3-6 pm
Where: Lambert Castle, 3 Valley Road, Paterson
Why: Journey inside the black hole at the center of the Milky Way, without leaving NJ.
When: Open through Saturday October 13, 9 am-5:30 pm
Where: Liberty Science Center, Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Why: Enjoy all that fall has to offer with pumpkin carving, apple press demos and a fall photo station.
When: Saturday October 13-Sunday October 14, 11 am-5 pm
Where: Downtown Chester
What: Harvest Fest
Why: Make your own apple sauce, enjoy pumpkin painting, games and tons more fall fun.
When: Saturday October 13-Sunday October 14, 10 am-5 pm
Where: New Jersey Botanical Garden, 2 Morris Road, Ringwood
Why: Because it’s never too early to shop for the holidays.
When: Sunday October 14, 10 am-5 pm, $3
Where: 551 Valley Road, Wayne
What: Harvest Festival
Why: This FREE fall celebration bring live music, pumpkin decorating, kite flying and animals.
When: Sunday October 14, 12-4 pm
Where: Randall’s Island Park, Fields 62 & 63, NYC
Why: This FREE fall celebration bring live music, pumpkin decorating, kite flying and animals.
When: Sunday October 14, 12-4 pm
Where: Randall’s Island Park, Fields 62 & 63, NYC
What: Harvest Moon Hayride
Why: Cider and s’mores by the campfire and a wagon ride to the corn maze by flashlight.
When: Fridays and Saturdays through October 27, 6-10 pm, $15.99
Where: Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
What: The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Why: Thousands of hand-carved jack o’lanterns on display, plus plenty of pumpkin-themed activities.
When: Through Wednesday October 31, Thursday November 1-4, 7-11, 15-17, 23-24, kids/$16 (Friday-Saturday, $20) adults/$22 (Friday-Saturday $27), check schedule to reserve time
Where: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson
Why: The Doc is in! Kids step into the doctor’s role as they perform check-ups and groom toy pets.
When: Opens through Sunday January 27, free with admission
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
What: The Count’s Halloween Spooktacular
Why: Not-too-spooky Halloween shows, a festive parade and dance parties to get into the Halloween spirit.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 28, Fridays 4-8 pm, Saturdays 10 am-8 pm, Sundays 10 am-6 pm, $70, online/$49
Where: Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA
Why: Not-too-spooky Halloween shows, a festive parade and dance parties to get into the Halloween spirit.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 28, Fridays 4-8 pm, Saturdays 10 am-8 pm, Sundays 10 am-6 pm, $70, online/$49
Where: Sesame Place, 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA
What: Boo at the Zoo
Why: Get spooked with a haunted pirate hayride, animal graveyard and animal treats.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 28, kids/$26.95, adults/$36.95
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
What: Pumpkin Trains
Why: Hop on a train to pick pumpkins, and enjoy a wagon ride, corn maze and more farm activities.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 28, 10 am, 12:30 pm, 3 pm, ages 3-11/$14, ages 12 and up/$19
Where: Black River & Western Railroad, Flemington Station, 80 Stangl Road, Flemington
What: Fall Harvest Weekends
Why: Apple and pumpkin picking, corn maze and pony rides on the farm.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 28, Activities available from 12-4 pm, price per activity, apples and pumpkins per pound
Where: Donaldson Farms, 358 Allen Road, Hackettstown
What: The Great Pumpkin Train
Why: All aboard for a scenic ride to the pumpkin patch.
When: Through Sunday October 28, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, 3:30 pm, kids/$12, adults/$18
Where: Delaware River Railroad Excursions, 99 Elizabeth Street, Phillipsburg
What: Spooky Pumpkin Garden
Why: Explore hundreds of scarecrows and pumpkins, watch pumpkin carving demos and visit with slithering creatures.
When: Open through Wednesday October 31, 10 am-6 pm, kids/$12, adults/$28
Where: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
Why: Swifties: Step inside the life of the hugely popular singer, who hand-picked personal photos, videos and lyrics for display.
When: Open daily through October 19, 11 am-6 pm, kids/$7, adults/$10
Where: GRAMMY Museum Experience, Prudential Center, 165 Mulberry Street, Newark
Why: This huge fall festival brings hayrides, pony rides, races and carnival rides.
When: Through Sunday November 4, 10 am-6 pm, $12
Where: Heaven Hill Farm, 451 State Route 94, Vernon
What: Corn Maze & Fun Park
Why: Huges mazes, hayrides and gemstone mining make the perfect fall day.
When: Open through Sunday November 11, 10 am-5 pm, $6.99-$16.99
Where: Stony Hill Farms, 15 North Road, Chester
Why: Explore the giant corn maze, take a wagon ride to the orchard and get down to live music.
When: Open through November 11, 9 am-5 pm, $12.99
Where: Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
What: Candytopia
Why: Visit this sweeeeeet wonderland of tasty delights, brought to life through art installations.
When: Opens through Thursday November 15, 10 am-8:30 pm, kids/$26, adults/$34
Where: Candytopia @ Penn Plaza, 145 W 32nd Street, NYC
What: The Spider Maze
Why: Get lost in the webby maze filled with puzzles and spider facts.
When: Open through Wednesday October 31, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Upcoming:
Why: Make your own jack o’lantern, enjoy a campfire and bite into some s’mores.
When: Saturday October 20, 1:30-2:30 pm and 3-4 pm
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
Why: Rides and crafts, plus plenty of shopping for the whole fam.
When: Saturday October 20-Sunday October 21, 11 am-5 pm
Where: Downtown Tenafly
What: Great Fall Festival
Why: Bringing the season’s best with BBQ, bluegrass, pumpkin painting and more fall activities.
When: Sunday October 21, 1-4 pm, ages 6-17/$10, adults/$15
Where: Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, 443 Van Nostrand Ave., Englewood
Why: Chefs team up to cook a Kenyan-inspired feast, hosted by Kiwimbi International.
When: Saturday November 3, 7 pm
Where: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown
