We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
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What: The Food Film Festival
Why: Food films, off-the-charts food and drinks, and an exclusive viewing of Anthony Bordain's Parts Unknown
When: Wednesday, October 24th- 28th, SAVE with code MAMA10 for 10%
Where: AMC Empire 25 in Times Square, NYC
Events Not To Miss:
What: The Price is Right Live!
Why: Come on down for your chance at cash and prizes.
When: Friday October 19, 8 pm, $29-$99
Where: Bergen PAC, 30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood
What: Fall Festival Open House
Why: Tour the camp and let the kids enjoy pumpkin painting, a bounce house, costume contest and more fun.
When: Saturday October 20, 10 am-2 pm, Rain Date October 21
Where: Palisades Country Day Camp, 248 Herbert Ave., Closter
Why: Make your own jack o’lantern, enjoy a campfire and dig into some s’mores.
When: Saturday October 20, 1:30-2:30 pm and 3-4 pm, member/$15, non-member/$20
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
What: Fifth Annual City Place 3K Spooky Stroll
Why: Come in costume for face painting, prizes and more family fun.
When: Saturday October 20, 9 am-12 pm, kids/$2, adults/$3
Where: City Place, 225 River Road, Edgewater
Why: Magician Steve Woyce brings the lols and spooky magic with this Halloween show.
When: Saturday October 20, 2-3 pm
Where: Emerson Library, 20 Palisade Ave., Emerson
What: Tomie dePaola
Why: Meet the author of beloved children’s classics Strega Nona and The Art Lesson.
When: Saturday October 20, 12 pm
Where: Books and Greetings, 271G Livingston Street, Northvale
Why: Grades 5-7 spend the night playing dodge ball, laser tag, soccer and Gaga.
When: Saturday October 20, 7-9 pm, tween/$25, register in advance
Where: Superdome Sports, 134 Hopper Ave., Waldwick
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: Oktoberfest in Westwood
Why: Fun for everyone from inflatables and costume characters to biergarten and live music.
When: Saturday October 20, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Westwood Ave. from Broadway to Kinderkamack, Westwood
Why: Fun for everyone from inflatables and costume characters to biergarten and live music.
When: Saturday October 20, 10 am-4 pm
Where: Westwood Ave. from Broadway to Kinderkamack, Westwood
Why: Come in costume and march the streets of RV to a Halloween party and trunk or treat.
When: Saturday October 20, 9-11 am
Where: Rivervale Road and Westwood Ave., River Vale
Why: Fireworks, food trucks, inflatables and music at this popular German celebration.
When: Saturday October 20, 5-9 pm
Where: Marc Rinzler Memorial Field, Wiermus Road & Woodcliff Ave., Woodcliff Lake
Why: Delish homemade food, live music, plust tons of entertainment for the kids.
When: Saturday October 20, 12-8 pm, Sunday October 21, 12-6 pm
Where: Saint Thomas Armenian Church, 174 Essex Drive, Tenafly
Why: Plenty of shopping opps plus rides, food and music.
When: Sunday October 21, 11 am-5 pm
Where: Downtown Fair Lawn
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: Experts disucss emerging life-saving technologies through AI, robotics and wearable technology, for medical professionals.
When: Wednesday October 24, 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 pm presentation
Where: Englewood Health Main Campus, Chiang Auditorium and Ferolie Gallery, 350 Engle St., Englewood
What: Roger Daltrey
Why: The founding member of The Who signs his new book Roger Daltrey: My Story.
When: Thursday October 25, 7 pm
Where: Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
What: Murder at the Masquerade: A Murder Mystery Night
Why: Solve a murder while you dine.
When: Thursday October 25, 6:30 pm buffet, 7 pm show, $65
Where: Gerry’s Place, 595 Broadway, Norwood
Why: Solve a murder while you dine.
When: Thursday October 25, 6:30 pm buffet, 7 pm show, $65
Where: Gerry’s Place, 595 Broadway, Norwood
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
What: Ridgewood Halloween Maze
Why: Explore this backyard maze set up by a Ridgewood fam, but beware of spooky surprises along the way.
When: Open through Wednesday October 31, weekends 12-9 pm, weekdays 4-9 pm
Where: 124 Sheridan Terrace, Ridgewood
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: 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: 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: Aquatic Experience
Why: Dive under the sea to visit with a shark, enjoy the touch tank, and have fun with fish activities.
When: Friday October 19, 11 am-6 pm, Saturday October 20, 10 am-6 pm, Sunday October 21, 10 am-4 pm, $15
Where: Meadowlands Exposition Center, 355 Plaza Dr., Secaucus
What: Halloween Extravaganza at the Torne Valley
Why: Trunk-or-treat plus a haunted maze, pumpkin patch and bounce house.
When: Friday October 19, 5:30-8:30 pm
Where: JTS Center at Torne Valley, 115 Torne Valley Rd., Hillburn
Why: Trunk-or-treat plus a haunted maze, pumpkin patch and bounce house.
When: Friday October 19, 5:30-8:30 pm
Where: JTS Center at Torne Valley, 115 Torne Valley Rd., Hillburn
What: Weekend of Fear
Why: Get in the Halloween spirit with a spooky steam train ride, zombie cowboys, celeb guests and more spooky fun.
When: Friday October 19-Sunday October 21, 10:30 am-6 pm, ages 2-11/$16, adults/$18
Where: Wild West City, 50 Lackawanna Dr., Stanhope
Why: Escape to an alternate world of illusion, magic, theater and cabaret.
When: Thursday October 18-Sunday October 21, showtimes throughout the day, $10-$50
Where: The Mills at Jersey Gardens, 651 Kapkowski Rd., Elizabeth
What: Harvest Festival
Why: Get outside while you still can – pumpkin picking, arts & crafts, and more family-friendly activities.
When: Saturday October 20, 11 am-2 pm
Where: Eastside Park, 850 Broadway, Paterson
What: Doom Zoo
Why: Enter the haunted laboratory at your own risk.
When: Saturday October 20-Sunday October 21, Saturday October 27-Sunday October 28, 9 am-5:30 pm, recommended for ages 13 and older.
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
What: Harvest Festival 2018
Why: Fall is in the air, bringing hay rides, animals, pumpkin painting, dance demos and tons more.
When: Saturday October 20, 11 am-3 pm
Where: Pier A Park, 100 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken
What: Celebrate Fall 2018
Why: Games, crafts and a spooky trail will get you in the fall spirit.
When: Sunday October 21, 11 am-4 pm, $10 or $25 for family
Where: Reeves-Reed Arboretum, 165 Hobart Ave., Summit
What: Heritage of West Nyack 6th Annual Fall Festival
Why: Go back to the times of the Revolutionary War and enjoy a magic show, hayride, sheep shearing demos and more.
When: Sunday October 21, 12-4 pm
Where: Historic Traphagen, 131 Germonds Road, West Nyack
Why: Go back to the times of the Revolutionary War and enjoy a magic show, hayride, sheep shearing demos and more.
When: Sunday October 21, 12-4 pm
Where: Historic Traphagen, 131 Germonds Road, West Nyack
Why: Watch student performances, meet the faculty and learn about the school.
When: Sunday October 21, 1-3 pm
Where: 201 Valley Road, Montclair
What: Munchkin Monday Spookfest
Why: The littles will love the frightfully fun games and music -- and don’t forget the costumes.
When: Monday October 22, 11 am-12 pm
Where: Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Drive, West Nyack
Why: The littles will love the frightfully fun games and music -- and don’t forget the costumes.
When: Monday October 22, 11 am-12 pm
Where: Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Drive, West Nyack
Why: Chefs team up to cook a Kenyan-inspired feast, hosted by Kiwimbi International.
When: Saturday November 3, 7 pm, under 30/$75, individual/$125
Where: Morris Museum, 6 Normandy Heights Rd., Morristown
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: 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, free with admission
Where: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
What: Oktoberfest 2018
Why: All-day live music, food trucks and party wagons.
When: Through Sunday October 28, 12-6 pm
Where: Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, Palisades Interstate Parkway, Bear Mountain
Why: All-day live music, food trucks and party wagons.
When: Through Sunday October 28, 12-6 pm
Where: Anthony Wayne Recreation Area, Palisades Interstate Parkway, Bear Mountain
Upcoming:
What: Fall Harvest Event
Why: Spend the day at the shops trick-or-treating and enjoy a bounce house, balloon artist and costume contest.
When: Saturday October 27, 10 am-2 pm
Where: Tice’s Corner Marketplace, 441 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Woodcliff Lake
Why: Come in costume to walk the haunted house, play carnival games and make crafts.
When: Saturday October 27, 11 am-12:30 pm
Where: Bogota Public Library, 375 Larch Ave., Bogota
Why: Have a wicked good time dancing in costume, and enjoying spooktacular games and music.
When: Saturday October 27, ages 3-7: 12-2 pm, ages 8-11: 2:30-5 pm, ages 12 and up: 6-9 pm, $15 in advance, $18 at door
Where: Progressive Dance Studio, 27 South Van Brunt Street, Englewood
