We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
Sponsored Post: Pack up the family and head to the St. John’s Academy Fall Fest on Sunday, October 6th from 1pm – 5pm. You and the kids will have a blast with food from local vendors like Hold My Knots, Meatheads BBQ and Sprinklez, a video game trailer, carnival games, a pumpkin patch, arts & crafts, train rides and live music from local artist and SJA graduate Allie Sandt. Buy tickets online and save 15% off the day of event pricing. For more information, contact PTG@sja-hillsdale.org. St. John’s Academy, 460 Hillsdale Ave., HillsdaleBook Now:
What: Zoo Boo 2019
Why: Snag these tickets for zoo trick-or-treating, mad science, a spooky train ride and more before poof – they’re gone.
When: Friday October 25, 6-9 pm-Saturday October 26, 10 am-2 pm, 6-9 pm, $6, Tickets on sale Monday October 1, 9 am at the zoo
Where: Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus
Events Not To Miss:
Why: Stylist and personal shopper Mary O’Reilly lets you shop some of her favorite pieces.
When: Open Thursdays-Saturdays in October starting October 3, 10 am-6 pm by special appointment
Where: GLOW by Mary Shop My Closet Pop-Up, 1 Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
Why: Learn about programs for your littlest ones, plus giveaways
When: Saturday October 5, 10 am-2 pm
Where: Van Neste Square, Ridgewood
What: Pirate School
Why: Bring your buccaneers for a fun, interactive variety show.
When: Saturday October 5, 10-10:30 am, 11-11:30 am, 12-12:30 pm, 1-1:30 pm
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus
What: Annual Fall Festival
Why: Crafts, pumpkin painting and farm-fresh fall foods.
When: Saturday October 5, 11 am-2 pm
Where: Fresh and Fancy Farms, 575 River Rd., New Milford
What: Haworth Day
Why: A community day with rides, music and crafts.
When: Saturday October 5, 12-4 pm,
Where: Terrace St., Haworth
What: Open Cockpit Weekend
Why: Hop into the pilot seat and pretend to take off.
When: Saturday October 5-Sunday October 6, 10 am-4 pm, kids/$9, adults/$12
Where: Aviation Hall of Fame, 400 Fred Wehran Rd., Teterboro
Why: Think bouncy rides, pony rides, animals and wellness booths.
When: Saturday October 5, 11 am-4 pm
Where: Memorial Field at Pascack Rd., Township of Washington
What: Children’s Book Festival
Why: Meet your kids’ fave authors and illustrators and enjoy a day of stories.
When: Saturday October 5, 11 am-3 pm
Where: 1 Harding Plaza, Glen Rock
Why: A high-energy, magical, poppin show that takes bubbles to the next level.
When: Sunday October 6, 1 pm, $15-$25
Where: BergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt St., Englewood
What: ARTboretum
Why: An afternoon of art in the park, with interactive art stations and a nature art scavenger hunt.
When: Sunday October 6, 2-4 pm, $15
Where: Glen Rock Arboretum, 460 Doremus Ave., Glen Rock
What: Taste of Leonia
Why: Bring your appetite for food and wine tastings from local restaurants.
When: Sunday October 6, 1-3 pm, $20
Where: Select businesses, Leonia
What: Apple Cider Making
Why: Get ready for fall by making crisp cider.
When: Sunday October 6, 2-2:45 pm, 3:30-4:15 pm, individual/$10, family/$30
Where: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly
What: Hawks Over the Hudson
Why: Get an up-close look at birds of prey.
When: Sunday October 6, 1-2 pm
Where: Alpine Lookout, Palisades Interstate Parkway, Alpine
What: Saddle Brook Street Fair
Why: Keep them happy at the kidz zone while you enjoy live entertainment and shopping.
When: Sunday October 6, 10 am-5 pm
Where: 215 Market St., Saddle Brook
Why: A full day of fall fun with bouncing, pony rides, a petting zoo, food and tons more.
When: Sunday October 6, 11 am-2 pm
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly
Why: Get in your fill of fall fun with train rides, a pumpkin patch, games, crafts and lots more.
When: Sunday October 6, 1-5 pm
Where: St. John’s Academy, 460 Hillsdale Ave., Hillsdale
What: Ridgewood Halloween Maze
Why: Take a stroll through this intricate (and wildly popular) maze set up by a local family in their backyard. At night, this maze is haunted, so daytime is best if you have little ones!
When: Starts Monday October 7-Thursday October 31, weekdays 4-9 pm, weekends 12-9 pm
Where: 124 Sheridan Terrace, Ridgewood
What: Pumpkin Painting Party
Why: Kids pick out and decorate a pumpkin to take home.
When: Tuesday October 8, Saturday October 12, 6-7 pm
Where: Stew Leonard’s Paramus Park, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus
Why: Bring your littlests ones for these FREE fun serivces that include the blowing of the shofar, songs and stories.
When: Wednesday October 9, 2 pm
Where: Temple Beth Rishon, 585 Russell Ave., Wyckoff
Why: Take a hayride to the pumpkin patch for picking and Spookley the Square Pumpkin movie.
When: Fridays through October 11, 5:30-8 pm, $16
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
Why: Take a haunted journey with ghosts and ghouls in the orchard.
When: Thursdays-Saturdays through November 2, check schedule for times, $25-$30
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
Why: Entertain the whole fam with eye-popping stunts and crazy clowns.
When: Now through Monday October 7, check schedule for daily times
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus
Why: Pick a perfect pumpkin and finish with apple cider and fresh donuts.
When: Now through October 26, 9 am-4 pm, $5
Where: Abma’s Farm, 700 Lawlins Rd., Wyckoff
What: Dinosaurs After Dark
Why: Tour the park in the dark and hunt for a T-Rex in the shadows, the enjoy s’mores and a sing-along.
When: Now through Saturday October 26, 7-9:30 pm, $24
Where: Field Station: Dinosaurs, 40 Fort Lee Rd., Leonia
Why: Enjoy a fall day on the farm with a corn maze adventure, pumpkins and more.
When: Now through Sunday October 27, 10 am-5 pm
Where: Lupardi’s Nursery, 75 Blanch Ave., Closter
What: Fall Farm Fun
Why: Hayrides, pumpkin picking, donut, wine and more!
When: Now through Thursday October 31, weekdays 3:30 pm, weekends 10 am, 1 pm, 3 pm
Where: Stokes Farm, 23 DeWolf Rd., Old Tappan
What: Pick Your Own Pumpkins
Why: Find the perfect pumpkin and take a hay ride and enjoy a corn box and more Halloween fun.
When: Now through Sunday November 3, Weekends 9 am-4:30 pm, Weekdays 3-4:30 pm, $7
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Rd., Hillsdale
What: Movin’ Mama
Why: Get in your workout AND bond with your baby in this fitness class for all levels.
When: Mondays through December 9, except September 30, October 14 and 21, 10:45 am-11:30 am, non-member/$15 per session or $90 for 10 sessions
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 East Clinton Ave., Tenafly
If you’re heading out of Bergen:
What: Sleepy Hollow Experience
Why: Follow the story of Ichabod Crane with live music, seasonal drinks and treats.
When: Fridays-Sundays October 4-November 3, 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm, kids/$35, adults/$55
Where: 3 W Sunnyside Lane, Irvington
Why: Elmo and friends go on an adventure to put on a magic show.
When: Friday October 4-Sunday October 6, check schedule for showtimes, $26-$121
Where: NJPAC, 1 Center St., Newark
Why: Kids of all ages can play laser tag, slingshot their own birds, and more fun based on the popular video game.
When: Opens Saturday October 5-April 15, 9:30 am-4 pm weekdays, 9 am-5:30 pm weekends
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
Why: Over 7,000 spooky and silly jack o’lanterns light up the night, plus plenty of fall fun.
When: Thursday October 3-Thursday October 31, Weekends plus some Fridays in November, kids/$22, adults/$29
Where: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson
What: Hudson County Fair
Why: Rides for all ages, games and entertainment.
When: Friday October 4-Monday October 14,
Where: James J. Braddock-North Hudson County Park, Bergen Line Ave., North Bergen
What: Rocktober Music Series
Why: Enjoy live music while you dine.
When: Saturdays October 5-October 26, 7 pm, Friday October 18.
Where: Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Center Dr., West Nyack
Why: A great fall day with brews, bands and vendors.
When: Saturday October 5, 6-9 pm
Where: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
What: Baby Show
Why: A one-stop-shop for new and expecting moms.
When: Saturday October 5-Sunday October 6, 10 am-4 pm, $10
Where: New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, 97 Sunfield Ave., Edison
What: Harvest Festival
Why: Performances, pumpkins, kite making, animals and more fall fun.
When: Sunday October 6, 12-4 pm
Where: Urban Farm, Randall’s Island Park, Wards Meadow Loop, NYC
What: Warwick Applefest
Why: All you can eat apple treats plus a carnival, music and entertainment for the whole fam.
When: Sunday October 6, 9 am-5 pm
Where: 2 Bank St., Warwick
What: Pumpkin Festival 2019
Why: Celebrate fall with pumpkin carving and painting, autumn trains and more.
When: Sunday October 6, 12:30-5 pm, adults/$16-$19, kids/$11-$14
Where: Whippany Railway Museum, 1 Railroad Plaza, Whippany
What: Pickle Day
Why: Kids activities and delicious dill.
When: Sunday October 6, 12 pm
Where: 54 Orchard St., NYC
What: Hugh Jackman
Why: Join the actor on his first World Tour with special guest Keala Settle.
When: Sunday October 6, 7:30 pm, $29-$225
Where: Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark
What: The Amazing Maize Maze®
Why: Cross the border for NYC’s only corn maze filled with puzzles, clues and challenges.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 26, 11 am-4:30 pm, kids/$8, adults/$15
Where: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park
What: The Great Pumpkin Train
Why: Hop aboard for a trip to the pumpkin patch, enjoy a corn maze and gem mining.
When: Now through Sunday October 27, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, 3:30 pm, kids/$12, adults/$18
Where: Delaware River Railroad Excursions, 100 Elizabeth St. Phillipsburg
Why: Pick your own, pony rides, corn cannon and maze and more farm fun.
When: Weekends through Sunday October 27, pricing per activity
Where: Donaldson Farms, 358 Allen Rd., Hackettstown
What: Diggerfest
Why: Pumpkin decorating, axe throwing and hay rides give a fall feel to the construction theme park.
When: Now through Sunday October 27, 10 am-6 pm, $29.95-$36.95.
Where: Diggerland USA, 100 Pinedge Dr., West Berlin
What: Fall Harvest Festivals
Why: Live music, painting, a corn maze, apples and more.
When: Now through Sunday October 27, 9am-5 pm
Where: Fishkill Farms, 9 Fishkill Farm Rd., Hopewell Jct., NY
What: Arcadia Earth
Why: Take an adventure through a planet earth, powered by augmented reality.
When: Now through Thursday October 31, 11 am-8 pm, kids younger than 7/$15, adults/$33
Where: 718 Broadway, NYC
What: Spooky Pumpkin Garden
Why: The gardens get a ghostly makeover with a pumpkin trail, pumpkin activities and creepy creatures.
When: Now through Thursday October 31, 10 am-6 pm, kids/$12, adults/$28
Where: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx
What: Boo at the Zoo
Why: Spooktacular fun at the zoo with animal magic, an animal graveyard, corn maze and more.
When: Weekends through Sunday November 3, check schedule for activity times
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
What: Great Pumpkin Festival
Why: This HUGE pumpkin festival brings animals, rides, gem mining and tons more.
When: Now through Sunday November 3, 9 am-6 pm, $15
Where: Heaven Hill Farm, 451 State Route 94, Vernon
Why: Grab some apples and enjoy the corn maze and more fall farm activities.
When: Now through Monday November 11, 10 am-5 pm, $24.99
Where: Alstede Farms, 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Why: Join the dinos based on the TV series for science, history, play and more.
When: Now through Monday January 20, 9:30 am-4 pm weekdays, 9 am-5:30 pm weekends
Where: Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City
What: The Art of the Brick
Why: Bring your LEGO lover for the largest display of brick art.
When: Now through Sunday January 26, Mondays-Fridays, 9:30 am-5 pm, Weekends, 10 am-6 pm, $7
Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, NY
Upcoming:
What: Rachel Ray
Why: The talk show host discusses her new memoir-inspired cookbook, Rachael Ray 50.
When: Sunday October 13, 12 pm
Where: Books and Greetings, 271G Livingston St., Northvale
Why: Season 16 finalists break out their best moves.
When: Tuesday October 15, 7:30 pm, $49-$149
Where: BergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt St., Englewood
