We rounded up the best things to do in Bergen County and beyond on our weekend PLAYlist!
Sponsored Post: Your child’s school is fine. But is fine good enough? Dwight-Englewood School, a private, independent school located in Englewood, NJ invites you to visit for an Open Doors or Open House Event to be held this Fall. Families will hear from Dr. Rodney De Jarnett, the DE Head of School, and then have an opportunity to tour, attend a class and ask questions about the curriculum, philosophy and school life. Additionally, parents living in the Ridgewood, New Jersey area are invited to attend a special event to be held on Tuesday, October 9th at the Steel Wheel Tavern. Dr De Jarnett and members of the Admissions Team will be on hand to speak with prospective families over cocktails and hors d’oeurves. For more information or to register for any of these events, please visit Dwight-Englewood Admissions. (315 E. Palisades Road, Englewood, 201.569-9500 d-e@d-e.org)Book Now:
What: Zoo Boo 2018
Why: Zoo trick-or-treating, magic shows and the eerie express train at this hugely popular event.
When: Friday October 26, 6-9 pm-Saturday October 27 10 am-2 pm or 6-9 pm, tickets go on Sale Tuesday October 2, 9 am at the Bergen County Zoo, tickets sell out quickly, $6.
Where: Bergen County Zoo, 216 Forest Ave., 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, September 28-October 27, 7-9:30 pm, $24
Where: Field Station Dinosaurs, 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia
Why: Movie night includes a hay wagon ride, pumpkin picking and farm fun.
When: Fridays September 28 and October 5, 5:30 pm, $16
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
Why: Rides and food trucks, animals and entertainment, arts and crafts, plus fireworks Saturday night.
When: Friday September 28, 6-9 pm, Saturday September 29, 10 am-10 pm, Sunday September 30, 10 am-8 pm
Where: Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus
What: Circo Hermanos Vazquez
Why: Acrobats, clowns and a human canonball entertain the whole family.
When: Friday September 28-Monday October 8, Saturdays and Sundays, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, Mondays-Fridays, 7:30 pm, kids/$20, adults/$40
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, One Garden State Plaza, Paramus
What: The Dinner Detective
Why: Solve a murder case while dining on a four-course dinner during a hilarious adult night out.
When: Saturday September 29 and Friday October 26, 6-9 pm, $67.95
Where: DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Hotel Fort Lee-George Washington Bridge, 2117 Route 4
Eastbound, Fort Lee
Why: Hop on a hayride to pick a perfect pumpkin and enjoy cider and donuts.
When: Saturdays starting September 29-October 27, 10:30 am-4 pm, $5
Where: Abmas Farm, 700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff
Why: Seasonal German food and drinks, plus live music.
When: Saturday September 29, 4-10 pm, adults/$5
Where: American Legion Hall, 399 Broad Ave., Leonia
What: 53rd Annual Country Fair
Why: Tons of family fun from crafts and rides, to ponies and pumpkins.
When: Saturday September 29, 10 am-4:30 pm
Where: Wyckoff Municipal Field, 340 Franklin Ave., Wyckoff
Why: Check out cool rides plus games and food.
When: Saturday September 29, 11 am-4 pm
Where: St. Mary’s Church, 20 Legion Place, Closter
Why: BYO flannel shirt and jeans and they’ll supply the rest.
When: Saturday September 29, 11 am-3 pm, $10
Where: Abma’s Farm, 700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff
Why: Remember loved ones with this fun walk or run, with kids activities, music and raffles.
When: Sunday September 30, 11 am
Where: Overpeck County Park, 199 Challenger Road, Ridgefield
Why: Classic and exotic rides for the car enthusiast.
When: Sunday September 30, 9 am-1 pm
Where: Westfield Garden State Plaza, 1 Garden State Plaza, Paramus
What: Oradell Family Day
Why: Something for everyone from kids activities and food trucks to vendors and a beer garden.
When: Sunday September 30, 1-6 pm
Where: Memorial Field, 343 Prospect Ave., Oradell
What: Tiffani Thiessen
Why: The Saved by the Bell actress and TV host signs her new book Pull Up A Chair.
When: Tuesday October 2, 6 pm
Where: Bookends, 211 E. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
What: Jessie James Decker
Why: The singer-songwriter and fashion maven signs her new book, Just Jessie.
When: Tuesday October 2, 7 pm
Where: Books and Greetings, 271G Livingston Street, Northvale
Why: Tour the school, sample classes and meet the staff.
When: Lower School: Wednesday October 3, 9-11 am; Middle and Upper School: Wednesday October 3, 7-9 pm
Where: Dwight-Englewood School, 315 E Palisade Ave., Englewood
Why: Shop for cupcakes to support comfort zone camp.
When: Daily, Mondays, 10 am-6 pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 am-9 pm, Sundays 12-7 pm, single cupcake/$2.95, 6 pack/$17.70
Where: Cupcakes by Carousel, 192 E Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood
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
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: 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
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: The Big Chocolate Show
Why: Because truffles and cake make the perfect day in NYC.
When: Saturday September 29, 11 am-3 pm and 4-8 pm-Sunday September 30, 10 am-2 pm and 3-7 pm, $25 or family four pack/$64
Where: Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, 481 8th Ave., NYC
What: The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze
Why: Thousands of hand-carved jack o’lanterns on display, plus plenty of pumpkin-themed activities.
When: Friday September 28-Sunday September 30, Thursday October 4-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: Thousands of hand-carved jack o’lanterns on display, plus plenty of pumpkin-themed activities.
When: Friday September 28-Sunday September 30, Thursday October 4-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: Activities for the whole fam from canoeing and nature games to pumpking picking.
When: Saturday September 29, 11 am-4 pm
Where: Essex County Environmental Center, 621 Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland
What: Hola! Fest NJ 2018
Why: Immerse yourself in Latina American culture with salsa dancing and Dia de los Muertos face painting.
When: Saturday September 29, 12-6 pm, donations welcome
Where: 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood
Why: Local artists, food trucks and live music.
When: Saturday September 29-Sunday September 30, 1-6 pm
Where: Goffle Brook Park, 794 Lafayette Ave., Hawthorne
What: Pumpkin Trains
Why: Hop on a train to pick pumpkins, and enjoy a wagon ride, corn maze and more farm activities.
When: Weekends beginning Saturday September 29-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: The Great Pumpkin Train
Why: All aboard for a scenic ride to the pumpkin patch.
When: Saturday September 29-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
Why: Enjoy the zoo -- plus food and drinks -- under the stars.
When: Saturday September 29, 6-9 pm, $60
Where: Essex County Turtle Back Zoo, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange
What: Boo at the Zoo
Why: Get spooked with a haunted pirate hayride, animal graveyard and animal treats.
When: Weekends starting Saturday September 29-Sunday October 28, kids/$26.95, adults/$36.95
Where: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx
What: Nutley’s Fall Festival
Why: Celebrate fall with food trucks, music and kid’s entertainment.
When: Sunday September 30, 11 am-4 pm
Where: Memorial Park, 401 Passaic Ave., Nutley
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: Tons of live music, activities and for kids and adults.
When: Sunday September 30, 11 am-6 pm
Where: Washington St. between Observer Hwy. & 7th St., Hoboken
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
What: Famous Food Market
Why: Food and craft vendors, plus games and live music.
When: Open weekends through Sunday October 28, 2-10 pm Saturdays, 12-8 pm Sundays.
Where: Harborside, 3 Second Street, Jersey City
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
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: Fall fun on the farm brings huges mazes, hayrides and gemstone mining.
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: Stone Barns Center Weekend Admission
Why: Farm activities from meeting pigs and bees to collecting eggs.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am-5 pm, $22
Where: Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills
Why: Farm activities from meeting pigs and bees to collecting eggs.
When: Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am-5 pm, $22
Where: Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills
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
Upcoming:
What: Royal Tea Party
Why: Stories, games and refreshments with three Disney princesses.
When: Saturday October 6, 11 am-12:30 pm, $15
Where: Gerry’s Place, 595 Broadway, Norwood
What: Open Call Auditions
Why: Ages 3.5 to adult can perform for industry pros and audition for talent agents.
When: Sunday October 7, 2 pm, $20 for JCC member, $25 public in advance; $25 JCC members, $30 public day of, contact Hagit at 201-408-1493 for details
Where: Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, 411 E Clinton Ave., Tenafly
What: Taste of Leonia
Why: Visit a number of eateries for food and wine tastings and live music.
When: Sunday October 7, 1-3 pm, students/$10, adults/$15
Where: Select businesses, Leonia
