2025 NJ Fall Fun Guide: Hayrides, Festivals, Scarecrow Stroll & More

The autumnal equinox on Monday, Sept. 22, signals the official arrival of fall, but the season is already in full swing in New Jersey with events such as hayrides, a scarecrow stroll, corn mazes and more planned around the Garden State.

Sunny days and crisp evenings are perfect for outdoor fun. Some can’t-miss fall events in NJ are the Scarecrow Stroll in Downtown Cranford, Fright Fest at Six Flags and the Hayride of Horror in Flemington.

But that’s just the beginning of fun activities taking place over the next couple of months.

Are you planning an event this fall? Feature it so nearby readers see it all across Patch — including in roundups like this!

Below, find the 2025 Patch Guide to Fall Fun in New Jersey. Some events may require tickets:

Fall Festivals

• Essex County Fall Family Fest
  • Date: Sunday, Sept. 21
  • Location: Essex County Environmental Center (621B Eagle Rock Ave., Roseland)
  • Details: Go on a canoe trip, get gardening tips, check out a petting zoo, face painting and more at the Essex County Fall Family Fest.
• Fright Fest
  • Dates: Sept. 12 through Nov. 2 (select nights)
  • Location: Six Flags Great Adventure (1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson)
  • Details: Go through haunted mazes, sinister scare zones, live shows, and more at Six Flags’ Fright Fest.
• Great Pumpkin Festival
  • Dates: Sept. 13 through Nov. 2
  • Location: Heaven Hill Farm (451 Route 94, Vernon)
  • Details: Enjoy a scenic hayride to the pumpkin patch, interact with farm animals, try out the giant slingshot and more at Heaven Hill Farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival.
• Harvest Home Festival
  • Date: Sunday, Sept. 28
  • Location: Historic Longstreet Farm (44 Longstreet Road, Holmdel)
  • Details: At this old-fashioned fair, attendees will be able to enjoy wagon rides, craft demonstrations, live entertainment and more.

Corn Mazes

• Johnson’s Corner Farm
  • Dates: Sept. 7 through Oct. 31 (Friday-Sunday)
  • Location: Johnson’s Corner Farm (133 Church Road, Medford)
  • Details: Come down to Johnson’s Corner Farm this fall to see how quickly you can solve the farm’s corn maze. Takes about 20-40 minutes to complete.
• Stony Hill Farms
  • Dates: Through Nov. 2
  • Location: Stony Hill Farms (15 North Road, Chester)
  • Details: Check out a 10-acre corn maze at Stony Hill Farms.

Hayrides

• A. Casola Farms
  • Date: Beginning Sept. 13
  • Location: A. Casola Farms (178 Route 34, Holmdel)
  • Details: Enjoy fall festivities like A. Casola Farms' petting zoo and hayrides this autumn season.
• Haunted Hayride
  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 19
  • Location: Wells Fargo Parking Lot (72 West Main Street, Freehold)
  • Details: Take part in a Freehold Borough Halloween tradition with the Haunted Hayride, where members of the local community and neighboring towns come together to haunt along the hayride route or act out live spooky scenes.
• Hayride of Horror
  • Dates: Friday-Sunday (through Nov. 2)
  • Location: Farm of Horrors (1051 County Road 523, Flemington)
  • Details: Get ready for a “hair-raising time” on the Hayride of Horror as you make your way through 200 acres of haunted attractions.

Running Events

• Harvest Hustle 5K
  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
  • Location: Starting line at the corner of Park & Mountain Avenues
  • Details: This 3.1-mile race will benefit the Mendham Borough Home & School Association (HSA), a non-profit organization that provides programs, events and more to enrich the educational experience of students in the Mendham Borough School District.
• Strides For Education 5K
  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 26
  • Location: Morris Plains
  • Details: Join in on the 10th anniversary of the Strides For Education 5K to benefit Morris Plains students. Team challenge, Kids’ Fun Run and virtual options are also available.
• Thanksgiving Turkey Trot
  • Date: Thursday, Nov. 27
  • Location: 132 Jefferson Ave., Green Brook Township
  • Details: Take part in the annual Green Brook Turkey Trot 5K. The race will be held on Thanksgiving morning and will feature a new firefighter turkey race t-shirt.

Halloween Events & Haunted Houses

• Brookdale’s Haunted Theater
  • Dates: Oct. 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 30 & Nov. 1-2
  • Location: Brookdale Community College (765 Newman Springs Rd., Lincroft)
  • Details: Take a self-guided walk through Brookdale’s haunted house maze, which is designed, built and operated by over 100 Brookdale Community College students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members. Attendees will be able to check out themed mazes, pitch black zones, special effects and more.
• Scarecrow Stroll
  • Date: Oct. 10-31
  • Location: Downtown Cranford
  • Details: Walk among over 100 scarecrows lining the streets of Downtown Cranford that were created by local residents, businesses, organizations, schools and families.
• Boo At The Boardwalk
  • Date: Oct. 18-19, 25-26
  • Location: Jenkinson’s Boardwalk (300 Ocean Ave., Point Pleasant Beach)
  • Details: Join Jenkinson’s Boardwalk for some Halloween fun for the entire family with kiddie rides, face painting, trick-or-treating and more.
• Pumpkin Illumination
• Date: Friday, Oct. 24
• Location: Morris Plains Merchant Block
• Details: Bring your carved pumpkins to add to a grand glowing display at the 3rd Annual Morris Plains Pumpkin Illumination. Attendees will be able to enjoy live music, local vendors and more.
• All Hallows Eve Along Burlington Path
  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 25
  • Location: Colts Neck Firehouse #1
  • Details: Check out a Halloween shop and refreshments, hayrides, a pumpkin patch where you can pick your own pumpkin, face painting and more at The Colts Neck Historical Preservation Committee's "All Hallows Eve Along Burlington Path."
• Halloween Spooktacular Costume Parade
  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 26
  • Location: Main Street (Freehold Borough)
  • Details: Walk in the Halloween Spooktacular Costume Parade in your best Halloween costume, or watch from the sidelines and enjoy the parade from Main Street this fall. Complimentary refreshments will be offered in the Hall of Records parking lot after the parade.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated with an additional Halloween event.