New Jersey Fall Festival Guide

You've got a variety of fall festivals to pick through over the next several weeks in New Jersey. Here's just a sampling of what is coming up.

SAINT BARBARA GREEK FESTIVAL - Toms River - Sept. 22, 23 and 24. Authentic Greek food and pastries. Youth groups will perform traditional Greek dances. The event also features music, rides and games. For more information, click here.

IRISH FESTIVAL - North Wildwood - The largest Irish festival on the east coast begins on Thursday, Sept. 21 and ends on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. The four-day event boasts more than 100 crafters and vendors with Irish foods and Irish memorabilia. The event begins with a golf tournament on Thursday, followed by activities on Old New Jersey Avenue from 8 am. to 7 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There's also live music, Irish dance lessons and pipe bands and a 5K run. For more details, click here.

RED BANK GUINNESS OYSTER FESTIVAL - Sept. 24, parking lot at 19 White Street. There will be plenty of fresh oysters, obviously, wine and light beers. 25 of Red Bank's finest restaurants will also have a number of favorites to choose from. Admission is $5 for anyone over the age of 10. The event will run from noon to 7 p.m. The rain date is Oct. 1. For more information, click here.

LONG BEACH ISLAND CHOWDERFEST - Beach Haven - This popular two-day festival celebrates all things chowder. It will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1. There will be plenty of local vendors, music, a beer garden and gourmet foods. The main event occurs on Sunday, when area restaurants compete for the titles of the best red and white chowders in the Chowder Cook-Off Classic. The event is held at the Taylor Avenue and 9th Street waterfront. For more details, click here.

BOO ON THE BOARDWALK - Point Pleasant Beach - It's never too early for Halloween. The popular event is returning for two weekends in late October. The dates are Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 and Oct. 28 and Oct. 29. The event will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day.There will be trick or treating, crafts, strolling entertainers, games, underwater pumpkin carving at 2:30 p.m. each day, and a "Perky Pumpkin Derby" on Oct. 28, with a rain date of Oct. 29. For more information, click here.

CHATSWORTH CRANBERRY FESTIVAL - Chatsworth. Come and celebrate all things Cranberry in Chatsworth, "the Capital of the Pines." The event will be held on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chatsworth is a small town in Burlington County that dates back to the 1700s. Cranberry sauce, cranberry jam, cranberry baked goods, cranberry ice cream and lots of other foods will be available for purchase. More than 160 vendors will be on hand selling crafts, clothing, antiques and other items that reflect the Pine Barrens and local culture. For more details, click here.

QUE BY THE SEA - Seaside Heights, Sept. 23 and Sept. 24. Like barbeque? This is the place for you. The event will feature music, artists and crafters. The big event is the 9th annual Barbeque Competition on Grant Avenue. 43 teams are competing for the title. The event will fun from 11-a.m. to 10 pm. on Sept. 23 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 24. For more details, click here.

ASBURY PARK ZOMBIE FESTIVAL -Join the undead for a ghoulish parade on Oct. 7 down several streets in Asbury Park, ending in front of Johnny Mac's House of Spirits, where you can party the night away if you want. If you are unsure about your zombie look, you can even have a "zombie makeover" in Convention Hall and choose from one of three designs. For more information, click here.

FALL HARVEST FESTIVAL OF ALLAIRE AND COMMUNITY HARVEST DAY - Sept. 30, 11 .m. Allaire State Park, 4263 Atlantic Avenue, Farmingdale. The event features cider pressing, hearth cooking demonstrations, games, dancing, blacksmith demonstrations, military demonstrations and horse and wagon rides. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. For more details, click here.

OCEAN COUNTY DECOY AND GUNNING SHOW - Sept. 23 and Sept. 24, Tip Seaman Park in Manahawkin and the Tuckerton Seaport. This is the 35th anniversary of this popular event, which features live carving demonstrations, boat building, antique and new decoys, collectibles, hunting and fishing items and much more. Admission is free. Free shuttle bus service is also provided. Saturday hours are 7 a.m to 5 p.m., Sunday hours are 7 to 4 p.m. For more information, click here.

Photo: Courtesy of Historic Village of Allaire