Wayne Fall Fun Guide 2024: Wayne Day, Jazz Music, Halloween Magic Show, And Much More

WAYNE, NJ — The autumnal equinox on Sunday, Sept. 22, signals the official arrival of fall, but the season is in full swing in the Wayne area, with everything from fall festivals and concerts to corn mazes and other harvest events.

One can’t-miss event is Wayne Day 2024. This annual festival brings the community together to check out what local organizations have to offer, while neighbors also enjoy live music, carnival rides, and other attractions. Wayne Day is is on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, on the fields behind Town Hall. Admission is free, and ride tickets are $1.

But that’s just one of the fun fall activities taking place over the next couple of months. Below, find the 2024 Patch Guide to Fall Fun in the Wayne area:

- Stop by Farms View Market and Garden Center on Black Oak Ridge Road this fall to pick up home-grown produce and fall decor, and take a hay ride to go pumpkin-picking. Hay ride hours are Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and select hours Monday-Friday. The hay ride will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Columbus Day (Mon., Oct. 14)

- North Jersey has a number of other corn mazes and hay rides, including at Fairfield Farms & Greenhouses, Secor Farms in Mahwah, Heaven Hill Farm Garden Center and Farm Market in Vernon, and Ort Farms in Long Valley.

- And, you can go apple-picking at Demarest Farms in Hillsdale or Riamede Farm in Chester.

- Speaking of farm-fresh produce, the Wayne Farmers Market is running on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Nov. 23. Local band RPM will play rock hits for market-goers on Sept. 14.

- Wayne UNICO's annual Car Show is Sunday, Sept. 29 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Town Hall parking lot. The entrance fee is $20 per car, which will be collected the day of the show, and there will also be music, food, and prizes. Proceeds go to Wayne UNICO charities.

- Families and teams can participate in an "Amazing Race"-style treasure hunt in their own backyards as WayneQuest returns, beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. The first location clue will be posted on TAPinto Wayne, and questers will follow these clues to spots around the township in the hopes of securing one of the cash prizes.

There are two difficulty levels, and registration is $30 for a four-person team (which includes lunch). Additional crew members can be added on for $10 a person.

- Students from 2nd grade through 6th grade can learn all about the New Jersey Woodlands as Laurelwood Arboretum hosts their next GreenQuest Nature Club event on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Admission is free. Pre-registration is required, and a parent or guardian must stay with their child throughout the program.

- The Wayne Public Library Fall 2024 Jazz Concert Series kicks off in September, with performances by The Nat Janoff Group on Thursday, Sept. 26 and Cubano Be, Cubano Bop on Thursday Oct. 17 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the library. Registration is required, as space is limited.

- There are plenty of other programs at the Wayne Public Library this fall, including these Halloween-themed activities. Registration opens on Sept. 20 and is required for the following events, which are free:

• Making a Halloween art project (for kids in 2nd-4th grades): Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Bring Your Own Pumpkin (BYOP) painting event (for kids aged 5-8): Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m.
• Halloween Magic Show with Brian Richards: Wednesday, Oct. 16 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• YA Creates: Halloween Drawing with watercolor pencils (for young adults in 5th grade and up): Sunday, Oct. 27 from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Edible Arts: Halloween Fun (for kids aged 4-6): Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
• Edible Arts: Halloween Fun (for kids aged 7-9): Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
• YA: Edible Haunted Cemetery (for young adults in 5th grade and up): Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
• Pumpkin Pottery Project (for adults): Friday, Nov. 1 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

- Wayne Township is organizing a trip to Brotherhood Winery, which was founded in 1839 and is billed as America's oldest winery, on Friday, Sept. 27. A bus will depart the Town Hall parking lot at 10 a.m. for the drive up to Washingtonville, N.Y., where attendees will tour the winery's underground cellars and be able to taste five wines from the Brotherhood menu.

This event is for those 21 and up, and the fee is $35. Sign up online through Wayne Parks and Recreation.

- Fall country line dancing classes begin at Captain Kilroy Park on Wednesday, Oct. 2, running weekly through Oct. 30 from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. This class is for those 18 and up, and the fee is $35. Sign up online through Wayne Parks and Recreation.

Happy fall!