Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so the whole weekend is in play: a haunted carnival in Flemington on Friday night, parades and a downtown bash on the day itself, and a last pumpkin pick at a working farm. Here is what is on, Friday Oct 30 to Sunday Nov 1. Dates and times can change, so check each organizer's page before you go.
Friday night
The fifth year of Flemington's witch walk, this time as a haunted carnival on Stangl Road.
- Friday, Oct 30: 5 to 10 pm
- No price is posted: check before you go
Details: Historic Flemington.
Halloween Saturday
An evening of Halloween at Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.
- Saturday, Oct 31: 4 to 8 pm, rain or shine (the zoo's regular hours that day end at 1 pm)
- $5 a person, $3 for zoo members, under 2 free; everyone over 2 needs a ticket
- Spooky Storytime is an add-on at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 pm
Tickets: Turtle Back Zoo.
- Saturday, Oct 31: 12 to 8 pm on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall and Plaza
Details: Jersey City Downtown.
The Halloween night parade through downtown Toms River.
- Saturday, Oct 31: steps off at 7 pm
- Free to watch; marchers sign up at the Robbins Street Firehouse (Tuesdays in October, or 8 am to 5 pm on parade day)
Details: Toms River.
Hackettstown Halloween Downtown
Hackettstown's 13th Halloween downtown: a costume parade, then trick-or-treat at downtown businesses.
- Saturday, Oct 31: 1 to 3 pm at the Gazebo, Main Street and West Moore Street
- Line-up and costume judging at 12 pm at Centenary University on West Moore Street; the parade starts at 1 pm
Details: Hackettstown.
Trick or Treat at the Emlen Physick Estate
Costumed kids trick-or-treat at the Emlen Physick Estate in Cape May, with spooky music and Scarecrow Alley on the grounds.
- Saturday, Oct 31: 5 to 7 pm
Details: Cape May MAC.
A last day on the farm
Fall Farm Fun at Fosterfields
Watch apples pressed into cider, take a wagon ride and pick your own pumpkin at Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morristown.
- Saturday, Oct 31: 10 am to 3 pm
- $15 a person; a pumpkin is guaranteed only if you register ahead
Register: Morris County Parks. Little ones (ages 2 and a half to 5) have their own Pumpkin Pick n Paint on Friday, Oct 30, 10:30 to 11:30 am, $10 a child: register here.
Mill days at Historic Walnford
The gristmill at Historic Walnford Farm in Upper Freehold runs short free demonstrations at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday, Oct 31 and Nov 1. Details: Monmouth County Parks.
Jack-o'-lanterns in Sussex County
The last weekend for more than 6,000 carved and lit jack-o'-lanterns on a 45-minute walk-through at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, with a corn maze, food and live entertainment. Friday adds a parade and trick-or-treat; Saturday night is an adult Halloween party.
- Friday to Sunday, Oct 30 to Nov 1: evenings, by timed ticket; the season ends Nov 1
- $20, or $39 VIP; children 36 inches and under are free; parking is free
- Tickets online only, for a reserved time slot
Details: Skylands Stadium.
Make a day of it
It is the last weekend for most haunted hayrides and trails. Every one we found for 2026, sorted from Mild to Intense, is in our guide: NJ Haunted Hayrides and Haunted Houses 2026.
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