There is a crispness to the air, the leaves are changing, and visions of trick-or-treating are dancing in children’s eyes. Humidity is finally a fading memory, and snow and ice are a worry for another day. Time to get outside and follow your orthopedic specialist’s advice to stay active as the weather cools.
It’s fall in New Jersey, and we’ve curated the best local festivals to get you out to enjoy all the seasonal offerings.
- Family and Kid-Oriented Events
- October 21 — The Clinton Guild’s Pumpkin Fest in Clinton NJ offers a pumpkin decorating contest, balloon animals and designs, as well as horse-drawn hayrides through the town. The festival runs from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- November 1 — The Great Pumpkin Sail in Mountainside, New Jersey. A great way to repurpose Halloween pumpkins, visitors float their burning pumpkins at Echo Lake Park. The event runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., with a rain date of Nov. 2.
- Spooky and Creepy Events
- October 20-22 — The Haunted Seaport in Tuckerton at the Seaport–running from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 3 to 9 p.m. Saturday–offers a phragmites maze, Clyde P. Riddlesbrood’s “Into the Wicked Woods” Haunted Hayride, and pumpkin patch.
- October 29-30 — The Halloween Edition of the Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food trucks, curios, antiques, records, toys, vintage clothing, handmade art, and more at the Historic Roebling Machine Shop.
- 21+ Events
- October 24-26 — The Fall Wine Festival at Skylands Stadium in Augusta provides visitors with the chance to enjoy beverage and food tastings, wine dinners, and talks by local authors.
- November 12 — Jeeps in the Vineyard is held at Valenzano Winery in Shamong, and offers the best of an off-roading car show along with food and beverage tastings. This year, the event focuses on A Tribute to the Troops. Advanced registration is required.
- Arts and Entertainment
- October 21-23 — The Rahway International Film Festival is held at UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage, showcasing feature-length films, documentaries, and short films from over 15 countries.
- November 12 — The Scandinavian Jul Bazaar at Vasa Park in Budd Lake boasts foods, local crafts, linens, handmade wooden items, ornaments, candles, jewelry, and more from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
New Jersey offers events for every interest this autumn. In fact, the biggest struggle will be deciding which festivals to visit before the season is over! For more great ways to stay active through the seasons, check out our blog or contact us to discuss your situation with the New Jersey orthopedic surgeons at AOSMI.
