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Best Fall Festivals near New Jersey for Families

Jersey City's downtown is transformed into a blocks long street fair for the All About Downtown festival. Photo courtesy of the event
Jersey City's downtown is transformed into a blocks long street fair for the All About Downtown festival. Photo courtesy of the event
9/4/22 - By Laurie Rein

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, New Jersey families can look forward to plenty of fall festivals in New Jersey this September. Get in Halloween mode early with Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest, chow down on delicious seafood at The Downbeach Seafood Festival, and spend Labor Day weekend with rides and games at the St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival. Plus, get a taste of fall at local fairs in Riverdale, Bridgewater, and Jersey City.

Check out these 33 awesome fall festivals and fairs in New Jersey below and be sure to bookmark this list of the best things to do this September with kids for more Mommy Poppins picks.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Cool things to do with kids often book up quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

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The Water Lantern Festival returns to the harbor in Jersey City's Liberty State Park at month's end. Photo courtesy of the event
The Water Lantern Festival returns to the harbor in Jersey City's Liberty State Park at month's end. Photo courtesy of the event

NJ Fairs and Festivals in September 2023

St. Bartholomew/UNICO Italian Festival

Scotch Plains–FREE
Friday, September 1-Monday, September 4, 2023
This annual Italian fest is a Labor Day weekend tradition with something for everyone. There is nightly live music, rides, games, and delicious food, including favorites like pizza, pasta, zeppoles, clams, and calzones. READ MORE

Riverdale's Annual Labor Day Street Fair

Riverdale–FREE
Monday, September 4, 2023
Riverdale’s Annual Labor Day Street Fair closes its main street to traffic for a giant block party. Shop for a selection of assorted items, along with a special arts and crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie rides and games, great festival foods, and so much more.  READ MORE

St. Demetrios Greek Festival

Union
Thursday, September 7-Sunday, September 10, 2023
Enjoy the foods, sights, and sounds of Greece at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church’s annual Greek Festival. Indulge in homemade, authentic Greek food while enjoying the sounds of Greece with live music and authentic folk dancing—plus rides and games for the kids. READ MORE

Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest & Kid's Boo Fest

Jackson
Friday, September 8-Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest returns with its iconic, family-friendly “thrills by day” and “fright by night."  Experience 13 haunted houses, scare zones, the Trick-or-Treat Trail, live shows, haunted mazes, and more.  READ MORE

Insect Festival

Pennington–FREE
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Spend a fun day exploring the lives of insects, featuring a variety of activities focused on bugs, bees, and plants.  READ MORE

The Wood Street Fair

Burlington–FREE
Saturday, September 9, 2023
The 52nd annual Wood Street Fair fills downtown Burlington and the surrounding waterfront area with a day of fun. Peruse craft tables from 175 vendors, indulge in festival eats, hear live music and tour the historical Revell House and Carriage House. READ MORE

Elmwood Park Community Day with Fireworks

Elmwood Park–FREE
Saturday, September 9, 2023
This giant block party features quality exhibitors selling a selection of assorted items, a special arts & crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie rides and games, great festival foods and food trucks, and more.  READ MORE

All About Downtown Street Fair

Jersey City–FREE
Saturday, September 9, 2023
The annual All About Downtown Street Fair returns to Jersey City for its 12th year with over 100 vendors and more than 10 food and mobile fashion trucks. This event features a day full of fun for the entire family. READ MORE

East 2nd Street Block Party & Car Show

Scotch Plains–FREE
Saturday, September 9, 2023
Second Street in Scotch Plains welcomes the community to it's first-ever street fair, featuring giveaways, contests, live demonstrations, shopping, food samples, art displays, consultations and more. READ MORE

Montclair Jazz Festival Jamboree

Montclair
Saturday, September 9, 2023
The Montclair Jazz Festival Downtown Jamboree transforms the vibrant, arts-rich urban suburb of Montclair into a musical mecca. Get ready for 5 downtown stages and 150 food and artisan vendors on a ½ miles stretch of Bloomfield Avenue and expanded Family Jazz Discovery Zone. READ MORE

Cranbury Day

Cranbury–FREE
Saturday, September 9, 2023
This 45th annual festival boasts food trucks, vendors, a petting zoo, car show, face painting, live music, a puppy parade and more.  READ MORE

Union County Celtic Festival

Clark
Saturday, September 9, 2023
The Union County Celtic Festival is a family-friendly public event that features live music, food and craft vendors, cultural activities, a piping and drumming contest, dancing, and a beer garden. READ MORE

The Downbeach Seafood Festival

Ventnor
Saturday, September 9-Sunday, September 10, 2023
Now spanning 2 days, this annual festival features delicious food, children's activities, live music, competitions, chef demonstrations, and more. READ MORE

Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck

Bridgewater–FREE
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Bridgewater Township and the Shimon and Sara Birnbaum JCC present its annual Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck. The event is free and open to the entire community and includes music, trucks, inflatables, and more.  READ MORE

Westfield FestiFall

Westfield–FREE
Sunday, September 10, 2023
Welcome the fall season at this bustling annual festival, featuing entertainment, fantastic food, over 300 vendors and more. A special KidZone houses rides, games and activities just for children. READ MORE

Marlboro Day

Marlboro–FREE
Sunday, September 10, 2023
In its 39th year, Marlboro Township Recreation hosts a day of free activities, with rides, vendors, food, entertainment, and more.  READ MORE

Holland Ridge Farms Fall Flower Festival

Cream Ridge
Friday, September 15-Sunday, October 15, 2023
Prepare for a day filled with activities that ignite your passion for all things floral. Admire millions of rainbow blooms including sunflowers, gladiolus, dahlias, calla lilies, and mums. Plus, enjoy up to 30 delicious food options and over 100 artisanal vendors. READ MORE

Annual Oktoberfest Fun at Morey’s Piers

Wildwood
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, September 15-October 8, 2023
This fall, Oktoberfest takes over Morey’s Piers for four consecutive weekends of German-themed revelry, live entertainment, a kids “Rootbier Garten” activity area, and much more. READ MORE

Festival in the Borough 2023

Washington–FREE
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Festival in the Borough returns to Downtown Washington with three stages of music and 18 acts, ranging from local favorites to national touring Grammy nominated artists. Streets lined with vendors, children's fun zone, food, local shopping and a beer garden round out the fun. READ MORE

Wind & Sea Festival

Port Monmouth–FREE
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Join this celebration of all things water at Port Monmouth's Bayshore Waterfront Park. Visitors can enjoy tons of beach- and water-themed seaside activities. READ MORE

St James 33rd Annual Street Fair

Woodbridge–FREE
Saturday, September 16, 2023
St James 33rd Annual Street Fair features a variety of crafters, vendors, food trucks, live entertainment and kids activities. Don't miss the huge 50/50 raffle. READ MORE

Monroe Arts & Crafts Festival

Monroe–FREE
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Head over to Main Street for fall festivities, including food trucks, vendors, bounce houses, a petting zoo, face painting and more.  READ MORE

Ridgewood Fall Craft Street Fair

Ridgewood–FREE
Sunday, September 17, 2023
Ridgewood Fall Craft Street Fair boasts two hundred exhibitors, from three states, with arts, crafts & photography plus a delicious festival food court. For the kiddies there is a large Kid's Zone with inflatables and children's activities. READ MORE

Morristown Jazz and Blues Festival

Morristown–FREE
Friday, September 22-Saturday, September 23, 2023
Bring a blanket or lawn chairs, and spend two days enjoying free music in downtown Morristown. Friday evening's performances takes place at Pioneer's Plaza, while Saturday's concerts are held on the Morristown Green.  READ MORE

Warren County Hot Air Balloons, Fun & Games Festival

Washington
Saturday, September 23-Sunday, September 24, 2023
Head over to Warren Community College for two days of family fun at this hot air balloon festival. Gates open at 3pm each day with vendors, food trucks, and family entertainment.  READ MORE

Water Lantern Festival

Jersey City
Saturday, September 23-Sunday, September 24, 2023
Enjoy a picturesque evening at Liberty State Park when the Hudson River becomes illuminated by beautiful lanterns. The festivities begin with food trucks and music, followed by the designing of lanterns at 6:30pm. READ MORE

Allaire Fall Apple Festival

Farmingdale
Saturday, September 23, 2023
The harvest has been gathered, and now it is time for the families of the Howell Iron Works to relax. Join in celebrating the harvest, and try your hand at cider pressing, games, dancing, and much more. READ MORE

Edison Fall Family Spectacular

Edison–FREE
Saturday, September 23, 2023
The Township of Edison and the Edison Recreation Department host this community get-together with eight blocks of fun. Enjoy kiddie rides, games, face painting, sand art, pro-wrestling ring, remote control car track, and more. READ MORE

Italian Festival at Historic Smithville

Galloway–FREE
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Come join the excitement at this Italian Festival, featuring an Italian market with a spectacular variety of wares and food. The day is filled with live Italian music, bocce ball, folk dancing, kids’ activities, and more. READ MORE

Diggerfest

West Berlin
Saturdays and Sundays, Saturday, September 23-Sunday, November 26, 2023
Bring fall fun to a new level this season by operating heavy machinery at Diggerland. In addition to the theme-park attractions, enjoy hayrides, carnival games, food, balloon animals and pumpkin decorating. READ MORE

Garfield Fall Family Street Fest

Garfield–FREE
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Hosted by the City of Garfield and the Garfield Events Committee, Midland Avenue is transformed into a giant block party. The fair features quality exhibitors, an arts and crafts section, live entertainment, kiddie rides and games, great festival food, and more. READ MORE

Roselle Park Arts Festival

Roselle Park–FREE
Saturday, September 30, 2023
The Roselle Park Arts Festival is an annual celebration of the arts, featuring dance performances, street artists creating their art live, and a juried Art Walk with dozens of artists and artisan crafters exhibiting and selling their work.  READ MORE

Diversity Day Children's Festival 2023

Freehold–FREE
Saturday, September 30, 2023
The 2023 Diversity Day Children’s Festival is an entertaining, inclusive, outdoor event for children and their families. Enjoy a wide selection of exciting, culturally diverse live performances and engaging hands-on activities. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church
Downtown Cranbury
Marlboro Municipal Complex
Monroe's Main Street
The Green (and other location)

About the Author

Laurie R
Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com
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