Hit one of the amazing beaches in NYC, by train, ferry, bike, or car. Photo by Sara Marentette
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Task-tackling service Taskrabbit is able to take on tons of back-to-school projects you may not have even considered outsourcing.
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Get a birds eye view of the skyline from the Edge observation deck at Hudson Yards. Plan a visit near sundown to watch the city lights come to life. Photo by Jody Mercier
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Enjoy the spacious shore and freshwater at Fahenstock State Park's Lake Canopus. Photo courtesy of I Love the Hudson Valley
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Dreamery uses only the best all-natural milk and cream from local New York State creameries.
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The Brooklyn Museum is a premier art museum, with floors of treasures and outdoor art, too.
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The splash pad in Domino Park puts a smile on faces young and old. Photo by Jody Mercier
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Frolic in the Fountain of the Fairs, one of our 100 favorite free things to do this summer in NYC.
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The Pier 6 Waterlab has been one of our favorite NYC splash pads since it opened in 2010. Photo by Sara M
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See the skyline from a whole new vantage point on the Roosevelt Island Tram. Photo courtesy of NYCGo
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Enjoy the Summer of Spongebob, courtesy of Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana - and Mommy Poppins!
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Make a splash at Coney Island when you need to beat the heat in NYC. Photo by author
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Enjoy the popular Movies With a View series at Brooklyn Bridge Park in July and August. Photo by Etienne Frossard
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Noshing on a funnel cake on the Coney Island boardwalk is a sweet ending to an epic day of summer fun.
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Coney Island's shores are easy to get to, and action packed from the rides to the waves. Photo courtesy of NYC Parks
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See Isabella's flower-filled wonderland in real-life at the new Disney Encanto x CAMP experience at the Flatiron location.
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Enjoy a wild visit to the Philadelphia Zoo during a weekend getaway to the City of Brotherly Love. Photo courtesy of the zoo
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Eat on the rooftop at Fornino on Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6. Photo by Lisa Seibold-Winder
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Registration is now open for the reasonably priced summer camps at YMCA locations in NYC.
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The Brooklyn Children's Museum offers three floors of rotating and permanent interactive exhibits perfect for warding off the rainy day blues. Photo courtesy of BCM
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Feed a crowd with extra large, classic, New York-style pizza slices without breaking the bank. Photo by Jody Mercier
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Free activities for Kids in NYC include the Children's Museum of the Arts, which has pay-what-you-wish Thursdays from 4-6pm. Photo courtesy of the museum
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Things To Do in NJ this Weekend: Fall Festivals, Zombie Walk, Sesame Street Live

Fall Festival Weekends are happening at Johnson's Corner Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
Fall Festival Weekends are happening at Johnson's Corner Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
10/1/19 - By Laurie Rein

While October has only just begun, Halloween fun kicks into high gear this weekend. Get in the Halloween spirit at celebrations like Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest, Asbury Park Zombie Walk, and Morris County Park Palooza.

Take your pick of pumpkin events this weekend, including Pumpkin Pawlooza, The Giant Pumpkin Carve & Pumpkin Pageant, and Blackwood Pumpkin Festival. And add a touch of magic to the weekend at Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic.

Check out our Fall Fun Guide for NJ Kids for more options, including 25+ Free Halloween Events and Parades for NJ Kids. And look to our October GoList and event calendar for a complete listing of happenings this weekend and beyond.

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Enjoy scare-free thrills during the day at Six Flags' Fright Fest. Photo by Laurie Rein
Enjoy scare-free thrills during the day at Six Flags' Fright Fest. Photo by Laurie Rein

Things To Do All Weekend

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

Jackson
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

Fall Picking & Hayrides at Johnson's Corner Farm

Medford
Enjoy fall festivities at Johnson's Corner Farm every day from mid-September through October. Get in the seasonal spirit with apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, live music, animals, a corn maze, and a food tent. READ MORE

October Fun at Storybook Land

Egg Harbor Township
Families visiting Storybook Land can climb aboard the Happy Hayride to pick a pumpkin. Then, decorate your pumpkin just in time for Halloween. In addition, guests can find their way through Elmer’s Hay-Mazin’ Maze, and ride the attractions. READ MORE

Pumpkin Pawlooza

Cherry Hill
Garden State Discovery Museum teams up with friends from Paws Discovery Farm and Kit Fit for the annual Pumpkin PAWlooza! Activities at Paws Discovery Farm include pony rides, pumpkin patch, hayride, an obstacle course, and a petting zoo. READ MORE

Diggerfest

West Berlin
Full-day admission to this annual seasonal celebration grants you access to all of the rides and attractions at Diggerland USA, plus additional fall festival and Halloween fun. READ MORE

Fall Festival at Ort Farms

Long Valley
While away a fall day at Ort Farms. In addition to traditional fall farm activities (hayrides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze, pony rides, etc), the farm store offers fresh baked goods, local produce, apples, and cider. Watch for special themed weekends throughout the harvest season! READ MORE

Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic

Newark
Everyone’s invited to New Jersey Performing Arts Center for an amazing journey with Elmo to discover the “power of yet” in Sesame Street Live! Make Your Magic. This production features favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie, Monster, Big Bird and more in a brand-new, magical adventure live on stage. READ MORE
Watch out for the T-Rex at Dinosaurs After Dark on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Field Station: Dinosaurs
Watch out for the T-Rex at Dinosaurs After Dark on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Field Station: Dinosaurs

Things To Do on Saturday, October 5

Dinosaurs After Dark

Leonia
Field Station: Dinosaurs is set to reopen for another awesome autumn season.  After a fantastic summer filled with exciting dinosaur activities, families can enjoy eight more weekends of entertaining and educational programming at the Field Station, including the return of the hugely popular Dinosaurs After Dark experience. READ MORE

Morris County Park Palooza: A Spook-tacular Time

Morris Township
**EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED** Enjoy 20+ food trucks, a biergarten offering hand-crafted beers, wine and sangria, and live music featuring Jazmyn Adelle & Company, and Guy Smiley Band, Halloween activities for adults and kids, carnival games, face painting, and so much more. Wear your costume, too. Parking is free and admission allows for re-entry throughout the day. Beginning Sept. 4, purchase tickets online for a discounted rate. All proceeds benefit the Morris County Park Commission.   READ MORE

Asbury Park Zombie Walk

Asbury Park – FREE
Dress in your scariest garb and head on the boardwalk for a zombie take-over. Throughout the walk, the downtown and boardwalk are loaded with spooky festivities and music and will end with blood red fireworks along the ocean front.  READ MORE

The Giant Pumpkin Carve & Pumpkin Pageant

Woodstown
The 24th annual Giant Pumpkin Carve is a fun way to welcome the fall season. Local artists come together with high school and amateur artists to carve giant pumpkins to share with the community.  READ MORE

2019 Fall Forestry Festival

Jackson – FREE
It’s Fall Forestry Festival’s 25th Year, featuring Howling Woods Farm, Forest Fire Service Helicopter Water Drop, Sawmill Demonstration, The Buzz About Honey and much more. Nature hikes and live music add to the fun. READ MORE
Show off your costume at the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the festival
Show off your costume at the Blackwood Pumpkin Festival on Sunday. Photo courtesy of the festival

Things To Do on Sunday, October 6

Blackwood Pumpkin Festival

Blackwood – FREE
The 29th Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival boasts food, games, music, shopping and  entertainment. Activities include pumpkin painting, a pet costume parade, crafts, hay rides and more.   READ MORE

Caldwell Street Fair

Caldwell – FREE
Great rides, entertainment, a beer garden, music, crafts, delicious ethnic and regional food, vendors and more are all part of the excitement at the first-Sunday-of-October fair. READ MORE

Scotch Plains Day

Scotch Plains – FREE
Scotch Plains hosts this annual downtown festival full of fall fun. Activities include inflatables, food trucks, entertainment and more. READ MORE

Pierfest 5th Annual Fall Festival

Long Branch – FREE
Pierfest 5th Annual Fall Festival is the Jersey Shore’s premier fall festival in Pier Village’s miles of beachfront, featuring family activities, vendors, music and food. READ MORE

Fall Family Fun Day

Hoboken – FREE
The Hoboken Historical Museum hosts an afternoon filled with hands-on activities that stretch the imagination and encourage creativity. The afternoon offers hands-on crafts, games, and live entertainment that the entire family will enjoy. READ MORE

19th Annual Pumpkin Festival

Whippany
Celebrate the Fall Harvest and the Season of the Witch at the Whippany Railway Museum's 19th Annual Pumpkin Festival. Walk among the pumpkins, corn shocks, and grinning scarecrows, and take a ride on the "Pumpkinliner" train. READ MORE

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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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