The Ultimate 2026 New Jersey Fall Bucket List

Apple picking. Sunflower fields. Pumpkin patches. Haunted hayrides. Oktoberfest. Cider donuts.

There is something about fall in New Jersey that makes it hard to stay home.

The weather cools down, the leaves start changing, the farms fill up with pumpkins and apples, and suddenly everyone is looking for a good place to spend a Saturday afternoon.

If you’re searching for things to do in New Jersey this fall, we’ve put together a list of some of the best fall activities happening around the state in 2026.

Whether you’re looking for a family day, a fall date, a place to take the kids, a haunted attraction or a good Oktoberfest, you’ll find plenty of ideas here.

What’s Included in Our New Jersey Fall Guide?

• Apple Picking in New Jersey
• Sunflower Fields and Sunflower Picking
• Halloween and Haunted Hayrides
• Oktoberfest in New Jersey
• Our Best of NJ Fall Picks
• Best Fall Activities for Families
• Best Fall Date Ideas
• Build Your Own NJ Fall Weekend
• The Ultimate Jersey Fall Bucket List

Apple Picking in New Jersey

Apple picking is one of those New Jersey fall traditions that never seems to get old.

Grab a basket, head into the orchard, pick a few apples and then reward yourself with a cider donut. That’s a pretty good fall day as far as we’re concerned.

Apple varieties ripen at different times, so availability can change throughout September and October. If you have a particular type of apple in mind, check with the farm before heading out.

Alstede Farms — Chester

If you’re looking for a farm where you can spend most of the day, Alstede Farms is a popular choice.

In addition to pick-your-own apples, the farm offers a variety of seasonal activities and attractions.

• 2026: Fall season is underway
• Cost: PYO admission starts around $18.99 depending on the experience and date
• Best for: Families and full-day fall outings
• Recommended age: 2+

Riamede Farm — Chester

For a more traditional orchard experience, Riamede Farm is worth a look.

Apple Days began in early September, with Apple & Pumpkin Days beginning September 19.

This is a good option if you want the feel of a traditional New Jersey orchard without a long list of amusement-park-style activities.

• Best for: Families, couples and traditional orchard fans
• Recommended age: 2+

Eastmont Orchards — Colts Neck

Eastmont Orchards in Colts Neck is another longtime destination for New Jersey apple picking.

The 2026 season is scheduled to run from September 18 through October 25, weather and crop conditions permitting.

Different varieties become available throughout the season, so September can offer a different selection than October.

• Best for: Jersey Shore and Central Jersey families
• Recommended age: 2+

Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm — Jobstown

Locust Hall is a good choice if you want to combine several fall activities into one trip.

The farm has apples, pumpkins, sunflowers, corn maze activities and hayrides.

For 2026, apple picking is listed at approximately $8 for a quarter-peck bag or $15 for a half-peck bag.

The farm has also indicated that its apple supply is limited this year, so anyone going specifically for apples should plan an earlier-season visit.

• Best for: Families looking for a full fall farm experience
• Recommended age: 2+

More New Jersey Apple-Picking Farms

Other New Jersey farms worth checking for fall apple picking include:

• Johnson’s Corner Farm — Medford
• Brodhecker Farm — Newton
• Hickory Corner Farm — East Windsor
• Melick’s Town Farm — Oldwick
• Mood’s Farm Market — Mullica Hill
• Ort Farms — Long Valley
• Stony Hill Farms — Chester
• Von Thun Farms — Washington

A 2026 New Jersey Apple-Picking Warning

This year’s apple crop has been affected by spring weather and a freeze at some New Jersey orchards.

Terhune Orchards, for example, has announced that there will be no apple picking at its Princeton orchard during the 2026 season.

That is why checking the current crop report before leaving home is especially important this year.

Sunflower Fields and Sunflower Picking

Sunflower season is one of the shortest parts of the New Jersey fall calendar, but it is also one of the prettiest.

If you’re looking for a place to take family pictures, plan a date or simply walk through a field of sunflowers, these are some of the places to check.

Holland Ridge Farms — Cream Ridge

Holland Ridge Farms should be near the top of your list if you’re looking for sunflowers in September or early October.

The 2026 Fall Flower Festival runs from September 10 through October 12.

Admission is currently listed at approximately $17 on weekdays and $20 on weekends, with flowers available for purchase separately.

• Best for: Photos, couples, families and flower lovers
• Recommended age: All ages

Sussex County Sunflower Maze — Sandyston

This is exactly what it sounds like: a maze made from sunflowers.

The 2026 season runs through September 21, with hours listed as 9 AM to 7 PM.

If you are reading this before September 21, this is one to move toward the top of your list.

• Best for: Families and photographers
• Recommended age: 3+

Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm — Jobstown

Sunflowers are part of the larger fall experience at Locust Hall.

You can combine flower picking with apples, pumpkins, corn maze activities and hayrides.

Sunflowers are listed at approximately $1.50 per stem.

• Best for: Families
• Recommended age: 2+

More New Jersey Sunflower Spots

• Dalton Farms — Swedesboro
• Snyder’s Farm — Somerset
• Melick’s Town Farm — Oldwick
• Riamede Farm — Chester
• Von Thun Farms — Washington
• Johnson’s Corner Farm — Medford
• Happy Day Farm — Manalapan
• Argos Farm — Forked River
• Ward’s Farm — Salem

One thing to remember: Sunflowers don’t follow a calendar. A field can be in full bloom one week and past its prime the next. Check the farm’s current information before making the drive.

Halloween and Haunted Hayrides

New Jersey has Halloween attractions for just about every level of bravery.

Some are good for families with younger kids. Others are definitely better suited for older children, teenagers and adults.

We’ve included our suggested minimum ages below, but those are our recommendations rather than official age restrictions unless the attraction specifically states otherwise.

Witch’s Woods — West Milford

Witch’s Woods is a good option for families with older children who want some Halloween scares without jumping straight into the state’s most intense haunted attractions.

The 2026 season runs Fridays through Sundays from October 2 through October 31.

The attraction recommends it for ages 6 and up.

Recommended age: 6+

Greenspot Farms Haunted Hayride

Greenspot Farms begins its 2026 haunted season on October 9.

The Haunted Hayride is listed at approximately $30 for adults and $25 for children under 12, with a separate haunted trail also available.

Recommended age: 10+

Hayride of Horrors — Hackettstown

This is not the type of hayride we’d recommend for very young children.

The 2026 season runs October 4 through November 1, with attractions beginning around dusk.

The haunted hayride is listed around $24, with combination tickets available.

Recommended age: 10+

Field of Terror — East Windsor

Field of Terror is one of Central Jersey’s major Halloween destinations.

There are multiple attractions, including a haunted hayride, cornfield attractions and haunted buildings.

Although children are technically permitted, some of the attractions are not recommended for younger kids.

Recommended age: 10+

Scare Farm at Norz Hill — Hillsborough

Norz Hill’s 2026 fall season gets underway in September, with Scare Farm beginning September 25.

This is another option for Central Jersey families with older children and teenagers.

Recommended age: 10+

Brighton Asylum — Clifton

Brighton Asylum is aimed more at serious Halloween fans than families with young children.

For older teenagers and adults looking for a more intense haunted-house experience, this is one to consider.

Recommended age: 13+

Freehold Spooktacular Haunted Hayride

Not every Halloween activity needs to cost a fortune.

The 2026 Freehold Spooktacular Haunted Hayride is scheduled for October 18 from 1 PM to 4 PM.

This daytime event is much more family-oriented than the nighttime haunted attractions and is a good option for younger children.

Cost: FREE
Recommended age: 5+

Oktoberfest in New Jersey

You don’t have to fly to Germany to celebrate Oktoberfest.

New Jersey has its own collection of fall beer festivals, German food, live music, pretzels and family activities.

Mountain Creek Oktoberfest — Vernon

September 19–20, 2026

12 PM–7 PM

General admission is approximately $25, with children 6 and under free.

The event includes entertainment, games, scenic rides, a petting zoo and activities for kids.

Best for: Families
Recommended age: All ages

Hackettstown Oktoberfest

September 26–27

Hackettstown takes over downtown for a weekend of German-inspired food, music, vendors and entertainment.

Admission is free.

Best for: Families, couples and groups of friends
Recommended age: All ages

Cape May Oktoberfest

September 26

9 AM–6 PM

Admission is currently listed as free.

If you’re already planning a trip to Cape May, this is an easy event to add to the day.

Recommended age: All ages

Highlands Oktoberfest

October 3

12 PM–7 PM

Another free Oktoberfest option, making it a good choice for families and anyone watching their fall entertainment budget.

Historic Smithville Oktoberfest

October 3–4

10 AM–5 PM

Historic Smithville is a good choice if you want Oktoberfest to be part of a full fall day.

Visitors can combine the event with shopping, restaurants and a walk around the historic village.

Admission: FREE
Recommended age: All ages

More 2026 New Jersey Oktoberfests

• Morey’s Piers Oktoberfest — Wildwood
• Chester Lions Oktoberfest — Chester
• ICONA Avalon Oktoberfest — Avalon
• Cranford Jaycees Oktoberfest — Cranford
• Deutscher Club of Clark Oktoberfest — Clark
• Downtown Freehold Oktoberfest — Freehold
• Forest Lodge Oktoberfest — Warren
• CL7 Oktoberfest — Franklin Lakes

Our Best of NJ Fall Picks

There are a lot of great choices on this list, but if we had to narrow it down, these would be our picks.

Best Fall Activities for Families

If you’re planning a family outing, these are some of the places we’d put toward the top of the list.

With Toddlers and Young Kids

1. Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm
2. Alstede Farms
3. Riamede Farm
4. Holland Ridge Farms
5. Freehold Spooktacular

With Elementary-Age Kids

1. Alstede Farms
2. Johnson’s Locust Hall
3. Witch’s Woods
4. Mountain Creek Oktoberfest
5. Historic Smithville Oktoberfest

With Teenagers

1. Field of Terror
2. Brighton Asylum
3. Hayride of Horrors
4. Greenspot Farms
5. Oktoberfest

Best Fall Date Ideas in New Jersey

Fall is a great time to plan a date that doesn’t involve sitting across from each other at a restaurant for two hours.

Apple Picking and Cider

Head to an orchard, pick some apples, grab cider donuts and find a local restaurant for dinner afterward.

Sunflowers and Dinner

Spend the afternoon walking through a sunflower field and then head somewhere nearby for dinner.

Holland Ridge Farms is an especially good option for this type of date.

Oktoberfest

Find an Oktoberfest with live music, German food and plenty of pretzels.

It’s an easy way to turn an ordinary Saturday into a fall outing.

Get Scared Together

For couples who enjoy Halloween, try a haunted house or hayride.

Just remember that your date’s definition of “fun” might be different from yours once somebody jumps out of a cornfield.

Build Your Own New Jersey Fall Weekend

Want to turn a fall outing into an entire weekend?

Saturday

Morning: Apple picking

Lunch: Farm stand or local restaurant

Afternoon: Sunflowers and pumpkins

Evening: Oktoberfest

Sunday

Morning: Coffee and cider donuts

Afternoon: Fall festival or historic town

Evening: Haunted hayride

That’s a pretty good New Jersey fall weekend.

The Ultimate Jersey Fall Bucket List

How many can you check off before the season ends?

• ☐ Pick apples
• ☐ Buy a cider donut
• ☐ Walk through a sunflower field
• ☐ Take a picture in a pumpkin patch
• ☐ Get lost in a corn maze
• ☐ Ride a hayride
• ☐ Go to an Oktoberfest
• ☐ Eat a giant pretzel
• ☐ Visit a fall festival
• ☐ Go through a haunted house
• ☐ Get scared on a haunted hayride
• ☐ Visit a farm market
• ☐ Drink fresh apple cider
• ☐ Watch the leaves change
• ☐ Take the obligatory pumpkin picture
• ☐ Say, “I can’t believe it’s already November.”

Get Out There, Jersey

The best part about fall in New Jersey is that you don’t have to travel very far to find something fun.

Whether you’re picking apples in Chester, walking through sunflowers in Cream Ridge, getting scared in East Windsor, celebrating Oktoberfest in Vernon or spending an afternoon in Smithville, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the season.

And because we’re in New Jersey, there’s a pretty good chance that food is going to be involved somewhere along the way.

That’s not a bad way to spend a fall day.

Happy fall, New Jersey!

Have a favorite New Jersey fall activity that we missed? Tell us about it. We’re always looking for more Jersey things to add to the list.

2026 NJ Fall Event Quick Reference

Apple Picking

Alstede Farms • Riamede Farm • Eastmont Orchards • Johnson’s Locust Hall • Johnson’s Corner Farm • Brodhecker Farm • Hickory Corner Farm • Melick’s Town Farm • Mood’s Farm Market • Ort Farms • Stony Hill Farms • Von Thun Farms

Sunflowers

Holland Ridge Farms • Dalton Farms • Johnson’s Locust Hall • Sussex County Sunflower Maze • Snyder’s Farm • Melick’s Town Farm • Riamede Farm • Von Thun Farms • Argos Farm • Happy Day Farm • Ward’s Farm • Johnson’s Corner Farm

Halloween

Witch’s Woods • Greenspot Farms • Hayride of Horrors • Field of Terror • Scare Farm at Norz Hill • Brighton Asylum • Freehold Spooktacular • Six Flags Fright Fest

Oktoberfest

Mountain Creek • Morey’s Piers • Cape May • Chester • Hackettstown • Avalon • Highlands • Cranford • Clark • Historic Smithville • Freehold • Warren • Franklin Lakes