Fall is officially here and you can savor the first weekend of the season with some awesome fresh-air activities: get a head start picking out an orange beauty during Heaven Hill Farm’s Great Pumpkin Festival, sample local eats and let the kids get their faces painted at Hoboken’s annual Fall Arts & Music Festival or test your outdoor knowledge during The Great Nature Quest at Echo Hill Park. And if you need a few more ways to keep the kiddos entertained, check out Open Cockpit Weekend at the Aviation Museum, Insect Insanity at Cora Hartshorn Arboretum or Batman Day Storytime at Watchung Booksellers. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar .

As a native Florida gal, experiencing the changing seasons is still something that’s exciting for our family, even 3 years after our big move. Winter is full of snow (and more snow) of course, spring is beautiful with gorgeous flowers and summer is a great excuse to be outdoors with the kids, no matter what state you live in! But something about autumn is special – maybe it’s the multi-hued leaves that carpet our backyard, the cute little grins I capture on camera as our little ones romp through pumpkin patches or the fact that it’s just a good excuse to wear cozy sweaters and eat apple pie!

No matter the reason, my family likes to take in the fall season in a big way. Weekends in September through November are the perfect opportunity to take a break from the busy day to day and embrace the cooler temps before it gets frigid. New Jersey offers an array of autumn activities for every age and interest – take a look at our top ten favorites:

This weekend is the perfect opportunity to bridge the gap between summer and fall. Take advantage of the warm days and slightly cooler evenings with some early autumn outdoor fun: check out the Classic Car & Truck Show at the Tuckerton Seaport, lace up up your boots for a Night Campfire & Hike at Tenafly Nature Center or pick some juicy ripe apples and take a hay ride during Alstede Farms Fall Family Days. For more late September activities to keep the gang busy, head to an early Oktoberfest at Crystal Springs Resort or the much-loved Princeton Children’s Book Festival hosted by the Princeton Library. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar .

Summer is touted as the best season to enjoy the great outdoors, with its barbecues, pool parties and sunshine. But I personally think autumn is the perfect time to venture outside - the air is crisp and the leaves are changing to vibrant hues of yellow, red and orange. We're at that sweet spot of the year where the heat has subsided but temperatures aren't cold enough to keep us indoors. You can pick pumpkins, stargaze, or head to an NJ park to look at the brilliant fall foliage.

Take advantage of these balmy, glorious summer days while you still can, Jersey! The return of school and schedules will soon be upon us, so make some warm weather memories with the family this weekend: for big family fun check out the Honey Festival at Oasis Farm or the Long Branch Jazz & Blues Festival. For a dose of nature in the great outdoors, round up the troops for a Family Photo Scavenger Hunt at the Haggerty Education Center, the Cape May Family Birding Cruise or Discovery Saturday at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

Soak up these last few weekends of summer with big family fun! Round up the troops and head to the Hunterdon County 4-H Fair for tractor pulls and down home eats, get in on some swashbuckling action during the Oasis Pirate Adventure or check out the Laurita Winery Food Trucks & Fireworks Festival for both grown up and kid-friendly activities. Need a jump on back-to-school learning? Sign up for the Bats for Beginners program at Tenafly Nature Center or learn about colonial craftsmanship firsthand during Industrial Crafts Day at Cooper Gristmill Park. Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

In every corner of our state, there’s something exciting to do this July weekend! So get out there with family and friends to soak up the summer sun and make great memories. Big festivals abound this time of year, so if you’re in the mood for delicious eats and lots of activity, check out Lucy the Elephant’s Birthday on the Boardwalk, the Asbury Park Blues & Brews Festival or the Burlington County Farm Fair. The fun continues with the return of the Fairy Festival at the Watershed Reserve, the Jersey Shore Comic Book Show and the City of Water Day in Hoboken.  

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.

After the big barbecues and fireworks of July 4th weekend, it’s time to kick back, relax and just enjoy these lazy days of summer! Blueberries are the official state fruit of New Jersey and you can get your fill of them during Blueberry Bash at Terhune Orchards or the BlueBeary Blast at Camden Children’s Garden. For even more great family outings, check out awesome LEGO creations at Brick Fest Live, listen to live tunes during the Front Porch Bluegrass Festival or snap your pic with Ironman during Superhero Day at the Lakewood Blueclaws minor league baseball game.

Whatever you decide to do this weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. For even more activity options, check out our Event Calendar and our Summer Fun Guide.