All Weekend

Great Pumpkin Festival (Vernon, NJ)
Welcome the month of October at The Great Pumpkin Festival at Heaven Hill Farm in Northern NJ. It’s the perfect time to take a scenic hayride and choose your family’s Halloween pumpkin. The fest runs Wednesdays thru Sundays until the end of October, but check the website for details, as some of the activities only take place on weekends and cost an extra fee, such as pony rides, face painting and amusement park rides. All ages welcome. Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday & Sunday 10am-6pm. $7/Person (Weekdays), $9/Person (Weekends), Children under 2 are free. 973-764-5144

Harvest Fest (Ringwood, NJ)
For some good old-fashioned autumn fun, check out Harvest Fest at the awesome NJ State Botanical Gardens. Pack in as much fall family fun as you can handle with hayrides, pumpkin painting, face painting, storytellers, tasty food, music and dancing, fun photo ops, garden tours and lots more! Add in an autumn plant sale and an Artisan craft fair with many hand-made items, and you've got yourself a great outing. All ages welcome. Saturday & Sunday 10am-5pm. FREE admission & parking (activities & vendors may require an additional charge). 973-962-9534

Saturday, October 5th

Drop In Story Time (Middletown, NJ)
Head to the beautiful Deep Cut Gardens this Saturday for their Surprise Drop In Story Time. Mystery readers from the Park System staff and volunteers will read a favorite nature- or garden-related book. If it’s rainy or cold, your group will gather inside the Horticultural Center, and in nice weather everyone will enjoy a story in the garden. A clue at the entrance will lead you to the secret spot! Recommended for ages 2-5. 11am-12pm. FREE. 732-671-6050

Harvest Moon Hayrides (Chester, NJ)
On Friday & Saturday evenings in October, get in the mood for Halloween with harvest moon hayrides at Alstede Farms! Fun for the whole family, your gang will enjoy country tunes spun by a DJ, a warm campfire and unlimited hot apple cider. Let everyone burn off some energy as they make their way through the night time corn maze. For an additional fee, you can head out to the field and pick your own pumpkin by flashlight. All ages welcome. Friday & Saturday nights 6-10pm. $15.95/Child, $17.95/Adult. 908-879-7189

WBGO Kids Jazz Concert (South Orange, NJ)
On Halloween overload already? Head to the South Orange Performing Arts Center for something a little different! WBGO Kids Jazz Concert is a free and interactive, hour-long show that give kids opportunities to learn about the distinct qualities of jazz, and why it's a reflection of our community, our nation and our world. Q&A sessions with the artists, small gifts and a chance to win a door prize are just some of the reasons to try this lovely venue. On Saturday, the six-piece ensemble Firey String Sistas will take children on a journey through the history and legacy of African-American and urban culture. Recommended for ages 5 & up. 12:30-1:30pm. FREE.

Sunday, October 6th

Totally Amazing Insects (Holmdel, NJ)
Did you know insects can live everywhere from jungles and deserts to mountains and streams? Their homes include leaves, nests, and other animals’ fur. There are nearly ten million different kinds of insects in the world and scientists discover thousands more each year. Head to Holmdel Park on Sunday to learn some totally weird facts (like what gross things an insect might eat) and how to be a bug hunter! After the program, take a climb on the playground or bring a ball to kick around and enjoy the gorgeous fall weather. Recommended for ages 5-8. 11am-2pm. $7/Person. 732-946-9562

Hawks over the Hudson (Alpine, NJ)
The Palisades Interstate Park hosts this annual event featuring live birds of prey presented by the Delaware Valley Raptor Center. Between the programs, which will be held at 1 and 2:30 PM, visitors will have a chance to see the animals up close, chat with the presenters, and to enjoy activities and exhibits by some of the member organizations of the Nature Program Cooperative. Visitors can also stop by an ongoing “Hawk Watch” only a few yards beyond the parking area — and 530 feet above the Hudson River. There they can try their luck at spotting wild raptors — hawks, eagles, and falcons — as they migrate south. All ages welcome. 12-4pm. FREE. 201-768-1360

Check out our GO NJ List, with our top picks of awesome things to do for kids in the upcoming month! GO OCTOBER is hot off the presses!

And don't forget: We have additional activity listings in our Event Calendar. And if you are heading into NYC for the weekend make sure you visit the New York City Mommy Poppins events calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had NYC-style.