Laurie Rein

Laurie Rein is passionate about finding fun (especially free!) activities for her twin daughters. Before joining Mommy Poppins New Jersey, Laurie worked in the television industry, with roles as an NBC page, copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and research manager for CBS.

Latest posts by Laurie

Free in October 2025: 51 Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/30/2025 - 6:36am

The Ridgefield Park Music Fest Street Fair has lots to see and do, including music, food, games, and rides. Photo courtesy of JC Promotions

The month of October is chock full of goodies, with more than 50 fun and FREE events for NJ kids and families. Save your money for candy and costumes, and take advantage of dozens of no-cost events every day of the month. Food, crafts, and fall fun are on tap at harvest festivals, including the Dunellen HarvestFest and Palmer Square's Fall Fest. Swing by local street community celebrations in Matawan and Maplewood.

October comes to a close with the main event of the season: Halloween. Throw on those costumes and head over to FREE celebrations, including trunk-or-treats in Union and D over and annual favorites like the Ocean City Halloween Parade.

For more FREE and low-cost fun, check out Free Halloween Events in New Jersey and our Family Activity Calendar, as well as our Fall Fun Guide for New Jersey Kids and H alloween Events and Guide for NJ Kids.

Halloween and 17 More Things To Do in NJ with Kids October 2025, from Mommy Poppins Editors

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/28/2025 - 11:42am

More than 100 wild and crazy scarecrows are on display in downtown Cranford during the annual Scarecrow Stroll. Photo by Barbara Paciello/courtesy of Downtown Cranford

Halloween is the name of the game in October, which means New Jersey is alive with pumpkin patches, haunted houses, fall festivals, and, of course, trick-or-treating—there are plenty of opportunities to wear Halloween costumes!

This month is jam-packed with fun fall activities and awesome things to do in New Jersey. Find creepy and kooky Halloween excitement all month long at Westfield's Addamsfest, as well as Halloween fun with furry friends at Cape May's Boo at the Zoo.

Local seasonal celebrations include food, fun, and pumpkins at Thompson Park Day and a downtown full of scarecrows at Cranford's Scarecrow Stroll.

Check out even more October fun in our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide,

Top Free Halloween Events in New Jersey 2025: Trunk-or-Treats, Parades, and More Fun

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:05pm

Party with the animals this month at Cape May's Boo at the Zoo. Photo courtesy of the Cape May County Zoo

There are no tricks here; instead, we've got a special treat: 25 FREE Halloween events and parades in New Jersey. The weeks leading up to Halloween are full of festivals, costume parades, and plenty more opportunities for ghosts and goblins to dress up and score some scary-good treats.

Read on for our top picks, and be sure to bookmark our Halloween Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun. Happy Halloween, New Jersey!

Best Halloween Events in New Jersey 2025 for Kids and Families

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/21/2025 - 7:10am

Take a stroll past more than 6,000 hand-carved Jack-O-Lanterns at the Jack O’ Lantern Experience at Skylands Stadium. Photo courtesy of the event

Spooktacular news, New Jersey: Halloween 2025 is coming, bringing a slew of family-friendly Halloween events! From over-the-top fun at theme parks like Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest a nd Kids Boo Fest to animal-centric celebrations like Cape May's Boo at the Zoo, here are the best Halloween activities in New Jersey for kids and families.

Be sure to bookmark this post, as we plan to update it throughout the month with all the upcoming must-do events. And check out our Guide to Halloween Events in New Jersey and New Jersey Fall Fun Guide for even more thrills.

The Creepiest, Kookiest Fall Festival for Kids: AddamsFest 2025 in Westfield

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Fri, 09/19/2025 - 11:24am

As part of AddamsFest, Quimby Street in Westfield closes to traffic and transforms into an Addams-centric street fair. Photo by author

This creepy, kooky, but not-too-spooky celebration takes over New Jersey's suburban town of Westfield in October, honoring Addams Family creator and hometown native Charles Addams. In its 8th fabulous season, this year's theme of the month-long Halloween festival is femme fatale, and it celebrates the iconic matriarch Morticia Addams.

From the Wicked Windows of Westfield display to the Addams Family Fun Day, the mostly free and non-spooky events of AddamsFest are bewitching for all ages and well worth checking out.

For an even more frightfully fun Halloween, don't miss our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for New Jersey Kids and Best Halloween Events in New Jersey for Kids and Families.

Best Pumpkin Patches in New Jersey for Families in 2025

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 09/14/2025 - 9:53am

Hit the fields to pick a perfect pumpkin at Johnson's Locust Hall Farm. Photo by Elizabeth Mae Photography/courtesy of the farm

This year, skip the grocery store pumpkins and head to a New Jersey pumpkin patch, where you're sure to experience other fall fun, including barnyard animals, corn mazes, and plenty of juicy apples that are ripe for the picking.

Find more Halloween activities in our New Jersey Halloween Guide and check out our New Jersey Fall Fun Guide for the best things to do with kids this autumn.

46 Fun and Free Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids September 2025

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Tue, 09/02/2025 - 7:05am

Take to the water during Port Monmouth's Wind & Sea Festival. Photo courtesy of the Monmouth County Park System

Our roundup of FREE September events and activities in New Jersey is the perfect remedy for end-of-summer blues.

September is off to a promising start with local neighborhood fairs throughout the state, like Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck.

As summer transitions to fall, get in the autumn spirit at admission-free seasonal events, including R idgewood Fall Craft Street Fair and Harvest Home Festival.

For more free and low-cost fun, check out our Event Calendar.

Best 2025 Fall Festivals and Fairs in New Jersey

Submitted by Laurie Rein on Sun, 08/31/2025 - 10:09am

Beautiful blooms are just the start of the fun at Holland Ridge Farms Fall Flower Festival. Photo by Patrick Marini/courtesy of the farm

As the carefree days of summer draw to a close, these fall festivals in New Jersey give families plenty to look forward to. Chow down on delicious seafood at the Downbeach Seafood Festival, and sneak in some early Halloween fun at Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest and Kids Boo Fest, plus, get a taste of fall at local fairs, including Jersey City's All About Downtown Street Fair and Sea Isle City Family Fall Festival.

Read on for more info on the great New Jersey fairs and festivals happening in September and October.

Laurie Rein

Latest posts by Laurie

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