A Round-Up Of 2012 Fall Festivals In NJ

Fall is here, and festivals abound. Which ones should you attend? Sneak a peek at our list and sample from the best of the best.

Pumpkin Land Festival
October 1-28
Vernon
Heaven Hill Farm, every day 10 am to 6 pm. Hayrides to the U-pick patch and corn and hay mazes. Dancing robots, duck racing, pony rides, magic shows, balloon art, live music, food. Admission $9 per person. (973-764-5144; heavenhillfarm.com)

Horse Sleigh Farm
All October weekends
Washington (Warren County)
Haunted attractions at 7 pm. Saturdays and Sundays, pie tastings, 1 pm. Pumpkin carving contest, Sunday, October 21, 5 pm. Free. (908-246-3044; horsesleighfarm.com)

23rd Annual Cranberry Festival
October 6-7
Bordentown City
Juried craft show with 125 vendors, featuring painting, pottery, pastry, wine, jewelry and clothing. Vintage car show Saturday, live music all weekend. 10 am to 5 pm. Free. (609-324-9909; downtownbordentown.com)

Cape May Wine Festival
October 6-7
Cape May
Come to Lewes Ferry Terminal to sample wines from New Jersey vineyards. Noon to 5 pm. Call for prices. (609-588-0085; newjerseywines.com)

8th Annual Festival in the Borough
October 6-7
Washington (Warren County)
Live music, 100 vendors, beer garden. Saturday, 11 am to 10 pm; Sunday, noon to 5 pm. Free. (908-689-4800; washingtonbid.org)

Harvest Festival
October 6-7
Ringwood
New Jersey State Botanical Garden in Ringwood State Park, 10 am to 5 pm. Free. (973-962-9534, njbg.org)

21st Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival
October 7
Blackwood
Blackwood Library, 15 S. Black Horse Pike.  Food, games, four entertainment stages, 200 vendors. Pumpkin painting and carving, hayrides
and costume contest. 11 am to 4 pm. (Rain date: October 14) Free. (856-227-3091; 609-405-0306; mainstage.org/pumpkin-festival)

Scarecrow Hollow Corn Maze Fall Festival
October 7
Salem
This year’s maze theme is the Titanic. Maze features three miles of trails with clues. Puppet show, magic show, hay rides to the pumpkin patch, food, picnic area, pedal-car track, tricycle track. Noon to 6 pm (rain date October 14). Free. (856-935-3469; scarecrowhollow.org)

9th Annual South Jersey Pumpkin Show
October 12-14
Woodstown
At the Salem County Fairgrounds. Live music, pumpkin baking contest. Men’s pumpkin toss, hayrides, farm equipment. Pumpkin Weigh-Off 5 pm Friday, with $2,000 in prizes for five biggest. Free admission; parking, $5 per car. (856-765-0118; sjpumpkinshow.com)
 
Harvest Moon Hayrides and Nighttime Corn Maze
October 12-27
Chester
At Alstede Farms, Fridays and Saturdays only, 6 to 10 pm. Unlimited hot and cold cider. Pick your own pumpkins by flashlight, s’mores roasting kits, hot food. Tickets onsale 5:30 pm; children, $14.95, adults, $16.95. Discounts for groups of 20 or more. (908-879-7189; alstedefarms.com)

Mercer County Cultural Festival
October 13
West Windsor
Celebrate diversity in Mercer County Park through traditional foods, art, crafts, live music and dance. 11 am to 6 pm. (Rain date: October 14). Free. (609-278-2712; nj.gov/counties/mercer/commissions/cultural/culturalfest.html)

Grand Harvest Wine Festival
October 13-14
Morristown
Fosterfields Historical Living Farm. The event will feature musicians, artists, craftsmen, and wines from New Jersey wineries. Noon to 5 pm. Admission $22. (609-588-0085; newjerseywines.com

Haunted Mill
October 13-27
Clinton
In Red Mill Village, 6:30 to 10 pm, Fridays and Saturdays only. Tickets $25 and $45. (56 Main Street; 908-735-4101; clintonhauntedmill.org)

Journey Through the Past
October 13-14
Somerset County
Visit 27 historic sites in Somerset County for an educational detective game. Admission and parking, free. Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm ; Sunday, noon to 4 pm. (908-231-7110; schistoryweekend.com)

Mum Madness and Pumpkin Parade Family Festival
October 13-14
Camden
Pumpkin crafts, a pumpkin story and pumpkin activities, set amid the Children’s Garden’s chrysanthemums. Purchase and paint a pumpkin to take home (while supplies last). Event admission is free with regular Camden Children’s Garden entry, $6 per person and free for children two and younger. (856-365-8733; amdenchildrensgarden.org/events.html)

Sussex County Harvest and Honey Festival
October 13
Branchville
Farmers’ market, environmental, agricultural and heritage presentations, birding and nature walks, photography exhibit, games and activities for children, all at the Sussex County Fairgrounds. 10 am to 4 pm. Free. (973-579-0500; sussexfarmvisits.com)

Last Fling Pumpkin Sling
October 20-21
Harmony
Millbrook Farm. 9 am to 6 pm. Adults, $6; children 5-12, $4; children four and under, free. Parking, free. (908-283-0721; pumpkinsling.com)

30th Autumn House Tour
October 21
Lambertville
Lambertville Historical Society hosts self-guided walking tour through a grand mansion, a 200-year-old inn, and a church. 11 am to 6 pm . Tickets $20 in advance, $25 day of tour. (60 Bridge Street; 609-397-0770; lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org)

Goblins in the Garden Family Festival
October 27-28
Camden
Come in costume to the Camden Children’s Garden. Haunted train ride, haunted maze, fortune tellers, trick-or-treating during costume parade. Mexican Day of the Dead celebration. Camden Children’s Garden, 1 pm to 4 pm. Event admission free with regular Camden Children’s Garden entry, $6 per person and free for children two and younger. (3 Riverside Drive; 856-356-8733; camdenchildrensgarden.org/events.html)

Fall Family Fun Weekends
Saturdays and Sundays through October 28
Princeton
Visit Terhune Orchards for apple and pumpkin picking. Pony rides, wagon rides, corn stalk maze, farm animals. Live music by local talent (between noon and 4 pm), and lots of food. Admission to festival area, $5, ages three and up. Free entry to farm store, winery and apple and pumpkin picking. Parking is at the farm. (609-924-2310 terhuneorchards.com)

Stony Hill Farm Market Corn Maze
Through October 31
Chester
Try the 10-acre corn maze, Miner Max maze, rope maze, tile maze and Noah’s Ark playgroup. Weekdays 10 am to 6 pm. Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am to 9 pm. Admission, $12.99. (908-879-2908; stonyhillgardens.com/market/funpark/)

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