Halloween Weekend Fun for NJ Kids: Halloween Spooktacular, Great Pumpkin Sail, Oct 31-Nov 1

10/27/15 - By Laurie Rein

Halloween is finally here! Costumes? Check! (since August in my house). Trick-or-treat candy? Check! Halloween plans? There are so many to choose from. Head to the 4th Annual Halloween Spooktacular at the NJ State Museum, learn about Historic Halloween Happenings at Fosterfields Farm or conduct some creepy chemistry during the Ghoul School event at Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Reserve. You can also close out October with a bang and watch your jack-o-lantern float away during the Great Pumpkin Sail at Echo Lake Park. And for a little break from the Halloween hoopla, check out the Weeki Wachee Mermaids at Adventure Aquarium or take in a performance of Curious George at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Whatever you decide to do this Halloween weekend, we hope you enjoy it with family and friends. Be sure to check out the full list of Halloween and weekend activities in our Event Calendar.

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Weeki Wachee Mermaids (Camden, NJ)
Have you ever seen a mermaid? If not, this is your chance. The world-famous Mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida are headed to Adventure Aquarium for a magical performance before an up close and personal mermaid meet & greet.

Snyder’s Farm Fall Festival (Somerset, NJ)
Head on over to the last weekend of the bustling fall fest at Snyder’s Farm. Take your pick from all the traditional autumn activities such as the hay rides, corn maze, spider web climb, face painting, barn animal feedings and of course, pumpkin picking.

Saturday, October 31st (Halloween)

4th Annual Halloween Spooktacular (Trenton, NJ)
Head to the NJ State Museum in costume and enjoy Halloween-themed activities. There will be a costume parade and contest for the kiddos and a free planetarium and laser show. Children can also get crafty and make their own bug costumes!

Historic Halloween Happenings (Morristown, NJ)
Families are invited to Fosterfields Farm for a festive daytime Halloween event. Play special Halloween games, decorate cookies and try on old-fashioned costumes. Then take a guided walk to spot hidden pumpkins in the woods before hopping on a horse-drawn wagon ride.

Safe Howl-o-Ween (West Orange, NJ)
Bring your candy bags and come in costume for Turtle Back Zoo’s family-friendly Halloween celebration. There will be themed entertainment, candy giveaways and friendly animals to meet! Also be sure to swing by the train station for the popular “Not-So-Scary” Train Ride.

Ghoul School (Pennington, NJ)
Creepy chemistry and mad science experiments are taking over the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed lab this Saturday. Join the Teacher-Naturalists for some silly and serious Halloween fun – feel free to dress in costume!

Halloween Family Painting Class (Berkley Heights, NJ)
Unleash your inner artist this Halloween! Families are invited to Kayla's Creative Art Studio for an all ages painting class. Instructors will help each family create a spooky cat painting to take home and display every October.  

Sunday, November 1st

New Providence Fall Festival (New Providence, NJ)
Visit the quaint town of New Providence for a giant town block party. Check out the kiddie rides, climbing wall, pony rides, petting zoo, clown, face painting, sand art, temporary tattoos and much more – whew! Enjoy entertainment from local bands and delicious eats including traditional Italian zeppoles and cheese steaks.

Curious George Musical (Morristown, NJ)
Join the inquisitive, lovable little monkey Curious George from book and TV fame in a musical at the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Sit back and watch the adventure as George travels to Rome for the Golden Meatball Contest and helps Chef Pisghetti cook – and see what trouble ensues!

The Great Pumpkin Sail (Mountainside, NJ)
Close out Halloween in a special way. Bring your carved jack-o-lantern to Echo Lake Park this Sunday and watch as your pumpkin is put on a float to sail away on the lake. Sing songs around the campfire and enjoy hot chocolate and marshmallows.

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 check out the New York City Mommy Poppins Event Calendar to get the latest on all the fun to be had Big Apple-style.