Mostly Free & Fun Things To Do With NJ Kids This Weekend October 26-27: Halloween Hocus Pocus, Crafts Festival & More!

10/23/13 - By Shari Simpson

'Tis the weekend before the main event and every ghost and goblin will be out in NJ, so grab your last chance at a pumpkin festival or do some Creepy Crawly Worm Dissection. And if you're aching for some non-spooky fun, try a overnight campout at a lovely arboretum or an enormous crafts festival with special activities for your junior craftsmen. Remember, you can find a full list of weekend activities in our Event Calendar and whatever you do, don't miss a chance to enter our great Giveaway to win $150 of Target Boys and Girls clothes and a $100 Target gift card. Happy Halloween!

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Great Pumpkin Festival (Vernon, NJ)
The last weekend to catch fall fun at the heavenly Heaven Hill Farm; the new Wild West Adventure Corn Maze, Spider Web Crawls, Maggie The Milking Play Cow, Monster Sling Shots, Barnyard Sports Ball-cade, Visiting Farm Animals and the Boo Barn are just a few of the wacky activities. Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 from 10am to 6pm. 9$/person.

Halloween Weekend Programs at Liberty Science Center (Jersey City, NJ)
If you like a little schoolin' with your Halloween fun, head over to this amazing science museum for exhibits like Bloody Hand Prints (learn about blood pH), Brainless Artifacts (animal skeletons, anyone?), Creepy Crawly Worm Dissection and much more. Free with museum admission. Saturday, October 26 and Sunday, October 27 from 11am to 4pm.

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival (Somerset, NJ)
Lovers of fine crafts and art will find more than 275 top artisans displaying and selling their unique creations in pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, home décor, furniture and home accessories, items for the garden, and photography. The show also includes live music and children’s entertainment--Middle Earth Studios returns with their popular dress-up theatre and your children can act in this fanciful show while you check out the merchandise. Friday and Saturday 10am to 6pm and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. $10 for adults, free for children under 12.

Saturday, October 26

Arboretum Campout (Short Hills, NJ)
Camp under the stars at the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum with dinner, a night hike, s'mores over a fire, story, and breakfast. Participants supply their own camp equipment. Saturday, October 26, from 3pm to 10am Sunday, October 27. Members: $45 for adults, $25 for children; Non-members: $50 for adults, $30 for children. Preregister here. 973-376-3587.

Fulper Family Farmstead Harvest Festival (Lambertville, NJ)
All those "F"'s have to add up to something fun.  Hayrides, photo booths, caramel apple dipping, pumpkin painting, live music, local foods, beverages, farm tours, meet and greets with the cows and more. Saturday, October 26 from 1pm to 5pm. $6 at door, $3 in advance at their website.

Sunday, October 27

Celebrate Fall (Summit, NJ)
Grab your overalls and straw hats and party amongst the child-made scarecrows in the lovely gardens of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. Sunday, October 27 from 11am to 4pm. $10/person, $25/family, free for members and kids under 3. 908-273-8787.

Halloween Hocus Pocus (Westfield, NJ)
Halloween fun at the Miller-Cory House Museum! Costumed docents will greet visitors at the door of the colonial farmhouse where kids can decorate a Halloween cupcake, do crafts, and listen to some great storytelling. Festive refreshments will be served and be sure to come in your Halloween costumes. The program will be great for young children. Sunday, October 27 from 1:30pm to 4pm. $4 per child, parents are free. Pre-registration is required. Please call 908-232-1776 or email the museum no later than Thursday, October 24 to register.

 

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.