Emma Wallace It’s that time of year when sundresses are swapped for chunky sweaters and refreshing lemonade gives way to delicious, warm apple cider. There are endless activities to enjoy this fall, even when the cooler weather has you wanting to curl up indoors with a good book and a cozy blanket. From picking pumpkins for Jack-o’-lanterns to trying the entire lineup of seasonal drinks, there’s no shortage of ways to embrace the season. Read on for a list of fall activities to do in New Jersey and where to find them.
Fall Food + Drink Stops
The Coffee Potter | 24 Schooleys Mountain Road, Long Valley
The Coffee Potter is a cozy Long Valley stop where you can warm up with a seasonal drink while enjoying the fall scenery. Located at 24 Schooleys Mountain Road, the cafe is a great place to grab a cup of coffee or a sweet treat after spending the day exploring the area. Stop by for a taste of fall with specials like Spiced Chai, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Salted Maple Latte. The cafe is open weekdays from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM and weekends from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Ironbound Farm | 360 Co Road 579, Asbury
For a night of adult fun, head to Ironbound Farm and Ciderhouse in Asbury for hard cider, farm-to-table food, and a laid-back evening surrounded by the farm’s scenic grounds. The Ciderhouse is housed in a restored 18th-century barn and crafts fresh cider from 100% fresh-pressed apples, along with wines and cocktails. The company’s fall lineup includes Pumpkin Spice and Gooseberry Ginger. After grabbing a drink, settle in around the fire pits, catch live music, or explore the farm and market for a full fall outing.
Roosters Coffeehouse | 202 Main Street, Ledgewood
Roosters Coffeehouse in Ledgewood is a great spot to get into the fall spirit with one of its seasonal drinks. The cozy coffeehouse serves up warm and flavorful beverages that are perfect for sipping on a crisp autumn day. Stop in to try one of their Apple Ciders, Pumpkin Chai Tea Latte, or Pumpkin Haystack, made with espresso, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, and topped with a toasted marshmallow. Roosters Coffeehouse is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Ort Farms | 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
Ort Farms in Long Valley is a must-stop for fall treats, especially its freshly made cider donuts. After picking up a warm donut, browse the farm store for seasonal produce, baked goods, and local products. Come on the weekends in October and celebrate the farm’s fall festival packed with apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, farm animals, play areas, and more family-friendly fun. Visitors can stop by from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM any day of the week.
See More: A Massive Thrift Market Is Coming to Jersey City on October 10th
Burnt Mills Cider | 3540 US-206, Bedminster
Burnt Mills Cider in Bedminster is a great fall destination for everything spice and cider. Stop by to try the cider-making company’s wide range of locally made hard cider. With flavors ranging from Berry Crumble to Fall Spice and Hibiscus Rose, there is a cider for everybody. The facility’s hours vary throughout the week, so be sure to check the website before visiting.
Alstede Farms | 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Alstede Farms in Chester is a one-stop shop for all things fall. Explore the farm’s selection of seasonal produce, baked goods, locally made products, and other farm favorites at its market. When done with shopping, get lost in a giant corn maze or sunflower trail while enjoying some homemade ice cream. It’s a great place to stock up on autumn goodies while immersing in the great outdoors. The farm is open daily from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Riamede Farm | 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Riamede Farm in Chester is a fall favorite for enjoying the apple season, including its refreshing apple cider floats and creamy apple cider donut sundaes. The farm is a great place to enjoy a sweet treat and take in the sights of scenic farmland. Riamede Farm is open Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Cosy Cup Library Cafe | 424 West Side Avenue, Jersey City
Cosy Cup Library Cafe in Jersey City is the perfect place to enjoy a cozy fall afternoon with the season’s best flavors. In addition to autumn classics like the Pumpkin Spice Latte and Pumpkin Spice Dirty Chai, the coffee shop has a lineup of speciality drinks such as a Caramel Popcorn Latte, Pecan Latte, and Cookies & Ghouls Latte.
Fall Outings + Experiences
Black River & Western Railroad | 80 Stangl Road, Flemington
The Pumpkin Train in Flemington is a festive fall excursion aboard the Black River & Western Railroad. Passengers are taken from Flemington to Everitt Farms at Pumpkin Junction, which includes a round-trip train ride, access to a six-acre pumpkin patch, a corn maze, wagon rides, a petting zoo, and kid-friendly activities. Guests can also enjoy music and games hosted by a live DJ, with food and drinks available for purchase at the farm.
Demarest Farms | 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
Demarest Farms in Hillsdale has a petting zoo, seasonal events, and a variety of “pick your own” activities depending on the time of year. In the fall, visitors can pick their own pumpkins and apples while enjoying some classic farm fun. Be sure to also stop by the Farm Market for fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, seasonal treats, and the farm’s famous apple cider donuts.
Skylands Stadium | 94 Championship Place, Augusta
Skylands Stadium offers a Jack-O’-Lantern Experience where the venue transforms into a glowing Halloween attraction from September 25 through November 1. The 45-minute walk-through features more than 6,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns along with spooky scenes, lighting effects, and soundscapes. Guests can also enjoy an interactive corn maze, pumpkin activities, live entertainment, seasonal food and drinks, a beer garden, and a s’mores fire pit.
Stony Hill Farms | 15 North Road, Chester
Stony Hill Farms features a giant 10-acre corn maze to stump visitors of all ages. The Giant Corn Maze, which is open until November 1, can take anywhere from one to three hours to solve. This maze is designed with a different theme every year. The 2026 theme is NJ 250 to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial this year. The farm also hosts special events with the maze, such as flashlight nights, so keep an eye on the website for more information.
Ramapo Valley County Reservation | 608 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah
Ramapo Valley County Reservation in Mahwah is a beautiful spot to take in New Jersey’s fall foliage. It is an ideal destination for a hike where you will find colorful trees, streaming waterfalls, and crisp autumn air. There are 15 miles of trails that are marked for you, and the trails can be as easy or as hard as you would like. This is a nature-dense park, and you feel like you are truly in the woods.
Heaven Hill Farm | 451 NJ-94, Vernon Township
Heaven Hill Farm is a New Jersey fall favorite thanks to its annual Great Pumpkin Festival. The festival features more than 35 seasonal activities, including hayrides, a corn maze, farm animals, pig races, a pumpkin patch, and the Dynamo Dog Show. There’s also no shortage of fresh flavors at the farm market, where visitors can pick up freshly baked pies, donuts, and other seasonal treats. Open seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, visitors can also pick out their own pumpkins to take home or get a thrill on featured carnival rides.
Holland Ridge Farms | 108 Rues Road, Cream Ridge
Holland Ridge Farms in Cream Ridge is a picture-perfect fall destination during its U-Pick Sunflower Festival. Visitors can wander over 300 acres of sprawling sunflower fields and pick their own stems to take home. While strolling through the sun-kissed fields, stop by the feeding zoo to get up close with farm animals or indulge in something from one of the many food trucks open seven days a week. It’s a beautiful way to spend an autumn day outdoors while snapping a few photos on the way.
Von Thun Farms | 438 NJ-57, Washington
Von Thun Farms is a classic fall destination for apple and pumpkin picking. Spend the day at the farm’s corn maze, hitch a ride on the hayride, or take a shot at the corn cannons and apple blasters. The farm has two locations in Washington and South Brunswick that offer similar activities. After enjoying the more than 30 games and attractions, stop by the farm market for fresh-baked goods, including the farm’s homemade apple cider donuts.
US Ghost Adventures | Princeton
Get into the spooky spirit with the Princeton Purgatory Ghost Tour, a one-hour walking tour through some of the town’s most historic and allegedly haunted spots. Along the way, local guides share eerie stories, reported ghost sightings, and strange happenings tied to places like the Princeton Battle Monument, Town Topics Building, and Rockefeller College. The tour covers about one mile through Princeton and is a fun way to add a little paranormal fun to fall.
See More: A List of North Jersey’s Most Haunted Places
Ort Farms | 25 Bartley Road, Long Valley
Get into the autumn spirit at Ort Farms in Long Valley, where visitors can spend the day picking apples and searching for the perfect pumpkin.Come on the weekends in October and celebrate the farm’s fall festival packed with apple picking, pumpkin picking, hayrides, farm animals, play areas, and more family-friendly fun. Visitors can stop by from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM any day of the week.
Alstede Farms | 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester
Alstede Farms in Chester is a go-to spot for a full day of fall fun, with plenty of seasonal activities to enjoy. Pick out the perfect pumpkin, explore the farm, and soak up the autumn scenery throughout the property. With its festive atmosphere and variety of activities, it’s an easy place to spend a crisp fall day with family or friends.
Riamede Farm | 122 Oakdale Road, Chester
Riamede Farm in Chester is a great spot to enjoy the best of apple- and pumpkin-picking season. Wander through the orchard to pick your own apples, then head over to the pumpkin patch to find one to bring home. The farm is a great place to enjoy a sweet treat and take in the sights of scenic farmland. Riamede Farm is open Wednesday to Monday from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Alba Vineyard & Winery | 269 County Road 627, Milford
Take in New Jersey’s fall foliage from a whole new perspective at Alba Vineyard & Winery in Milford. On October 17 and 18, visitors can take a five to seven-minute helicopter ride over the vineyard and scenic Delaware River Valley. After the flight, guests can relax at the vineyard with a complimentary glass of Alba wine, food available for purchase, and live music.
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