Gary DiGregorio, owner of the Twin Pond Farm & Country Market in Howell, demonstrates pumpkin bowling. Using a small pumpkin as the ball and hay bales as gutters, he bowls a strike. Everyone gets a prize in the game, with four strikes earning the big prize. MATT DENTON Fall is here, and there are plenty of seasonal activities for everyone to take part in this month.
Whether it is painting pumpkins, partaking in haunted Halloween activities, going apple picking, walking through a corn maze or building a scarecrow, the variety of fun fall activities is virtually limitless before November arrives.
It is “Brock-tober Fest” at Brock Farms Home & Garden World, which offers families all kinds of Halloween fun. The farms are located on Route 9 in Freehold and Route 34 in Colts Neck, and display more than 10,000 square feet of Halloween merchandise.
On weekends, the Freehold farm will be the host to a haunted house, hayrides and a corn maze to walk through; the Colts Neck farm has a straw maze, photo opportunities, hayrides and pumpkins to pick. Both farm locations operate seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Von Thun’s Country Farm Market in Monmouth Junction boasts this year’s corn maze theme is American Idol Jax, and weekend events include pumpkin blaster, corn cannon and hayrides. If day-trippers or neighbors are looking to pick their own fruits and vegetables, they can visit Giamarese Farm & Orchards at Fresh Ponds Road, East Brunswick. The farm’s popular sweet corn is available through October. Giamarese Farm & Orchards also offers activities such as weekend hayrides and school tours. The fall attraction is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays (closed Mondays).
If thrill seekers are busy during the day, C. Casola Farms will be featuring its 19th annual “haunted attractions” through Oct. 31 every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 11 p.m. and Sundays from 7 to 10 p.m. The eerie attractions include the haunted hayride of terror, the 3D haunted barn, haunted wooded trail, the living maze, and the zombie breakout. It is located at South Main Street, Marlboro.
If parents and guardians are looking to book a birthday party or class trip, look no further than the Twin Pond Farm Garden Center and Country Market on Route 9 North, Howell.
Fall attractions include a free corn maze, pumpkin basketball and bowling, rubber ducky races and pumpkin slingshot. Twin Pond Farm also offers a free pond seminar on Oct. 14 at 6:30 p.m. All activities are open every day until Nov. 1.
Indoor theme park iPlay America is hosting a spooky, spectacular Halloween through Nov. 1 on Schanck Road, Freehold.
The festivities entail live shows every Friday-Sunday, “trick or treat trail” every Sunday (plus Oct. 30 and 31), and a special Halloween kids menu and Halloween themed cocktails at its restaurant, Game Time Bar and Grill.
Emery’s Farm on Long Swamp Road, New Egypt, consists of a six-acre maze with a clue game. The attractions are open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The farm also has a two-acre children’s maze with a treasure hunt. If that is not enough, the farm also hosts farm animals, a straw bale maze, and apple cider and pumpkin donuts.
Etsch Farms in Monroe Township hosts a bakery barn with cider donuts, education lessons, and flashlight nights on Fridays and Saturdays. The farm welcomes birthday parties and other group activities.
The farm hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to noon and closed on Sundays. The bakery barn is open on Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Von Thun’s Country Farm Market in Monmouth Junction is open every day until Oct. 31. The hayrides, pumpkin blaster, corn cannons, pedal carts, and more are open only on weekends. The theme for this year’s corn maze is American Idol Jax.
Angos Farm in Forked River is providing a complete family experience where all can enjoy pumpkin picking, a new jumbo jumper air pillow, pig racing, pony rides and a cow train ride.
Angos Farm is open for the month of October from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The farm is also open on Wednesdays Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m., and has a special opening on Columbus Day, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
In Central New Jersey, K & S Farms presents the “sunshine acres” this October, where many activities for small children and families are available.
K & S Farms is also the place for brave teens and adults, as the farm features the “Field of Terror” where four events take place nightly every Friday through Sunday in October.
The field of terror activities include the “killer kornfield,” the haunted hayride, the unknown barn, and dementia 3D. The farm is located on Windsor-Perrineville Road, East Windsor.
If the field of terror is not spooky enough, Corner of Chaos Halloween Attractions in Mercer County is sure to get the job done. Located in East Windsor, the farmland features four attractions, plus food, refreshments and more.
If these spooky Halloween attractions do not get the job done, clowns and “criminal freaks” sure will. The Dark Carnival in Bayville involves serious actors tormenting guests who are brave enough to venture through the 8,000-square-foot circus arena.
The Dark Carnival is open from 7 to 11 p.m. every Friday through Sunday through Oct. 31.
If fall lovers want to stray from spooky and enjoy the season’s best highlights of a relaxing nature, Halloween in Ocean Grove is the place to go. The friendly environment is hosting a Fall Harvest Festival on Oct. 10 and a Halloween Parade on Oct. 31.
There is a one-of-a-kind attraction for kids of all ages in Phillipsburg: the Delaware River Railroad Excursions. The Dinosaur Train Corn Maze, the only one of its kind, will be open weekends through the end of October.
The great pumpkin train chugs through the beautiful fall landscape of Western New Jersey, while the Warren County Winery train rides along the Delaware, and a short bus ride through farmlands brings guests to the Villa Milagro Vineyards where they learn how grapes are grown and made into wine.
In Chester, Alstede Farms welcomes the fall harvest with moon hayrides, family fun days, and fruits and vegetables to pick on your own.
The attraction offers hours of entertainment for the entire family at this farm that is nestled in Morris County. The harvest moon hayrides are active every Friday and Saturday through Oct. 24 from 6 to 10 p.m.
Tickets are $16.99 for children and $18.99 per adult. The ticket includes unlimited cold or hot apple cider, a campfire, corn mazes, a hayride to the pumpkin patch and pumpkin picking.
Haunted Express Nighttime Rides Oct. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24, 7:30-9:30 p.m. train takes off every half-hour Allaire State Park, 4265 Atlantic Ave., Wall train fare: $7.50 732-938-5524
The Rocky Horror Picture Show 40th Anniversary Oct. 9 at 11 p.m. State Theatre, 15 Livingston Ave., New Brunswick tickets: $14, free goodie bag of props 732-246-7469; www.statetheatrenj.org
Creatures of the Night! The Mystery of the Missing Pumpkins hayride Oct. 9-24, Fri. and Sat. between 4:30 and 8 p.m. Huber Woods Park, 25 Brown’s Dock Road, Locust tickets: $8, preregistration only: 732-842-4000 ext. 1 www.monmouthcountyparks.com
Halloween Laser Fright Light Oct. 10, 17, 24 at 8:30 p.m., Oct. 12, 14 at 12:30 p.m. Robert J. Novins Planetarium Ocean County College, College Drive, Toms River tickets: $10; $8 seniors; $7 for age 12 and under 732-255-0342; www.ocean.edu
Woodbridge Ghost Walk Oct. 10 and 17, tours from 6:30-9:30 p.m. 55-minute tour leaves every 15 minutes Parker Press Park, Rahway Avenue, Woodbridge tickets: $6
Vampire & Zombie Parade Oct. 10 at 5 p.m. Board of Ed. building to Parker Press Park, Woodbridge get your face made up, fees start at $10
Forest of Fright haunted hayride, haunted village Oct. 16, 17, 23 and 24, 6-9 p.m. Historic Allaire Village, 4263 Atlantic Ave., Wall admission: $15, $10 children 732-919-3500; www.allairevillage.org
“Come at Your Own Risk” Haunted Theater Tour Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, and 25 evening tours: 7-10:30 p.m. tickets: $12; $10 seniors $8 high school students children’s tours: Oct. 17, 18, 24 and 25, 2-4 p.m., $5 per person Brookdale Community College 765 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft 732-224-2411
Milltown Haunted River Walk Oct. 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31, 7-10 p.m. Mill Pond Path, Washington Ave. & Main St., Milltown
68th annual Red Bank Halloween Parade Oct. 18 at 2 p.m., lineup at 1 p.m. rain date: Oct. 25 down Broad Street, ends at White Street parking lot
7th annual History Ghost Walk Oct. 18 at 5:30 p.m. Eden Wooley House, 703 Deal Rd., Asbury Park 732-531-2136
The Story of Irish Jack Oct. 24 and 25 Kateri Center, 160 Conover Road, Wickatunk tickets: $18 ages 5-12 reservations: 732-946-9694; www.katerinighthike.com
Atlantic Frightlands Halloween Haunted House Tour Oct. 24, 25, 31 and Nov. 1, 6-9 p.m., tickets: $7 Strauss Mansion, 27 Prospect Circle, Atlantic Highlands
5th annual Public Ghost Hunt Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m., Oct. 25 at 1 a.m. Historic Burrows Mansion, 94 Main St., Matawan tickets: $50 in advance only, must be age 16 and older burrowsghosthunt.eventbrite.com
Highlands Zombie Parade & Pub Crawl Oct. 24 at 2 p.m., preregistered for parade by Oct. 21 Bay Avenue, Highlands fee: $5, check in at 10 a.m. in Huddy Park www.highlandsnj.com
Evil Dead: The Musical Oct. 27 at 8 p.m. Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank tickets: $29-$49 sit in the Splatter Zone and get drenched in fake blood from the on-stage mayhem: $75 732-842-9000; thebasie.org
Ghost Track NJ Paranormal findings of Barron Arts Center Oct. 30 at 7, 8 or 10 p.m. Barron Arts Center, 582 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge fee: $10 reservations only: 732-634-0413
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. Algonquin Arts Theatre, 173 Main St., Manasquan 732-528-9211; www.algonquinarts.org
The Great Pumpkin Train weekends through October, 11 a.m., 12:30, 2 and 3 p.m. 99 Elizabeth St., Phillipsburg tickets: $17; $11 children 908-454-4433; www.877trainride.com
Halloween Parade prizes for best-dressed pets Oct. 31 at noon Firemen’s Park, Ocean Grove
Fright Fest thrills by day, fright by night through Nov. 1 weekends and Oct. 12 Six Flags Great Adventure, Route 537, Jackson www.sixflags.com/greatadventure
Haunted Hayride of Terror through Oct. 31, Fri. & Sat., 7-11 p.m., Sun. 7-10 p.m. C. Casola Farms, 131 Route 79, Marlboro 732-946-8885; hauntedcasola.com
Nightmare at the Asylum House of Horrors 2015 haunted house and hayride every Friday and Saturday, 7-11 p.m. 4-H Center, 645 Cranbury Rd., East Brunswick admission: $5 haunted house or wagon ride $8 for both
Brocktober haunted house, hayrides and corn maze Brock Farms Home & Garden World 4189 Route 9 north, Freehold 732-462-2700
Fall Harvest hayrides, corn maze and more Von Thun’s Country Farm Market 505 Ridge Rd., Monmouth Junction 732-329-8656; vonthunsfarms.com
Nightmare at Gravity Hill Haunted Trail 35-minute walk of terror: $20 Zombie Zone Paintball Experience Fri. & Sat. only; $10 Cicconi Farms, 1005 Farmingdale Rd., Jackson 732-363-1420
10th anniversary Corn Maze corn maze, hayrides through Oct., Fri. 6-10 p.m., Sat. noon-10 p.m., Sun. noon – 6 p.m. Etcsh Farms, 556 Buckelew Ave., Monroe admission: $12.95 ages 3 and older 732-794-6785; www,etchfarms.com
Spooky Spooktacular Halloween every Fri., Full Moon After Dark starts at 7 p.m., Favorite Halloween characters family shows through Nov. 1 iPlay America, 110 Schanck Rd., Freehold
The Haunted Woods of Old Bridge ghost walk through Oct. 30, Fri. & Sat. at 7-10 p.m., Sun. 7-9:30 p.m. special twilight viewing Sat. & Sun., 3:30-6 p.m. (live actors not present) 75 Spring Hill Rd., Old Bridge bring food donation for the Old Bridge Food Bank
Field of Terror Killer Kornfield, Zombie Attack Haunted Hayride, The Unknown Barn, Dementia 3D Haunted House through Oct. 31, Fri. & Sat, 7-11 p.m., Sun., 7-10 p.m.,Oct. 22 and 29, 7-10 p.m. admission: $15-$65 K & S Farms 831 Windsor-Perrineville Rd., East Windsor 609-758-7817; www.fieldofterror.com
October Harvest corn maze, hayrides weekends only Giamarese Farm, 155 Fresh Ponds Rd., East Brunswick 732-821-9494; www.giamaresefarm.com
Who Dunit Corn Maze and Hayrides weekends through Oct., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Oct. 12 Emery’s Farm, 346 Long Swamp Rd., New Egypt www.emerysfarm.com
Fall Fun corn maze, pony rides, hayrides, weekends only De Wolf’s U-Pick Farm, 58 W. Colliers Mills Rd., New Egypt, 609-758-6288
Fun Fall Farm Attractions every day through Nov. 1 Twin Pond Farm Garden Center & Country Market 1459 Route 9 north, Howell 732-863-0755; www.twinpondfarm.com