Enjoy the sight of hot air balloons and take part in activities like tethered rides at the Warren County Hot Air Balloon Festival. Photo courtesy of the festival
Hot Air Balloon Festival and More Things To Do with Kids in New Jersey this Weekend
Visit the petting zoo at Alstede Farms for a chance to meet the animals. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Best Farms with Family Entertainment in New Jersey
Head to Johnson's Locust Hill Farm for apple picking and tons of fall-themed fun. Photo by Lisa Warden
Apple Picking in New Jersey: Best Apple Farms and Apple Festivals for Kids
Outhouse orchards corn maze
GUIDE
NJ Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Farms, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2024
The Water Lantern Festival returns to the harbor in Jersey City's Liberty State Park at month's end. Photo courtesy of the event
Best Fall Festivals and Fairs in New Jersey
Take in the splendor of the season with a fall getaway to Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. Photo courtesy of Mononk Mountain House
22 Fall Weekend Getaways near NYC for Families
Pick the largest pumpkin you can carry at Alstede Farms. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
Best Pumpkin Patches in New Jersey for Families
Take in the Legend of Sleepy Hollow on a spooky fall day trip in the Hudson Valley. Photo by Darren McGee/NYS Dept. of Economic Development
Haunt the Hudson: Spooky Day Trips near NYC for Ghostly Adventures and Paranormal Thrills
Take to the water during Port Monmouth's Wind & Sea Festival. Photo courtesy of the Monmouth County Park System
37 Fun and Free Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids September 2024
The Funplex has two New Jersey locations for families to explore and enjoy.
Best Family Fun Centers & Indoor Amusement Parks in New Jersey
Allow yourself to get drawn into the mesmerizing art at the Morris Museum next time you're looking for indoor activities for kids in New Jersey. Photo by Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
40 Things To Do Indoors in New Jersey on Rainy Days
GUIDE
Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for New Jersey Kids
Beyond the casinos, Atlantic City is an all-ages playground, with Island Waterpark, boardwalk amusements, beach access, and more fun.
Atlantic City with Kids: 34 Top Things To Do in Atlantic City, NJ
Hang out with the giant hippos at Camden's Adventure Aquarium. Photo by Kaylynn Chiarello Ebner
The Best New Jersey Zoos and Aquariums to Visit with Kids
The Rainforest Cafe has two family-friendly restaurants in New Jersey. A meal out here is part adventure, part restaurant.
Themed Restaurants in New Jersey for Family-Friendly Interactive Dining
Palmer Square is a great place to relax in the heart of Princeton. Photo courtesy of Palmer Square
22 Best Things To Do in Princeton, NJ, with Kids
GUIDE
Summer Camps Guide for New Jersey Kids
The accessible playground at Watsessing Park works for children of all abilities. Photo by Margaret Hargrove
Best Playgrounds in New Jersey Worth the Drive
Pet baby goats on a visit to Brookhollow's Barnyard in Boonton. Photo by Kaylynn Ebner
Meet the Animals at these New Jersey Petting Zoos and Animal Farms
Bounce, climb, and jump at BounceU in Paramus, one of our top indoor play spaces in northern New Jersey.
Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Northern New Jersey
At a Bach to Rock birthday party, kids can sing karaoke or record their own CD.
18 Top Birthday Party Places in New Jersey for Kids
Help your kids develop their creative side with art classes
GUIDE
Guide to Classes for New Jersey Kids
At Genius Gems in Millburn, kids under 2 get in free with an older sibling.
Budget-Friendly Indoor Play Spaces in New Jersey: Drop-in Play for $25 or Less
Admission to the Cape May County Park & Zoo is completely free. Photo courtesy of the zoo
100 Free Fun Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids
Nickelodeon Universe is one of the can't-miss destinations at American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the venue
  VIDEO
Visiting American Dream Mall in New Jersey: 20 Fun Things To Do and Tips For Your Visit
Bounce, climb, and jump at BounceU in Paramus, one of our top indoor play spaces in northern New Jersey.
Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Northern New Jersey
New Jersey kids can find free fun climbing the pirate ship at the free Garden State Plaza Westfield mall. Photo by Mommy Poppins
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things To Do with NJ Kids
Hike the Appalachian Trail—72 miles are n New Jersey! Photo courtesy of Visit NJ
100 Things To Do in New Jersey With Kids Before They Grow Up
Boonton's
Easy Waterfall Hikes in Northern New Jersey for Kids
Cheesequake State Park in Middlesex County offers hiking, fishing, swimming, boating, and much more. Photo by Ali Chandra
Great Day Trips to New Jersey State Parks and Forests
The Camden Children's Garden offers free admission for children under 2.
Free Admission for Kids at 50+ Top New Jersey Family Attractions
Cruise in the Playmobil Fire Truck during your trip to Toys
Free Indoor Play Spots in New Jersey for Kids
Hop aboard a stagecoach for a ride back in time at Wild West City, one of New Jersey's top attractions.
Top Attractions in New Jersey: Best Things To See and Do With Kids
Creating a baking soda volcano is a classic science experiment for kids. Photo by Sara Marentette Nighswander
67 Easy Science Experiments for Kids To Do at Home
Teach 'em to tie during downtime.
65 Life Skills to Teach Kids at Every Age
These boredom-busting activities turn a stuck-at-home day into a lasting memory.
75 Indoor Activities for Kids on a Rainy Day
GUIDE
New Jersey Amusement Parks and Water Parks Guide

20 Best Things To Do in New Jersey with Kids September 2024

The Warren County Hot Air Festival takes flight in late September. Photo courtesy of the event
The Warren County Hot Air Festival takes flight in late September. Photo courtesy of the event
8/30/24 - By Laurie Rein

Labor Day kicks off September activities, launching New Jersey's season of apple picking, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes.

Fall is in the air this September with the arrival of seasonal family-friendly events like Riverdale's Annual Labor Day Street Fair. And get a sneak preview of Halloween at Six Flags Great Adventure Fright Fest Extreme and DiDonato's Trick-or-Treat Train.

We've got more seasonal picks in our Fall Fun Guide, and you can find even more great things to do in our Activity Calendar. 

Get our picks for every weekend in your inbox—sign up for our newsletters.

As always, if an event piques your interest, click through to our listing for all the details, including addresses and times. And keep in mind: Really cool things to do with kids often book up quickly, so register or buy your tickets ASAP.

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

There's plenty of hands-on fun at Bridgewater Community Day, including a touch-a-truck festival. Photo courtesy of the event
There's plenty of hands-on fun at Bridgewater Community Day, including a touch-a-truck festival. Photo courtesy of the event

Best Things To Do in New Jersey This September

Wildwood Block Party & Music Festival

Wildwood–FREE
Sunday, September 1, 2024
Crafts, games, rides, great food, and continuous live entertainment are all on tap at this end-of-summer festival. READ MORE

Riverdale's Annual Labor Day Street Fair

Riverdale–FREE
Monday, September 2, 2024
Riverdale’s Annual Labor Day Street Fair is hosted by the Borough of Riverdale and held along the Newark Pompton Turnpike. The street is closed to vehicle traffic and transformed into a giant block party. The fun includes music, shopping, food, and more. READ MORE

St. Demetrios Greek Festival

Union
Thursday, September 5-Sunday, September 8, 2024
Enjoy the foods, sights, and sounds of Greece at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church’s annual Greek Festival. Indulge in homemade, authentic Greek food while enjoying the sounds of Greece with live music and authentic folk dancing—plus rides and games for the kids. READ MORE

Arts in the Park in Highland Park

Highland Park–FREE
Sunday, September 8, 2024
Join Main Street Highland Park for the 16th annual Arts in the Park street festival, juried art show, and arts and crafts sale. The festival invites the community to enjoy artistic offerings, live music, food from local restaurants, children's activities, promotional booths, and more. READ MORE

Six Flags Great Adventure's Fright Fest Extreme

Jackson
Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select weekdays Friday, September 13-Sunday, November 3, 2024
Six Flags Great Adventure’s Fright Fest goes extreme this year, presenting a world of nightmarish creatures inspired by legendary horror brands–including SAW and Stranger Things–brought to life. The themed experiences, scare zones, and harrowing creatures deliver extreme frights and surprises. READ MORE

Annual Oktoberfest Fun at Morey’s Piers

Wildwood
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, Friday, September 13-Sunday, October 13, 2024
This fall, Oktoberfest takes over Morey’s Piers for four consecutive weekends of German-themed revelry, live entertainment, a kids activity area, and much more. READ MORE

The Downbeach Seafood Festival

Ventnor
Saturday, September 14-Sunday, September 15, 2024
Now spanning two days, this annual festival features delicious food, children's activities, live music, competitions, chef demonstrations, and more. READ MORE

Great Pumpkin Festival at Heaven Hill Farm

Vernon
Select days, Saturday, September 14-Sunday, November 3, 2024
The largest fall festival in northern New Jersey features 35+ themed activities, including farm animals, a spider web crawl, a stunt dog show, the Big Top-themed corn maze, an obstacle course, pig races, and more. READ MORE

Wind & Sea Festival at Bayshore Waterfront Park

Port Monmouth–FREE
Saturday, September 14, 2024
Head over to Bayshore Waterfront Park for a celebration of all things water. Visitors can enjoy a variety of coastal activities, including kayaking, fishing, kite flying, crafts and more. READ MORE

Elmwood Park's Community Day with Fireworks

Elmwood Park–FREE
Saturday, September 14, 2024
This giant block party features outdoor shopping, crafts, live entertainment, kiddie rides, games, and food, topped off with a fireworks show at 7pm. READ MORE

Holland Ridge Farms Fall Flower Festival

Cream Ridge
Saturday, September 14-Monday, October 14, 2024
Prepare for a day filled with activities that ignite your passion for all things floral. Admire millions of rainbow blooms including sunflowers, gladiolus, dahlias, calla lilies, and mums. Plus, enjoy up to 30 delicious food options and over 100 artisanal vendors. READ MORE

Bridgewater Community Day Featuring Touch-a-Truck

Bridgewater–FREE
Sunday, September 15, 2024
This touch-a-truck event is free, open to the entire community, and includes music, crafts, inflatables, and more.  READ MORE

Bergen County Fall Harvest Festival

Ridgefield Park
Friday, September 20-Sunday, September 22, 2024
Enjoy some family fun at the annual Bergen County Fall Harvest Festival, featuring a craft fair, carnival rides, a farmers market, animals, live music, food trucks and much more.  READ MORE

All About Downtown Street Fair

Jersey City–FREE
Saturday, September 21, 2024
The annual All About Downtown Street Fair returns to Jersey City for its 13th year with more than 100 vendors and more than 10 food and mobile fashion trucks. This event features a day full of fun for the entire family. READ MORE

Warren County Hot Air Balloon Festival

Washington
Saturday, September 21-Sunday, September 22, 2024
Head over to Warren Community College for two days of family fun at this hot air balloon festival. Gates open at 3pm each day with vendors, food trucks, and family entertainment.  READ MORE

Italian Festival at Historic Smithville

Galloway–FREE
Saturday, September 21, 2024
Come join the excitement at this Italian Festival, featuring an Italian market with a spectacular variety of wares and food. The day is filled with live Italian music, bocce ball, folk dancing, kids’ activities, and more. READ MORE

DiDonato's Trick-or-Treat Train

Hammonton
Saturdays and Sundays, Saturday, September 28-Sunday, October 27, 2024
This outdoor Halloween train takes you on a ride through goblin-friendly Halloween Town. Tricks and treats include a hay maze, a new inflatable obstacle course, a pumpkin patch, a giant racing slide, photo-ops with a witch, and more.  READ MORE

Asbury Park Fall Bazaar 2024

Asbury Park–FREE
Saturday, September 28-Sunday, September 29, 2024
Asbury Park Fall Bazaar features local vendors, kids’ activities, fall photo walls, music, workshops, delicious food, libations, and entertainment. The event is family-friendly, pet-friendly, and free. READ MORE

Harvest Home Festival

Holmdel–FREE
Sunday, September 29, 2024
This old-fashioned country fair at Longstreet Farm is reminiscent of the 1890s, taking visitors back in time to the period when neighbors gathered to accomplish work, harvest, and spend time socializing and enjoying each other’s company. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: