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October at the Jersey Shore means pumpkin patches, harvest festivals and some of the biggest Halloween parades in New Jersey. Here's everything worth planning around in Monmouth and Ocean County, from Columbus Day weekend through Halloween night.
The summer crowds are gone, but the Shore doesn't slow down in October. Every weekend this month has something going on, from farm festivals in Manalapan and Forked River to trick-or-treating on the boardwalks in Seaside Heights and Point Pleasant Beach.
Save this page. I'll keep it updated as new events get announced, and you'll find the full details for each weekend in my weekly Jersey Shore Weekend Guide.
All Month Long
- Argos Farm Fall Festival + Jacks & Lights (Lacey Road, Forked River) Thu and Fri 2 to 6 PM, Sat and Sun 10 AM to 6 PM. Jacks & Lights runs Thu and Sun 6 to 9 PM, Fri and Sat 6 to 10 PM: A corn maze and pumpkins by day, then a glowing jack-o'-lantern trail and flashlight corn maze after dark.
- Maple Leaf Farms Fall Fun Fest (Route 9, Manalapan) Sat and Sun plus Mon, Oct 12, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM: Live bull riding, pig races, hayrides and pumpkin picking. Tickets at the gate.
- Happy Day Farm Fall Festival (Manalapan) Daily 10 AM to 5 PM through Nov 8: An 8-acre Dolly Parton corn maze, pumpkin picking and tractor rides. Buy tickets ahead.
- Kids Boo Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson) Select days through Nov 1, daytime: Trick-or-treating for kids 12 and under, costume contests and witch shows, all before sunset with none of the scary stuff.
- Downtown Toms River Scarecrow Walk (Washington Street, Toms River) Starts Fri, Oct 9: Homemade scarecrows line downtown. An easy, free walk with the kids.
Columbus Day Weekend, Oct 9 to 12
- Stafford Fall Harvest Festival (Manahawkin Lake Park) Sat and Sun, Oct 10 to 11, 12 to 5 PM: Saturday has a Halloween parade at noon, a costume contest, pumpkin picking, scarecrow making and a petting zoo.
- Ocean Grove Fall Harvest Festival (Ocean Grove) Sat, Oct 10: A fall arts and crafts show in one of the prettiest towns at the Shore.
For everything else happening this weekend, including the Italian Festival and Columbus Day Parade in Seaside Heights and two Saturday night fireworks shows, see this week's Jersey Shore Weekend Guide.
The summer crowds are gone, but the Shore doesn't slow down in October.
Oct 17 and 18
- Long Branch Fall Festival + Pooch Parade (Pier Village, Long Branch) Sat, Oct 17, 12 to 4 PM: Pumpkin carving, inflatables and trick-or-treating at the vendors, plus a dog costume parade at 12:30.
- Boo at the Refuge (Popcorn Park Animal Refuge, Forked River) Sat and Sun, Oct 17 to 18, 12 to 4 PM: The first year of this one, with trick-or-treating, a costume parade and up-close time with the animals. Tickets at ahscares.org.
- Red Bank Halloween Parade (starts at Hudson Ave and E. Bergen Place) Sun, Oct 18 at 1 PM: Floats, costume contests, live music and a petting zoo. Free.
- Boo at the Boardwalk (Jenkinson's, Point Pleasant Beach) Oct 17, 18, 24 and 25, 12 to 5 PM: Trick-or-treating, characters, a Halloween magic show and underwater pumpkin carving. Rides are half price. Free to attend.
Oct 22 to 25
- Mall-O-Ween (Ocean County Mall, Toms River) Thu, Oct 22, 4 to 7 PM: Trick-or-treating through the whole mall for ages 0 to 12. The kids' costume contest is at 5 PM.
- Trick or Treat Around the Park (iPlay America, Freehold) Fri, Oct 23, 5 to 8 PM: A free trick-or-treat trail through the indoor park, plus a costume contest and raffle.
- Halloween in the Heights + Casino Pier Boo Bash (Seaside Heights Boardwalk) Sat, Oct 24, Boo Bash 2 to 4 PM: Inflatables, a wildlife show and trick-or-treating. Casino Pier adds a balloon drop, characters and face painting. The Boo Bash is free.
- Asbury Park Halloween Food Truck + Music Festival (Bradley Park, across from Convention Hall) Sat and Sun, Oct 24 to 25, 11 AM to 7 PM: 20 food trucks, live bands, costume contests for all ages and a vendor village. $5, under 10 free.
- Freehold Spooktacular Halloween Parade (Downtown Freehold) Sun, Oct 25 at 1 PM: One of Monmouth County's classic hometown Halloween parades.
- 1830's All Hallows' Eve at Allaire Village (Historic Village at Allaire, Farmingdale) Sun, Oct 25, 11 AM to 4 PM: Trick-or-treating through the village, a pumpkin carving contest, fortune telling and a fire juggler. $12 adults, $6 kids 4 to 10, 3 and under free.
Halloween Night
- Toms River Halloween Parade (Washington Street, Downtown Toms River) Sat, Oct 31 at 7 PM: One of the largest Halloween parades in the country, with a patriotic theme this year for America's 250th birthday. Get there early, because the good curb spots fill up fast. Free.
This roundup gets posted fresh every week, right here and on Instagram and Facebook. For the current week's events plus everything else happening at the Shore, visit Living at the Jersey Shore ». If you're a local business or event organizer and want to be included in a future guide, reach out directly.
Matthew Quinn, United Real Estate Associates
(609) 709-2742
matt@mattquinnsellshomes.com