Fall Family Fun

Halloween Events in and around Jersey City

Written by JCFamilies

Halloween Events in and around Jersey City

The weather has started changing now, and with autumn comes Halloween! There are a ton of spooky and scary Halloween events and activities happening around Jersey City. From ghostly haunted houses to Jack O’Lantern’s experience, we know how much families love their spooky activities this month. Therefore, we created this guide of fun Halloween activities for families near Jersey City. You can enjoy many other fall activities with the family, such as apple picking, corn mazes, pumpkin patches, sunflower farms, and more.

Local Events:

Paulus Hook Halloween

October 20, 2024,  1:00 pm – 4pm

Children and Pets Halloween Costume Parade  – Deck out the whole family and strut it! Come over to the foot of Washington Street for games, prizes, family fun – even for the poocher. Donation $10 per single entry, $20 family/group.

Halloween at Liberty Science Center

Oct. 25, 5:30 – 9:00 pm 

At Liberty Science Center, they hold the ‘Ultimate Halloween Party’. Come for early trick-or-treating, hold a dress rehearsal for your Halloween costumes, dance, play, and explore their exhibition galleries at this members-only celebration.  More information here.

JCPD North District Trunk or Treat 

October 25, 2024, from 6 to 8 pm

The Jersey City Police Department, North District, will be ghosting a Trunk or Treat. They invite everyone to join us for a spooktacular event. This event will occur on Jefferson Avenue, between Central Avenue & Summit Avenue. The event is scheduled from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Free admission. More information here.

Annual Trunk or Treat

Oct 26, 2024, 4 pm – 7 pm

Organized by Family Hood, enjoy this Trunk or Treat with candies, a costume contest, and games.

When: Oct 26, 2024, 4 pm – 7 pm
Where: Mama Johnson Field, Hoboken, NJ

Spooktacular at Lincoln Park 

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 1 pm – 4 pm
Sunday, October 27, 2024, 1 pm – 4 pm

Spooktacular has expanded to a full weekend of tricks and treats in Lincoln Park! Lincoln Avenue and Clark Street businesses will transform into trick-or-treat stops. Join the haunted fun Saturday on Lincoln Avenue and Sunday on Clark Street to collect delicious treats and explore the neighborhood.

Zeppelin Hall Halloween

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 9 pm

Get ready for a Saturday night Halloween party at Zeppelin Hall. The first prize for the best costume will receive a prize of $1000. In addition, there will be a DJ, dancing, and more. Admission is FREE.

Halloween with The Hawks

Oct 26, 2024, 11:30 am 

Halloween with the Hawks kicks off at 11:30 am in the Kessler Stadium driveway with trunk or treat. 

Zombie Opera From Outer Space

Saturday, Oct 26, 4 – 9 pm

Come and enjoy the 5th-anniversary Halloween-themed night this October at Hamilton Park. Get your own chair. This event is supported by the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund.
When: Sat, Oct 26, 4 – 9 pm
Where: Hamilton Park, Jersey City

Halloween Family Bash

Oct 31, 2024, 3 pm – 8 pm

Come with family for trick-or-treating and lots of activities for both kids and adults. Look forward to afternoon and evening filled with excitement and enjoy the games, rides, live music, candy and treats.
This is also a Halloween Family Bash for Whole Spectrum Autism Families. There will be a designated area on Barrow Street just for families on the spectrum. This is brought to you by Smile Preschool and Nursery, HDSID, and the Whole Spectrum Autism community.

When: Oct 31, 2024, 3 pm – 8 pm
Where: Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza in Jersey City

BEYOND JERSEY CITY:

NYC Halloween Parade 

Thursday, October 31st, 2024, from 7 pm to 11 pm

New York’s iconic parade is back! The 51st Annual Village Halloween Parade will take place on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 7 pm.
The Halloween Parade runs up Sixth Ave from King St to 15th St in Manhattan. For more information, visit Halloween-nyc.com.
This creative and spooky procession—is one of the best Halloween events in Greenwich Village. Each year, more than 50,000 zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters, robots, Jedis, giant puppets, and more things that go bump in the night take to the streets for a night of costumed revelry. So get your costume ready; the Village is getting spooky! This year’s theme is MEOW!! We can’t wait to see how the artists interpret this challenge. The 51st Anniversary Grand Marshal is Broadway Icon Andrè De Shields. And at the end of the parade, you wouldn’t want to miss the after-party at Webster Hall – “Webster Hell!”

10th Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest

Saturday, October 26th, from 3 pm to 6 pm

This fun, free, festive pumpkin carving/decorating contest has become a community favorite! Prizes are awarded to one overall winner and the winners of the five categories: scariest, funniest, cutest, most realistic, and most creative. Additionally, bring your jack-o-lantern to enter, or walk by with your family to enjoy the festive pumpkin patch display… this year along Greenwich Street between Duane and Reade Streets. You may pick up your pumpkins the afternoon of the event OR let them spend the next few nights in the park for visitors to enjoy! Park staff will compost any remaining pumpkins next weekend. More information here. 

Boo at the Zoo 

Saturdays & Sundays Sept 28 – Oct 27 including Monday Oct 14, 2024

Bronx Zoo’s annual Halloween tradition is back! They have family-friendly activities ready for you to enjoy! There will be face painting, mural drawing, dance, sing and play at the Halloween mashup, and more. New this year is the Halloween Maze. Come dressed in your Halloween best!  More information here. 

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

Bigger, brighter, and better than ever before…experience thousands of hand-carved jack-o’lanternsilluminating the night. Immerse yourself in larger-than-life displays, complete with special effects and an all-original soundtrack. Since 2005, visitors of all ages have been wowed by this magical walk-through experience. Parking is free but you would need to buy tickets for this experience.

When & Where:  Hudson Valley  Sep 13 – Nov 17, 2024  and Long Island  Oct 4 – Nov 3, 2024

 

PAST EVENTS

 

Fall Festival @ Pershing Field

Saturday, October 28, 2023, from 1pm to 4 pm

Join PFGF for a free fall festival of fun from 1 pm – 4 pm. Games, crafts, face painting, photo booth. Costume parade at 2 pm. More info here.

Hocus Pocus Halloween Party for Kids

Saturday, October 28, 2023 

Get ready for a spooktacular night of bewitching fun at the Hocus Pocus Halloween Party, where thell be performer, contest,make up and more! Tickets Here.

Pumpkin Carving

Saturday, October 28th, 2023 @ 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM

Howl – O – Ween

Saturday, October 28 at 2 PM
Church Square Park, Hoboken

HCC HOWL-O-WEEN IS COMING 👻 🐶

Join us for the 2nd Annual HCC Howl-O-Ween Fundraiser dog costume contest & parade! Proceeds benefit the Hoboken Community Center.

Parade starts at 2pm, judging at 2:30pm. There will be music, prizes and more! Register your furry friend into the costume contest.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION GOING ON NOW 🎟️ – EVENTBRITE LINK
🐾 $15 per dog
🐾 $20 per dog at the door

Dia De Los Muertos Celebration

Sunday, October 29th, 2023 

Join us for our annual Días de Los Muertos / Days of the Dead celebration at Riverview Park. This year’s celebration will be a week-long community event with activities and promotions running across Jersey City!
Sunday is our kick off festival at Riverview Park which will include a community Ofrenda (altar) in the gazebo where the public is encouraged to bring offerings and photos of their lost loved ones. Free face painting (10:30-12) and kids art (10-2) will be offered for children. The parade kicks off at noon, followed by live Mariachi, traditional dance, and more!

JCPD East District Trunk or Treat 

Monday, October 30th, 2023 from 3 pm to 6 pm

Join East District for Trunk or Treat! More information here.

Grove Station 80’s Halloween Party

Tuesday, October 31st

We are throwing it back to the corny cool 80’s for Halloween and on Halloween night! Let’s revisit the wonderful music that came from this decade. Wear your best 80’s outfit.
Cash prizes and gift cards for the best dressed!

Hoboken Ragamuffin Halloween Parade

Sunday October 31st at 3:00pm

Parade lineup begins at 3:15 p.m., Washington St. & 13th St. and begins at 4 p.m.. Participates march down Washington St. to Fifth St., turning east on 5th St. ending at the Little League Field. Featuring the Funny Factory Clown Band, Ron Albanese AKA Polka Dot, and the Rockin’ Redwings Marching Band.

Past Events Beyond Jersey City:

Outdoor Fall Festival at Skylands Stadium

September 22d – November 5th, 2023

Get ready for the Skylands stadium Jack O’ Lantern experience. This October, Skylands Stadium will be transformed with over 6,000+ Jack-O-Lanterns on a 45-minute walk. Sussex County’s Family Entertainment Destination is set ablaze with spectacular visuals and a thrilling Fall Festival. Perfect for families, date nights, and lovers of Halloween spirit. The tickets must be purchased in advance. Kids under 36″ go free. More information here.

AddamsFest 

Ongoing in October 

The town-wide celebration of Westfield’s own Charles Addams returns this October! From Pugsley to Grandmama, there’s something fun for everyone at Addams Family Fun Day. Head on over to Quimby Street in Downtown Westfield, which will be closed to cars for a day of family fun — including Addams Family character visits, live performances, incredible displays by the Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, activities with some of our local merchants, and more. More information here.

Fright Fest at Six Flag Great Adventure

Fright Fest Group Outings |

 

Fright Fest is one of the best Halloween activities in the fall. There are so many rides, shows, entertainment, haunted attractions, scare zones, and lots more! Don’t worry if your littles don’t want to be frightened because there are family-friendly events throughout the day and at night, transform into this scary fest. More information here. 

Farm of Horrors

From September 29th to October 29th, 2023 

Spend 45 minutes making your way through 200+ acres of Fright. It starts with their Hair Raising Hayride that “Scares the YELL out of You”, then we let you off in the middle of nowhere for a Treacherous Trek through the “Trail of Terror.”, then just when you think you have had enough and begin to see that you are almost home, you realize the only way back is through the MassAcre Maize, a Casual Run for your Life; once it is over you find that the path is blocked, and you must enter your final Nightmare, the Carnevil of Chaos! More information here.

The 13th Hour Haunted House

From October 1st to 31st

They feature 3 Haunted House attractions complete with special effects and movie-quality sets. Try their 6 award-winning 60-minute Escape Rooms and all-new 60-minute Virtual Reality Escape Rooms. More information here. 

Casola Farms – Haunted Attractions

September 29th-October 31st

If you are looking for a real haunted experience, check out Casola Farms. Take a Haunted Hayride into the backwoods of New Jersey or check out their other 5 attractions. Open every Friday and Saturday from September 24 through October 31 at 7:00 p.m.; ticket sales begin at 6:30 p.m. & end at 10:30 p.m., but the haunted attraction stays open until the last soul has exited. More information here. 

Let us know in the comments if this blog helped you find fun Halloween Events in Jersey City and if you got what you were looking for.

Updated OCT 3, 2024

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JCFamilies

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