A Halloween scare is not for everyone. Even the bravest parent knows there is nothing scarier than the prospect of a child not sleeping for weeks because they saw a creepy monster.
So if you’re looking for some family friendly fall fun, (something harvesty where you can wear flannel, pick a pumpkin, get your money’s worth out of that $30 kid costume), you my friend, have some fantastic options here in Monmouth and Ocean counties.
We’ve picked six of our favorite Halloween events for kids and families that range from spooky to warm and fuzzy.
Here are six family friendly NJ Halloween events for you and boys and gourds.
I know you’re thinking, the boardwalk, in October? Yes, really. Boo at The Boardwalk offers face painting, arts and crafts, trick or treating, games, live entertainment, and, wait for it, a LIVE UNDERWATER PUMPKIN CARVING DEMO. Who besides Jenks can give you that? Wear your costume for added fun and value. Boardwalk events are FREE, aquarium demo is general admission. But you can earn a free aquarium pass with this pumpkin carving contest.
October 18th & 19th Noon to 4pm
October 25th & 26th Noon to 4pm
Underwater pumpkin event from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 18 and 25 at Jenkinson’s Aquarium (naturally).
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for Halloween-Family-Fall, this is it right here. Hop on to one of A. Casola Farm’s covered wagons, pulled by a real farm tractor, for a 20 minute ride around our farm. No scares here, just friendly characters. Every ride ends in the pumpkin patch, where your punkins can choose their own. The fam can make a day of it here with fall decoration shopping, pony rides, petting zoo and on the weekends FREE: corn maze, face painting and wild west show. Plus there’s the promise of Amish baked goods. That’d lead me out of a maze.
Open every day through Halloween, starting at 9 a.m.
Available on weekdays: hayrides $4, petting zoo $4, pony rides $5, Halloween shop, bakery and light food.
Available on weekends: All of the above, plus corn maze, face painting, wild west show and extensive food items including Amish baked goods.
Casino Pier Arcade presents a FREE family festival in celebration of fall and Halloween. Costumes are welcome but not required for games like the Mummy Wrap and Witch Pitch (grown-ups might like the donut eating contest the most). There will also be a scavenger hunt and a chance to paint a pumpkin and create a leaf crown. Take your picture with Slider the mascot and enter the Halloween costume contest. The Pier Grill will serve pumpkin pie, apple cider, cotton candy and dirt (you know, the chocolate kind).
Oct. 25 from Noon – 3 p.m.
Grown-ups who want a good scare can head to Brookdale’s Community College Haunted Theater for a night tour, but in the day it’s all about the scaredy cats. From the theater: “For those who value their lives (and are too young to die) we offer an interactive behind the scenes tour for children and adults alike. During these tours visitors are taken through our haunted maze with the lights ON and the scares OFF.” Watch monsters put their make-up on and take a peak at the scenery and play a game.
Scareless Tours are Oct. 18-19, 25-26 from 2-4 p.m. and cost $5.
Spooks for the grown-ups. Kiddie games and non-scary hayrides for the little ones. Food for everyone. Eakfest, originally started as a family Halloween party, has morphed into a community wide event and fundraiser for cystic-fibrosis. Ghoul free game room, pizza, burgers, live music and rides are all available on Saturday. Non-scary hayrides Friday and Saturday until dark. All proceeds benefit Cystic-Fibrosis Foundation.
Eakfest is Oct. 17-18
The Haunted Trail pricing
Adults: $10
All age Eakfest pass (Jump to the front): $20
Non-scary hayrides: $5
Ghoul-free room tickets: $5 for a sheet of 10
Come pet the baby animals and pick a pumpkin. Families take a guided walking tour with a farmer to see, touch and sometimes feed: puppies, chicks, bunnies, ducks, pigs, steer, donkeys, llamas and more. You can even milk a cow (or not). Tours end with a tractor hayride. Every admission in October includes a pumpkin from the patch. You can purchase snacks and souvenirs or bring your own lunch. Picnic tables are available. Suitable for toddlers to tweens.
First tour begins at 9:30 a.m.
Family tours begin every 15 minutes
(no reservations needed for families)
Monday – Friday: Last tour begins at 2 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: Last tour begins at 3 p.m.
Admission is $13 per person
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