Fall is in full swing across South Jersey, bringing crisp air, colorful leaves and plenty of ways to celebrate the season. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly pumpkin patch, a scenic hayride or a spine-chilling haunted experience, local farms and attractions are ready to welcome visitors with open arms (and maybe a few spooky surprises).
From Cape May Court House to Hammonton, here are some of the best spots to make the most of October weekends.
1. R and J Farm
A local favorite that has been around for years is R and J Farm on W. Herschel Street in Galloway. The family-owned farm provides fun for visitors of all ages. Kids can have all-day access to a jumping pad for $5. Guests can also get lost in the corn maze for $9 or take a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to pick the perfect pumpkin for $10. Combo tickets are also available.
There’s also a snack shack with fall treats, a pumpkin stand — for those who would rather just pick up a pumpkin and other plants for home decor — and the Taylor Made Treats dessert truck on the weekends.
2. Working Dog Farms
On S. Odessa Avenue in Galloway, Working Dog Farms hosts Pumpkin Picking and Sweet Potato Digging every Saturday and Sunday in October, and Columbus Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For $18, visitors can participate in hayrides, picking a small pumpkin or digging two sweet potatoes, pumpkin decorating, chicken feeding, a corn pit, outdoor games and many photo opportunities.
Also, stop by their farm stand for all your fall decorating needs. It’s stocked up with pumpkins of all sizes, corn stalk bundles, straw bales and more.
3. Stiles Farm and Nursery
In addition to pumpkins, pick apples, pears, figs, pumpkins and more at Stiles Farm and Nursery — located at 172 South Delsea Drive, Cape May Court House.
4. Johnson’s Corner Farm
A drive away, in Medford, you can pick your own apples, sunflowers, pumpkins and more. Every weekend through October, the farm has Harvest Festivals with hayrides to pick pumpkins, gourds and apples. There’s also live music, a festival food tent, gem mining, duck races, a corn maze and animals.
And for those who seek to be spooked during this season:
5. Forever Forest
Forever Forest, at 354 Bremen Ave., Egg Harbor City, hosts a Halloween Experience for visitors of all ages, offering both wholesome and spooky Halloween fun. For $27.99, enter an immersive affair every weekend in October. There are four sessions that last two hours each — two kid-friendly daytime sessions and two at night that are suited for older kids and adults.
The night sessions include a mile-long haunted walking trail, going through the “Haunted Tree Maze” and “the Trolley of Terror,” with live actors. This year, they added an “Old Fashioned Ghost Town.” This is not for younger children. The day sessions are a family-friendly experience that includes a trolley ride through the Forever Forest farm with Halloween decorations. There are also outdoor activities like crafts, karaoke and s’mores by the campfire.
6. Terror in the Junkyard
Presented by the Scullville Volunteer Fire Company is the “Terror in the Junkyard” haunted hayride and “Maze of Terror.” Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in October, volunteers come together to scare visitors at Fleming’s Junkyard. Tickets are $15 for the hayride, $10 for the maze and $20 for both.
7. Miller Farms
Every Friday and Saturday in October from 7-10 p.m., walk through the haunted woods and maze at Miller Farms, which is located at 624 S. Egg Harbor Road in Hammonton. You’ll come in contact with flesh-eating zombies, devilish clowns, chainsaw maniacs and a variety of other spooky creatures. A ticket for the haunted woods is $25, and $10 for the haunted maze.
8. Aces to Ashes: Apparitions of Atlantic City Boardwalk Ghost Tour
Explore Atlantic City’s most haunted and historic locations on the Boardwalk with an hour-long walking tour. You’ll learn about Atlantic City’s spooky side when you visit the Warner Theatre, Caesars and Bally’s, among others. Tickets are $26 for adults, $17 for children 6 and over.
9. Witch-Craft
For those who are 21 and over, the same people who produced the Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival will transform Paradise Lakes Campgrounds in Hammonton into a spooky village on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11. Local vendors will be serving up savory stews and seasonal brews. There will be approximately 60 brewmasters and distillery wizards pouring their classics within their decorated tents. Tickets purchased before the festival are $80, excluding fees, and can be found at witchcraftnj.com. Tickets will be sold at the door for $90.
Whether you prefer the cozy charm of pumpkin picking and hayrides or the thrill of haunted trails and ghostly encounters, there’s something for everyone this fall. These local favorites capture the heart of the season — offering the perfect mix of family fun and Halloween chills. So grab a sweater, gather your friends and family, and go make some unforgettable autumn memories.
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
