Here are 9 fall festivals in South Jersey you don't want to miss
Nothing says fall in South Jersey like a down-home festival.
Hayrides, pumpkin or apple picking, live music, food trucks, beer gardens, crafters, even books. You know the drill.
From Bordentown, down to the Jersey Shore, there are fall festivals you might want to mark on your calendars.
Here are nine fall festivals to check out:
Evesham Harvest Festival, Marlton
Over 50 handcrafters will be at the rain or shine event, which will feature artists, food vendors, live music and a family fun atmosphere.
It will be held Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Main Street Marlton, between Maple and Plymouth Avenue.
Sunflower September Festival, Johnson’s Locust Hall Farm, Jobstown
Participants can handpick pumpkins, apples and sunflowers, explore a five-acre family corn maze. There will be live music, food trucks, Farmhouse Grill, Tomasello Winery tasting outlet, animal farm, hayride scenic tours and more.
The event takes place each Saturday and Sunday in September, beginning at 11:30 a.m. It becomes the "fall harvest festival" in October.
Reservations are needed for the park-and-pick program.
Go: 2691 Monmouth Road, 609-353-9000; johnsonslocusthallfarm.com/
Made in Jersey Festival, Wiggins Waterfront Park, Camden
Come out for the festival, which celebrates “all things New Jersey.”
The time is 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the date is Sept. 30.
Corn, Jersey-made beers, wines and spirits, tomatoes, peaches, farm fresh food, artisanal products and more.
There will be live music, family fun. Vendors and crafters from all over the state will be present.
Go: 2 Riverside Drive, https://www.camdencounty.com/event/made-in-jersey-festival-2/
Ocean City NJ Fall Block Party, Ocean City
The fall block party and fireworks spectacular will be held Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from 5th to 14th streets along Asbury Avenue.
More than 400 crafters, food vendors, music and more will be available. There will be fireworks over the Boardwalk in the evening.
Collingswood Book Festival, Collingswood
The award-winning book fest, which will be Oct. 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is in its 21st year.
Its website calls the festival the longest-running and largest literary event in the Delaware Valley and says the 2019 attendance surpassed 7,000.
Generally, more than 60 presenting authors attend with an additional 275 authors and exhibitors. There are literary games, food and other activities. There is always a poetry tent as well.
All of the events are free for the festival, which is run by volunteers and community members from the region.
Some of the featured authors this year include Philadelphia sports radio personality Angelo Cataldi, who will talk about his upcoming book, "Loud: How a Shy Nerd Turned Up the Volume in the Most Passionate Sports City in America" and Matthew Quick, the New York Times bestselling author of “The Silver Linings Playbook”, and many more.
Go: Haddon Avenue between Homestead and Collings Avenue. Parking is free in PATCO transit lots. collingswoodbookfestival.com/
Oktoberfest at Historic Smithville Village, Galloway
Historic Smithville hosts the Oktoberfest event on Oct. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event will feature more than 100 juried crafters, an international food court, kids activities, music and more. They add to the more than 60 shoppes, carousel rides, train rides, paddle boats, antique arcades that are available year-round at Smithville Village.
A free shuttle runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day and departs from the Smithville Shopping Center on Moss Mill Road.
Go: 615 E. Moss Mill Road.
Cranberry Festival, Bordentown City
The Cranberry Festival and 33rd Makers Fest on Farnsworth kicks off Oct. 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
There will be over 150 booths of artists, craftspeople, vendors, and restaurants along a one-square mile of the city.
Clothing, candles, antiques, art, along with award-winning restaurants represented at the food court and there will be a craft beer garden.
Live music will take the stage as well.
Go: Farnsworth Avenue and Crosswicks Street, btowncranfest.com/
Wheaton Arts Festival of Fine Craft Artists, Millville
More than 150 artists exhibiting and selling their handcrafted works, along with craft demonstrations, specialty foods, live music, a food court with gourmet food vendors, beer and wine garden and hands-on family art activities. WheatonArts signature glass pumpkin fundraiser opens during the festival.
The rain or shine event will be Oct. 7 and 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets are available online or at the front gate. $12 for adults, $11 seniors (62 or older), $7 students and children 5 and under are free.
Go: 1501 Glasstown Road, 856-825-6800; https://www.wheatonarts.org/calendar-eventon/festival-of-fine-craft/
Gloucester Township Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival, Blackwood
There will be plenty of live music and food trucks at the festival.
How about a beer and wine garden? Yes, they have that, too.
General seating tents and a complementary shuttle running from Highland High School will be available.
The event is Oct. 21 from 2 to 7 p.m. Rain date is Oct. 22.
Go: 15 South Black Horse Pike, https://glotwp.com/news/2023-gloucester-township-food-craft-beer-festival/
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: 9 fall festivals you don't want to miss, South Jersey
