New Jersey Fall Events Showcase Arts, Culture and Family Fun Across the State

Fall brings a burst of activities to New Jersey this September. From the 25th through 28th, the state comes alive with shows, festivals, and performances.

Creative minds flock to Montclair Film + StorySLAM's latest shows. At Lackawanna Station, Vinni Taneja speaks about Blossom during CreativeMornings. These shows mark the start of Hoboken Art Month, running through Nov. 3.

Stage buffs won't want to miss Deathtrap at Lambertville's Music Mountain Theatre. This sharp-witted thriller, which grabbed four Tony nods on Broadway, runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 12.

Country air calls as farms open their gates. Vernon's Heaven Hill Farm packs in fun with 35 spots to visit. Kids can hop on hayrides, wind through an Alice in Wonderland maze, or meet farm friends until Nov. 2. Over in Manalapan, Happy Day Farm lets folks pick sunflowers, hunt for pumpkins, and keep little ones busy.

Beer flows at the Hoboken Biergarten's Oktoberfest bash on Grand Street. Fresh food fans can hit local markets: Montclair's Walnut Street spot stocks farm-fresh goods, meats, and treats made by hand.

Thompson Park hosts the Great Empanada race on Sunday. Runners tackle 5K, 10K tracks or walk a mile with their dogs. A hot empanada waits at the end for each finisher.

Hispanic Heritage Month brings life to streets across the state. Princeton lights up with its Festival Cultural Latino: music fills the air as dancers twirl and cooks serve up tasty bites. South Orange's Spiotta Park hosts Fiesta en la Placita, where folks can catch mariachi tunes or learn salsa steps.