With autumn officially arriving on Tuesday, Sept. 22, North Jersey communities are gearing up for a busy season of town celebrations, Oktoberfests and family-friendly festivals. From Bergen County to Morris County, towns are inviting residents to mark the change of season with music, food, fireworks and community spirit rather than mourning the end of summer.
Several events are scheduled for Sept. 24 through Sept. 26. In Paramus, Bergen County residents 60 and older can attend the annual Senior Festival at Van Saun County Park, featuring lunch, entertainment, a craft fair and resource tables. Hardyston will host its Family Festival Celebration at Wheatsworth Park with live music and fireworks over two days. Meanwhile, Hasbrouck Heights’ Town Day at Woodland Park will offer free food, giveaways, DJ music, inflatable rides and a food pantry donation drive, with the first 100 kids receiving free temporary tattoos.
Montclair will celebrate its fourth annual History Center Fall Fest Fundraiser alongside Montclair Community Farms, while Allendale Day will bring arts and crafts, food trucks and live music to West Allendale Avenue. Rutherford Day promises more than 100 vendors, a beer garden benefiting Rutherford Lacrosse, live music and a dunk tank, followed by Rutherford Night featuring a ’70s rock tribute show. Upper Saddle River’s USR Day and North Arlington’s community celebration will each feature live music, food vendors and activities for children, while Hawthorne Day and North Haledon Day — the latter marking the borough’s 125th anniversary — will close with fireworks and drone displays.
Other notable events include South Hackensack’s Field Day, which combines carnival games with free health screenings from the Bergen County Mobile Clinical Team, and Demarest Day, which will also commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. Kinnelon’s KFest, the 27th annual Leonia Oktoberfest benefiting Rotary Club charities, and Norwood Day round out Saturday’s offerings. Wanaque’s Town Picnic will include a beer garden and fireworks, while Montvale’s Day in the Park — open only to residents — will end with a fireworks display. Park Ridge will host an Oktoberfest at the Elks Lodge with live music and traditional food and drink.
Looking into the following days, Little Ferry’s Family Fun Day and Boonton Town’s Boonton Day, which includes a visit to the Boonton Historical Society & Museum’s industrial history exhibit, are set for Sept. 26 and 27. Harrington Park will hold its Town Day on Sept. 27, and Morristown Green will host the 31st annual Festival on the Green, featuring five entertainment zones, a beer tent, carnival games, and interactive appearances by the New York Jets and New York Red Bulls. For a deeper look at the region’s Oktoberfest offerings, including food and cultural traditions, NorthJersey.com and The Record have published a separate detailed guide.
Source: New Jersey Herald
