15 Ways To Have Fall Fun

Autumn’s arrived, and there are plenty of weekend adventures and activities to celebrate the season.
Cheryl De Leon,
1 Ways To Have Fall Fun

Fall has entered the chat! The temps are cooling down, the leaves are getting ready for their annual fashion show and our county is giving us plenty of reasons to get off the couch this weekend. Consider it your official invitation to trade Saturday sweatpants for a stylish sweater and make some plans.

Whether you’re wrangling the kids, rounding up friends or simply looking for an excuse to embrace all things autumn, there’s no shortage of fun happening around Bergen. So grab your favorite people, maybe a pumpkin-spiced something-or-other and head out for the first full weekend of fall! Some ideas:

Sept. 25

  • Meet some of the world’s most iconic horses at the Budweiser Clydesdales Meet & Greet Parade, happening from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford. Fans can meet and take photos of the famed horses along the track apron near the winner’s circle.
  • Whether you’re a budding astronomer or someone who just appreciates the night sky, the Emil Buehler Trust Observatory’s Public Viewing Night is filled with surprises for everyone. Stop by Bergen Community College’s Technology Education Building in Paramus between 8 and 10 p.m. to see planets, stars and other solar systems using the observatory’s high-powered telescopes. Note that the event will be cancelled in the event of rain or clouds.

Sept. 25–27

  • For family fun and community vibes, check out the 15th annual St. Peter’s Carnival in River Edge. Head to the church parking lot on Fifth Avenue for a weekend of rides, games, raffles, activities and entertainment for all ages, food and a beer garden (Friday and Saturday nights only). Hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 1 to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 1 to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
  • The Bergen County Players continues its performances of The Producers, the most Tony Award-decorated show in Broadway history. The BCP production will include all the same catchy songs, dynamic choreography and inventive staging as the Broadway show, keeping audiences entertained and laughing. Friday and Saturday shows are at 8 p.m., and Sunday curtain time is at 2 p.m. Visit the BCP for tickets and other showtimes.

Sept. 26

  • Enjoy the cool fall air with a brisk morning run. The 48th annual Jack McKeown Memorial Run through Ramsey features 5 and 10K options (or run both!). The races begin at the Ramsey Municipal Pool, with the 10K starting at 8 a.m. and the 5K following at 9:45. Register online.
  • If you love butterflies, head to Lorrimer Sanctuary in Franklin Lakes for Monarch Madness. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors can be a part of the monarch butterfly migration with hands-on learning, garden exploration, kids’ activities (wear your wings for the Butterfly Costume Parade!), crafts and more.
  • Join the local chamber of commerce as it celebrates Allendale Day from noon to 4 p.m. Stop by West Allendale Avenue for arts and crafts, exhibits, face painters, live music, kids’ games and activities, food trucks and more.
  • Those in southern Bergen can attend Celebrate North Arlington, a day filled with community fun and entertainment. From noon to 7 p.m. at borough hall, visitors can enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, kids’ rides and games, demonstrations, live music and more.
  • Celebrate Major General Baron von Steuben’s birthday at the Bergen County Historical Society’s annual Oktoberfest at Historic New Bridge Landing in River Edge. From 1 to 6 p.m., attendees can enjoy craft beers, lawn games, food trucks, free pumpkin picking and decorating, live music, Revolutionary War reenactors, exhibits and more. Tickets are available online.
  • Raise a glass and dance the night away at the 27th annual Leonia Oktoberfest. Head to Wood Park between 3 and 10 p.m. for food, beer, music, face painting, food trucks, vendors and plenty of family fun. Tickets are available online and at the door. Proceeds benefit Rotary Club of the Palisades’ charitable programs, including its Weekend Snack Pack Program.

Sept. 26–27

  • It’s opening weekend of Demarest Farms’ Halloween Light Show. Reserve your spot to take your vehicle on a tour of the property’s 32 acres, which will be done up in spooky Halloween décor. (Be sure to tune your radio to 107.9FM!) Afterward, treat yourself to farm fresh goodies and get warm by a firepit at the farm market. Tickets and reservations must be made online. Don’t fret if you can’t make it this weekend: The show runs through Oct. 31

Sept. 27

  • This isn’t your ordinary neighborhood race. Sign up for the annual Palisades Half Marathon + 6K Trail Run, both of which start and end at Fort Lee Historic Park. The half marathon goes along 13.1 miles of paved pathways with stunning views and elevation gains. The 6K trail run descends to the Shore Trail and weaves along the cliffs before connecting to the Long Path. The half begins at 9 a.m., and the 6K starts at 9:30. Register online.
  • The annual Joey’s Fund Annual Car Show, postponed from last week, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Closter Plaza. Check out classic rides, hot rods, muscle cars, exotics and other cool vehicles. There also will be face painting, door prizes, giveaways and other activities. Proceeds from the event benefit organizations such as Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities and other organizations dedicated to research to fight childhood cancer and other diseases.
  • Give Mother Nature a hand during Teaneck Creek Conservancy’s Public Volunteer Day. Those interested in helping at the TCC’s fall cleanup will pick up trash, use shovels and wheelbarrows to transport mulch, cut back vegetation and other projects. Stop by between 1 and 4 p.m. (ages 13 and older).
  • The outdoor concert season isn’t done yet! Bergen County’s Music at the Barn series continues with the annual Bergen All-Star Jazz Blast, happening at 4 p.m. at the Wortendyke Barn Museum in Park Ridge. The jazz spectacular is free to all, though guests are encouraged to bring their own chairs and blankets, as seating is limited.

How are you celebrating the first weekend of fall? Share your photos with us on Instagram @bergenmagnj.

 

Categories: Bergen Health & Life