HUNTERDON COUNTY, N.J. — Fall activities are getting underway across Hunterdon County, with festivals, Halloween attractions, Oktoberfest celebrations, scenic train rides and outdoor recreation planned throughout the season.
County tourism officials are highlighting destinations ranging from Round Valley Recreation Area and the Delaware River communities to farms, breweries and seasonal attractions as options for fall day trips and weekend visits.
“Fall is when Hunterdon really shows people how much they can experience in one place,” said Marc Saluk, Director of Hunterdon County Economic Development & Tourism. “You can spend the morning on a trail or at a farm, walk a historic downtown in the afternoon, stop for local food or wine, and finish the night at an event like the Haunted Red Mill. It is the kind of season that makes a day trip turn into a weekend.”
Outdoor options include hiking and cycling trails throughout the county and Round Valley Recreation Area, where fall foliage surrounds the reservoir. Visitors can also travel along the Delaware River through Lambertville, Stockton, Frenchtown and Milford.
Halloween events begin in October, including the Haunted Red Mill at the Red Mill Museum Village, 56 Main St. in Clinton. This year’s “Lurking in the Shadows” attraction is scheduled for Friday and Saturday nights from Oct. 2 through Oct. 24, beginning at 7 p.m.
The attraction includes trails, mazes, scares and a haunted hayride along the river. The Red Mill will also offer its less-scary Happy Haunts program for families on Saturday mornings.
Schaefer Farms in the Flemington area will also host its Farm of Horrors on October weekends. The more than 200-acre Halloween attraction includes the Hayride of Horror, Trail of Terror, MassAcre Maize and CarNevil of Chaos.
Oktoberfest celebrations are also planned along the Hunterdon County Beer Trail. Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington will hold an Oktoberfest event Sept. 19 featuring music, entertainment, seasonal beer and food.
Readington Brewery & Hop Farm will hold its fifth annual Oktoberfest from Oct. 2-4. The main event begins at noon Saturday, Oct. 3, with live music, steinholding competitions, goat races and beer.
Another seasonal attraction is the Black River & Western Railroad’s Pumpkin Train. The train departs Flemington Station on Stangl Road and travels to Everitt Farms at Pumpkin Junction in Ringoes.
Visitors can explore a six-acre pumpkin patch, corn and straw-bale mazes, a petting zoo and other activities before making the return trip.
Hunterdon County’s 579 Trail also connects more than 40 farms, farmers markets, wineries and other agricultural destinations. During the fall, stops along the route feature pumpkins, cider and other seasonal offerings.
Additional information about fall events, outdoor recreation, farms, breweries and other destinations is available at ExploreHunterdonNJ.com.
