Fall activities survival guide
Horse Sleigh Farm
Located one hour away from Rider in Washington, New Jersey, the farm is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. where you can take part in paintball shooting, rides, corn cannon, horse-drawn wagon rides, corn maze, pony rides, animal petting and gem mining. Afternoon activities are free. The farms haunted attractions begin at 7 p.m. and offer three attractions: Hayride of Horror ($5), Haunted Barnyard and Trail of Terror ($8), and the eight-acre Haunted Corn Maze ($12). If you buy all three attractions it will cost $18, and the full package will take approximately two hours.
Annual Cranberry Festival
If you looking for something that is close to Rider, a mere 20 minutes away, Bordentown City is hosting its annual cranberry festival Oct. 6-7 with live music all weekend. There are 125 vendors at the craft show, selling everything from painting, pottery, pastries, wine, jewelry and clothing. On Saturday there will even be a vintage car show. This event is free and is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Annual Blackwood Pumpkin Festival
On Oct. 7 the festival will have food, games, four entertainment stages, and 200 vendors. They also have pumpkin painting and carving, as well as hayrides and costume contests. It is open 11a.m. -4p.m. and admission is free. (Rain date: Oct.14).
Annual South Jersey Pumpkin Show
The pumpkin show is located in Woodstown N.J. approximately an hour from Rider. This is a three-day event on Oct. 11-13. They have live music, kids rides, face painting, hayrides, wine sampling, contests and a giant pumpkin pyramid. Some of the contests include a pumpkin toss and a pumpkin weigh-off, which is at 5pm on Friday. There are $2,000 in prizes for the five biggest pumpkins. Admission is free, and parking is $5.
Mercer County Cultural Festival
Mercer County will be hosting its second cultural festival at Mercer County Park located in West Windsor, approximately 15 minutes away from Rider. The festival, which takes place on Oct. 12, celebrates diversity through traditional foods, arts and crafts, live music and dancing. The festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The rain date is Oct. 13 and is a free event.
Grand Harvest Wine Festival
Located in Morristown, approximately one hour from Rider, the wine festival is being hosted at Fosterfields Historical Living Farm. Open Oct. 5-6 from noon to 5 p.m. (Admission tent opens at 1130 a.m.) During the festival, visitors can sample award-winning wines, shop and hear live music from bands like the SteppingSTONE and The Funktion. Admission is $25 or $40 for a two-day pass, and a wine tasting glass is included with the fee. If you purchase your tickets online in advance, you can save $5.
Haunted Mill
Located in Clinton N.J., approximately 50 minutes from Rider. It takes place at the historic Red Mill Museum Village. Tickets are $25, and the XpressPass tickets are $45. Performances are every Friday and Saturday, 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Last Fling Pumpkin Sling
Located in Harmony N.J., approximately an hour from Rider. Takes place at Millbrook farm from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets are $6 adults, $4 children, and four and under are free. Parking is also free. For more information call: (908) 283-0721
Autumn House Tour
Lambertville’s Historical Society is hosting a self-guided walking tour through a grand mansion, a 200-year-old inn, and a church on Oct. 21. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 if purchased on the same day of the tour. Lambertville is approximately 30 minutes from Rider. For more information call: (609) 307-0770 or visit their website at Lambertvillehistoricalsociety.org.
Six Flags Annual Fright Fest
If you’re looking for something that has haunted attractions, rides, games, and food, then Six Flags’ Fright Fest is for you. Located in Jackson, N.J. approximately 45 minutes from Rider. Fright Fest tickets are the same as Six Flags normal general admission. For more information call: (732) 928-1821.
Brighton Asylum
Located an hour and 20 minutes from Rider in Passaic, N.J. this haunted attraction is not for the weak hearted. General admission is $25 per person, or purchase a $35 R.I.P. pass that gets you to the front of the line. The idea behind this attraction is that it is “a series of warehouses that were used for housing the sick and mentally disabled back in the mid 1940’s. After years of harsh living conditions and grotesque medical experiments, the patients eventually over-ran the facility, and seized control of it.”
Casola Farms
Located 50 minutes from Rider in Marlboro, N.J. It has a haunted hayride ($15), haunted barn ($12), haunted wooded trail ($12), the living maze ($12) or go for the ultimate package (Hayride, Barn, Trail & Maze), which is $40. It’s open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in October, as well as Thursday, the 31st. Call: 732-946-8885 for more details.
Windsor Farms Haunted Hayride
Located just 15 minutes from Rider in West Windsor, this farm is open every Friday and Saturday night in October. There are haunted hayrides, apple cider, funnel cakes and more. Rides leave every 10 minutes from 7 p.m. to close. Call: (609) 443-9379 for more details.
The Field of Terror
Located in East Windsor, just 20 minutes down the road from Rider, Field of Terror holds four different haunted attractions: killer cornfield, zombie attack haunted hayride, the unknown barn, and Dementia 3D. For a single pass it is $15 while the VIP is $30, double pass ($25) VIP double pass ($50), triple pass ($35) VIP triple pass ($60), quad pass ($40) VIP quad pass ($65). Hours are from 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7 p.m. -10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays.
Corner of Chaos
Located at the Corner-Copia Farm Market and Garden Center in East Windsor, only 20 minutes from Rider. They’re open Friday through Sundays from Sept 27 – Nov. 2. There are four different attractions to choose from: wicked wagon ride, wooded wasteland, barbaric barnyard, and nightmare machine. Four attraction combo ticket is $40, and VIP is $60.
Night of Terror
Approximately one hour from Rider in Mullica Hill, N.J., this place is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights in October, as well as Oct 21, 23, and 30. Night of terror has an extensive list of attractions that include: Slaughter Cave, 3D Funhouse, Frozen Tundra, Ride of Terror Haunted Hayride, Zombie Mayhem, cornfield maze, and an interactive haunted paintball hayride.
Camp Evans Base of Terror
Located in Wall, N.J., approximately 45 minutes from Rider, this attraction is open every Friday and Saturday in October from 7-11 p.m. Tickets are $12.50, and no one under the age of eight will be admitted to the main attraction, due to the intensity.
Fear in the Forest
This is located 45 minutes from Rider in Browns Mills N.J. Open Friday Oct. 25 and Saturday Oct. 26. The price for tickets is $10 for adults, $5 for kids and anyone four and under is free. “The haunted forest is unlike anything you have ever experienced. There are real trails leading through hundreds of trees, and real swamps. You will pass mineshafts and actual dungeons filled with demons and ghouls. The haunted forest is outdoors, so you better stay on the trail and not run.”
Giamarese Farm & Orchards: October Harvest
Located 45 minutes from Rider, in East Brunswick. For more information call: (732) 821-9494.
The Haunted Scarehouse
Located in Wharton N.J., approximately an hour and 30 minutes from Rider. Open Fridays through Sundays from Sept. 27-Nov. 2. Tickets are $22 per person. For more information call: (732) 485 – 2653.
Scary Rotten Farms
Located in Brick, N.J. approximately 45 minutes from Rider University. Open Friday and Saturdays in October, as well as October 27-31. Tickets are $14 for each attraction, for both haunted attractions $22.
Frightfest at Scaefers Farm
Located in Flemington N.J., approximately 30 minutes from Rider. It starts on Saturday, Sept. 28, and will be held every Friday through Sunday from Oct. 4-Nov 1. Tickets are $25 for all four attractions. For more information call: 908-782-2705.
Nightmare at Gravity Hill
Located in Jackson, N.J. it is about 45 minutes from Rider. Dates are Sept. 20, 21, 27, and 28; Oct. 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27. For more information call: (732) 703 – 4198.
Psycho Trail
Located 45 minutes from Rider in Medford N.J. Open Oct. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 31; and Nov. 1. Tickets are $5 or $10 for VIP line skip.
Toxicity in the Asylum
If you’re looking for a haunted attraction that won’t break the bank, then this is the place for you; tickets are $4 per person. They are Located in East Brunswick N.J. and are open every Friday and Saturday night in October.
Night-Mares
Located in Montvale, N.J. which is an hour and a half away from Rider. Open Fridays – Sundays in October as well as Oct. 31, and Nov. 1and 2. Tickets are $25 for adults and the RIP tickets are $35.
Evil Spirits Woods at Emerald Acres
Located in Monroe N.J., approximately an hour and 45 minutes from Rider University. Tickets are $13 for adults, but there is a $1 discount for any tickets reserved in advance. They only accept cash, no credit/debit/checks allowed. Hours of operation are from 8-11 p.m., and they start Oct. 11 and are open every Friday through Sunday.
Devil Rider’s Trail
Located and hour and 30 minutes from Rider in Milmay N.J. General admission is $10 and they are open Oct. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27; Nov. 1 and 2. For more information call: (609) 364-6117.
