Weekending ‘Round The Towns: Oct. 23-25, 2026

Weekend Highlights:

For history buffs, the Rockingham history program and the Franklin 250 lecture at the public library offer two opportunities to explore local Revolutionary War history.

The weekend also offers several major cultural performances. Diwali at Bridgewater Commons and the North Brunswick Diwali Gala are free community celebrations, while Swan Lake and A Beat of Our Own provide substantial theatrical and dance programming.

For families, Snyder’s Farm, Terhune Orchards, the RVCC Planetarium and Lord Stirling Park’s Halloween event offer a range of seasonal activities.

And for something a little different, Garlicsville in Bernardsville promises an entire afternoon devoted to garlic, food and community festivities.

Weekend and Multi-Day Events

• Welcome World to George Washington’s Rockingham, Franklin Township: Rockingham State Historic Site, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 23-25, 10 to 11 a.m. daily. Visitors can learn about George Washington’s final Revolutionary War headquarters through an illustrated presentation in the site’s historic Dutch barn. The program includes reproduction artifacts and information about tours of the grounds. The historic house remains closed for stabilization work. Admission is free. Visit Somerset NJ
• Snyder’s Farm Fall Festival, Franklin Township: Snyder’s Farm, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The farm continues its annual fall celebration with pumpkin picking and seasonal farm activities. Visitors can choose pumpkins directly from the field. Festival admission is required; pumpkins cost extra. Farm and festival information Visit Somerset NJ
• Fall Family Fun Weekends, Princeton: Terhune Orchards, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 30 activities include pony rides, corn mazes, pedal tractors, pumpkin painting, barnyard animals and pumpkin picking. Wagon rides run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and live music is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $19.95; children younger than 3 are free. Advance tickets required. Festival information and tickets Terhune Orchards
• Fall Harvest Days, Hillsborough: Norz Hill Farm & Market, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The farm features a 7.5-acre corn maze commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, hayrides, livestock visits and pumpkin picking. The last haywagon departs at 5 p.m. Admission is $17.99. Visit Somerset NJ
• Fall Hayride, Corn Maze and Pumpkin Picking, Hillsborough: Abma’s Farm, Friday, Oct. 23, 3 to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The farm offers a package combining a hayride, full-size corn maze, shorter children’s maze, pumpkin patch and petting zoo. Tickets are $19 per person ages 2 and older; pumpkins cost extra. Farm event information Visit Somerset NJ
• Scare Farm, Hillsborough: Norz Hill Farm & Market, 120 South Branch Road, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, 7 to 10 p.m., with Sunday activities also listed, weather permitting. The Halloween attraction features two haunted walking trails and two hayrides, combining spooky scenes, ghost stories and seasonal scares. Tickets required; prices vary. Visitors should confirm Sunday’s operating hours before traveling. Visit Somerset NJ
• “Swan Lake,” New Brunswick: New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. American Repertory Ballet presents its full-length production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet. The story follows Princess Odette, who is trapped by an evil curse, and Prince Siegfried’s efforts to free her. Tickets required; prices vary by performance and seating. Performance information and tickets American Repertory Ballet
• “A Beat of Our Own,” Princeton: McCarter Theatre Center, Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. The new musical comedy follows two college teammates whose disagreements lead them to form rival bhangra dance teams. The production blends traditional Indian dance, contemporary music and comedy. This is the show’s final weekend. Tickets required; prices vary. NewJerseyStage.com
• “Evil Dead, The Musical,” West Windsor: Kelsey Theatre at Mercer County Community College, 1200 Old Trenton Road, Friday, Oct. 23, 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 24-25, 2 p.m. The horror-comedy musical, based on the cult films, follows Ash and his friends to a haunted cabin where demons are unleashed. The production includes rock music, comedy and a designated splatter zone. Tickets are $26 for adults and $24 for students and seniors. Operabase
• “The Unexpected 3rd,” New Brunswick: New Brunswick Performing Arts Center, Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 24, 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. George Street Playhouse presents a new work written by and starring Kathryn Grody and directed by Timothy Near. The production continues through Nov. 1. Tickets required; prices vary. NewJerseyStage.com
• “Destroying David,” Basking Ridge: Sieminski Theater, 8000 Fellowship Road, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, evening performances; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2:30 p.m. American Theater Group presents a solo play written and performed by Jason Odell Williams. The story follows a troubled tour guide contemplating the destruction of Michelangelo’s famous sculpture while exploring grief, art and resilience. Tickets are listed at $51 to $61, including fees. Show information and tickets Sieminski Theater
• “Almost, Maine,” Basking Ridge: Farmstead Arts Center, 450 King George Road, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. The Lord Stirling Theater Company presents John Cariani’s romantic comedy, a collection of interconnected stories about love, loss and relationships in a fictional Maine town. Tickets are $25 general admission, $23 for seniors, students, children and military personnel, and $20 for Farmstead Arts members. Visit Somerset NJ
• “The Night I Died at the Palace Theatre,” Bridgewater: PeopleCare Center Auditorium, 120 Finderne Ave., Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. Open Door Arts Center presents Pat Cook’s theatrical murder mystery, in which audiences can try to determine who committed the crime. Tickets are $20; tickets purchased at the door are cash only. Production and ticket information Visit Somerset NJ
• “Agatha Christie’s Go Back for Murder,” Hillsborough: Somerset Valley Players, 689 Amwell Road, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23-24, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m. Carla Crale investigates her mother’s murder conviction after discovering a letter suggesting that she may have been innocent. The mystery unfolds as witnesses reconstruct the events surrounding the crime. Tickets required; prices vary. Visit Somerset NJ

Friday, Oct. 23

• Mike Noordzy Trio, Princeton: Triumph Brewing Company, 5 to 8 p.m. Bassist and composer Mike Noordzy leads a jazz trio performance. A Rutgers jazz graduate, Noordzy works across jazz, rock, folk and experimental music. Admission information was not listed. Triumph live music calendar Triumph Brewing Company
• Pumpkin Carving With Goats, Hillsborough: Abma’s Farm, 282 Amwell Road, 5 to 6 p.m. Participants can carve pumpkins while spending time with the farm’s goats. The package includes petting zoo admission, a one-hour carving session and carving utensils. Pumpkins must be purchased separately. Advance registration required; price not listed in the county calendar. Visit Somerset NJ
• New Jersey Symphony: Beethoven’s “Emperor” and Schubert’s “Great,” Princeton: Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University, 7:30 p.m. The New Jersey Symphony opens its season with pianist George Li performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5, followed by Schubert’s Symphony No. 9. Xian Zhang conducts. Tickets required; prices vary. Concert information and tickets New Jersey Symphony
• Somerville Haunted History Fringe Tour, Somerville: Tour meets outside the former Somerset Hotel, 65 E. Main St., 7 to 8:30 p.m. A guided walking tour explores lesser-known stories, mysteries and supposedly haunted locations in Somerville’s history. Reservations required; ticket price was not listed. The tour is also scheduled for Saturday evening. Tour information Visit Somerset NJ
• Night of the Living Drag: Camp Slayaway, New Brunswick: State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., 8 p.m. The Halloween-themed drag spectacular features Violet Chachki, Laganja Estranja, Jaida Essence Hall, Raja, Nicole Paige Brooks and Salina EsTitties. The production draws on 1980s slasher movies, with comedy, music, costumes and theatrical performances. Tickets start at $39, including fees. Patrons younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Show information and tickets State Theatre New Jersey
• Jamie Lissow, Stress Factory Comedy Club, 90 Church St., New Brunswick. 6 and 8:30 p.m. Prices not posted online; the club says all prices include fees. Box office, 732-545-4242.
• Premiere Stages, “Effa Loves Baseball,” Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Ave., Hillside. 7:30 p.m. $42 standard; $32 seniors 65 and older and Kean alumni and staff; $27 ADA; $18 students.
• Middlesex County 4-H Haunted House and Hayride, Middlesex County 4-H Youth Center, 645 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. 7 to 10:30 p.m. $8 per person for one activity, $15 for both.
• Fall Harvest Festival, East Jersey Old Town Village, 1050 River Road, Piscataway. Daytime hours. Free. Runs through Oct. 25.
• 2000s Slashback Night, The Underground, Somerville. 9 p.m. Cover not listed.
• 90s Halloween Party, YESTERcades, 29 Division St., Somerville. 8 p.m. $20.
• Farm of Horrors, Schaefer Farms, Flemington. Evening hours; times and prices not listed.

Saturday, Oct. 24

• Bernardsville Farmers’ Market, Bernardsville: Bernardsville Train Station, 50 Mine Brook Road, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The weekly market features fresh produce, baked goods, specialty foods, flowers and local vendors. Live music is scheduled from the PB&J Band. Admission is free. Visit Somerset NJ
• 1783 at Rockingham: Black Refugees and the Crisis of American Freedom, Franklin Township: Franklin Township Public Library, 2 p.m. Historian Timothy Messer-Kruse discusses Black refugees and the struggle for freedom at the end of the Revolutionary War. Mary Tsaltas-Ottomanelli moderates the presentation. A book sale and signing will follow. The program is part of Franklin Township’s observance of America’s 250th anniversary. Free admission; seating is limited. Township event announcement Franklin Township
• Diwali at the Commons, Bridgewater: Bridgewater Commons, 1 to 3 p.m. The mall celebrates the South Asian Festival of Lights with live music, classical Indian and Bollywood dance, fashion presentations, children’s activities and an interactive finale. Additional attractions include complimentary mehndi, live painting and arts and crafts. Admission is free. Event information Visit Somerset NJ
• Fall Music Series, Princeton: Palmer Square Green, 1 to 3 p.m. The EssGees perform as part of the downtown outdoor concert series. Visitors can bring blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy an afternoon of live music. Admission is free. Princeton Online
• Diwali Celebration at MarketFair, Princeton: MarketFair, 3535 Route 1 South, 3:30 p.m. The shopping center’s third annual Diwali celebration includes cultural music and dance performances, festive decorations, photo opportunities, crafts, snacks and vendors. Admission is free. Published listings differ slightly on the ending time, placing it between 6 and 6:30 p.m. New Jersey Monthly
• Halloween Fairy Land at Herrontown Woods, Princeton: Herrontown Woods, off Snowden Lane, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Families are invited to dress as fairies, woodland creatures and other imaginative characters for a Halloween-themed outdoor celebration. Activities include seasonal treats and a presentation about spooky insects. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested. Princeton Online
• Parker Cheek Quartet, Princeton: Triumph Brewing Company, 20 Palmer Square East, 5 to 8 p.m. New Jersey jazz trumpeter Parker Cheek leads a quartet performing contemporary jazz, original arrangements and music drawing on traditional jazz styles. Admission information was not listed. Triumph live music calendar Triumph Brewing Company
• The Origins of Halloween Hike, Hopewell Township: The Watershed Institute, 6 p.m. Families follow a lantern-lit trail and encounter costumed characters telling the Irish folktale of Stingy Jack, whose story helped inspire the jack-o’-lantern tradition. The outdoor theatrical experience has been presented since 1987 and is designed to be spooky without being overly frightening. Tickets required; admission price was not listed in the calendar. Princeton Online
• Halloween Planetarium Shows, Branchburg: Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium, 118 Lamington Road, 3 to 8 p.m. Four shows are scheduled: Earth, Moon and Sun (and Coyote) at 3 p.m., Monster Mash Laser Concert at 4 p.m., Halloween: Celestial Origins at 7 p.m. and Fright Light Laser Concert at 8 p.m. Tickets are $11 for one show or $20 for two shows on the same day. Reservations recommended. Visit Somerset NJ
• An Evening of Alton Brown, New Brunswick: State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., 7:30 p.m. Television chef and author Alton Brown brings a live show combining cooking demonstrations, humor, food science, music and storytelling. Brown is known for hosting Good Eats, Iron Chef America and Cutthroat Kitchen. Tickets start at $58, including fees. Show information and tickets State Theatre New Jersey
• Underground Latin Night, Somerville: The Underground at Village Brewing Company, 9 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday. The club presents a Latin dance night featuring Dramos, Anderson Flight and Andre Ramorex. Admission is free. Visit Somerset NJ

Sunday, Oct. 25

• Garlicsville: Bernardsville Garlic Festival and Street Fair, Bernardsville: Downtown Bernardsville, near Olcott Square and the train station, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The one-day festival celebrates all things garlic, with garlic-themed food trucks, farms selling fresh garlic and specialty products, artisan vendors and a children’s adventure zone. Admission is free. Festival information NJ Carnivals
• Stalls, Sweets and Treats, Basking Ridge: Lord Stirling Park, 256 S. Maple Ave., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Somerset County Park Commission presents a Halloween celebration at the stable, featuring a self-guided barn trick-or-treat tour, horses in costume, decorated stalls, a hay maze and horse costume contests. Visitors can vote for their favorite costumes. Admission information was not listed. Event information Visit Somerset NJ
• Bell-O-Ween Carillon Concert, Princeton: Princeton University Graduate College, Cleveland Tower, 1 p.m. A special Halloween-themed concert on the university’s 67-bell carillon. Visitors can listen outdoors on the Graduate College grounds. Admission is free. Rain or shine. Princeton Online
• Revolutionary Sundays, Princeton: Princeton Battlefield State Park, 1 p.m. The Princeton Battlefield Society presents an interpretive history program examining the Battle of Princeton, the Ten Crucial Days campaign and the experiences of people affected by the American Revolution. The program is part of the nation’s 250th anniversary observances. Advance registration requested; admission cost was not specified. Princeton Online
• New Jersey Symphony: Beethoven’s “Emperor” and Schubert’s “Great,” New Brunswick: State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Ave., 2 p.m. The orchestra continues its opening weekend with pianist George Li performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9. Xian Zhang conducts. Tickets are listed from $29 to $128. Concert information and tickets NewJerseyStage.com
• Diwali Gala, North Brunswick: North Brunswick Township High School, 98 Raider Road, 2 to 5 p.m. Agraj Seva Kendra and the township present their annual Diwali celebration, featuring music by the North Brunswick Raiders Marching Band, additional performances, DJ Sachin, food and vendors. Admission is free. Township event listing NJ Family
• Princeton History Walking Tour, Princeton: Begins at Princeton Battle Monument, 1 Monument Drive, 2 to 4 p.m. The Historical Society of Princeton leads a guided walk through downtown Princeton and the university campus, exploring historic sites including Nassau Hall, University Chapel and Palmer Square. Tickets are $20; advance purchase required. Princeton Online
• Kids Diwali Fest, Hillsborough: Posh & Pearl Studio, 450 Amwell Road, Suite 12, 3 to 5 p.m. Children can participate in rangoli decorating, diya wall-decor projects, mehndi tattoos, games and other Diwali-themed activities. Admission is $40 per child; advance registration required. Visit Somerset NJ

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