2023 Wayne Fall Fun Guide: Festivals, Hayrides, Haunted Houses + More

WAYNE, NJ— The autumnal equinox on Sept. 23 signals the official arrival of fall, and the season is in full swing in the Wayne area with everything from fall festivals and hayrides to haunted houses and seasonal fundraisers.

Sunny days and crisp evenings are the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the season. The township is getting ready for its annual Wayne Day celebration, while local organizations are planning fall events and farmers are welcoming people into corn mazes and pumpkin fields.

Below, find the 2023 Patch Guide to Fall Fun in the Wayne area.

Festivals

The annual Wayne Day celebration is coming up in October, promising plenty of ways for neighbors of all ages to gather and have fun while visiting with local businesses and organizations. Attendees can also play games at the Vendor Fair and have the chance for some giveaways from local retailers. More than 100 booths will be set up so residents can visit with local business, civic clubs, houses of worship, and fraternal organizations. (Read more here.)

• Address: Wayne Municipal Complex, 475 Valley Road, Wayne
• Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Cost: Free to attend.

Hayrides

Farms View Market has a hayride out to its pumpkin field, where you can choose your own to take home. The pumpkin picking and hayride package is available Sept. 30 through Oct. 31, and goes on throughout the week. Farms View Market is open on Yom Kippur and Columbus Day. Click here for more information, and call or check social media for the latest details.

• Address: 945 Black Oak Ridge Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470
• Phone number: 973-839-1212
• Dates and times: Saturdays from 9 a.m to 5 p.m. (Hayride runs continually). Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Hayride runs continually). Monday through Friday at 4:00, 4:30, and 5 p.m.
• Cost: $12 per person Monday - Friday; $14 per person Saturday, Sunday and Columbus Day

Halloween events/haunted houses

Brighton Asylum features escape rooms, three haunted houses with other spine-tingling "experiences," and even a gruesome midway.

• Address: 2 Brighton Ave Passaic, NJ 07055
• Phone number: 201-848-2517
• Dates and times: Weekends and select dates from Sept. 23 through Nov. 4. Time slots begin at 7:30 p.m. and go until 9:30, 10:30, or 11:30 p.m. depending on the day.
• Cost: Haunted house tickets start at $37.99 with escape rooms starting at $35. Not recommended for children under 10.

Programs, fundraisers, and other events

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery outing (organized by Wayne Township)

• Address: Meet at Town Hall, 475 Valley Road, Wayne. Venue is in Warwick, N.Y.
• Date and time: Friday, Sept. 29 2023. Departure at 10:15 a.m. from Wayne Town Hall, time at the winery from 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m., and departure at 2:15 p.m. Ages 21 and up.
• Cost: $8, including transportation and parking. Register online or at Wayne Parks and Recreation (in Town Hall, 475 Valley Road)

Paint Night with Wayne Parks and Recreation

Settle in for a night of painting with instructor Vilma Mirkov, owner-operator of U Paint Studio in Oakland, as you paint a fall scene. Bring your own (non-alcoholic) refreshments, if you so desire.

• Address: Health Room #2 in the Wayne Municipal Complex, 475 Valley Road, Wayne
• Date and time: Thursday, Oct. 5 from 7:15 to 9:15 p.m. Ages 18 and up.
• Cost: $45, which includes all supplies needed to participate. Register here or in person at Wayne Parks and Recreation (in Town Hall, 475 Valley Road).

Boys and Girls Club Colors Of Fall Gala

Fine dining, cocktails, a silent auction, dancing, and live music to support the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest New Jersey and their programs for local youth. Browse silent auction items here.

• Address: Westmount Country Club, Woodland Park NJ
• Date and time: Friday, Oct. 6 from 7 p.m. to midnight
• Cost: Tickets begin at $190, with several sponsorship levels available.

Wayne UNICO Car Show (postponed to Oct. 8 from Sept. 24)

Classic vehicles line up for this annual event, with a DJ playing music and concessions by local vendors. Proceeds to go Wayne UNICO charities.

• Address: Wayne Township Municipal Building, 475 Valley Road, Wayne.
• Phone number: Call 862-668-8682 for more information.
• Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Cost: Car registration is $20 day-of.