This Weekend in South Jersey: Cranberry Festival, Chowder Cook-Off and Book Fest (October 2-4, 2026)
Burlington County opens October with two harvest festivals in Bordentown and Whitesbog, Moorestown and Bordentown farmers markets, Johnson's Corner Farm, the free Collingswood Book Festival, and the Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off weekend at the shore.
October opens with a full harvest weekend in South Jersey, Friday October 2 through Sunday October 4, 2026. Burlington County is the anchor: the Bordentown Cranberry Festival and the Whitesbog Harvest Festival run both Saturday and Sunday, the Burlington County Agricultural Center market returns to Moorestown, the Bordentown City Farmers Market holds its Sunday session, and Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford runs its fall hayride and corn maze all weekend.
Just beyond the county line, the 24th annual Collingswood Book Festival fills Haddon Avenue for free on Saturday, and the Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off weekend takes over the Taylor Avenue waterfront. Every event below was checked against festival guides and official event pages before publishing. Times and vendors can shift, so confirm anything you plan around with the organizer.
Friday, October 2: October Opens at the Shore and in Hammonton
Wildwood's October festivals begin and Hammonton's farm festival resumes its weekend schedule
Friday evening opens several weekend-long events. Wildwood kicks off its October calendar with the Olde Tyme Italian Festival on Friday and Saturday, The Race of Gentlemen vintage hot-rod and motorcycle weekend Friday through Sunday, and Morey's Piers Oktoberfest, which runs Fridays through Sundays from October 2 to 11. In Hammonton, Red Barn Farm's Sunflower and Fall Festival resumes its Fridays-through-Sundays schedule from October 2 through November 1, and the Submersion Festival brings an electronic-music camping weekend to Paradise Lakes Campground. Closer to home, Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford keeps its corn maze open on Fridays this fall.
Wildwood, Hammonton and Medford Kick Off October
Wildwood and Hammonton, NJ (outside Burlington County)
Wildwood's Olde Tyme Italian Festival runs Friday and Saturday with Italian food and vendors, while The Race of Gentlemen draws vintage hot-rod and motorcycle enthusiasts to the beach all three days. Morey's Piers Oktoberfest adds seasonal brews to its rides on October weekends, and Red Barn Farm's Sunflower and Fall Festival keeps its hay wagon and sunflower fields running each Friday through Sunday into November.
Saturday, October 3: Harvest Festivals and Markets
Two Burlington County blueberry-and-cranberry festivals, the Moorestown market, and the big free book festival in Collingswood
Burlington County Agricultural Center Farmers Market, Moorestown
Burlington County Agricultural Center, 500 Centerton Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057
The county's flagship market at 500 Centerton Road runs every Saturday 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM and its 2026 season continues through November 14. October means mums, pumpkins, gourds, cider, preserves, and artisan breads under the pavilions.
It is the single easiest way to grab a taste of South Jersey in one stop. Our Moorestown guide covers the town around the market, and the farmers market roundup lists every market in the region worth the trip.
Bordentown Cranberry Festival
Bordentown, NJ 08505 (Burlington County)
The Bordentown Cranberry Festival returns for a two-day run Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4. Cranberries are New Jersey's signature October crop, and the festival pairs them with crafters, local food, and family activities in the historic river town. Hours and the vendor lineup are set by the organizers, so check the official listing before heading out.
Parking near the festival streets fills early, so arrive in the morning. The same weekend, the fall festivals guide tracks every harvest event arriving across the region this season.
Whitesbog Harvest Festival and Pinelands Discovery
Whitesbog Historic Village, Browns Mills, Pemberton Township, NJ (Burlington County)
Whitesbog Historic Village in the Pine Barrens, between Browns Mills and Pemberton, hosts its Harvest Festival and Pinelands Discovery weekend Saturday and Sunday, October 3-4. The historic cranberry-bog village is where cultivated blueberries were first developed, and the festival celebrates that heritage with vendors, nature programs, and the bogs at peak harvest color.
It is an easy, low-cost day trip from most of Burlington County and pairs naturally with nearby Brendan T. Byrne State Forest trails. The day trips guide has more Pine Barrens ideas.
24th Annual Collingswood Book Festival
Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ (Camden County)
The 24th annual Collingswood Book Festival fills Haddon Avenue Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM with 60-plus presenting authors and more than 275 exhibitors, and it is completely free. Picture blocks of book tables, author talks, a kids' corner, food, and live music in one of the region's friendliest downtowns.
It is one of the best free family events in the region all year, and Collingswood is an easy 25-minute drive from most of Burlington County. Check the official site for the lineup before you go.
Johnson's Corner Farm: Fall Harvest and Corn Maze, Medford
Johnson's Corner Farm, 133 Church Road, Medford, NJ 08055
Johnson's Corner Farm's Fall Harvest Hayride and Pick-Your-Own season runs September 12 through November 1. Hayrides carry you to the u-pick fields for pumpkins, gourds, sweet potatoes, and popcorn, the corn maze is about $8 per person, and weekend wagon rides start around 9:30 AM with farm hours about 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Reserved online combo tickets are the most reliable way in on busy weekends and run about $20 per person. A note for apple lovers: the spring frost took the 2026 apple crop, and the farm will not offer apple picking this year. Our Medford neighborhood guide explains why this Pine Barrens town is such a family favorite.
Also on Saturday, October 3
- Burlington City Annual East Union Street Yard Sale: the 100 block of East Union Street, from 9:00 AM, a low-key way to start a fall Saturday.
- Festival of Fine Craft at WheatonArts: the juried fine-craft festival runs Saturday and Sunday at the WheatonArts campus in Millville, with artists and the glass studio in full color.
- White Horse Winery Fall Festival: 106 Hall Street, Hammonton, Saturday 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, free family fun at an acclaimed winery.
- Hamm-O-Ween: Hammonton's Horton Street night market, 6:00 to 10:00 PM, with a live band, vendors, and costume contests.
- WTCEA Oktoberfest: Waterford Township's Oktoberfest in Atco on Saturday with German food, music, and family activities.
- Glassboro Art Walk and Night Market: an evening art walk and market through Glassboro's downtown Saturday night.
- Elmer Harvest Festival: the Salem County town fills its streets with food, crafters, a car show, live music, and kids' activities.
- Etsch Farms Fall Festival and Corn Maze: the Gloucester County farm in Monroe Township opens its weekends-only festival schedule October 3.
Sunday, October 4: Markets and the Chowder Cook-Off
Bordentown City Farmers Market, day two of the harvest festivals, and the big cook-off at the shore
Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off Classic
Taylor Avenue waterfront, behind Bay Village, Beach Haven, NJ 08008
The event Long Beach Island once called Chowderfest is now the Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off, and its Sunday Classic is the weekend centerpiece on the Taylor Avenue waterfront behind Bay Village from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Visitors sample and vote on competing clam chowders, with tickets $35 in advance online and $40 at the door; children 10 and under enter free.
Saturday's free Merchant Mart (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM) pairs 80-plus local merchants, food trucks, drinks, and live music on the same waterfront. Ticket proceeds support LBI-area food banks through The Hunger Foundation of Southern Ocean County.
Also on Sunday, October 4
- Bordentown City Farmers Market: at the Carslake Community Center, 207 Crosswicks Street, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, with local produce, farms, baked goods, and live music.
- Bordentown Cranberry Festival, day two: a second full day of crafters, cranberry treats, and family activities in the river town.
- Whitesbog Harvest Festival and Pinelands Discovery, day two: more vendors, nature programs, and Pine Barrens history at the historic cranberry village.
- Festival of Fine Craft at WheatonArts, day two: the Millville craft festival continues, a mellow counterpoint to the big Saturday crowds.
- Johnson's Corner Farm: another full day of hayrides, u-pick pumpkins, and the corn maze in Medford, with wagon rides from about 9:30 AM.
Quick Look: Events This Weekend
| Event | Price |
|---|---|
| Burlington County Agricultural Center Farmers Market | Free |
| Bordentown Cranberry Festival | Check organizer |
| Whitesbog Harvest Festival and Pinelands Discovery | Low cost |
| Collingswood Book Festival (24th annual) | Free |
| Beach Haven Merchant Mart | Free |
| Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off Classic | From $35 |
| Bordentown City Farmers Market | Free |
| Johnson's Corner Farm | From ~$20 |
More Ideas for the Weekend
Looking for even more? Browse the full HomeCircle Community Events calendar and check your town's recreation page for smaller neighborhood plans. Our fall festivals guide previews every pumpkin patch, Oktoberfest, and haunted attraction arriving in the weeks ahead, the farmers market roundup lists every market worth the trip, and the day trips guide covers shore and Pine Barrens escapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which events this weekend are free?
Where can we pick pumpkins in Burlington County this weekend?
Is the Collingswood Book Festival free and good for kids?
How much do Beach Haven Chowder Cook-Off tickets cost?
Which farmers markets are open in Burlington County this weekend?
Why is there no apple picking in South Jersey this year?
What is the easiest one-day plan for families this weekend?
Enjoy the Harvest Weekend. We Will Be Here After.
Bob Millaway is an Epique Realty AI Certified Agent (NJ License 791082) serving Burlington County and South Jersey. Get out and enjoy the cranberry bogs, the book tents, and the chowder, and when you are ready to talk about your home, your neighborhood, or anything real estate, Bob is here at 856.426.1522.