Pumpkins, Squantoberfest and a Haunted Lab: Your Central Jersey Week, October 6
Happy Day Farm's pumpkin patch, Squantoberfest in Manasquan, Rock the House for Shore House, Brookdale's Haunted Theater and the weekend live-music lineup — with prices, times and the fine print checked.
Happy Tuesday, Central Jersey. I had my first apple cider donut of the season this weekend and carried home pumpkins from a local farm, so fall is officially here. The sunburn I somehow picked up doing it says otherwise.
On the docket: pumpkins in Manalapan, Squantoberfest in Manasquan, a rock show for a good cause in Long Branch, Brookdale's Haunted Theater and the live music lineup. I checked every detail against the organizers' own pages, and fixed a few things along the way.
Pumpkin season at Happy Day Farm, Manalapan
Happy Day Farm (106 Iron Ore Road) runs its Fall Festival through November 8, 10 AM to 5 PM, last entry at 4 PM. It's closed Tuesdays, so don't plan on today.
Quiet days (Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in October): pumpkin picking, a corn maze themed for America's 250th, tractor rides, zinnias, cosmos and Pumpkinville's pumpkin houses and photo spots. It's $23 per person, sold at the door, cash only.
Festival days (Friday to Sunday, plus Columbus Day, Monday October 12): 35+ activities, including the animal zoo, pig races, pedal carts, horse swings, a pirate ship and this year's Dolly Parton corn maze. It's $29 per person, online only, and it sells out. Fridays count as festival days too. Tickets are needed for everyone age 2 and up, all sales are final, and no pets or outside food are allowed. Purchases in the fields are cash.
Marie's take: if your knees vote for fewer crowds, go on a Wednesday. Bring cash.
Squantoberfest, Manasquan — Saturday, October 24
The Manasquan Chamber of Commerce brings crafters, artists, food, entertainment and kids' activities to Squan Plaza and downtown from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free, and the rain date is Sunday, October 25. Spend the money you saved on food and one fall purchase you definitely didn't plan to make. Scarecrows go up around the business district the same day.
Rock the House for Shore House, Long Branch — Thursday, October 15
From 5:30 to 8 PM at Whitechapel Projects, 15 Second Avenue. Joe Bezzone & The Turnstyles headline, with Jon Bagnato opening. There's light fare and an open bar, a silent auction and a 50/50. Proceeds support Shore House, a Long Branch clubhouse for adults living with mental illness. It runs entirely on private donations and helps pay for members' meals, transportation and activities. It's a Thursday night out that does some real good.
Brookdale Haunted Theater, Lincroft — starts Friday, October 9
This is its 23rd year at the Brookdale Performing Arts Center, 765 Newman Springs Road. It's no three-night run. It opens October 9–11 and comes back October 16–18, 23–25, 29 and 30, from 6 to 10 PM. Tickets are $20 and must be bought online in advance for a set time slot. There are no door sales. This year's theme is "Lab Rat," a research lab gone wrong, and you're the test subject. It's a walk-through of about 20 minutes, built and run by Brookdale students, alumni, staff and community members. Park in Lot 2. Accessible parking is in Lot 1.
Bringing the grandkids, or you'd rather skip the screaming? "Lights On, Scares Off" walk-throughs are on Saturday, October 17 (noon to 2 PM) and Saturday, October 24 (2 to 4 PM). Same sets, no actors, no jump scares.
Live music lowdown
Bar lineups change all the time, so check with the venue before you go.
Friday, October 9
The Proving Ground, Highlands — DanJos, 6 PM
The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park — Mountain Jam Band, 7 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands — Dan Hasse, 4–7 PM
Red Rock Tap + Grill, Red Bank — Shut Up Gus, 7–10 PM
The Stone Pony, Asbury Park — Mike DelGuidice, 7 PM
Reef & Barrel, Manasquan — Exit 102 Band, 8 PM
Donovan's Reef, Sea Bright — The Infringements, 6 PM
Saturday, October 10
The Proving Ground, Highlands — Big Hix, 6–10 PM
The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park — Magenta Wave, 7 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands — Cranston Dean, 3–6 PM
Red Rock Tap + Grill, Red Bank — Sean Patrick & the Alibis, 7–10 PM
The Stone Pony, Asbury Park — Sisters for a Cure Concert, 9 PM
Reef & Barrel, Manasquan — Moroccan Sheepherders, 6:30 PM
Donovan's Reef, Sea Bright — 10 String, 6 PM
Sunday, October 11
The Proving Ground, Highlands — Ty Mares, 6 PM
The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park — Briscoe, 7 PM
The Sandbox, Highlands — Aiden Villa, 2–5 PM; The Soulstirs, 5–8 PM
Quick answers
What's free this week?
Squantoberfest (October 24). Happy Day Farm costs $23 on weekdays and $29 on festival days, and Brookdale's Haunted Theater is $20.
What needs tickets in advance?
Happy Day Farm festival days (Friday to Sunday and Columbus Day), Brookdale Haunted Theater (all nights) and Rock the House.
What if it rains?
Squantoberfest moves to Sunday, October 25. Happy Day Farm stays open in rain and closes only for extreme weather. The Haunted Theater is indoors.
Sources: Happy Day Farm (happydayfarmnj.com, Fall Festival and corn maze pages), Happy Day Farm ticket page, JerseyShore.com and the Manasquan Chamber's event listings, Shore House (shorehousenj.org), WBJB community calendar, Brookdale Community College Haunted Theater pages. Live-music listings come from venue lineups as submitted and weren't independently confirmed. Details checked October 6, 2026. Confirm with organizers before you go.
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