Things to Do in Jersey City in October 2026 | Fall Guide
October is when Jersey City shows off. The air finally cools down, the parks look their best, the nor’easter is behind us (for now), and the art scene takes over the whole city for a long weekend. If you only plan one weekend this month, make it the first one. But there’s plenty worth your time after that too.
Here’s what I’d tell a friend who asked me what to do this month.
The First Weekend Is the Main Event (Oct 1–4)
Jersey City Art & Studio Tour (JCAST)
Thursday, October 1 – Sunday, October 4 | Citywide, all six wards
This is the one. JCAST is back for its 37th year, bringing artists, galleries, studios, exhibitions, murals, performances and tours to every ward in the city.
Expect 200+ artist studios, 100+ galleries and exhibitions, 25+ workshops for kids and adults, and mural, bus and walking tours, wrapping with a closing party. It’s free to attend.
Why it’s worth it: you get to walk into studios you’d never otherwise see and talk to the people making the work. And yes, it kicks off on Thursday, October 1, right here in The Heights.
Unbounded Nature: JCAST’s Official Exhibition
Friday, October 2 – Sunday, October 4 | Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, Liberty State Park
This year’s official exhibition, curated by Nick De Pirro, is housed in the historic CRRNJ Terminal, a building where parts have been reclaimed by nature and others carefully restored.
Honestly, the setting alone is worth the trip.
Educational Arts Team is also hosting performances and art workshops there all weekend.
JCAST Handmade Market
Friday, October 2 (from 3 PM) + Saturday & Sunday, October 3–4 (12–6 PM) | Grove Street PATH Plaza, Downtown
A three-day outdoor market that doubles as a JCAST “studio” venue, with live music and a DJ all weekend.
Free to attend. Good place to buy something from a local maker instead of just admiring it.
Jersey City Music & Arts Festival (Last Call)
Through Saturday, October 3 | Provost Street, Powerhouse Arts District
The New Jersey Symphony’s free eight-day outdoor festival wraps up Saturday, with painting classes, an instrument discovery zone, outdoor movies, and food trucks and craft vendors lining the square.
The finale is the one to catch: a New Jersey Symphony chamber concert on Saturday, October 3 at 6:30 PM.
Jersey City Night Market: Y2K Edition
Saturday, October 3, 3–9 PM | 179 Montgomery Street, Downtown
The Night Market’s 2026 season finale goes full Y2K: 90s and 00s music, Y2K Music Bingo, 40+ vendors, food trucks and craft beer for the 21+ crowd.
Family- and pet-friendly.
Fair warning: Saturday, October 3 is absurdly stacked. Pick a neighborhood and let the day happen.
More Art Worth Seeking Out
JCAST Art & Poetry Crawl
Saturday, October 3, 5–7 PM | Gallery 14C, 157B 1st Street, Downtown
Jersey City Writers’ first JCAST event: tour the open studios on the 4th, 5th and 6th floors of 14C and write poems inspired by what you see.
It’s a genuinely different way to experience a studio tour. You slow down and actually look.
Mana Contemporary Fall Open Studios
Sunday, October 25, 12–6 PM | Mana Contemporary, Journal Square
Mana’s Fall Open Studios is on the calendar for October 25. If you missed JCAST (or just want more), this is your second chance to see working artists in their space.
Fall, Outside
Migratory Bird Walks at Reservoir 3
Fridays, October 2, 9 + 16, 7 AM | Historic Reservoir 3, The Heights
This is my favorite thing on the list.
The Department of Recreation and Youth Development runs guided walks to spot the birds stopping through on their way south.
They’re relaxed and open to everyone, from experienced birders to the simply curious.
A 7 AM walk at the reservoir before work is a very good way to start a Friday.
Riverview Farmers Market
Sundays, 10 AM–2 PM | Riverview-Fisk Park, 498 Palisade Ave, The Heights
Live music, a great lineup of vendors, and NYC views.
The season runs through November 22. October is peak apples-and-squash season, and there’s no better Sunday morning in The Heights.
JC Green Fall 10K/5K
Sunday, October 4, 9:30 AM | Lincoln Park
A 10K and 5K on a USATF-certified course, timed with National Healthy Lung Month to raise awareness of respiratory issues in Jersey City.
Lincoln Park in early October is about as pretty as a race course gets.
For Families
Harvest Festival + 12th Annual Cultural Diversity Festival
Saturday, October 3, 10 AM–2 PM | Hamilton Park, Downtown
A celebration of fall and the city’s diversity, with pumpkin painting, arts and crafts, music and dancers.
Fall Garden Fest
Saturday, October 3, 11 AM–2 PM | RCE Learning Garden, Lincoln Park
Rutgers Cooperative Extension closes out the growing season with pumpkin painting, face painting, STEM activities and a chicken photo booth.
Free. The chicken photo booth is reason enough.
A Whimsy Kids Tea Party
Saturday, October 10, 10–11:30 AM | Liberty State Park
An Alice in Wonderland tea party for ages 6 to 12, with Mad Hatter hat decorating, tea and treats, art, theater and games, hosted by Educational Arts Team.
Heroes & Villains
Saturday, October 17, 11 AM–3 PM | Liberty State Park
A costumed event with crafts, performances, face painting and a costume contest.
A good Halloween costume test run.
Monticello Fall Festival
Sunday, October 25, 11 AM–3 PM | The Common Earth Company, 99 Monticello Ave, Bergen-Lafayette
The 4th annual festival brings Bergen-Lafayette neighbors together for pumpkins, music, activities and community resources.
Small, neighborly and exactly the kind of thing that makes a neighborhood feel like home.
Halloween in Jersey City
Jersey City doesn’t do one big citywide Halloween. Every neighborhood does its own thing, which is the best part.
And this year, Halloween lands on a Saturday.
The Ghost of Uncle Joe’s
Friday + Saturday, October 23–24 | Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, 435 Newark Ave
If you’ve never been, go.
Local bands dress up and perform as legendary bands, and the night spills into after-parties at Jersey City bars.
It’s a fundraiser for the cemetery itself, which dates to 1829 and is maintained by volunteers (with a little help from summer weed-eating goats).
The cemetery shows are 21+, though kids are welcome for an extra fee.
Downtown Halloween Family Bash
Saturday, October 31, 12–8 PM | Newark Ave Pedestrian Mall & Plaza, Downtown
Games, a corn maze, face painting, pumpkins, a bounce house and candy.
For the grown-ups, Grace O’Malley’s is hosting a “Terror Tavern” on the plaza.
Hudson County Fall Fest
Saturday, October 31, 12–6 PM | 101 Pacific Ave
The county’s 5th annual fall festival.
Qua’s Creative Boolevard: Community Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, October 31, 4:30–8:30 PM | 758 Ocean Ave, Greenville
Trunks, treats, crafts and costumes from QUA Creative Art Center and Amazing Flowers.
Everyone’s welcome, costumes encouraged.
Eat, Drink + Linger
The JCAST Beer
902 Brewing Co. made an official Jersey City beer for JCAST, with a label designed by Heights resident and local artist Daniel Gonzalez.
Drinkable art. Grab one during tour weekend.
Hybrid, The Heights
My current between-appointments go-to.
The coffee is excellent and the açaí bowl has become a habit. A good pit stop before or after the Riverview market.
Riverview Farmers Market (again)
Worth mentioning twice. Go hungry.
Why I Love October Here
I’ve lived in Jersey City since 2007, and October is still the month that reminds me why.
The whole city opens its doors, literally, during JCAST. Neighbors show up for each other’s festivals. And you can go from a cemetery rock show to a sunrise bird walk in the same week.
If you’re thinking about buying, selling or making a move within Jersey City, I’d love to help.
And if you just want to know which block has the best trick-or-treating, I’m happy to weigh in on that too.
