During the American Revolution an officer passing through New Jersey described it as “the garden of America.”  Another called it “a land of milk and honey.”

Harvest season is the perfect time to experience Central Jersey’s farms, wineries, breweries, and historic sites in the place where Washington crossed the Delaware and won the crucial Battles of Princeton and Trenton.

As the nation approaches its 250^th anniversary in 2026, the farms of Central New Jersey hold a special place in American history, a place that saw a “forage war” between competing American, British, and even French armies seeking sustenance. Quite a few farms have been operating since before the nation was founded—some operated by descendants of the very same families!

The main attraction is the same today as it was then – fertile lands conveniently located between two great historic cities, New York and Philadelphia, a relatively short trip for so many people, with great place to stay overnight.

An autumn visit to Central Jersey offers fall festivals, apple- and pumpkin-picking, live music, wine tastings, and Oktoberfest-style local beer. Check out our interactive map to find lots of exciting things to do here.

At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors. Harvest festivals generally require the purchase of tickets, either in advance or on-site. Our favorite festivals can be found at these farms, listed in order of opening weekend:

• Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, attracts thousands of visitors every year to a 250-acre family-owned and operated farm celebrating its 50th anniversary year. Starting September 6, autumn brings Terhune’s Fall Family Fun Weekends, Saturdays and Sundays 10-5 through November 2, featuring live music, pick-your-own pumpkins, country food, pedal & play tractors, corn stalk & hay mazes, adventure barn, and farm animals. Estate wines served among 100-year-old apple trees. Admission discounts with advance purchase. Or buy a season pass!
• Norz-Hill Farm’s Family Fun Fall Festivals in Hillsborough start September 13 on weekends (10 to 6), expanding to weekday afternoons on October 1 through late October. Enjoy hay wagon rides, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, Kids’ Corner, and a food stand. They also offer Scare Farm, a popular Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night experience September 26 to October 26. Buy tickets in advance here.
• Abma’s Farm in Hillsborough starts fall festival activities September 13 through November 1, weekdays 3-4:30 and Saturdays 9-4. Admission tickets are needed for hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin picking, petting zoo. Geared towards families, couples, friends, and casual groups. Kids under 24 months are admitted free.
• Giamarese Farm in East Brunswick opens its Fall Harvest Weekends on September 20 and will be offering hayrides, pony rides, apple-picking until mid-October, and pumpkin-picking through the end of October. They also have an on-farm store open daily Tuesday to Sunday through December.
  

  Miss Central Jersey visits piglets at Abma’s Farm.

• Etsch Farm in Monroe begins their fall festival featuring their 19th corn maze season on weekends September 20 through October, featuring hayrides, barrel train, bakery trailer, and pumpkin patch.

• Snyders Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting October 4 through October 26, from 11am to 6pm. Activities include pumpkin picking, hay rides , corn maze , sunflower trail , giant slide, lots of activities, food trucks , local breweries, and great photo op areas. Entry tickets are paid for in cash, upon entry. Last entry at 4:30.

For folks interested in combining harvest season with revolutionary history, East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway is offering a free family-friendly Fall Harvest Festival on two long weekends, October 23-25, and October 31-November 2, from 10-5pm. Enjoy conversations with historic reenactors while visiting authentic 18^th Century homes, schoolhouses, taverns, and barns.  Take an accessible wagon ride to our farm fields, pick your pumpkins, and snap your postcard-perfect family photo. Then, stop by the tent and take home a variety of pies, cider donuts, pickles, salsa, and preserves.

On Saturday, October 4, the folks at Love Flemington are hosting the third annual Hunterdon Harvest Fair from 11 to 7 on Stangl Road, the site of the Stangl Farmers Market on Saturdays. Throughout the fall, historic Flemington offers self-guided historic walking tours, great shopping, and extraordinary restaurants. Visit Flemington on September 13 for the Central Jersey Jazz Festival!

You’ll also find a great Fall Music Series every Saturday in September and October on the Palmer Square Green in world-famous Princeton, home to Princeton University and a dozen farm-to-table restaurants, plus a vibrant shopping district.

You can also find autumn festivals in the areas many wineries and breweries, including:

• Oktoberfest on September 20 at River Horse Brewing in Ewing, from 2 to 9pm, featuring family friendly games, German food, live music, speciality casks, and a dunkel fester release.
• Oktoberfest on September 27 at Sunken Silo in Lebanon in partnership with Metropolitan Seafood.
• Oktoberfest is on October 4 at Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough from noon to 10pm. Guests can spread out on our South Paddock field with their own blankets and camp chairs or hang inside a historic barn while enjoying local beer including Last Train to Munich Octoberfest Marzen! Flounder’s Brass band will play traditional German favorites in the afternoon followed by at 6 by the Garret Tatano Band from Pittsburgh with their incredible German oompah party!
• Harvest Celebration on October 11 at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes from noon to 5pm, featuring Antimo’s Food Truck, live music, and vineyard walks.

Next year, in 2026, Central New Jersey is expected to host more than a million visitors, many from overseas, who will be coming for the World Cup games played in New Jersey and nearby Philadelphia, as well as being a hub for heritage tourism related to the nation’s 250th anniversary. This fall is the perfect time to beat the crowds and enjoy harvest season in the Garden State.

• Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven.
• Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk.
  

  Hike with goats at Gorgeous Goat!

• Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton offers Goat Hikes and Farm Tours every weekend through Thanksgiving. Get ready for the surprise and delight of over 100 goats at the only goat dairy farm in New Jersey. Purchase tickets online.
• Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, and more.
• Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm is offering “walk with an alpaca” tickets on Saturdays, while their store is open both Saturdays and Sundays. Their on-farm store is chock full of bouquets, buds, oil, lotions, creams, and more.

Next year, in 2026, Central New Jersey is expected to host more than a million visitors, many from overseas, who will be coming for the World Cup games played in New Jerseyand nearby Philadelphia, as well as being a hub for heritage tourism related to the nation’s 250th anniversary. This fall is the perfect time to beat the crowds and enjoy harvest season in the Garden State.

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

During the American Revolution an officer passing through New Jersey described it as “the garden of America.”  Another called it “a land of milk and honey.”

Only seven decades ago New Jersey officially adopted the Garden State nickname, and just last year the state declared Central Jersey to be a new tourism region known for its farms, vineyards, craft beverages, and farm-to-table dining.

This harvest season promises to be a great one, with fall festivals, apple- and pumpkin-picking, live music, wine tastings, and Oktoberfest-style local beer. Just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia, discover the beauty and bounty of Central Jersey.

While in Central Jersey be sure to partake of our local wineries and craft beverage makers, farm-to-table restaurants, historic sites, and very special places to stay overnight. Check out our interactive map to find lots of exciting things to do here.

At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors. Harvest festivals generally require the purchase of tickets, either in advance or on-site. Our favorite festivals can be found at these farms, listed in order of opening weekend:

• Norz-Hill Farm’s Family Fun Fall Festivals in Hillsborough start September 14 on weekends (10 to 6), expanding to include weekdays in October (noon to 5). Enjoy hay wagon rides, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, Kids’ Corner, and a food stand. They also offer Scare Farm, a popular Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night experience September 27 to October 27. Buy tickets in advance here.
• Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, attracts thousands of visitors every year to a 250-acre family-owned and operated farm. Starting September 14, autumn brings Terhune’s Fall Family Fun Weekends, Saturdays and Sundays 10-5 through November 3, featuring live music, pick-your-own pumpkins, pumpkin painting, country food, pedal & play tractors, corn stalk & hay mazes, adventure barn & children’s activities, and farm animals. Admission discounts are offered with advance purchase.
• Abma’s Farm in Hillsborough starts fall festival activities September 21 through November 2, weekdays 3-4:30 and Saturdays 9-4. Admission ticket needed for hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin picking, petting zoo.  Geared towards families, couples, friends, and casual groups. Kids under 24 months free.
• Etsch Farm in Monroe begins their fall festival featuring their 19th corn maze season on weekends September 25/26 through October, featuring hayrides, barrel train, bakery trailer, and pumpkin patch.
• Snyders Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting October 5 through October 27, from 11am to 6pm. Activities include pumpkin picking, hay rides , corn maze , sunflower trail , giant slide, lots of activities, food trucks , local breweries, and great photo op areas.
• East Jersey Old Town Village in Piscataway is offering a free family-friendly Fall Harvest Festival on two weekends, October 25-27 and November 1-3, from 10-6 on Fridays and noon to 6 Saturdays/Sundays.
  

  Old York Cellars offers comedy and wine-paired dinners on rotating fall Saturdays.

You can also find autumn festivals at the areas many wineries and breweries, including:

• Oktoberfest on September 14 at Ashton Brewing in Middlesex, with German food and music with Danny Alderman Trio, from 2-10pm.
• Oktoberfest on September 20-22 at the Druery Brewery in Lawrence, during regular hours: Brats and pretzels; wear lederhosen and reap benefits!
• Oktoberfest on September 21 at Sunken Silo in Lebanon in partnership with Metropolitan Seafood )2:30 to 7:30pm).
• Oktoberfest on September 21 at River Horse Brewing in Ewing, live band, Oktoberfest Harvest Lager and Hipp-O-Lantern Pumpkin Ale, from 6-10pm
• Oktoberfest and 11th anniversary on October 5 at Flounder Brewing in Hillsborough starting at noon, with the Dave Betz Polka Band (21+ only) from 6 to 9pm.
• Harvest Festival on October 6 at Federal Twist Vineyards in Stockton with the Reel-to-Reel Band, children’s crafts, ice cream truck, grilled food, and more. Noon to 6pm.
• Harvest Wine Pairing Dinners ;by Chef Jose on Saturday October 12 and 26 at Old York Cellars, Ringoes; reservations required, limited seating in the cozy Vista Room
• Harvest Festival on October 13 at Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes with Antimo’s Italian Kitchen Food Truck, vineyard walks, and wine to toast a great vintage, noon to 5pm.

Even without festivals, many other Central Jersey farms offer a bounty of fresh food and experiences you will enjoy this time of year.

• Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven. Their farm store is open daily except Tuesdays. Tours on Sundays, weather permitting.
• Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk. The Farm Store is open daily from April through December.
• Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton offers Goat Happy Hour on Fridays 4-6 pm (weather permitting) through September, along with Goat Hikes and Farm Tours every weekend through Thanksgiving. Purchase tickets online.
• Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, quail eggs, and fresh seasonal soups. Store open daily.
• Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm is offering “walk with an alpaca” tickets on Saturdays. Although the lavender blooming season has passed, their on-farm store is chock full of bouquets, buds, oil, lotions, creams, and more.

While you are in the area, be sure to enjoy New Jersey’s canal region, which features the 70-mile long D&R Canal State Park, traversing the entire region and is a great place to walk, bike, and paddle. Known mainly to locals, the D&R Canal State Park is the second-most visited state park in New Jersey, passing near or through quaint villages such as Millstone Borough, Rocky Hill, Lambertville, Stockton, and Frenchtown. To celebrate the park’s 50th anniversary this year, the D&R Canal Watch has organized a bike-walk-run event on October 26. Learn more and register at Tour de Towpath.

World-famous Princeton is home to Princeton University and a dozen farm-to-table restaurants, plus a vibrant shopping district. Its centrally located Palmer Square offers live music every Saturday from noon to 2pm through November, and on Sundays in October from 1 to 4pm. Across town, you’ll also find music and art events at the Princeton Shopping Center. The downtown is even more exciting than before with the newly reopened Triumph Brewing in the old post office, and the brand new, 180-room Graduate Hotel.

Historic Flemington is Hunterdon County, NJ’s beautiful county seat, with something for everyone. Stroll its tree-lined streets, where 65% of the borough is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Surrounded by 1,600 farms, the offer a weekly farmer’s market on Saturdays at the old Stangl factory is popular among locals and visitors, and you can enjoy weekend excursions on the historic Black River & Western Railroad. Flemington is home to 450 businesses, including artisan coffee shops, farm-to-table restaurants, antique shops and boutiques, and craft beverages.

Just a short drive or train ride from New York and Philadelphia, Central Jersey has much to offer visitors, especially under the sunny skies and cool breezes of harvest season.  We hope to see you soon!

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

Five years ago, comedian Jon Stewart ruled “Central Jersey does exist” on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stepping in to resolve a controversy that had been simmering in New Jersey for years.

This year, just in time for Central Jersey’s 2023 harvest season, New Jersey made it truly official, by putting Central New Jersey on the state’s official tourism map, in a ceremony at the Wallace House in Somerville, one of General George Washington’s headquarters during the American Revolution.

While the debate about Central Jersey’s existence always has been tongue-in-cheek, the decision to make it official was based on the goal of bring more attention to the agricultural, historic, outdoor, and cultural assets of a region that has been a “best-kept-secret” of the Garden State, a well-deserved nickname that dates to the American Revolution.

Central Jersey’s farmers welcome millions of visitors from near and far to partake in the bounty—and fun—of harvest season, yet the region hasn’t gained the reputation of the Hudson Valley or the Finger Lakes in New York state. Just an hour from New York City and Philadelphia by train, car, or bus, Central Jersey is one of the most accessible agricultural areas in America.

At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors. In September, rainy weekends put a damper on Central Jersey harvest festivals, but expectations are running high for October.

Harvest season is about more than farms. While in Central Jersey you should be sure to partake of our local wineries and craft beverage makers, farm-to-table restaurants, historic sites, and very special places to stay overnight. Check out our interactive map to find lots of exciting things to do here.

Harvest festivals generally require the purchase of tickets, either in advance or on-site. Our favorite festivals can be found at these farms, listed in order of opening weekend:

• Norz-Hill Farm last year celebrated its centennial year, having been owned by the same family since 1922 in Hillsborough. Their Family Fun Fall Festivals start September 9 on weekends (10 to 6), expanding to include weekdays on September 25 (noon to 5) through October 31. Enjoy hay wagon rides, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, Kids’ Corner, and a food stand. They also offer Scare Farm, a popular Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night experience starting September 29 through Halloween. Buy tickets in advance here.
• Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, is the region’s agritourism leader, inviting thousands of visitors every year to a 250-acre family-owned and operated farm. Starting September 16, autumn brings Terhune’s Fall Family Fun Weekends, Saturdays and Sundays 10-5 through October, featuring live music, pick-your-own pumpkins, pumpkin painting, country food, pedal & play tractors, corn stalk & hay mazes, adventure barn & children’s activities, and a barnyard of farm animal. Admission discounts are offered with advance purchase.
• Snyders Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting September 30 through October 29, from 11am to 6pm. Activities include pumpkin picking, hay rides , corn maze , sunflower trail , giant slide, lots of activities, food trucks , local breweries, and great photo op areas.
  

  “Scare Farm” at Norz-Hill is part of the harvest season fun.

Even without festivals, many other Central Jersey farms offer a bounty of fresh food and experiences you will enjoy this time of year.

• Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven. The farm has 60 mature cows, plus a new generation of Bobolink Grazers, the result of crossing modern dairy breeds with the ancient Kerry cattle of Ireland. Their farm store is open daily except Tuesdays. Tours on Sundays, weather permitting.
  

  Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton.

• Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk. The farm also raises heritage breed pigs, lambs, chickens, and beef cattle, raised without hormones, antibiotics or steroids. The Farm Store is open daily from April through December. They are offering cheese-making classes this fall.
• Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton offers tours, hikes, and picnics with a growing herd of goats who will capture your heart! Purchase weekend tickets online. October tickets will be available starting in late September. They also are offering a special soap making class on September 24. They also offer a range of goat cheeses, soaps, and other products after your visit, or at one of several farmers’ markets.
• Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, quail eggs, and fresh seasonal soups. All products are prepared in a USDA kitchen at the Farm. Thanksgiving and holiday menus complement the farm-raised turkeys sold in November & December. Store open daily.
• Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm is offering “walk with an alpaca” tickets every weekend this autumn. Although the lavender blooming season has passed, their on-farm store is chock full of bouquets, buds, oil, lotions, creams, moisturizers, hand soap, aromatherapy and bath and body items, lavender wreaths, dried Lavender, and more.
  

  Live music in Princeton’s Palmer Square.

While you are in the area, be sure to enjoy New Jersey’s canal region, which features the 70-mile long D&R Canal State Park, traversing the entire region and is a great place to walk, bike, and paddle. Known mainly to locals, the D&R Canal State Park is the second-most visited state park in New Jersey, passing near or through quaint villages such as Millstone Borough, Rocky Hill, Lambertville, Stockton, and Frenchtown.

World-famous Princeton is one of the great Central Jersey towns, home to Princeton University, a vibrant shopping district, and the epicenter of the region’s dynamic farm-to-table restaurant scene. Many of those restaurants are participating in a Vegan Chef Challenge throughout September. Princeton’s centrally located Palmer Square offers live music every Saturday in Palmer Square from noon to 2pm starting September 16, and on Sundays 1-4 pm starting October 1. Across town, you’ll also find music and art events at the Princeton Shopping Center. And the Princeton Arts Council also offers events such as an art market and Halloween parade.

Historic Flemington is Hunterdon County, NJ’s beautiful county seat, with something for everyone. Stroll its tree-lined streets, where 65% of the borough is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Surrounded by 1,600 farms, Flemington has been the bustling agricultural and railroad hub of Central New Jersey for hundreds of years. It is now home to 450 businesses, including artisan coffee shops, farm-to-table restaurants, antique shops and boutiques, and craft beverages. A weekly farmer’s market on Saturdays at the old Stangl factory is popular among locals and visitors, and you can enjoy weekend excursions on the historic Black River & Western Railroad. Shoppers will especially enjoy sidewalk sales on September 23 and October 7-8.

Spend a few days in Central Jersey, and you’ll agree this special region really does deserve to be on New Jersey’s tourism map! If you’re as excited as we are about Central Jersey being on the official tourism map, consider visiting our friends at Old York Cellars to purchase their special edition Central Jersey Exists wines, with some of the proceeds benefiting non-profits working to keep Central Jersey’s canals and scenic byways beautiful.

For more information about everything to see and do in Central Jersey, visit discovercentralnj.com.  This article is supported in part by a grant from New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism.

New Jersey’s reputation as the Garden State dates to at least 1781 when a French military officer passing through Central Jersey described in his diary the “beauty of the country, which everywhere corresponds with the reputation of the Jerseys, called the garden of America.” His journey ultimately took him to Yorktown, VA where American and French troops won American independence from Britain on October 19th.

More than two centuries later, travelers with more modest missions can still enjoy the beauty and the bounty of the Garden State, a region that remains a “best kept secret,” barely an hour’s journey from both New York City and Philadelphia. By train, car, or bus, Central Jersey is one of the most accessible agricultural areas in America. At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors.

Before or after your farm visit, be sure to partake of our local craft beverage makers. Somerset County has just launched an autumn season passport for its Sip & See Somerset tour that combines breweries, distilleries, and cideries with notable farm and foliage locations. Hunterdon County Beer Trail is another great opportunity to enjoy goodness from “the other side of New Jersey.”

You’ll also find wonderful farm-to-table restaurants and very special places to stay overnight. Check out our interactive map to find lots of exciting things to do here.

One Central Jersey town that “has it all” is Hopewell Borough, nestled in the Sourland Mountains, a great place for hiking, bicycling, local food, and craft beverages. Enjoy lunch at the Brick Farm Market and dinner at the Brick Farm Tavern; visit New Jersey’s first on-farm Distillery, Sourland Mountan Spirits; Shop at a unique bicycle shop, Sourland Cycles. Hopewell also offers one of the first harvest fairs of the season, on September 17.

Our favorite on-farm harvest festivals can be found at these farms, listed in order of opening weekend:

• Norz-Hill Farm is celebrating its centennial year, having been owned by the same family since 1922 in Hillsborough. Their Family Fun Fall Festivals start September 10 and run through October 31. Enjoy hay wagon rides, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, Kids’ Corner, and a food stand. They also offer Scare Farm, a popular Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nighttime experience during the Halloween season.
  

  Family fun at Terhune Orchards & Winery.

• Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, is the region’s agritourism leader, inviting thousands of visitors every year to a 200-acre family-owned and operated farm. Starting September 17, autumn brings Terhune’s Fall Family Weekends, with live music, pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, pumpkin painting, pedal tractors, wagon rides, corn stalk maze, adventure barn, and a barnyard of farm animals. Admission discounts are offered for advance purchase. This year they are also offering an art contest focused on their century old “wine orchard” trees, with judging on September 30.
• Snyder Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting October 1 through the 23^rd. Activities include hayrides, giant chair, corn maze, hay bale activities, climbing tunnels, wooden train, corn hole games, hay bale activity center and more. General admission of $15 (under 2 free) is required for pumpkin picking, plus cost of pumpkin.

Though not offering festivals, many other Central Jersey farms offer a bounty of fresh food and experiences you will enjoy this time of year.

• Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven. The farm has 60 mature cows, plus a new generation of Bobolink Grazers, the result of crossing modern dairy breeds with the ancient Kerry cattle of Ireland. Their farm store is open daily except Tuesdays. Tours on Sundays, weather permitting.
• Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk. The farm also raises heritage breed pigs, lambs, chickens, and beef cattle, raised without hormones, antibiotics or steroids. Farm Store open daily April through December. They are offering many cheese-making classes this fall.
• Dogwood Farms in Basking Ridge is a certified organic farm with roots going back to before the Revolutionary War. On this site, French troops encamped in 1781 on their way to victory in Yorktown, VA later in the year. The view from the barn across the fields hasn’t changed in more than two centuries. Visit with farm animals and purchase your fresh, organic foods in an antique barn made of hand-hewn beams. Be sure to try Dogwood’s own hot sauces, pasta sauces, and Bloody Mary mix.
  

  Kids at Gorgeous Goat Creamery are growing up!

• Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton offers tours, hikes, and picnics with a growing herd of goats who will capture your heart! Purchase weekend tickets online. October tickets will be available starting in late September. They also are offering a special soap making class on September 24. They also offer a range of goat cheeses, soaps, and other products after your visit, or at one of several farmer’s markets.
• Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, quail eggs, and fresh seasonal soups. All products prepared in a USDA kitchen at the Farm. Thanksgiving and holiday menus complement the farm-raised turkeys sold in November & December. Store open daily.
• Hidden Spring Lavender and Alpaca Farm is offering “walk with an alpaca” tickets every weekend this autumn. The weekend of September 24 & 25 will bring special activities for National Alpaca Farmers Weekend. Although the lavender blooming season has past, their on-farm store is chock full of bouquets, buds, oil, lotions, creams, moisturizers, hand soap, aromatherapy and bath and body items, lavender wreaths, dried Lavender, and more.

We’ve heard more than a few folks joke about New Jersey’s nickname, the Garden State!  But after a day, a weekend, or a week visiting Central Jersey farms, you’ll be a true believer, just as the visiting French troops were when they passed through the region 241 years ago!

 

*“Travels in North-America in the Years 1780-81-82” by the Marquis de Chastellux, published 1828 in New York.

To access the interactive agritourism map click HERE.

Wholesome, outdoor fun has never been more in fashion, making the 2021 return of harvest festivals in Central Jersey season extra special. Many of these weekend festivals started in mid-September, and virtually all of them will run every weekend in October.

Most farms are taking public health precautions by encouraging mask-wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. Fortunately, by the kick-off to harvest season, 82% of residents 12 and older in the four-county Central Jersey region had received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, according to NJIIS.

This year, make Central Jersey your harvest season destination. Once again, farmers will welcome visitors from near and far to partake in the bounty—and fun—of the fall harvest. Just an hour from New York and Philadelphia by train, car, or bus, Central Jersey is one of the most accessible agricultural areas in America. At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors.

Before or after your farm visit, be sure to partake of our local craft beverage makers and farm-to-table restaurants.  If you are coming from a distance, we have some very special places to stay overnight.

It’s smart to check each farm’s website before you visit, since activities and hours can change depending on weather and other factors. Our favorite harvest festivals can be found at these farms, in order of their opening weekend:

Norz-Hill Farm has been owned by the same family since 1922 in Hillsborough. Their Family Fun Fall Festivals started in early September and run through October 31. Enjoy hay wagon rides, a corn maze, u-pick pumpkin patch, Kids’ Corner, and a food stand. The cost is $15 per person on weekends, $12 weekdays, with children under 36 inches free. They also offer Scare Farm, a popular Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nighttime experience starting September 24, with costs starting at $20 per person.

Dogwood Farms in Basking Ridge is a certified organic farm with roots going back to before the Revolutionary War. Starting September 18 they offer a small-scale harvest festival on weekends from 10 to 4pm with no admission fee. Enjoy their Pumpkin Patch, Corn Maze, Fall Photo Booth, Fall Plants, Cider Donuts, and more.

Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, is the region’s agritourism leader, inviting thousands of visitors every year to a 200-acre family-owned and operated farm. Starting September 18, autumn brings Terhune’s Fall Family Weekends, with pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, pumpkin painting, pedal tractors, wagon rides, corn stalk maze, adventure barn, and a barnyard of farm animals. This year, timed tickets required for public health reasons. Admission $12 per person. Pumpkins, food, pony rides are not included in admission.

Von Thun Farm in South Brunswick offers a weekend fall festival through October including a wide variety of activities such as a 6-acre corn maze, unlimited hayrides to the pumpkin patch, 20+ activities & attractions, access to the apple orchard and pumpkin patch. The basic cost is $15.99, with special pricing for groups and all-season passes. Premium activities, weekends, and U-pick apples are extra. Weekday access to the corn maze is also available for $8.

Snyder Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting October 2 through the 24^th. Activities include hayrides, giant chair, backhoe diggers, corn maze, hay bale activities, climbing tunnels, wooden train, corn hole games, hay bale activity center and more. General admission of $15 (under 2 free) is required for pumpkin picking, plus cost of pumpkin.

Though not offering festivals, many other Central Jersey farms offer a bounty of fresh food and experiences you will enjoy this time of year. Whether you are driving or bicycling, you’ll find some wonderful scenery and farms, such as along the Hunterdon 579 Trail.

Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven. The farm has 60 mature cows, plus a new generation of Bobolink Grazers, the result of crossing modern dairy breeds with the ancient Kerry cattle of Ireland. Their farm store is open daily except Tuesdays. Tours Saturdays and Sundays.

Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk. The farm also raises heritage breed pigs, lambs, chickens and beef cattle, raised without hormones, antibiotics or steroids. Farm Store open daily April through December.

Gorgeous Goat Creamery in Stockton offers tours, hikes, and picnics with a growing herd of goats who will capture your heart! Purchase weekend tickets online. October tickets will be available starting in late September. They also offer a range of goat cheeses, soaps, and other products after your visit, or at one of several farmer’s markets.

Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, quail eggs, and fresh seasonal soups. All products prepared in a USDA kitchen at the Farm. Thanksgiving and holiday menus complement the farm-raised turkeys sold in November & December. Store open daily.

Hidden Spring Lavender Farm is offering a special Alpaca’s Farmers Day on September 25, with advance tickets required. But you can also see the growing herd—including new baby “Montgomery” almost any Saturday or Sunday.  Although the lavender blooming season has past, their on-farm store is chock full of bouquets, buds, oil, lotions, creams, moisturizers, hand soap, aromatherapy and bath and body items, lavender wreaths, dried Lavender, and more.

We’ve heard more than a few folks joke about New Jersey’s nickname, the Garden State!  But after a day, a weekend, or a week visiting Central Jersey farms, you’ll be a true believer.

To access the interactive agritourism map click HERE.

Central Jersey’s farmers have stepped up during the pandemic of 2020, nourishing us with fresh, local produce, while providing wholesome outdoor activities such as “pick-your-own” berries, apples, and peaches.  The privilege of living in the Garden State is no longer something to be taken for granted!

Farmers and wine growers have always been skilled at adapting to changing conditions—weather, market forces, technology.  That adaptability has been indispensable this year. Indeed, conditions are changing so fast we recommend you check each farm and winery’s website in case hours, activities, or open times have changed.

Central Jersey farms are nestled in some of the most beautiful landscapes our nation has. Check out our interactive map to find farms and wineries—as well as restaurants, parks, beverage makers, historic sites, quaint villages, and many other special places—that can round out your days in Central Jersey.  In reverse alphabetical order, here are Discover Central New Jersey’s farm and winery picks for the 2020 harvest season:

VON THUN FARMS: The Von Thuns have been farming here for more than a century. Located in South Brunswick and Washington, they are still offering many of your favorite activities – apple picking, pumpkin picking, interactive corn maze, hayrides, pedal karts – but in a socially distanced manner.

Their on-farm market offers fresh-picked homegrown fruits and vegetables, homegrown grass-fed beef and eggs, local honey, jams, jellies and dressings, apple cider, homemade apple cider donuts, fresh baked pies and more.

UNIONVILLE VINEYARDS: The Unionville Vineyards has adapted to the pandemic by erecting a big, beautiful tent and providing open-air wine tastings Thursday through Sunday by appointment. In addition to wine, visitors can enjoy a variety of gourmet cheeses, crostini, and salumi. Unionville manages and sources grapes from five vineyard sites across Central Jersey. Named one of the top 500 wineries in the United State by FOOD&WINE Magazine, they recently receive a 90-point rating from the Cork Report for their Cabernet Franc.

TERHUNE ORCHARDS & WINERY: Terhune Orchards has long been among the most popular farm destinations in Central Jersey. With the arrival of September, Terhune is offering lots of U-pick opportunities for apples, peaches, blackberries, pumpkins, and sunflowers.  Check their website to know what’s in season. Apple picking is open all season without advance ticketing at 13 Van Kirk Road.

Advance online ticketing to manage crowd size is required on the “home farm” on Cold Soil Road, Saturdays and Sundays, starting September 12.  Enjoy farm fresh open-air, family fun all season long, 10am-5pm with live music from noon to 4pm. Wine tastings for adults.  Children will have fun in hay bale maze, hippity hop corral, and duckie races. Take a family stroll on our farm trail or through the trail of sunflowers.  Don’t miss fall treats of apple cider and donuts. Stop at the fall food tent for picnic bags with fresh farm treats.

SUYDAM FARMS: This historic farm is managed by the 12^th generation of Suydams to be farmers in Somerset, NJ, just off Route 27.  The big greenhouse store is open weekends, offering farm-raised meat, Jersey Fresh produce, and nursery plants. Visitors can walk around the barns and see live animals including cows, goats, pigs, and chickens.  In October, Suydam Farms will be offering a self-guided tour of the farm, including stories of its great history.

SNYDERS FARM: Located in Somerset, Snyders’ popular fall festivals will run on October weekends, with hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin-picking, and food items.  Their popular open-air roadside stand has closed for the season.  Check their website for outdoor movie nights in September.

OLD YORK CELLARS: Old York Cellars is open daily with lots of covered outdoor seating and breathtaking views of the Sourland Mountains. Reservations are recommended to guarantee a space.  Boasting some of the oldest vines in New Jersey, Old York Cellars is located on the historic road between New York and Philadelphia. In addition to the winery, Old York has a second location in the Quaker Bridge Mall with a full restaurant and offers take-out of Chef Jose’s signature traditional Spanish menu, including tapas and paella.

NORZ-HILL FARM: Hillsborough’s Norz-Hill Farm in 2020 will again offer its famous fall festival weekends beginning September 12 with hayrides to visit the farm animals, expanding September 19 to include the corn maze and pumpkin patch.  All farm visitors required to wear face masks and hand sanitizer will be provided.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in October will once again bring the SCARE FARM (weather permitting).

Located on the western side of Hillsborough, Norz-Hill has dramatically expanded their retail operation since the pandemic began with a huge open-air tent and personal shoppers helping shoppers find Jersey Fresh and farm grown meat and produce with minimum handling.

HOPEWELL VALLEY VINEYARDS: The Vineyard has expanded its outdoor seating for wine by the bottle every day of the week.  Live music, pizza, and other light fare are available Thursday through Sunday. Tables in courtyard, deck, and large covered tent are first come, first served. You may bring your own chairs and blankets to sit anywhere around the vineyard that is open to the public.

Owned by a couple hailing from Italy and Greece, Hopewell Valley Vineyards offers a distinctly European style of winemaking, complete with Sangiovese, Barbera, Vidal Blanc, and Spumante Secco wines.

HILLSBORO COUNTRY FARM MARKET: Celebrating 150 years in business, the Hillsboro Country Farm Market has opened up its barn doors for ventilation, and reconfigured the store for COVID safety. The store offers a wide variety of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, fresh baked and preserved goods. Special at-risk/senior shopping from 10-11 AM weekdays followed by regular shopping until 5pm. Closed Mondays.

HIDDEN SPRING LAVENDER FARM: This on-farm market is in the Skillman section of Montgomery, offers culinary lavender, tea, and honey, plus a wide range of lavender lotions, creams, perfumes, and plush toys. The store has expanded hours to every Saturday and Sunday, 10-4pm. No more than five people are allowed in the store at one time, masks required, and they offer a curb-side pickup if you pre-order online.  Visit the cute alpacas while you’re on the farm.

GRIGGSTOWN FARM:  Griggstown Farm is best known for their own poultry and prepared foods, including Griggstown’s famous chicken and turkey pot pies.  Almost any visit to the store involves a drive along the Millstone Valley National Scenic Byway and a chance to visit the D&R Canal State Park.

DOGWOOD FARMS: Relocated this year from Hillsborough to Basking Ridge, Dogwood Farms is operated organically at English Farm, which dates back to the Revolutionary War when French and American troops camped in the English Farm fields on route to the final victory at Yorktown, VA. Their store is located in a beautiful historic barn. They offer vegetables, dairy products, meat and poultry, sauces, salsa, Bloody Mary mix, and much more! Sightseers are welcomed to visit the Testo pizza truck from 10 AM to 4 PM on weekends, and farm animals. Pumpkin Picking will also be available for families in October!

CHERRY GROVE FARM: This Lawrenceville organic farm is best known for cheeses, grass-fed beef, and whey-fed pork. They have a wide variety of locally made food products in a store open 7 days per week, 10-5pm. They also welcome you to visit their dairy herd, milking parlor and creamery, where you can watch the cheese makers in action. Learn about locally-sourced and artisan-made products, from honey to mustard, chutney to cheeseboards! They have a picnic area, flower gardens, and animals wandering about doing what they do best.

BRICK FARM MARKET, TAVERN, & RED BARN MILK CO: The family behind the Brick Farm Market, Brick Farm Tavern, and the Red Barn Milk Company are leaders in the local food movement.  Locally grown and processed meat, poultry, vegetables, ice cream, and more can be purchased at the market in quaint Hopewell Borough, or at the nearby tavern that has dramatically expanded outdoor seating while popularizing the menu. In a hurry? Try their high-quality Red Barn farm-to-table hamburger and ice cream joint on Route 31 in Ringoes.

BOBOLINK DAIRY & BAKEHOUSE: Located in Milford near the Delaware River, make your visit to Bobolink a day in the countryside.  They are renowned for a unique, Central Jersey approach to cheesemaking, grass-fed beef and whey-fed pork. They bake distinctive breads with regional grains and the farm store carries house-made charcuterie; eggs from their own cage-free, soy-free chickens; fresh 100% grass-fed milk, cream, and butter. Check their website to see if they are offering a farm tour the day you visit.

We’d love to hear about your farm visit this harvest season.  Drop us a line and tell us what you discovered in Central Jersey.

Your Guide to Visitor-Friendly Farms in the Garden State

New Jersey is the Garden State for a reason.  For more three centuries, the state’s fertile fields and valleys have fed America’s cities and armies. Indeed, Central Jersey was the site of the “forage wars” of the American Revolution, in which winning the loyalty of local farmers as a key to the American victory.

Today Central Jersey’s farmers welcome millions of visitors from near and far to partake in the bounty—and fun—of harvest season. Just an hour from New York and Philadelphia by train, car, or bus, Central Jersey is one of the most accessible agricultural areas in America. At DiscoverCentralNJ.com you’ll find farms and orchards to please everyone, including families, friends, young couples, and seniors.

The biggest crowds are drawn to harvest festivals, beginning Sept 14 an running through October:

• Terhune Orchards and Winery, near Princeton, is the region’s agritourism leader, inviting hundreds of thousands of visitors every year to a 200-acre family-owned and operated farm. Autumn brings Terhune’s Apple Days Fall Festivals, featuring pick-your-own apples and pumpkins, pumpkin painting, pony rides, pedal tractors, wagon rides, corn stalk maze, adventure barn, and a barnyard of farm animals. Every Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 14 to Oct. 27. Admission $10 per person.
• Snyder Farm in the Somerset section of Franklin Township offers a family-oriented Farm Festival weekends starting September 27. Activities include hayrides, pumpkin moon bounce, hippity hop, potato sack slide, corn maze, hay bale maze, spider web, pedal carts, corn hole games, bowling, hay bale activity center and more. General admission of $13 is required for pumpkin picking, plus cost of pumpkin.
• Suydam Farms is operated by the family’s 12^th generation of farmers in Somerset, located on State Route 27 and served by the 100 bus out of New York’s Port Authority. The history of local farming is a big theme of Suydam’s Fall Fest Weekends every Saturday and Sunday in October. Pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, apple cider, apple cider donuts and more! Free admission. Pumpkins, produce, and food for purchase.
• Hillsboro Farm Country Market in Hillsborough hosts Fall Family Fun Days every weekend in October. Activities include hayrides, pumpkin picking, corn maze, face-painting, pumpkin decorating, and more! The season’s festivities kick off October 5 with a special Antique Tractor Show and Pig Roast starting at noon. Free admission, food and produce available for purchase.

Thought not offering festivals, many other Central Jersey farms offer a bounty of fresh food and experiences you will enjoy.

• Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse in Milford produces 100% grass-fed, raw cows’ milk cheeses, pastured meats, and rustic breads baked in a wood-fired oven. The farm has 60 mature cows, plus a new generation of Bobolink Grazers, the result of crossing modern dairy breeds with the ancient Kerry cattle of Ireland. Farm store open daily except Tuesdays. Tours Saturdays and Sundays.
• Cherry Grove Farm is a sustainable dairy farm and creamery on 480 acres in Lawrenceville, making award-winning farmstead cheeses from grass-fed raw cows’ milk. The farm also raises heritage breed pigs, lambs, chickens and beef cattle, raised without hormones, antibiotics or steroids. Farm Store open daily April through December.
• Griggstown Farm Market near Princeton sells its famous “Griggstown chicken” and other farm products using all-natural methods. The market sells seasonal fruit pies, pot pies, poultry sausages, quail eggs, and fresh seasonal soups. All products prepared in a USDA kitchen at the Farm. Thanksgiving and holiday menus complement the farm-raised turkeys sold in November & December. Store open daily.
• Hidden Spring Lavender Farm grows fields of lavender for bouquets, buds, oil, and culinary products made with their own lavender plants. The shop offers plush Buena Bears™, lotions, creams, moisturizers, hand soap, aromatherapy and bath and body items, lavender wreaths, dried Lavender, and more. Say hello to the friendly alpacas, raised for alpaca fiber products. Open Saturdays and Sundays.
• Ironbound Farm in Asbury, off route 78 in Hunterdon County, grows apples for its hard cider using fresh-pressed fruit to make complex, perfectly balanced ciders. Visit the Tasting Room to enjoy limited-edition ciders, wines on tap, and farmed-up Jersey street food made with ingredients raised and foraged in the Garden State. Open Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday.

Central Jersey is also home to tremendous farm-to-table restaurants, wineries and craft beverage makers, and wonderful hotels if you’d like to stay the weekend. Bring your family, tell your friends: Central Jersey is the place to be during harvest season.

Your authoritative guide to harvest season festivals and farms, just an hour from New York and Philadelphia.