Apples, beer and crafts: It's fall festival time in South Jersey

Celeste E. Whittaker, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·6 min read

Though summer, sadly, officially ends on Sept. 23 with the change to autumn, many in South Jersey consider summer over right after Labor Day. And that means the fall festivals are here. Pumpkins, pumpkin spice, hayrides, Halloween, apple festivals and so much more.

To get you tuned up for fall and raring to go, we have put together a short list of fall festivals you may want to put on your calendars.

Now, this is no exhaustive list. It’s only a handful of possible places to check out. There are way too many festivals to list here. But here are a few fall festivals:

Medford Oktoberfest & Music Festival, Medford

  • Sept. 16 and 17, Freedom Park at 86 Union Street, Medford. The times are from 5 to 10 p.m. on Sept. 16, and from noon to 7 p.m. on Sept. 17.

There will be a beer tent, food trucks, musical stages, featuring dozens of local musicians on multiple stages, German food, business fair, kids’ activities and much more.

There will also be a Saturday night after party in downtown Medford, featuring South Jersey Pops Oktoberfest Band at the Lower Forge Brewery as well as Haddonfield singer-songwriter Craig Whitaker performing at The Feed Mill at Medford Village. medfordoktoberfest.com

Food Truck Festival, Mount Laurel

  • Sept. 18 from noon to 5 p.m. at Mount Laurel Municipal Court, 100 Mount Laurel Road

Food trucks, kids’ activities, wineries and breweries, mechanical rides, giveaways, and more.

Among the food trucks listed to attend: Jersey Eatz, Ma & Pa’s Tex Mex BBQ, Mama’s Meatballs, Dan’s Waffle, The Walking Taco, House of Cupcakes, Matty G Dogz, The Little Sicilian, The Wing Kitchen Express, Cupcake Carnivale, Not Your Mama’s Tacos, A Taste of Philly and more. The breweries listed include: Dr. Brewlittle’s Beer Co., ‘Bout the Hops, Spellbound, Forgotten Boardwalk and Tonewood Brewing.

Annual Irish Fall Festival, North Wildwood

  • Sept. 23 and 24 on Olde New Jersey Avenue, North Wildwood

The festival is held along Olde New Jersey Avenue as well at surrounding pubs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the two days.

The Wildwoods Irish Festival is the largest Irish Festival on the East Coast. There will be a celebration of Irish heritage with music, dancing, food, and craft vendors. A golf tournament, Irish dance lessons, 5K run and 1-mile walk, pipe exhibition, food court, and Catholic Mass are also part of the events, which conclude with a parade on Surf Avenue.

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Shoppes at Dragon Village Fall Festival, Bridgeton

  • Sept. 24 and 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Shoppes at Dragon Village, 97 Trench Road, Suite 3, Bridgeton

There will be over 50 craft vendors, food trucks, train rides, pony rides, other kids' activities and more. Parking is $2.

Willingboro's Todd Evans read from his book 'A Rose for Ruby' at the 2021 Collingswood Book Festival. Evans, who started the Willingboro Open Mic night a decade ago, wrote the book for his 'aunt' Ruby Massari, who died in 2020. She was an older white woman, who played a pivotal role in Evans' life and development.
Willingboro's Todd Evans read from his book 'A Rose for Ruby' at the 2021 Collingswood Book Festival. Evans, who started the Willingboro Open Mic night a decade ago, wrote the book for his 'aunt' Ruby Massari, who died in 2020. She was an older white woman, who played a pivotal role in Evans' life and development.

Collingswood Book Festival

  • Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Collingswood Book Festival and featured authors will include Faleeha Hassan, a poet, playwright, writer, teacher and mother and author of “War and Me: A Memoir.” Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski, author of the award-winning book “The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality,” is another featured author. Some of the featured poets include Malik Abduh, Henry Brann, Anthony Cappo, Reet Starwind, Anna Evans, Joel Dias-Porter, among others. The annual festival regularly draws over 60 presenting authors and hundreds of other authors and exhibitors, along with music, food, literary games and activities. The award-winning festival is the longest-running and largest literary event in the Delaware Valley. More than 7,000 attended the event in 2019.

Blacksmith Rick Young, a member of the Medford Historical Society, offered a demonstration during the 2016 Apple Festival at Kirby's Mill in Medford. This year's festival is Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Blacksmith Rick Young, a member of the Medford Historical Society, offered a demonstration during the 2016 Apple Festival at Kirby's Mill in Medford. This year's festival is Oct. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Medford Apple Festival

  • Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Kirby’s Mill, 279 Church Road, Medford

The 43rd Annual Apple Festival returns to historic Kirby’s Mill. The festival is hosted by the Medford Historical Society and presented by ShopRite of Medford.

Thousands of attendees will experience hundreds of handmade crafts, food, including apple cider, apple baked goods, apple cider doughnuts made on site and apple ice cream. Apple butter from the Medford Historical Society is a popular item available each year. There will also be live music, games and arts and crafts for children.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, provided their owners clean up after them. There will be pet crafters making treats, toys and bandanas.

Other crafters include jewelers, needle workers, basket weavers, painters, photographers, woodworkers, and more.

Woodbury Fall Festival Parade's Event

  • Oct. 1, South Broad Street, Woodbury

The 72nd Annual Woodbury Fall Festival Parade will begin at 6 p.m. at the corner of Colonial Avenue and North Broad Street. The parade will continue down Broad Street and end at the corner of Carpenter and South Broad streets. Groups will stop for performances in front of the Gloucester County Stage in front of Woodbury High School. The parade is normally preceded by a festival, which includes food, shop vendors, crafts and other activities.

Friends of Clementon Food Pantry was started during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist locals during their time of need.
Friends of Clementon Food Pantry was started during the COVID-19 pandemic to assist locals during their time of need.

Friends of Clementon Food Pantry car show, food drive

  • Oct. 1, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Clementon Park & Splash World, 44 Berlin Road, Clementon

Hosted by Clementon Park, Sinister Mopar is sponsoring the food drive with an event that will feature cars, trucks, motorcycles, food trucks, crafters and vendors. This family-friendly event will also feature four live bands on two stages.A Clementon Park exclusive day pass is $19.99 per person to ride rides all day.

The car show is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the park is open noon to 7 p.m. Rain date is Oct. 2.

SJ Helpers: Clementon man saw a need, started food pantry during COVID-19 pandemic

Glass pumpkins featured in Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center's Glass Pumpkin Patch during the Festival of Fine Craft from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 and 2, rain or shine, in Millville.
Glass pumpkins featured in Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center's Glass Pumpkin Patch during the Festival of Fine Craft from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 1 and 2, rain or shine, in Millville.

The 23rd annual Festival of Fine Craft, Millville

  • Oct. 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. Wheaton Arts, 1501 Glasstown Road, Millville

The two-day event includes a diverse mix of 150 artists exhibiting and selling their handcrafted works of art. There will be unique crafting demonstrations, hands-on family art activities and a beer and wine garden and music in the food court with a selection of gourmet food vendors and specialty food trucks. Wheaton Arts signature Glass Pumpkin Fundraiser opens during the festival as well. The festival is included with general admission to Wheaton Arts. $12 for adults; $11 for seniors 62 and older, $7 for students and $5 for children.

Autumn in Moorestown

  • Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Main Street, Moorestown

Crafts, food, live music and family-friendly activities, exotic cars, local breweries and more will be featured at this event.

“Craft, Cruise and Brews” will include arts and crafts vendors, who will be selling items such as paintings, wall art, jewelry, ceramics, accessories, photography, artful gadgets and more. The event traditionally attracts thousands to Main Street.

The Celtic Festival and Highland Games, Bordentown

  • Oct. 8, 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Liberty Lakes Park, Bordentown

The family- and dog-friendly event will feature Highland Games competitions, musical acts, entertainment, fashion shows, merchants, and a variety of food vendors. Discounted tickets are available in advance at njrenfaire.ticketspice.com/south-jersey-celtic-festival-2022 or full price at the entrance.

The South Jersey Celtic Society will be serving craft beers from Spellbound Brewing and Third State Brewery, and wine from Valenzano Winery. Expertly guided whiskey tastings will take place during the festival for an additional cost.

More: RCBC culinary student is retired Air Force veteran who wants to be a personal chef

Celeste E. Whittaker is a features reporter for the Courier Post, Daily Journal and Burlington County Times. The South Jersey native started at the CP in 1998 and has covered the Philadelphia 76ers, college and high school sports and has won numerous awards for her work. Reach her by email at  cwhittaker@gannettnj.com. Follow her on Twitter at @cp_CWhittaker.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Fall festivals 2022: It's time for autumn fun in South Jersey