MARKETS + COMMUNITY

oct 2-4

🎨 Culture Around the Corner Long Branch Free Public Library Corridor (328 Broadway, Long Branch) — Friday–Sunday — FREE Details: A 3-day arts festival from Monmouth Arts — cultural performances, art booths, food pop-ups and kids' craft zones. Link: https://culturearoundthecorner.org/

oct 9-10

🪁 12th Annual LBI Fly Invitational Kite Festival Ship Bottom Beachfront (18th–27th St, LBI) — Friday 12–5 PM, Saturday 10 AM–4 PM Details: Pro kite masters fly giant kites; Saturday Night Fly 6:30–8:30 PM with illuminated LED kites (23rd St beach). See website for more info Link: https://lbifly.com/

oct 17

🎨 Harvest Arts Festival Downtown Toms River (Washington St corridor) — 11 AM–5 PM — FREE Details: Live music, vendors, food, a juried art show, petting zoo and biergarten. Link: https://downtowntomsriver.com/

🚚 Trucktoberfest Wanamaker Field (Summit & Central Ave, Island Heights) — 11 AM–6 PM Details: Food trucks, a craft beer tent, live bands and a Kid Zone with bounce inflatables & carnival games. See website for details Link: https://oceancountytourism.com/event/12th-annual-trucktoberfest/

🍲 Soups of the Shore Lavallette Gazebo Park (Bay Blvd & Philadelphia Ave, Lavallette) — 11 AM–3 PM — $15 adults, kids free Details: A community soup-tasting cook-off with signature soups from regional restaurants + family lawn games. Link: https://oceancountytourism.com/event/soups-of-the-shore/

oct 3

🧺 Brick Farmers Market Windward Beach Park (265 Princeton Ave, Brick) — 8:30 AM–1:30 PM — FREE admission Details: Final 2026 season date — local produce, baked goods and crafters. Leashed dogs welcome. Link: https://brickfarmersmarket.com/

🛍️ Allaire Historic Village Flea Market Historic Allaire Village (4263 Atlantic Ave, Wall Township) — 8 AM–2 PM — $5 (10 & under free) Details: 100+ antique, craft & flea vendors — entry benefits historic preservation of the village. Link: https://allairevillage.org/

🎶 2nd Annual Bites & Beats Seaside Park Marina Lawn (J St & Central Ave, Seaside Park) — 1–6 PM — FREE (rain date Oct 4) Details: Food trucks, carnival games, craft vendors, live music and a 21+ beer garden. Benefits Central Regional students. Link: https://oceancountytourism.com/event/2nd-annual-bites-beats/

oct 10

🍺 Red Bank Oktoberfest Edmund Wilson Plaza (21–26 Bridge Ave, Red Bank) — 1–5 PM — FREE (rain date Oct 17) Details: Kids' zone, artisan vendors, German & rock music, food and drafts. Link: https://www.redbank.org/events/red-bank-oktoberfest/

oct 10-11

🍷 Stafford Fall Harvest & Wine Festival Heritage Park (214 Center St, Manahawkin) — 12–5 PM daily — FREE for spectators; wine garden sampling $20 advance / $25 gate (21+) Details: Live music, food truck rows and family activities. Bring lawn chairs & blankets. Link: https://newjerseywineevents.com/events/stafford-fall-harvest-wine-festival-manahawkin/

oct 18

🎃 Thompson Park Day Thompson Park (805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft) — 11 AM–5 PM — FREE admission & parking (small fees for select crafts) Details: Monmouth County Parks' premier autumn festival — pumpkin painting, wagon rides, kids' races, scarecrow building and live theater. Link: https://www.monmouthcountyparks.com/

🌻 Fall Festival (Common Grounds) Common Grounds Community Garden, John F. Patrick Sports Complex (Vine St, Lakewood) — 1:30–4 PM — FREE Details: Heirloom tomato tasting, honey-bee talks, pumpkin decorating and fall planting crafts. Link: https://oceancountytourism.com/event/common-grounds-fall-festival/

🛍️ Giant Flea Market Ocean County Park (659 Ocean Ave, Lakewood) — 9 AM–1 PM — FREE admission Details: A county-run outdoor market — garage sales, antiques and vendor tables across the park lawns. Link: https://www.co.ocean.nj.us/OC/CountyParks

🚚 Street Eats & Brews Dancer Farm grounds (19 Archertown Rd, New Egypt) — 12–4 PM — $10 adults, under 21 free Details: Farm playground, kids' play zone, harvest cornhole, flower picking, live acoustic music, food trucks and a craft brewery. Link: https://dancerfarmnj.com/

oct 4

⚓ Atlantic Highlands Day Atlantic Highlands Marina Harbor Front (2 Simon Lake Dr, Atlantic Highlands) — 11 AM–4 PM — FREE Details: A merchant market, food trucks, live rock bands and a Touch-a-Truck zone for kids. Link: https://www.atlantichighlands.org/

🛍️ BlueClaws Fall Flea Market ShoreTown Ballpark Parking Lot (2 Stadium Way, Lakewood) — 8 AM–1 PM — FREE admission Details: A giant outdoor bargain crawl & flea market through the stadium lots. Link: https://www.milb.com/jersey-shore

oct 16

🧺 Tuckerton Farmers Market Outside Union Market & Gallery (120 W Main St, Tuckerton) — 9 AM–12 PM — FREE admission Details: A producer-only morning market — organic produce, fresh seafood, local honey and native plants. Link: https://www.facebook.com/tuckertontfarmersmarket/

oct 24

🛍️ Happy Harvest Artisan & Vendor Market East Dover Baptist Church Gymnasium (974 Bay Ave, Toms River) — 10 AM–3 PM — FREE admission Details: 40+ local crafters, home-baked items and charity collections for the church's food pantry. Link: https://www.eastdoverbaptist.org/