Introduction
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, and our towns are filling the two weekends before it with parades, trunk-or-treats and festivals. This guide to Bergen County Halloween Events covers everything we have confirmed for October 2026, sorted by date first and then by type, so you can plan a weekend without opening ten different town calendars.
Every listing below was checked against the organizer’s own page or flyer. However, small-town events change, so tap the More info link before you head out. We update this guide weekly as more schools, churches and boroughs post their plans, and our town-by-town trick-or-treating guide is coming next.
Last updated: October 7, 2026
Bergen County Halloween Events by Date
Saturday, October 24 is the busiest day on the calendar, with nine events on the schedule. Use the table to see what overlaps, then scroll down for the details on each one.
| Date | Event | Town | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Sat and Sun nights through Oct 31 | Pantophobia Haunted Trail | Mahwah | From 8 PM |
| Oct 8 to 12 and Oct 15 to 31 | Demarest Farms Halloween Light Show | Hillsdale | 6:30 to 8 PM |
| Through Oct 31 | Ridgewood Halloween Maze | Ridgewood | Hours not yet posted |
| Fri, Oct 16 to Sun, Oct 18 | Zoo Boo | Paramus | Day and evening sessions |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Waldwick Ragamuffin Parade and Trunk or Treat | Waldwick | 10 AM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Halloween in the Park (Haunted Harvest) | Ridgewood | 11 AM to 2 PM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Cornerstone Christian Church Family Trunk or Treat | Wyckoff | 2 to 4 PM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Trunk or Treat | Paramus | 2 PM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Park Ridge Ragamuffin Parade | Park Ridge | 3 PM |
| Sat, Oct 24 | School No. 2 Trunk or Treat | Fort Lee | 5:30 to 7:30 PM (quiet open at 5 PM) |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat | Ramsey | To be announced |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Fall-O-Ween Spooktacular | Fort Lee | To be announced |
| Sat, Oct 24 | Rochelle Park Ragamuffin Parade | Rochelle Park | To be announced |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Paramus Halloween Truck or Treat Festival | Paramus | 11 AM to 5 PM |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Closter PTO Halloween Fair | Closter | 11 AM to 4 PM |
| Sun, Oct 25 | Mahwah Halloween Spooktacular | Mahwah | To be announced |
| Thu, Oct 29 | Haunted Library | Englewood | 3 to 8 PM |
| Sat, Oct 31 | Little Nightmares Trunk or Treat | Waldwick | 11 AM to 2 PM |
Halloween Festivals and Bigger Events
These are the larger gatherings, with rides, food trucks, or a full afternoon of activities.
Zoo Boo Paramus
When: Friday, October 16, 6 to 9 PM. Saturday, October 17, 10 AM to 4 PM and 6 to 9 PM. Sunday, October 18, 10 AM to 5 PM. Rain dates are the following weekend.
Where: Bergen County Zoo, Van Saun County Park, 216 Forest Avenue, Paramus
More info: friendsofbergencountyzoo.org/zooboo
Zoo Boo is one of the county’s biggest Halloween weekends for little kids, with trick-or-treat stations, shows, music and train rides through a decorated zoo. Zoo admission and train tickets are sold separately and online only. Additionally, the train changes after dark. The daytime ride is friendly, while the night train is haunted with scare actors, so pick your session with your child’s age in mind.
Halloween in the Park (Haunted Harvest), Ridgewood
When: Saturday, October 24, 11 AM to 2 PM, weather permitting
Where: Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, Ridgewood
More info: ridgewoodlocal.com/events/halloween-in-the-park
Downtown Ridgewood turns the park into a haunted graveyard and pumpkin patch for the afternoon, with live music throughout. The kids’ costume parade steps off at noon, and the pet parade follows at 1 PM. Because it wraps up at 2 PM, it pairs well with an afternoon trunk-or-treat nearby.
Fall-O-Ween Spooktacular, Fort Lee
When: Saturday, October 24. Time to be announced.
Where: Fort Lee. Last year’s event was held at Hudson Lights Park, 183 Main Street. This year’s location has not been posted yet.
More info: bdaftlee.com/events
The Fort Lee Business District Alliance runs this family afternoon each fall. Last year’s edition was free and brought face painters, balloon twisters, a magician, a DJ, and plenty of candy. The 2026 date is confirmed, and we’ll add the time and location as soon as the Alliance posts them.
Paramus Halloween Truck or Treat Festival
When: Sunday, October 25, 11 AM to 5 PM
Where: Paramus Park Mall, East Main Entrance in front of Old Navy and L.L.Bean, 700 Paramus Park, Paramus
Cost: $5 admission. Kids under 5 are free.
More info: justjerseyfest.com
More than 20 food trucks set up in the mall lot, and kids can trick-or-treat at each one. There’s also a costume contest with cash prizes, and dogs are welcome. The organizers ask everyone to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food pantry.
Closter PTO Halloween Fair
When: Sunday, October 25, 11 AM to 4 PM
Where: Closter. See the PTO site for the fair location.
More info: closterpto.membershiptoolkit.com
This one packs a lot into five hours: bounce houses, a corn maze, bumper cars, carnival games, a gaming truck, food trucks and pumpkin picking. A Halloween parade and costume contest round out the day.
Mahwah Halloween Spooktacular
When: Sunday, October 25. Time to be announced.
Where: Mahwah. See the township event page for the location.
More info: mahwahtwp.org event page
Mahwah Recreation hosts this free-spirited afternoon every October. Last year’s edition, run with the Mahwah Police Department, included a costume parade, a jack-o-lantern contest, cider and donuts, police cars to explore and a trunk-or-treat.
Bergen County Trunk or Treat Events
A Bergen County trunk-or-treat is an easy first Halloween outing for little ones: decorated cars, a closed parking lot and no streets to cross. These five are confirmed so far, and we expect this list to grow as more schools and churches announce their dates.
Sensory-Friendly Trunk-or-Treat, Ramsey
When: Saturday, October 24. Time to be announced.
Where: Bierman Autism Centers, Ramsey
Cost: Free
More info: Bierman Autism Centers announcement
Bierman Autism Centers hosts free, sensory-friendly trunk-or-treats at its centers each October. The event is designed for children with autism, along with their siblings and families, and offers a calmer alternative to a crowded parking lot. Check with the Ramsey center for the time and RSVP details.
Cornerstone Christian Church Family Trunk or Treat, Wyckoff
When: Saturday, October 24, 2 to 4 PM
Where: Cornerstone Christian Church, 495 Wyckoff Avenue, Wyckoff
More info: cornerstonenj.org/trunk
Expect creatively decorated trunks and plenty of candy in the church parking lot. Last year the church asked trunk hosts to keep their themes non-scary, which makes this a good fit for toddlers and preschoolers.
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Trunk or Treat, Paramus
When: Saturday, October 24, 2 PM
Where: Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, 230 East Ridgewood Avenue, Paramus
More info: Eventbrite event page
The medical center opens its campus for an afternoon of candy, costumes and community spirit. Registration runs through Eventbrite, so sign up before you go.
School No. 2 Trunk or Treat, Fort Lee
When: Saturday, October 24. General admission opens at 5:30 PM and the event ends at 7:30 PM. A quiet open for neurodiverse kids starts at 5 PM.
Where: Fort Lee School No. 2, 2047 Jones Road, Fort Lee
Cost: Free for School No. 2 families. $10 general admission for everyone else.
More info: fles2.flboe.com
This evening trunk-or-treat welcomes families from outside the school, with music and dancing throughout and food available for purchase. Guests also vote for their favorite trunk, and the most creative displays win prizes. The 5 PM quiet open gives neurodiverse kids a calmer half hour before the crowd arrives. Registration is required, so sign up ahead of time.
Little Nightmares Trunk or Treat, Waldwick
When: Saturday, October 31, 11 AM to 2 PM
Where: WILDcrafted, 10 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick
More info: wildcraftednj.com
Moms Anonymous and WILDcrafted team up for their annual Little Nightmares trunk-or-treat on Halloween day itself, with parent-decorated trunks and local businesses handing out treats. It wraps up at 2 PM, which leaves the rest of the afternoon free for neighborhood trick-or-treating. Admission details have not been posted yet. Parents and local businesses who want to host a trunk can message @m0msanon.
Ragamuffin Parade Bergen County Schedule
A ragamuffin parade is a children’s costume parade, usually a short walk through town that ends with treats and a costume contest. All three of these step off on Saturday, October 24.
Waldwick Ragamuffin Parade and Trunk or Treat
When: Saturday, October 24, 10 AM. Rain date: Sunday, October 25.
Where: Waldwick. Last year, the parade started at the Public Safety Building on East Prospect Street.
More info: waldwicknj.gov/events/39883
The Waldwick Community Alliance and the borough pair a morning costume parade with a trunk-or-treat. Last year’s event included free refreshments, pumpkins, and prizes for the best decorated trunk and best costume.
Park Ridge Ragamuffin Parade
When: Saturday, October 24, 3 PM sharp. Rain date: Sunday, October 25, 3 PM.
Where: Starts at Depot Square and ends at Memorial Field, behind Borough Hall, Park Ridge
More info: parkridgeboro.com 2026 Ragamuffin Parade
Park Ridge Recreation’s parade ends with a costume contest, donuts, cider and a DJ at Memorial Field. It’s for kids 12 and under, and pets should stay home. Families are also asked to bring a food item for the Tri-Boro Food Pantry.
Rochelle Park Ragamuffin Parade
When: Saturday, October 24. Time to be announced.
Where: Rochelle Park
More info: rochelleparknj.gov/ragamuffin-parade
The township has the date on its calendar. However, the time and route have not been posted yet, so check the township page as the day gets closer.
Bergen County Haunted Attractions and Spooky Nights
Bergen County haunted attractions range from a full-scare trail for teens and adults to a free backyard maze and a drive-through light show the whole car can enjoy.
Pantophobia Haunted Trail, Mahwah
When: Fridays and Saturdays through October 31, plus Sundays starting October 11. The trail opens at 8 PM and runs until 11 PM on Fridays and Saturdays from October 16. Sundays run until 10 PM.
Where: Darlington Lake, 600 Darlington Avenue, Mahwah
Cost: $33 general admission. $36 on premium nights (October 16, 17, 23, 24, 30 and 31).
More info: pantophobia.com
This is a one-mile outdoor haunted trail that takes about 35 to 40 minutes to walk. Parking is free, and group rates are available for 15 or more. It is built to scare, so we’d save this one for teens and adults.
Ridgewood Halloween Maze
When: Open through October 31. Hours for 2026 have not been posted.
Where: 124 Sheridan Terrace, Ridgewood
Cost: Free
More info: Ridgewood Halloween Maze on Facebook
A Ridgewood family has built this free backyard maze for more than 30 years. It’s a handcrafted puzzle of loops, dead ends and trap doors that takes some visitors close to an hour to solve. Go in daylight with younger kids, because it gets scarier after dark. This is a private home on a residential street, so please park considerately.
Demarest Farms Halloween Light Show, Hillsdale
When: October 8 to 12 and October 15 to 31, 6:30 to 8 PM
Where: Demarest Farms, 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale
More info: halloweenlightshows.com
Stay in the car for a drive-through tour of 32 acres of Halloween light displays. Reservations are required, it’s one ticket per car, and tickets are not sold at the farm market. Therefore, book your time slot online before you drive over.
Haunted Library, Englewood
When: Thursday, October 29, 3 to 8 PM
Where: Englewood Public Library, Englewood
More info: englewoodlibrary.org/childrens-room
Kids of all ages can stop by in costume, see the decorations and pick up a treat. It’s an easy weeknight warm-up before the big weekend.
How to Plan Your Halloween Weekend
With nine events on Saturday, October 24, a little planning goes a long way. For example, a northern Bergen family could start with the Waldwick parade at 10 AM, catch the noon kids’ parade in Ridgewood and finish with the Park Ridge parade at 3 PM.
A few more things we’d keep in mind. Waldwick and Park Ridge both use Sunday, October 25 as a rain date, so keep that afternoon flexible. Zoo Boo, Pantophobia and the Demarest Farms light show are all ticketed, and popular time slots go first. Additionally, tuck a canned good in your bag for Park Ridge or Paramus, since both events are collecting for local food pantries.
Finally, don’t forget Halloween day itself. The Little Nightmares trunk-or-treat in Waldwick runs from 11 AM to 2 PM, early enough to be home before the neighborhood trick-or-treating starts.
Bergen County Halloween Events FAQ
When is Zoo Boo 2026?
Zoo Boo runs Friday, October 16 through Sunday, October 18 at the Bergen County Zoo in Paramus, with rain dates the following weekend. Zoo admission and train tickets are sold separately online.
What is a ragamuffin parade?
A ragamuffin parade is a costume parade for children, usually followed by treats and a costume contest. This year Waldwick, Park Ridge and Rochelle Park all hold theirs on Saturday, October 24.
Which Halloween events are free?
The Ridgewood Halloween Maze and the sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat in Ramsey are both free. The Paramus Truck or Treat Festival costs $5, with kids under 5 free, and the School No. 2 Trunk or Treat in Fort Lee is $10 for families outside the school. Zoo Boo, Pantophobia and the Demarest Farms light show are ticketed.
Is there a sensory-friendly Halloween event?
Yes, there are two. Bierman Autism Centers hosts a free sensory-friendly trunk-or-treat at its Ramsey center on Saturday, October 24, designed for children with autism and their families. That same evening, the School No. 2 Trunk or Treat in Fort Lee opens at 5 PM with a quiet half hour for neurodiverse kids before general admission.
What is the best Halloween event for teens?
Pantophobia in Mahwah is the pick for teens and adults. It’s a one-mile outdoor haunted trail at Darlington Lake that runs on weekend nights through October 31.
Is anything happening on Halloween day?
Yes. The Little Nightmares trunk-or-treat in Waldwick runs from 11 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, October 31. That night, Pantophobia and the Demarest Farms Halloween Light Show are both open for their final evening of the season.
When is trick-or-treating this year?
Halloween falls on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Hours and curfews vary by town, and we’re covering them in a separate trick-or-treating guide.
More Fall Fun Around Bergen County
We’ll keep adding Bergen County Halloween Events to this guide every week through October 31, so bookmark it and check back before each weekend. In the meantime, our guide to fall festivals and our roundup of family-friendly activities have plenty more ways to fill an October Saturday.
Nights like these are a big part of why families put down roots here. If all this has you thinking about your next move, Michael Guarriello of Keller Williams Valley Realty is always happy to help. Find out what your home is worth in today’s market, or start your home search for 2026.
Thinking About Your Next Move in Bergen County?
Whether a season of parades and trunk-or-treats has you wishing for a different neighborhood, or you're curious what your home is worth today, Michael Guarriello and the Bergen County Lifestyle team are here to help.
