Halloween in Cherry Hill, NJ: Events, Trick-or-Treating, and Family Fun
By Bob Millaway
Halloween in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is a month-long celebration that builds to one big night. The township's traditional trick-or-treating window on October 31 runs from 3 to 7 p.m., the Croft Farm Harvest Festival brings the whole community out in mid-October, and the Cherry Hill Public Library, local farms, and parks add costume events, pumpkin carving, and fall fun all month long. This guide pulls together everything a Cherry Hill family needs to plan a safe, memorable Halloween, from where to pick pumpkins to which haunted attractions are worth the drive.
When Is Trick-or-Treating in Cherry Hill, NJ?
Cherry Hill's traditional trick-or-treating window is Halloween, October 31, from 3 to 7 p.m., with 7 p.m. serving as the suggested curfew for older kids out without a parent. The township and the Cherry Hill Police Department publish the official hours again each October, so it is always worth confirming on the township website at chnj.gov as the date gets close.
The neighborhood etiquette is simple: front porch light on means candy, porch light off means the house is done for the night. Expect big crowds on the classic family streets, and enjoy the walk. Cherry Hill neighborhoods like Barclay, Kingston Estates, and Woodcrest take decorating seriously, with leaf-lined streets, carved pumpkins, and front yards turned into friendly displays. If you are new to town and still learning the streets, our Best Neighborhoods in Cherry Hill guide maps out where families tend to settle.
What Is the Croft Farm Harvest Festival?
The signature fall event in Cherry Hill is the Harvest Festival at Croft Farm, set for Sunday, October 18, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Croft Farm, 100 Bortons Mill Road. Admission is free, and the festival draws more than 100 vendors and community organizations with food, drinks, crafts for purchase, pony rides, a petting zoo, scarecrow making, live music, and pumpkin sales.
It is one of the best chances of the year to bump into neighbors and soak in the community, and it doubles as a warm preview of what living in Cherry Hill feels like. Full seasonal details are on our Community Events page, and our guide to Best Fall Activities in Cherry Hill covers the rest of the autumn calendar.
What Halloween Events Does the Cherry Hill Public Library Host?
The Cherry Hill Public Library at 1100 Kings Highway North is a quiet hero of family Halloween season. Its Halloween Costume Grab returns Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Children's Story Time & Craft Room on the upper level: families browse and take home donated costumes for free, with no donation required. It is one of the smartest ways to outfit kids without spending a dime, and this year marks the program's third year in a row.
The library also hosts a "Trick or Treat at the Library" program for ages 0 to 5 on Halloween morning, typically from 11 a.m. to noon, plus fall story times and crafts throughout October. 2026 details are confirmed on the library's own calendar as the month approaches, so check chplnj.org before you plan around it.
Where Can Families Find Halloween Activities Near Cherry Hill?
Beyond the township events, there are several dependable family options within a short drive:
- Cherry Hill Park publishes a full family Halloween weekend every October with pumpkin carving and crafts, Halloween tractor rides, a Halloween movie at the pavilion, and a spooky breakfast at the Capital Cafe. In 2026 the events land on Friday, October 23, and Saturday, October 24. Check cherryhillpark.com/halloween for times and ticket details.
- The Cherry Hill Spooktacular Craft & Vendor Market, a free family craft and vendor event in the township, typically runs in late October. It is a low-key way to shop local and keep little ones entertained.
- Area churches and community groups host trunk-or-treat events and fall carnivals across the township, and the Gloucester Township library in Blackwood runs a Halloween parade and story time for toddlers on October 31. Confirmation happens a week or two out, so check local calendars in mid-October.
- Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township, about 45 minutes away, runs gentle Trick-or-Treat Weekends in October with bargain ticket prices, a favorite for the preschool set.
- For costumes, Spirit Halloween seasonal stores are confirmed to open in Cherry Hill, Deptford, and Mount Laurel for 2026.
For even more seasonal ideas close to home, our Family Activities in Cherry Hill guide gathers the best kid-friendly options all year.
Where Can Kids Pick Pumpkins Near Cherry Hill?
Springdale Farms at 1638 South Springdale Road is Cherry Hill's own working farm and the easiest pumpkin outing there is, with weekend hayrides, pumpkin picking, a corn maze, and a bakery stocked with fall treats. For a bigger farm day, Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford is about 20 minutes away and offers U-pick pumpkins and apples plus a five-acre corn maze. Highland Orchards in Wilmington, Delaware, about 30 minutes out, is a family-run orchard dating to 1832 with apple picking and a pumpkin patch that suits a longer afternoon.
Whichever you choose, go on a clear morning for the best pumpkin selection and the calmest crowds, and bring cash, since some farm stands prefer it.
What Are the Best Haunted Attractions Near Cherry Hill?
When the kids are old enough to want a real scare, the region has some heavy hitters within easy reach:
- The Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride at Arasapha Farms in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, about 30 to 40 minutes from Cherry Hill, is consistently ranked among America's top haunted attractions. The 2026 season runs September 25 to 26, October 2 to 4, and October 9 through November 1, with combo tickets covering the haunted motel, the 20-minute-plus hayride, and the Revenge of the Scarecrows trail. Teens and adults only.
- Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, about 20 minutes away, celebrates its 35th season in 2026. It opens October 2 and runs select nights through November 7, with five haunted houses, themed bars, and live performances inside one of America's most famous historic prisons. Also best for older kids and adults.
- Night of Terror at Creamy Acres Farm in Mullica Hill offers a haunted hayride and multiple haunted attractions for those who want a full night of scares.
Keep in mind that all three are genuinely scary and intentionally intense, so save them for teens and adults and keep younger children on the family-friendly side of the calendar instead.
What Halloween Safety Tips Should Cherry Hill Families Follow?
A safe Halloween in Cherry Hill comes down to a few simple habits:
- Outfit kids in bright or reflective costumes, add reflective tape or glow sticks, and keep masks with proper eye holes so vision is never blocked.
- Stick to sidewalks and cross only at corners. Drivers on October 31 should go slow, stay off phones, and watch for kids darting between parked cars, especially between 3 and 7 p.m.
- Check all candy before anyone eats it and toss anything unwrapped or suspicious.
- Send older kids in pairs or a small group with a planned route, a set curfew, and a charged phone.
- Keep pets indoors during peak hours; the doorbell and the costumes stress them out.
And remember the porch light rule: light on, candy is waiting. Light off, the house has called it a night.
How Can You Find More Halloween Events in Cherry Hill?
The easiest way to stay on top of what is happening is to check the township calendar at chnj.gov, the library calendar at chplnj.org, and family event roundups like Macaroni KID Cherry Hill. Our own Community Events page tracks festivals and gatherings all season, and the Things to Do in Cherry Hill guide is worth a bookmark for the rest of the year. For the complete fall picture, from foliage walks to farmers markets, the Seasonal Activities in Cherry Hill guide covers it season by season.
Is Fall a Good Time to Explore Cherry Hill Neighborhoods?
If you are considering a move to Cherry Hill, October is the perfect month to look. Decorated porches, leaf-lined streets, and community events like the Harvest Festival give you a front-row view of the town's character, and the best neighborhoods look their finest. A drive through Barclay, Kingston Estates, or Woodcrest on a crisp evening will tell you more than any listing photo, and our Living in Cherry Hill guide can walk you through the rest before you make the leap.
However you celebrate, Halloween in Cherry Hill is a season to get outside, meet your neighbors, and make some memories. That is exactly what this site is here to help you do.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is trick-or-treating in Cherry Hill, NJ?
Cherry Hill's traditional trick-or-treating window is Halloween, October 31, from 3 to 7 p.m., with 7 p.m. as the suggested curfew for unaccompanied minors. The township publishes official hours each October, so confirm on chnj.gov as the date approaches.
When is the Croft Farm Harvest Festival in 2026?
The Harvest Festival at Croft Farm, 100 Bortons Mill Road, is set for Sunday, October 18, 2026, from noon to 4 p.m., rain or shine, with free admission, more than 100 vendors, pony rides, a petting zoo, live music, and pumpkin sales.
Where can I get a free Halloween costume in Cherry Hill?
The Cherry Hill Public Library hosts its Halloween Costume Grab on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Families take home donated costumes for free, with no donation required.
Where can we pick pumpkins near Cherry Hill?
Springdale Farms on South Springdale Road is Cherry Hill's own working farm with weekend pumpkin-picking hayrides. Johnson's Corner Farm in Medford and Highland Orchards in Wilmington, Delaware, offer larger pumpkin patches and corn mazes within about a 30-minute drive.
What are the best haunted houses near Cherry Hill?
The Bates Motel & Haunted Hayride in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, and Night of Terror at Creamy Acres Farm in Mullica Hill are the region's top haunted attractions, all within about 30 to 45 minutes and all best for teens and adults.
Are there Halloween events for toddlers in Cherry Hill?
Yes. The Cherry Hill Public Library hosts "Trick or Treat at the Library" for ages 0 to 5 on Halloween morning, Storybook Land in Egg Harbor Township runs gentle Trick-or-Treat Weekends, and Cherry Hill Park hosts a family Halloween weekend with pumpkin carving and tractor rides.
What Halloween safety tips should Cherry Hill families follow?
Use bright or reflective costumes with flashlights, cross only at corners, check all candy before eating it, send older kids in groups with a planned route and curfew, and remember the porch light rule: light on means candy is waiting.
Keep Exploring Cherry Hill
More guides from Bob Millaway to help you love where you live.
Written by Bob Millaway
Have questions about Cherry Hill? Contact Bob Millaway at 856.426.1522 or get in touch.