Fall Food in Sussex County, NJ: Cider Donuts, Pig Roast BBQ and Beer Gardens to Try This October

Fall in Sussex County tastes like apple cider donuts, kettle corn and slow roasted barbecue. Here is where to eat your way through the season this October, from farm festivals with a full lineup of food stands to a lakeside pig roast and a beer garden lit by thousands of pumpkins.

Cider Donuts and Candy Apples at Heaven Hill Farm, Vernon

Heaven Hill Farm, 451 State Route 94 in Vernon, runs ten food stands on weekends and holidays during its Great Pumpkin Festival, selling apple cider donuts, candy apples, kettle corn and more. Adults 21 and older can add a wine tasting for $8. Festival admission is required, with weekend tickets at $24.99 in advance. Details are on the festival page.

Pig Roast and Harvest Feast at Fairview Lake YMCA, Stillwater

Fairview Lake YMCA Camps, 1035 Fairview Lake Road, serves a traditional slow roasted barbecue feast at its Pig Roast and Community Harvest Day on Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 1 PM to 4:30 PM. The camp says non-pork and vegetarian options are available. Tickets are $21 for ages 15 and up and $11 for ages 5 to 14, and kids 4 and under eat free. RSVP through the Fairview Lake YMCA community page.

A Beer Garden and S’mores at the Jack-O’-Lantern Experience, Augusta

At Skylands Stadium, 94 Championship Place in Augusta, the Jack-O’-Lantern Experience pairs its trail of more than 6,000 carved pumpkins with seasonal food and drinks from The Barnyard, a craft beer garden and a s’mores fire pit. Food and drinks cost extra on top of admission, which starts at $20. It runs on select nights through November 1, 2026. See the event page.

Food Vendors at Lentini Farms Fall Fest, Newton

Lentini Farms, 251 High Street in Newton, brings food vendors and live music to its Fall Fest, which runs Friday through Sunday from October 2 to October 25, 2026. Grab dinner before a Friday or Saturday haunted hayride, which run from 7 PM to 10 PM. Tickets are on the Lentini Farms ticket page.

Farm Store Apples at Windy Brow Farms, Newton

A late spring freeze cut the apple crop at several Sussex County orchards this year. Windy Brow Farms, 359 Ridge Road in Newton, expects a very short pick-your-own season, but says apples stay on sale in its farm store every day. Check the Windy Brow website before you go.

Cider and Local Apples at Sussex County Strawberry Farm, Andover

Sussex County Strawberry Farm, 565 Route 206 North in Andover, sells local apples, cider and mums along with its pick-your-own pumpkins in October. Call (973) 579-5055 to confirm hours, or see the farm’s pumpkin page.

Farm menus and hours shift with the weather, so check each spot’s website or social pages the day you go. Know a Sussex County restaurant, bakery or farm stand we should feature? Tell us about it.

Featured photo: pealdesign via Pexels.