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Sussex County NJ events follow a steady yearly rhythm: ski races and snowshoe days in winter, a St. Patrick’s Day parade in March, carnivals and food truck days in May, the New Jersey State Fair in August, a packed October of harvest and heritage weekends, and holiday markets and light shows from November through December. Our team built this month by month calendar of the county’s recurring annual events, with the town, venue, usual timing and official website for each, and exact dates only where the organizer has already confirmed them.
Bookmark it for planning ahead. For what is happening in the next few days, our weekly things to do in Sussex County this weekend roundup is updated every week, and our things to do in Sussex County hub covers parks, hikes and attractions.
Sussex County Annual Events at a Glance
- Winter (January and February): Mountain Creek snowshoe and firefighter race days in Vernon
- Spring (March to May): St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Newton, Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival and Memorial Day Weekend Carnival at Skylands Stadium
- Summer (June to August): Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival and the New Jersey State Fair at the Sussex County Fairgrounds
- Fall (September to November): Jack-O’-Lantern Experience, Mountain Creek Fall Fest, Heritage Weekend, Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival, mineral festivals, Festival of Lights and the Newton Holiday Parade
- December: German Christmas Market of NJ and the Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show
- Biggest single event: the New Jersey State Fair, nine days at the fairgrounds in Augusta
January
Yeti or Not Snowshoe Invasion at Mountain Creek (Vernon)
A winter event on the mountain at Vernon’s ski resort, which runs its ski season roughly December through March. See our Mountain Creek ski resort guide for tickets and passes.
- Address: 200 Route 94, Vernon
- Date: Saturday, January 30, 2027, per the resort’s event calendar
- Website: Mountain Creek event calendar
February
Annual Firefighters Race at Mountain Creek (Vernon)
- Address: 200 Route 94, Vernon
- Date: Friday, February 5, 2027
- Website: Mountain Creek event calendar
March
Sussex County St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Newton)
The county’s St. Patrick’s parade marches down Spring Street in Newton, sponsored by the Newton Fire Department with help from the Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce.
- Where: Spring Street, downtown Newton
- Usual timing: a Saturday morning in March. The 2026 parade was Saturday, March 7. The 2027 date has not been posted yet.
- Cost: Free to watch
- Website: Town of Newton events page
Space Farms Zoo and Museum Opens for the Season (Wantage)
- Address: 218 County Road 519, Sussex (Wantage Township)
- Usual timing: opens in late March and runs through the start of November. The 2026 season ran Saturday, March 28 through Sunday, November 1, daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Website: spacefarms.com
May
Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival at Skylands Stadium (Augusta)
- Address: 94 Championship Place, Augusta
- Usual timing: the first Saturday in May. The stadium lists the next one for May 1, 2027. The 2026 edition ran noon to 7 p.m.
- Cost: $5 admission in 2026, kids 36 inches and under free, free parking
- Website: Skylands Stadium food truck festival
Memorial Day Weekend Carnival at Skylands Stadium (Augusta)
Six nights and days of rides and fair food on the stadium parking lot, timed to the start of the Sussex County Miners’ Frontier League season, which runs May through September.
- Address: 94 Championship Place, Augusta
- Usual timing: the Wednesday through Monday of Memorial Day weekend (May 20 to 25 in 2026)
- Cost: Free admission and parking; rides and food extra
- Website: Skylands Stadium carnival
June
Rock, Ribs and Ridges Festival (Augusta)
- Venue: Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta
- Usual timing: the last weekend of June (June 26 to 28 in 2026). 2027 dates are not posted yet.
- Website: rockribsandridges.com
August
New Jersey State Fair, Sussex County Farm and Horse Show (Augusta)
The county’s signature event: nine days of livestock, horse shows, rides, concerts and fair food.
- Venue: Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta
- Usual timing: nine days spanning late July and early August
- 2027 dates: August 6 to 14, 2027, per the fairgrounds
- Website: Sussex County Fairgrounds fair info
September
Fall Mineral Show at Sterling Hill Mining Museum (Ogdensburg)
- Address: 30 Plant Street, Ogdensburg
- Usual timing: a weekend in late September (September 26 and 27 in 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
- Website: Sterling Hill special events
Jack-O’-Lantern Experience at Skylands Stadium (Augusta)
A 45 minute walk through more than 6,000 lit pumpkins, plus a corn maze and petting zoo. Our Jack-O’-Lantern Experience guide has the details.
- Address: 94 Championship Place, Augusta
- Usual timing: late September through the first day of November (September 25 to November 1 in 2026)
- Cost: $20 standard, $39 VIP in 2026; buy online in advance
- Website: skylandsstadium.com/jackolantern
Fall Fest at Mountain Creek (Vernon)
- Address: 200 Route 94, Vernon
- Usual timing: weekends from late September through the start of November, with Sky Rides over the foliage, a pumpkin patch and live music
- Website: Mountain Creek Fall Fest
Read our Mountain Creek Fall Fest guide for what is included.
October
Sussex County Heritage Weekend (Countywide)
Museums, historic sites and historical societies across the county open their doors, organized by the Sussex County Arts and Heritage Council since 2011. Our Heritage Weekend 2026 recap lists the sites.
- Usual timing: a weekend in October (October 10 and 11 in 2026, the 16th annual)
- Website: scahc.org/heritageweekend
Fall Mineral Festival at Sterling Hill (Ogdensburg)
- Address: 30 Plant Street, Ogdensburg
- Usual timing: a Saturday in October (October 10, 2026, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Website: Sterling Hill special events
See our Fall Mineral Festival recap and Sterling Hill Mining Museum guide.
Garlic Fest at The Shoppes at Lafayette (Lafayette)
- Address: 75 Route 15, Lafayette
- Usual timing: a weekend in October (October 10 and 11 in 2026)
- Cost: Free to attend
- Website: The Shoppes at Lafayette Garlic Fest
Harvest, Honey and Garlic Festival (Augusta)
Run with the Sussex County Beekeepers Association and Garden State Garlic Growers. Our Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival recap has more.
- Venue: Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta
- Usual timing: the third Saturday in October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (October 17 in 2026)
- Website: Sussex Skylands event listing
Newton Halloween Parade (Newton)
- Where: downtown Newton
- Usual timing: on or near Halloween. Our Newton Halloween Parade 2026 guide has this year’s details.
- Website: Town of Newton events page
November
Sussex County Salute to Veterans (Augusta)
- Venue: Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta
- Usual timing: early November (Sunday, November 1, 2026, 1 to 3 p.m.)
- Website: Fairgrounds calendar
Festival of Lights at Newton Medical Center (Newton)
- Address: 175 High Street, Newton
- Usual timing: a Saturday in mid November. The 35th annual is Saturday, November 14, 2026, 4:30 to 6 p.m., with a tree lighting and fireworks.
- Website: Festival of Lights event page
Our Festival of Lights 2026 guide covers the schedule.
Sparta Education Foundation Turkey Trot (Sparta)
- Start: Krogh’s Restaurant and Brew Pub, 23 White Deer Plaza, Sparta
- Usual timing: Thanksgiving morning (Thursday, November 26, 2026, the 20th annual)
- Website: Race registration
Our Sussex County turkey trot guide also covers Vernon’s race.
Newton Holiday Parade (Newton)
- Where: downtown Newton, staged on Lower Spring Street
- Usual timing: the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 28, 2026)
- Website: Greater Newton Chamber of Commerce
Details in our Newton Holiday Parade 2026 guide.
Christmas Village at The Shoppes at Lafayette (Lafayette)
- Address: 75 Route 15, Lafayette
- Usual timing: Small Business Saturday, the Saturday after Thanksgiving (November 28, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Website: Christmas Village event page
See our Lafayette Christmas Village 2026 guide.
December
German Christmas Market of NJ (Augusta)
- Venue: Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta
- Usual timing: a weekend in early December. 2026: Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday, December 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Cost: $10 ages 13 and up, $7 seniors, free for veterans with ID and kids 12 and under
- Website: gcmnj.org
More in our German Christmas Market 2026 guide.
Skylands Stadium Christmas Light Show (Augusta)
- Address: 94 Championship Place, Augusta
- Usual timing: select nights from late November through the end of December (November 21 to December 30, 2026)
- Cost: $29 per carload standard, $79 VIP; tickets online in advance
- Website: skylandsstadium.com/lightshow
Our light show guide lists every open night, and our Christmas events in Sussex County calendar has the rest of the season.
Tip From Our Team: Parking and Tickets
Many of the biggest Sussex County events share two venues in Augusta: the Sussex County Fairgrounds on Plains Road and Skylands Stadium on Championship Place. The two venues are a short drive apart. Skylands Stadium parking is free, and its light show and Jack-O’-Lantern tickets are sold online by date, so book before you drive up. For fair week and the German Christmas Market, arrive early in the day to get a closer parking spot, and check the fairgrounds directions and parking page before you go.
FAQ
What is the biggest annual event in Sussex County NJ?
The New Jersey State Fair, Sussex County Farm and Horse Show, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. It runs nine days, and the 2027 fair is August 6 to 14.
When is the German Christmas Market in Sussex County?
In 2026 it runs Friday, December 4 through Sunday, December 6 at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta.
What events happen in Sussex County in October?
October is the busiest month: Heritage Weekend, the Sterling Hill Fall Mineral Festival, Garlic Fest in Lafayette, the Harvest Honey and Garlic Festival at the fairgrounds, Mountain Creek Fall Fest, the Jack-O’-Lantern Experience and the Newton Halloween Parade.
Is there a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Sussex County?
Yes. The Sussex County St. Patrick’s Day Parade marches down Spring Street in Newton on a Saturday in March. The 2026 parade was March 7.
Where can I find events happening this weekend?
Our things to do this weekend page is updated every week with Sussex County events.
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