Haunted Hayrides
Hayride visitors are taken around the 130-acre grounds and the “ghost” of David Felt, who built this former mill town in 1845, will briefly explain the history of the site and introduce characters from its past, telling tales of mystery and tragedy. Visitors will also get the opportunity to take a short walk into the village’s Revolutionary War era cemetery.
October 27 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
October 28 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
October 29 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Rain Date October 30th
Rides are scheduled every half hour
Deserted Village of Feltville
Watchung Reservation
Cataract Hollow Road in Berkeley Heights
Warm clothes, walking shoes and a flashlight are suggested
Program experience lasts about one hour. The remainder involves walking on a footpath in the darkened forest.
$8 for a Union County resident
$16 for out-of-county residents.
- Ticket purchases are limited to eight per person and are sold for rides at specific times.
- No refunds or exchanges are permitted.
- Adults and children age 6 and older are welcome to participate.
- Some of this program occurs on a hayride.
- Strollers cannot be accommodated.
The Great Pumpkin Sail
Don’t throw your jack-o-lanterns away! – Bring the whole family and join the Union County Board of County Commissioners and Union County Parks as we illuminate Echo Lake Park with a beautiful sea of pumpkins!
Wednesday, November 1st
Rain Date November 2nd
The fun all happens at Lower Echo Lake, right off of Springfield Avenue.
Session 1 5:15-6:30 PM
Session 2 6:45-8:00 PM
Session 3 8:15-9:30 PM
Tickets MUST be purchased in advance!
$12 Union County residents per family of 6
$16 non-residents per family of 6
Tickets go on sale October 3 at 9 am
Limit 2 tickets per person. Register early; advance purchase required. Space is limited. Tickets required for admission into gated program area.
- Each ticket entitles a family to ONE (1) jack-o-lantern
- Total weight after carving must be NO MORE THAN 8 POUNDS
- Larger pumpkins will be placed around the dock for decoration
- Upon arrival at gate, participants must turn in tickets for float numbers, assigned in order of arrival
- Float numbers will be called in order.
- As each boat number is called, participants bring their jack-o-lanterns to dock area for staff members to mount onto floats.
Hayrides and Campfires
Ticket includes hayride, entertainment, hot chocolate, and marshmallows. Bring a blanket or chair for the campfire, and enjoy the evening!
Warinanco Park
Friday, October 6th
6:30PM – 9:30PM
Trailside Nature & Science Center
Sunday, October 8
3:30PM – 6:30PM
Friday, October 13
6:30PM – 9:30PM
Sunday, October 15
3:30PM – 6:30PM
Friday October 20
6:30PM – 9:30PM
Tickets MUST be purchased in advance!
$6 Union County residents
$12 Non-Residents
Tickets are not sold on site. No refunds or exchanges. Group sales are limited to 15 people
- Please bring your tickets! When you arrive, go directly to the check-in table, where you’ll exchange your ticket for a hayride pass.
- Each pass has a number which designates your scheduled ride. Passes are given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- For example, those with passes marked “hayride #2” will board the second hayride.
- Hayrides run throughout the evening at approximately 20-minute intervals until each ticketholder (who checked in prior to 8pm for Friday rides or 5pm for Sunday rides) has been on one ride.
- All Friday participants must check in prior to 8pm; Sunday participants must check in prior to 5pm.
- Ticketholders not checked in by those times are not guaranteed a ride.
- Rain Information
- In case of rain on the day of a hayride, all ticketed participants will be rescheduled to either one of the remaining nights or an alternate date, as space allows.
- For rain info regarding Friday rides, please call the Parks Dept. at 908-558-4079 after 3pm; for rain info regarding Sunday rides, please call Trailside Nature and Science Center at 908-789-3670 after 1pm.
Fall Festival
Music Lineup includes The Weight Band plus Willie Nile and Splintered Sunlight. Featuring the Union County Micro Beer Garden – Wet Ticket, Yale Terrance and Climax
Saturday, October 7th
4pm to 10pm
Oak Ridge Park in Clark
More information coming soon
Four Centuries in a Weekend
More than 30 historic sites across Union County will be open to the public — with tours and special events, exhibits and demonstrations.
Free
Saturday, October 21st and Sunday October 22nd
Noon to 5pm
Where to Purchase Tickets
Online
Visit ucnj.org/ticket
Review information above when tickets go on sale for each event and under the ‘More Information’ accordion under each column.
Trailside
Trailside Nature and Science Center
452 New Providence Road in Mountainside
Tuesday – Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM
908-789-3670
Reservation Desk
Union County Administration Building
10 Elizabethtown Plaza in Elizabeth
Monday – Friday 9AM – 4PM
908-527-4900