Looking for something delicious to do this weekend?
These three food festivals will feature everything from a walking tour with bites and drinks to samples of New Jersey wines — and lots of food trucks serving tacos, macaroni and cheese, kettle corn, pretzels and more.
Here’s what to know.
Calling all spooktacular haunts: Show us your Jersey Shore Halloween delights!
Fall Taste of Highlands
Get to know the borough of Highlands through this fall festival, which invites foodies to visit and sample food and cocktails from 18 local restaurants.
The tour runs from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 and starts at Huddy Park, Bay and Waterwitch avenues. Attendees will pick up a map of participating restaurants then head out to eat and drink at restaurants and retailers.
Tickets cost $45 and include food and drink samples and access to the Seastreak Courtesy Shuttle, which will take attendees from stop to stop. Participants are asked to bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pantry.
For more information, visit highlandsnj.com.
More: 18 restaurants and breweries celebrating Oktoberfest at the Shore
Food trucks in the Fall, Wall
Grab your friends and gather around a fire pit at this two-day festival featuring food trucks, beer and wine, and live entertainment.
Food Trucks in the Fall takes place from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 at Oak Tree Lodge, 1412 Schoolhouse Road in Wall.
Participating trucks include Tic Taco Taqueria, Mac Truck, Dark Side of the Moo, Big Man’s Food Truck, Fed’s on the Go and more. The festival also will include mini golf, a petting zoo, a caricaturist, kids rides and games, a DJ, more than 20 vendors and a full bar.
Tickets cost $10 per person or $100 for six tickets with a reserved fire pit. Proceeds will benefit Camp Happy Times, Special Days Camps and Camp No Worries, which are summer camps for children battling cancer.
For more information, visit foodtrucksinthefall.com.
More: This popular beachfront restaurant to permanently close. Find out when
Stafford Township Fall Harvest and Wine Festival, Stafford
Nine New Jersey wineries, dozens of vendors and plenty of food trucks will be featured during this two-part, two-day festival in the township’s Manahawkin section.
The Stafford Township Fall Harvest and Wine Festival takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 and Sunday, Oct. 13 at Heritage Park, 49 W. Bay Ave., and Manahawkin Lake Park, Route 9 and North Lakeshore Drive.
Sample and shop from Wagonhouse, Valenzano and Tomasello wineries, among others, during the wine festival at Heritage Park, then enjoy dozens of craft and food vendors, live music, a Halloween parade, a pumpkin patch, a petting zoo, scarecrow making and a costume contest at the fall fest across the street at Manahawkin Lake Park.
Wine festival admission for attendees who wish to sample costs $20 in advance or $25 at the gate. There is no charge for festivalgoers who won’t be drinking wine, and there is no charge for admission to the fall festival.
A free shuttle will be available from noon to 5 p.m. both days from town hall, 260 E. Bay Ave. Extra parking also can be found at Oxycocus Elementary School, 250 N. Main St, and A. Paul King County Park, 2 W. Bay Ave..
For more information, call 609-597-1000, ext. 8573, or visit staffordnj.gov, newjerseywineevents.com.
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Food events near me: Festivals to check out at the Jersey Shore
