But that’s not the case for pumpkin growers. The Star Ledger reports a difficult growing season has produced patches of unhappy pumpkins./>

Apples, pumpkins, and let’s not forget the amazing corn mazes – here’s a selection of readers’ favorites and then some. But don’t wait for the weekends, many of these farms are right for the pickin’s on weekdays too.

Wightman's Farms in Morristown, is relatively close-by. Apple and pumpkin picking, hayride, corn maze, and lots of other fun stuff for the family.

Ort Farms in Long Valley on Bartley/Chester Rd off 513 is large and lots of fun for younger kids. They have animals to pet, cider and donuts and wagon rides through the pumpkin fields - pick your own. Directions: Rt. 80 W to Exit 27A, Rt. 206 S to 1st light after McDonalds, Right on Bartley-Chester Rd. 1 mi. 1st left on Bartley Rd. 3 mi. on Right. (908) 876-3351 Open: Daily through Dec. 24, 9 am - 7 pm.

Riamede Farm, 122 Oakdale Rd., Chester is good for apple picking. Turn off 513 near the old public house building in Chester and follow the signs. For more info, click here.

Heaven Hill Farm, on Route 94 in Vernon, has a 40-acre pumpkin patch open daily for picking, and a weekend carnival. Haunted hayrides Friday and Saturday. Apples and cider for sale, cornstalk maze, hay crawl, giant bee hive, pig racing, picnic area, and while you’re there, pick your Halloween costume at the shop. 973-764-444; Heaven Hill Farm

Wilklow Orchards in Ulster County, NY. is 2 hours away, and a reader describes the setting “breathtaking,” besides having “the best apple cider donuts, made fresh all day long.”

Matarazzo Farms, 216 Mountain Avenue, North Caldwell, is open seven days for pumpkin picking, hay rides, castle bounce, cider, farm animals, and a farmer’s market. 973-226-3289.

Fairfield Farms, 177 Big Place Road, Fairfield. Harvest fair, corn maze, hay rides, pony rides, country store, and more. 973-227-1011.

Melick Farm, Route 513, Califon, is Northern New Jersey’s largest apple grower. Pick your own Macoun, Cortland, and Empire apples daily. Free horse drawn wagon rides on the weekends, and a farmer’s market. 908-832-2905.

A-Mazing Corn Maze
Stony Hill Farm Market, 15 North Road, Chester, hopes families will try "Space Exploration," the farm's corn maze adventure Fridays 3-9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 28. Flashlight Nights are after dark Fridays-Saturdays. The maze has 10,000 feet of pathways cut through 300,000 cornstalks. This year's theme features the shapes of an astronaut, a space ship and a globe of the world. Also: hay rides to the pumpkin patch, rope and tile mazes, feedable farm animals and new play area. $10; $9 ages 4-12. Call (908) 879-2908.

Terhune Orchards, Cold Soil Road, Princeton, offers Fall Family Fun Weekends Saturday and Sundays throughout October from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Pick your own apples, pony and wagon rides and live music. Visit here.

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Sure, they don't have Jeremy Piven, but Baristaville's 12 Miles West bring you Fat Pig locally, by Neil LaBute (we loved In The Company of Men). Here's the premise...

Cow. Slob. Pig. How many insults can you hear before you have to stand up and defend the woman you love? Tom faces just that question when he falls for Helen, a bright, sexy young woman who happens to be plus-sized—and then some. A searing black comedy about America’s obsession with thin.

Fat Pig runs through October 15. For tickets, click here. Add your review here.

September 16-17, in Montclair's Anderson Park, check out the work of 200 juried artists, photographers, jewelers, potters...you know the rest. But at this show, Friends of Anderson Park will also be hosting a booth, to raise funds that will support their on-going efforts to beautify the park with additional shrubs and trees. FAP will be raffling off 7 or 8 themed raffle baskets (Have a Ball" (sports), "Master Gardener," "Young Explorers" and "Fall Into Fashion) donated by more than 40 generous local merchants. Items include a tennis racquet, earrings, restaurant and wine gift certificates. Raffle tickets are $2 (or 3 for $5). There will also be a silent auction for a very nice bottle of wine. Winner is determined Sunday at 5. Stop by and say hi to FAP, the booth will be on the Bellevue Ave. side of the park.

Harvest Fest is here! Enjoy two days of continuous music on two stages this weekend, September 16 and 17, plus over 150 vendors selling ethnic foods, crafts, and merchandise. There is a large activities-filled children's area featuring the BFD fire safety house, games, puppet shows, contests, and miniature golf. It all begins at 10 a.m. with Mayor Raymond McCarthy leading a parade beginning at Foley Field and down Broad Street.

This is Bloomfield's biggest celebration - more than 70,000 people are expected during the weekend. Broad Street, between Bloomfield and Belleville Avenues. Saturday, 10 am - 6 pm; Sunday, noon - 6 pm. Rain or Shine, Free.

Here are some local theater groups actively auditioning for upcoming performances:

For auditions a little further afield, try NJTheatre.com's audition page.