The Livingston Kiwanis Club's second annual Oktoberfest and Family Fun Day is back on, rescheduled for Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Livingston Oval after heavy rain forced organizers to postpone the original October 11 date. The one-day shuffle means hot-air balloons, funnel cakes, and a lineup of family games will finally get their shot at Livingston's favorite fall gathering spot.
According to Patch, the event was rescheduled to Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Livingston Oval, following the washout. The rescheduled festival is set for Sunday, October 18, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Oval. The West Essex Tribune reported the Kiwanis Club's announcement that the festival would run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Livingston Oval.
Festival hours line up with what's been published elsewhere too: NJ Carnivals lists the same 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. window for the grounds outside Livingston High School. Last year's inaugural Oktoberfest drew several thousand attendees, according to Patch, and organizers are hoping for an even bigger crowd this time around.
Balloons, Beer Garden and a Scavenger Hunt
The festival's marquee draw is its hot-air balloon rides, set to begin at 3 p.m. but running only if weather and wind conditions cooperate, per the same Patch report. The Livingston Police Department will sell balloon tickets starting at 11 a.m., with proceeds from the extra-cost rides going to a community charity the department selects. Live music will run throughout the day courtesy of returning favorite Punch the Monkey and Event Horizon.
The grounds will also host inflatable bounce houses, a beer and food garden, food trucks, a petting zoo, a trackless train, and the Kiwanis' well-known funnel cakes, the station's report notes. Families can wander a pumpkin patch with gourds and pumpkins for sale, get faces painted, check out a touch-a-truck display, or send kids off on a scavenger hunt through the festival grounds.
Free Pumpkins and Prize Bags for Kids
Two giveaways are built around the youngest attendees. The first 1,000 children under age 10 will get a free pumpkin to paint and bring home at the pumpkin painting tent, while the first 400 kids who visit five participating areas and collect stamps along the way will receive a bag of prizes at the Kiwanis booth.
Grown-up fun isn't left out either. Competitions including Stein Holding, Pretzel Toss, and a Pumpkin Rolling Race will award trophies to winners, giving the day a bit of friendly rivalry alongside the kid-focused activities.
Admission and What It Supports
Admission is a requested $5 donation, with children under age 2 admitted free. An ATM will be available onsite regardless of how attendees choose to pay.
Proceeds from the festival benefit the Livingston Volunteer Fire Department, the Livingston First Aid Squad, and other local community organizations, according to the Patch report. Livingston Councilman Michael Vieira, who chairs the Kiwanis Oktoberfest committee, has said sponsors, volunteers, and attendees are what make the event successful, and that organizers planned ahead for a rain date while hoping for a bigger turnout this year. The Kiwanis Club of Livingston promoted the festival on Facebook ahead of its original date.
