# Lunar Faire Closes Its 2026 Season With Dark Carnival in Freehold and Halloweekend in Sussex County 2026-10-17 · New Jersey · Reported Feature The traveling night market has two October dates remaining, with fire performances, unusual shopping, live entertainment and a seven-hour season finale. The traveling night market has two October dates remaining, with fire performances, unusual shopping, live entertainment and a seven-hour season finale. --- Lunar Faire is saving two of its spookiest gatherings for the end of its 2026 calendar. The traveling night market will bring Dark Carnival to the East Freehold Showgrounds on Friday, October 16, before wrapping up the season with its annual Halloweekend celebration at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta on Saturday, October 24. Known for mixing independent artisans and offbeat shopping with theatrical performances, participatory activities and a welcoming atmosphere for the curious, Lunar Faire has built its identity around events that feel more like an immersive gathering than a conventional craft market. Its final two dates lean into Halloween season, but with different themes and settings. October 16: Dark Carnival in Freehold The penultimate faire runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, October 16, at East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road in Freehold. Organizers are encouraging guests to interpret a “Dark Carnival” dress theme inspired by the eerie appeal of an abandoned amusement park. That theme is about costumes and atmosphere, not a promise of actual haunted carnival rides. The announced entertainment includes a fire wire walker, a levitating witch, a drag show featuring Cookie Doe and friends, the Fire and Variety Show by Diiiotima, and Shauna the Tap Dancing Medium. Group spellwork with the Lunar Queene is also on the lineup. Vendors, food and the eclectic market experience round out the evening. The event is advertised as open to all ages, with free parking. Tickets and current program details are available through Lunar Faire’s official listing. October 24: Halloweekend in Augusta Eight days later, Lunar Faire heads north for its 2026 finale: Halloweekend, scheduled for 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, October 24, at the Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road in Augusta. Organizers describe this as their biggest and most elaborate night market of the season, extending the usual five-hour format to seven hours. The published attractions include group spellwork with the Lunar Queene and friends, a potions lab, fire wire walking, a levitating witch, Meadow Perry the Bubble Witch and an attraction called the “MF Pumpkin of CHAOS.” Additional promotional materials describe ceremonies and seasonal programming tied to Samhain, as well as live music and other theatrical surprises. The season finale combines the faire’s regular marketplace, unusual entertainment and community-centered atmosphere with a larger Halloween celebration. It is also listed as an all-ages event with free parking. A Different Kind of Fall Night Out Rather than a traditional haunted attraction, Lunar Faire offers a place to wander, browse, watch performances and take part in the spectacle. Newcomers can come for the night market and live acts; returning visitors will recognize the blend of mystical imagery, humor, creative costumes and independent makers that has become a hallmark of the series. Both events are ticketed. Prices, entry conditions, any schedule changes and additional performer announcements should be checked with the organizer before traveling. The October 24 event is the final Lunar Faire currently listed for 2026. Event Details Dark Carnival — Friday, October 16, 2026 5–10 p.m. | East Freehold Showgrounds, 1500 Kozloski Road, Freehold, NJ 07728 | All ages | Free parking Tickets and details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-faire-night-market-1016-dark-carnival-freehold-tickets-1998995895535 Halloweekend — Saturday, October 24, 2026 3–10 p.m. | Sussex County Fairgrounds, 37 Plains Road, Augusta, NJ 07822 | All ages | Free parking Tickets and details: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-faire-night-market-1024-halloweekend-at-sussex-fairgrounds-tickets-1992397535663 Organizer website: https://www.lunarfaire.com/ Sources and Editorial Verification Lunar Faire official event calendar: https://www.lunarfaire.com/ Dark Carnival organizer ticket listing: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-faire-night-market-1016-dark-carnival-freehold-tickets-1998995895535 Halloweekend organizer ticket listing: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lunar-faire-night-market-1024-halloweekend-at-sussex-fairgrounds-tickets-1992397535663 Sussex County Fairgrounds event calendar: https://sussexcountyfairgrounds.org/html/calendar.cfm --- ProbleMattic is written and maintained by Matthew Kulcsar, a software engineer, project manager, technologist, platform builder, emergency-services-trained helper, grandfather, and lifelong collector of broken systems, odd behaviors, and useful nonsense.