West Berlin, NJ — At Diggerland USA, kids can trick-or-treat, decorate a pumpkin, and drive a full-size construction machine in the same afternoon. The park calls it Diggerfest, a fall festival that runs weekends from September 26 through November 15 and is included in general admission.
What Is Diggerfest?
Diggerland USA is a construction-themed amusement park where the rides are built from real diggers, dump trucks, and other heavy machinery that guests climb aboard and operate themselves. The park bills itself as the only construction theme and water park in the country. Diggerfest is its fall version of that same idea, with the machines dressed for the season in pumpkins, hay bales, and autumn decor and a run of Halloween activities layered on top. It is a daytime, all-ages event aimed at families and younger kids rather than a scare attraction.
Diggerland USA is one of six Enchanted Parks properties running Halloween events this fall. See my Enchanted Parks Halloween roundup.
How It Works
Diggerfest runs on weekends only, from September 26 through November 15, and everything is included in general admission, so there is no separate ticket for the seasonal activities. The Halloween events follow a loose daily rhythm: trick-or-treating happens in the morning, the costume parade rolls in the early afternoon, and the rides, petting zoo, and other activities run through the day. Some pieces are on select weekends or set days, and opening and closing times shift week to week, so the park calendar is the place to confirm what is running on the date you plan to visit. Costumes are encouraged.
What You Can Do
The core of Diggerland is the machines, and Diggerfest keeps all of them running. Kids climb into real excavators and dig with the controls, steer heavy equipment, and ride in trucks that would normally be on a job site, now decorated for fall. On top of that, the festival adds a lineup of seasonal activities, all included with admission:
- Dig or Treat (trick-or-treating): the park’s take on trick-or-treating, running from opening until 12:30 p.m. on weekends. Wear a costume and collect candy around the park.
- Parade of Machines: a costume parade through the park behind Diggerland’s mascot and a lineup of its vehicles, generally starting around 1 p.m. Costumed kids can march along. The costume parade runs each weekend from September 26 through November 1.
- Fire truck rides: ride along in Diggerland’s real No. 2 fire engine, and the operator will let you hit the horn.
- Hayrides: a tractor-pulled ride in the park’s hay cart, with a few machines to spot along the route.
- Pumpkin decorating (September and October): pick a pumpkin and decorate it with art supplies provided by the Crayola Experience in Easton, Pennsylvania.
- Farm Friends petting zoo (weekends September 26 through October 25, noon to 5 p.m.): meet and pet farm animals, run in partnership with Farm Friends LLC.
- Balloon animals (select weekends): made by balloon artist Tim.
- Carnival games and mazes: pipe rolling, a fun maze, and a mini hay maze.
- Bonfires, s’mores, and cookies: grab a hot chocolate and a treat from the park cafes and warm up by the bonfires.
Diggerland notes that activities, hours, and offerings can change, so the park calendar is the best way to see what is scheduled on a given weekend.
Dates, Hours, and Tickets
Diggerfest runs weekends from September 26 through November 15 at Diggerland USA, 100 Pinedge Drive in West Berlin, New Jersey. Opening and closing times vary by weekend, and some activities run on set days, so the park points visitors to its calendar for date-specific hours. Everything above is included in general admission. Tickets and the current schedule are at diggerlandusa.com.
