WHARTON MONTHLY - October 2026

News and Events from Wharton State Forest

Embrace autumn this month in Wharton State Forest an attend some of our most popular events! Explore the Atsion Mansion at the Parlor Concert and Open House, support local artisans and find some South Jersey treasures at the Country Living Fair, or walk through historic Batsto Village at night during our highly anticipated evening Folklore Lantern Tours.  

 

Oct. 3: Public Star Watch 

Star Watch 

You’re invited to a Free Public Star Watch at Batsto, organized by the West Jersey Astronomical Society (WAS). Members of the Society will have telescopes available for the public to view objects in the night sky. The event is weather permitting, and visitors are encouraged to check the WAS website (https://www.wasociety.us) after 1 p.m. the day of the event to confirm it is still happening should there be cloudy skies.

The Star Watch begins at 7:30 p.m. At 7:45 p.m. in the Batsto Visitor Center auditorium there will be a Comet Demonstration and at 8:45 p.m. there will be a Laser-Guided Constellation Tour in the telescope observation field. 

During this month’s star watch, Saturn and Neptune can be observed. The Globular Cluster M15 can also be found in the constellation Pegasus, the Winged Horse. It can be seen as a fuzzy star through binoculars or with a small telescope. M15 is one of the most densely packed globulars known in the Milky Way Galaxy. Globular Clusters can be found in all galaxies and in the case of the Milky Way, they are found in the halo of the galaxy. These sphere shaped clusters are composed of ten of thousands to millions of stars and are the most ancient stars in the galaxy at 11 to 13 billion years old. In the constellation Andromeda, the beautiful Double Star Almach (Gamma Andromedae) can be observed. A telescope reveals a pair, including a golden yellow star and a blue star, that are connected by gravity.

Image Caption: M15 is about 35,700 light-years from Earth and is 175 light-years in diameter. It has a total luminosity of 360,000 times that of the Sun. At an estimated age of 13 billion years, Messier 15 is one of the most densely packed globulars known in the Milky Way galaxy with over 100,000 stars. Its core has undergone a contraction known as "core collapse" and it has a central density cusp with an enormous number of stars surrounding what may be a central black hole. Credit: Daniel McCauley, WAS Member. 

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.

Oct. 9 & 23: Fall Friday Hikes: Celebrate 250 Challenge

Explore the Pine Barrens this autumn season with fall Friday hikes! Every other Friday from September 11 to November 20 at 2:30 p.m., join Wharton State Forest staff on a moderately paced hike to explore the trails in Wharton State Forest. Each month, we will hike a different trail. If you are looking for a group to explore our trails with, hikes in this series are for you! 

For October, we will hike Tom’s Pond Trail. This is a moderately paced, 2.2 mile hike. It will begin at 2:30 p.m. in front of the Batsto Visitor Center. This hike is not ADA accessible. This program is free and no registration is required. The hike will be canceled with extreme heat, heavy rain, thunderstorms or wind and the cancellation will be posted on the Wharton State Forest Facebook page. Please wear sneakers and insect repellent, bring lots of water, and dress for the outdoors! 

You can use this hike in your progress of any of the New Jersey State Parks Celebrate 250 Challenge. You can read more about the challenge and how to participate here!   

The Batsto Visitor Center is in Batsto Village Historic Site located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Wharton State Forest. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

 

Oct. 10: Parlor Concert and Open House at Atsion Mansion  

Start your fall at Wharton State Forest with an afternoon of music at Atsion Mansion! The historic house will be open and free to explore from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The

lively Libby Prison Minstrels will perform an acoustic selection of historical and Civil War-era music from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the "Red Velvet

American Eatery" food truck will on hand with a delicious selection of food, snacks, and refreshments available for purchase!

While at Atsion, be sure to check out the selection of nineteenth-century games for all ages, historic artifacts, and a selection of locally made goods and souvenirs in

the Atsion Office Store.  

For more information, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444. Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088.   

 

Oct. 11: Monthly Beginner Bird Watching Walk 

Do you want to start birding? Join Wharton State Forest’s nature interpretive staff for a slow-paced, laid-back walk around Batsto’s upper village to observe the birds in

Wharton State Forest. This walk begins in front of the Batsto Visitor Center at 9:30 a.m. and lasts about 45 minutes. It is free and no registration is required. We will

simply walk and observe the birds we see.  

Walks in this series are geared toward beginners. Attendees can borrow binoculars, as supplies last, but are encouraged to bring their own if they have them. This

month’s walk will cover Batsto’s upper village. This program will be cancelled with heavy rain, high winds, extreme heat or thunderstorms. Please wear sneakers and

insect repellent, bring lots of water, and dress for the outdoors! 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

 

Oct. 18: Country Living Fair 

Batsto’s annual Country Living Fair has all the best South Jersey has to offer and something for everyone to enjoy! Spend the day exploring the historic village, take a fall hike through the Pine Barrens, and browse the vendor booths and exhibitions located throughout the site. Featuring locally-made crafts, historical exhibits, live music, old-time engines and cars, food, antiques, pony rides, farm equipment, working demonstrations in Batsto’s 1882 Sawmill, and more; the Country Living Fair is a celebration of all things South Jersey!  

Buildings like the Annie Carter Nature Center will be open to explore. Visitors of all ages are invited in to learn more about the plants, animals, and natural environments of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.  

While attending the event, also enjoy free “open house” access to Batsto Mansion! Wharton State Forest’s historic interpreters will be on-hand to answer questions as visitors explore the first and second floors of the nineteenth-century home. Batsto Mansion will be open for the duration of the Country Living Fair. Reservations/tickets are not required for entry.   

The Country Living Fair takes place, rain or shine, on October 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.   

TRAFFIC NOTE: The Country Living Fair is Wharton State Forest’s biggest event of the year. Expect traffic delays as you approach Batsto. Please consider car-pooling!  

For more information, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037. 

Oct. 25: Storytime in the Pines 

Wharton State Forest staff invite you to Storytime in the Pines, a free monthly story time and craft program. Join us once a month from June through October under the trees beside the Annie Carter Nature Center in historic Batsto Village.  

Storytime begins at 10 a.m. outside the Nature Center and lasts about 20 minutes, followed by a craft. Children may sit on our outdoor rug or caregivers are welcome to bring their own seating. Please wear insect repellent and sunscreen, bring water, and dress for the outdoors. Please check-in at the Batsto Visitor Center at 9:50 AM before walking down to the Nature Center. 

This month, we’ll be reading “A Luna Moth’s Life” by John Himmelman with a moth themed craft to follow. This program is recommended for ages four to eight years old. This program is free, but you MUST register. Space and supplies are limited! Registration opens on October 11th. When you register, you are only registering for this month's program.  

Visit the program’s registration page on October 11th to register!  

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

October 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 & 31: Folklore Lantern Tours at Batsto Village 

Folklore Lantern Tours return to Batsto this fall! Join Wharton State Forest’s natural and historic interpreters on an evening walk through the village, illuminated

by lantern light. The tour includes stops at points of interest throughout the village, accompanied by stories from Batsto’s unique history, as well as the legends

and folklore of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens. Warm clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended! Lanterns will be provided.  

Tours are approximately 75-90 minutes and promptly begin on the Batsto Mansion porch at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Folklore Lantern Tours tickets can be

purchased over the phone or in person at the Batsto Visitor Center. Tickets are $10 per person. Space is limited, and tours fill very quickly! Interested visitorsare strongly encouraged to call ahead to reserve their spot. 

Batsto Village Historic Site is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Wharton State Forest. For more information or to confirm that specific programming is available on the day of your visit, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024. 

Oct. 25: Haunting in the Pines 

The Batsto Citizens Committee, Inc. invites you to this year’s Haunting in the Pines at Batsto Village on Sunday, October 25 from 12 to 3 p.m.! There will be

plenty for the whole family to enjoy including Halloween treats, games, and pony rides. This event is free and intended for families and children under 12.

Guests are encouraged to wear their costumes while attending! 

The Batsto Visitor Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm, please call the

Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.  

 

Happening Throughout October

Visit the Annie M. Carter Nature Center

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center, located on the banks of Batsto Lake in Batsto Village, offers interpretive exhibits about Pine Barrens ecology including preserved

wildlife specimen and interactive displays. Stop by and grab a coloring page, borrow a children’s book, or take a closer look at some nature artifacts at our study station.  

Staffing availability, inclement weather, and other unforeseen circumstances could affect open hours. We encourage you to call, day-of, to confirm hours.   

The Annie M. Carter Nature Center is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037, in historic Batsto Village, along Batsto Lake, across from the sawmill. For more

information or to confirm open hours, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at (609) 561-0024. 

 

 

Guided Tours of Atsion Mansion 

You’re invited to explore one of the most notable examples of Greek Revival architecture in South Jersey! Guided tours of Atsion Mansion are available on select Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons throughout October. Inside, visitors can see the house largely as it was in 1826. Built by Atsion’s Ironmaster, Samuel Richards, nearly 200 years ago, the building has never been “modernized” with plumbing or electricity!

This October, tours of Atsion Mansion are offered on the following dates/times:

• Friday, October 2: 1 and 2 p.m.
• Saturday, October 3: 11 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m.
• Sunday, October 4: 11 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m.
• Friday, October 9: 1 and 2 p.m.
• Sunday, October 11: 11 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m.
• Friday, October 16: 1 and 2 p.m.
• Saturday, October 17: 11 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m. 

Each tour is approximately 45-55 minutes long and begins outside, between the mansion and office. Tour tickets can be purchased at the Atsion Office and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years old. Scheduled events and public programming may impact Atsion Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.

Atsion Mansion is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. For more information or to confirm Atsion Mansion Tour availability, please call the Atsion Office at 609-268-0444.

Guided Tours of Batsto Mansion

Fall is the perfect time for a stroll through Batsto Village and a tour of its impressive mansion! Originally built in the eighteenth century as a small ironmaster’s house, the mansion now stands as it appeared after Joseph Wharton renovated the home in 1878. Serving as a vacation home for his family, the Batsto Mansion is an excellent example of the Italianate and Eastlake styles, both popular with the Victorian upper-class.

Tours of Batsto Mansion are usually offered at the following times throughout October:

• Wednesday through Friday: 2 p.m.  
• Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m., 1 & 2 p.m.  

Tours are approximately 45-55 minutes long and begin on the mansion porch. Tickets can be purchased at the Batsto Visitor Center and are $3 for visitors over the age of 12, $1 for visitors ages 5-11 and free for visitors under 5-years-old.

Scheduled events and public programming may impact Batsto Mansion’s tour schedule, so visitors are encouraged to call ahead on the day of their visit to confirm tour times and availability.

Batsto Mansion is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village. For more information or to confirm Batsto Mansion Tour availability, please call the Batsto Visitor Center at 609-561-0024.

Shopping at Wharton State Forest

Fall has arrived and we’re getting ready for the Country Living Fair on October 18th! After exploring the village and visiting the vendors, be sure to stop by the Batsto Visitor Center to check out our new fall items.  

Baskets by Lisa has debuted a fresh line of hand‑woven baskets in a variety of styles and colors, building on her award-winning designs with even more creativity. Since last month’s Glass and Bottle Show was canceled, we’re excited to welcome the Jekyll and Hyde Tea Company to the Batsto Museum Shop. This local business creates natural iced teas using locally sourced ingredients, offering a range of flavors for you to sample. 

There’s always something new and local at the Batsto Museum Shop! Stop in and discover your next favorite find. 

Batsto Museum Shop is located at 31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037 in Historic Batsto Village.  

The Atsion General Store is located at 744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088. For more information or to confirm inventory availability, please call the Atsion General Store at 609-268-0444 or the Batsto Museum Shop at 609-561-0024. 

 

Camping & Cabins

Camping in Wharton State Forest is available year-round! Fall is the best time for camping in the New Jersey Pine Barrens!

Camping is permitted in developed campgrounds with a permit at Atsion Family, Batona, Bodine Field, Buttonwood Hill, Godfreys Bridge, Goshen Pond, Hawkins Bridge, Lower Forge and Mullica River.

Atsion Cabins are open. It’s now time to plan a trip and reserve your cabin! Availability is limited.

Make your camping or cabin reservations here.

 

 

About Wharton State Forest

 

Located in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, Wharton State Forest is New Jersey's largest state forest. It encompasses approximately 125,000 acres covering parts of

Atlantic, Burlington and Camden counties providing a variety of recreational activities including hiking, biking, swimming and horseback riding. It is home to historic Batsto

Village, Batsto and Atsion Mansions, and the Atsion Recreation Area. You can find more information about Wharton State Forest and other New Jersey state parks on our

website at https://dep.nj.gov/wharton.

 

Wharton State Forest Office Locations

Atsion Office
744 US 206, Shamong, NJ 08088, (609) 268-0444

Batsto Office, Museum and Store
31 Batsto Road, Hammonton, NJ  08037, (609) 561-0024

Ambas oficinas están abiertas los 7 días de la semana (excepto días festivos principales) de 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Both offices are open 7 days a week (except major holidays) 9