The Most Spooktacular Halloween Houses in New Jersey

Do you have that one house in your neighborhood that goes all out decorating for Halloween?

TRISH BURNS / Benitez family house in Keyport

Do you have that one house in your neighborhood that goes all out for Halloween? Here are some of the scariest and creepiest around New Jersey.

Editor’s Note: Events are subject to change. Please check websites/Facebook pages before heading out to check on the display or weather updates that may close them down temporarily.

Asbury Park. The Halloween House at 1107 Ridge Ave. has a spectacular display of lights, blow-ups and animatronics.

CYNTHIA YOUNG / Iowa Avenue in Brick

Brick: Cynthia Young and her family chose a dead pirates theme for their display at 568 Iowa Avenue. Berkeley’s Nightmare Before Christmas at 153 Berkeley Drive includes a Jack Skellington photo op, singing pumpkins, a flying Zero and lots of special effects.

TYLER LENNON / Lennon Acres AKA Brick Tucky Graveyard

Another home haunt in Brick is Lennon Acres, known as the Brick Tucky Graveyard, which welcomes brave visitors to 45 Birch Dr. from 5-9 pm Sundays to Thursdays, and 5-10 pm Fridays and Saturdays.

Bridgewater: 13 Skeletons’ hauntings at 948 Rte. 202-206 include an epic daytime, front yard lawn display, a show, “Reverse the Curse” and a Rube Goldberg-inspired Halloween Machine.

Cherry Hill: Each year, the DuBois family goes all out to give their neighbors the chills. Their haunted house will be outdoors, made up of over 5 rooms, and you can pick your own scare level! And the Del Purcio’s Haunted Estate at 1000 Robwill Pass has become such a popular fundraiser for St. Jude’s, people are swarming the neighborhood to see the walk-through with live actors.

Clifton: The are two houses across from each other that compete with each other for the best decorations: you be the judge, between 204 Clinton Ave. and 207 Clinton Ave. While you’re in the area, head to 562 Grove St. for its animated displays, sounds and smoke.

Colonia: One of the neighbors along Edgewood Avenue says there are spectacular spooktacular decorations for Halloween.

East Brunswick: There is a creepy carnival path filled with clows at 221 Milltown Rd. The walk-through is spooky during the day and even more scary at night.

JILL PACE

Franklin Lakes: There are only three homes on the cul-de-sac off Franklin Farms Court, but it will be obvious which one is dedicated to frightening the neighborhood. There are 10 animatronics set up across the front yard.  In between, there are some other cool decorations like a graveyard and crime scene. At night a red spotlight shines on the display, which makes it look even more creepy. Rhe animatronics “come alive” at dusk (except if there is heavy rain).

Freehold: If you missed The Legend of Seton Hallows on October 12, don’t be afraid – another event takes place at 150 Seton Hall Drive on October 19, complete with a dark circus, pirates quarters, a cornfield, a black cemetery, the Salem Schoolhouse and an enchanted forest. There are more than 25 animatronics, plus live actors.

Hackensack: Clinton Place takes over the street with its massive display.

MISSION HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Hackettstown. Known as Mission Holiday Lights, this display takes up the entire yard at 265 Mission Rd.

Hawthorne: Welcome to the Graveyard! There are blowups, lights and lots of skeletons at 80 8th Ave. which you can see nightly from sundown to 10 pm.

Keyport: The Benitez family sure knows how to throw a party – a Halloween party, that is! They got married at 120 Main St. in 2023 and this year will hold an anniversary party. They started building their epic set in September. There are tons of animatronics, projections, scary music and at time actors wandering around.

MONIQUE SUTLOVICH

Lake Hiawatha: The Sutloviches built their Beetlejuice display themselves at 34 Madison Ave. and River Drive.

Mahwah: The Creepy Hollow of Mahwah has a haunted cemetery out front, plus huge animatronics. This year’s collection is for Southern Paws animal rescue. The property is off Route 202 (Ramapo Valley Road) on the corner of West Ramapo Avenue and Glasgow Terrace, but don’t park in the church’s lot.

ARI GOLDBERGER

Margate City: Ari Goldberger’s late sister loved Halloween, and he realized his massive display is in tribute to her. The house at 8705 Ventnor Ave. is decked out for the season, with giant decorations taking over the property.

Marlton: Anthony and Christine Papaneri decorate their home at 535 Kettle Run Road every year. They have animatronic dinosaurs they bring out during their open house days when they also offer a walk-through.

FRANK NUCERA / Woodlawn Avenue

Montclair. On Woodlawn Avenue (near Montclair State University), more than 60 skeletons have overtaken the lawn and house.

NATALIE GUTIN / 96 Union St. in Montclair

Also in Montclair, 96 Union St. has a spooky set-up worth checking out, with its creepy decorations.

NICK CALABRESE

Morris Plains: This year’s theme at 24 Sedgefield Drive is witches, though Nick Calabrese changes the scene every year. Also, at 89 Patriots Rd., the owner has won multiple competitions because the Halloween decorations are spooktacular.

MC HAUNTED HOMES

Mountainside: Eric Couper of MC Home Improvements transforms his front yard on Apple Tree Lane into an epic haunted site. From eerie graveyards to lifelike monsters, Eric’s haunted yard draws visitors from all over.

Nutley: Pirates Swamp Cove will live up to its name by having the fog machine going all weekend in the swamp; watch out for the cannons at 59 Hillside Crescent – with the 2024 theme of Hillside Castle Of Horror. Then, take the drive to Cadmus Street for Nutley Halloween House, where you can take a picture with Betty and Barry Bones, hit the buttons to hear the pumpkins talk, watch a skeleton bartender pour a “stiff” drink, and make a donation to Nutley Family Service Bureau.

Oakland: The entire front lawn is aglow with Halloween lights and decorations at 116 Chicasaw Dr.

Ocean Township: Driving through the Wayside neighborhood, you can’t miss the highly decorated houses at 10 Nottingham Road and on Hartshorne Road.

Old Bridge: Neighbors want you to check out the display at 73 George Ave.

SUSAN KAPRIELIAN

Park Ridge: Neighbors claim a small fraction of the yard at 138 Ridge Ave. is enough to make you want to see the entire set up.

KELLY MARINI / All Souls Cemetery

Raritan: Kelly and JJ Marini outdo themselves every year with their All Souls Cemetery. This year they added 23 skeletons crawling all over the house and the cemetery.

STAFF PHOTO / West End Avenue, Ridgewood

Ridgewood: This free spooky maze at 124 Sheridan Terrace welcomes ghouls of all ages. Wander the maze and you’re sure to get turned around as you make your way through a secret passage. Come after dark and you may see a few creepy clowns, too. There’s also an intense house on West End Avenue that includes a zombie cemetery walkthrough. There’s a less spooky hour for kids before the main attraction opens each night.

MARLIN MANOR

Sea Girt: Marlin Manor at 1326 Laurel Ave. is full of surprises. They use projection mapping, lights, lasers and animatronics for their display. There is a rotten pumpkin patch, spooky graveyard with fog and lots of 12-foot monsters.

Toms River: Terror on South Main is ready to send you running and screaming! Visitors can drive by or walk around this frightful scene. You can also visit the Ferone Family Not So Spooky Light Show, which sets up a display at 184 Yellowbank Rd. as a fundraiser for the Popcorn Park Zoo; stop by daily from dusk to 9 pm from October 12-31.

EQUESTRIAN WAY

3205 Equestrian Way in Toms River is another popular site, which is lit up every night but will have special fog machines and eerie music on Halloween night.

Union Beach: The Gress House Holiday Light Spectacular takes place at 14 Johnson Ave. every year with lights and festive blow molds, both for Halloween and Christmas.

Upper Saddle River. The fourth annual Halloween Haunted Scare will be open at Luke’s Luminous Lair, 15 Sunrise Ln., October 26-28.

Verona: Jared and Amanda Breslow worked hard on their display at 55 Mountain Road.

Waldwick: The Haunted Hallows at 146 Lindbergh Parkway has a huge display with full effects.

Wood Ridge: After dark, dozens of life-sized animatronics come alive at 381 Center Street.

Do you know a great Halloween house we missed? Let us know! Email us at jennifer@njfamily.com.

  • Jennifer Amato contributed to this story.

See some of the scariest and spookiest on our Instagram page.

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