What’s cuter than a Halloween parade with your babies (kiddos and pets) dressed up as superheroes, little monsters and horror movie characters? These towns know how to throw a Halloween parade to get you into the spooky spirit:
October 7
Zombie Walk
Asbury Park Convention Hall and Boardwalk
Zombie makeovers are back! You can get your face airbrushed prior to the Zombie Walk and costume contest. The 15th annual walk is expected to draw thousands of zombies in their best attire. The afterparty is at Johnny Mac’s following the walk.
October 15
Wake the Dead Zombie Stroll
Mini Park, Keyport
Book your zombie hair and makeup session at participating salons, and then enter the Zombie costume contests. Pick up your Operation Zombie Game Sheets to help the zombie collect all his body parts around downtown. Zombie Mini Bay Cruises take place before the stroll along the Zombie Waterfront. There’s a “Thriller” Zombie Dance Party that includes a performance by Perna Dance Studio dancers. There will be a series of after-parties at Burlews Seafood and Steak & Bar & Grill, McDonagh’s Pub & Restaurant and 3BR Distillery.
October 20
Halloween Parade and Dance Party
Sea Isle City
The parade will feature live music, entertainers, floats and costumed participants. A Family Dance Party will take place at the Excursion Park Band Shell right after the parade.Â
October 21
Costume Pet Parade
Village Green, Historic Smithville
Paw Dazzle will host the annual parade, where you can sign up your pet or watch 100+ pets show off their unique Halloween costumes. Historic Smithville has 50 shops, 7 eateries, a carousel ride, a train ride, paddle boats, an arcade, on-site lodging at the Colonial Inn and over 26 free weekend events.
Owl-O-Ween
Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge, Medford
Trick-or-Tweet at this animal sanctuary. Trick-or-treating will be outdoors by the Wildlife Housing Area. Watch a family-friendly Halloween movie. Get dressed up for the costume contest. Head to the campfire to roast marshmallows. Make Halloween crafts, color and play games.
Halloween Parade
Cape May
The parade route begins at Perry Street and Carpenters Lane, proceeds down Carpenters Lane to Ocean Street, travels down Washington Street and ends at the Emlen Physick Estate.
Linden Halloween Parade
Wood Avenue, Linden
The 70th annual parade lineup begins on Wood Avenue. Floats, bands, marching groups, ghouls and goblins will parade down the street.
Creepy Jeepy Show
Cape May Zoo, Cape May
During this Halloween-themed Jeep decorating contest – which is a fundraiser for the Cape May Zoo – there will be trunk-or-treating, kids and adult costume contests and free entrance to the zoo.
October 21-22
Halloween Village
The Shoppes at Dragon Village, Bridgeton
The third annual Halloween Village will be a witches and sorcerers edition. The Mystic Realms Theater Club will perform shows. Dress up and enter the costume contest.
October 22
Doggy Day Paw-rade and Family Fun Day
City Hall, Roselle
If your dog is well behaved, they are invited to join the doggy parade and costume contests. Plus, there will be games, face painting, food trucks and vendors for the humans in your group.
Red Bank Halloween Parade
East Bergen Place and Hudson Avenue, Red Bank
Enter your float to win a trophy from the Red Bank Fire Department. The first 300 kids will get goodie bags. This is the 75th annual parade.
Marlboro Day Fall Festival
Marlboro Municipal Complex, Marlboro
There will be vendors, food trucks, inflatables, a Halloween parade, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more.
October 25
Pup Parade
Bell Works, Holmdel
Puppies in costume will parade around the Atrium.
October 27
Princeton’s Hometown Halloween Parade and Halloween Extravaganza Dance Party
Palmer Square Green, Princeton
There will be a Halloween-themed performance by Jeff, of Princeton’s fan favorite Storytime with Jeff, before the parade kicks off. After, the party continues at the YMCA with circus entertainment and free family fun, including an all-ages Halloween dance party.
October 28
Monster Bash
Village Greene, Historic Smithville
Horror Queen Genoveva Rossi will be signing autographs all day. Carve and paint pumpkins and then enter the contest. The costume contest has a $100 cash prize.
Halloween Spooktacular
New Jersey State Museum, Trenton
This year’s Spooky New Jersey-themed event will feature scavenger hunts, craft activities, games, a free planetarium program and a costume parade.
Trunk-0r-Treat
McDonald’s, 375 Central Ave., East Orange
McDonald’s Owner/Operator Jessica Quintana will provide free cookies, candy and ice cream, a bounce house, raffles, and a $100 grand prize for the best costume. There will also be a costume parade.
Howl-o-Ween
Seafarer, Highlands
There will be a free costume contest for dogs and their humans, and prizes for scariest, most original and funniest costumes. There will be discounted drinks for dog owners and trivia contests.
Howl-O-Ween Bark Bash
Bradley Park, Asbury Park
The dog Halloween parade down the boardwalk will be followed by a vendor fair, food trucks, games, prizes, contests and more. This is a fundraiser to support the animals in the care of Popcorn Park Animal Refuge in Forked River.
Trunk-or-Treat
West Side Presbyterian Church, Ridgewood
Toddlers through fifth graders should show up in costume for some super-fun trunk-or-treating and a costume parade. There will be DJ music, donuts and apple cider.
Fall Harvest
Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA, Scotch Plains
Activities include trackless train rides, pumpkin patch and pumpkin decorating, arts and crafts, games, prizes, fitness fun and healthy treats. There will be a costume contest parade so come dressed in costume.
Dog Costume PAWty
Bell Works, Holmdel
Dress up your pup for the costume party, featuring music by DJ Robbie Woodside.
Kids’ Halloween Brunch Party
The Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Clifton and Ramsey
Kids can join the costume contest and parade, then go trick-or-treating around the restaurant. There will be other spooky activities during the meal.
Halloween At The Pub
The Shannon Rose Irish Pub, Clifton and Ramsey
This party is for adults only. There will be live music, a costume contest and beer specials.
Zombie Walk
Montclair
East Side Mags and Indie Arts Montclair put on this walk every year, which includes a costume contest, spooky stops and frightfully fun businesses, an after party and spooky cocktails around town.
Small Business Scavenger Hunt
Foxmoor Shopping Center, Robbinsville
Kids and adults can start with the scavenger hunt around the local businesses in town, beginning in Foxmoor Plaza. Then, enter the costume contest.
Haunted Downtown
Downtown Metuchen
Wear your Halloween costume and visit your favorite businesses for activities like Harry Potter hat sorting, dance performances, DIY trick-or-treat bags, face painting and lots of Halloween treats (like hot cocoa and candy corn pancakes). There will be Haunted Scarolers along Main Street, a corn maze and pumpkin bounce house on New Street, a costume parade on Imagination Alley, a carved pumpkin contest, a Monster Mash dance-off, fortune telling and make-your-own witch and warlock hats. Note: This is not a trick-or-treating event.
October 29
Witches Day Out
Village Greene, Historic Smithville
Don your best witch outfit and do some magical shopping with scary good deals. Anyone wearing a witch’s hat will be treated to discounts at certain shops around the village. This year there will be a scavenger hunt, raffles and a parade.
Halloween Spooktacular Costume Parade
Main Street, Freehold Borough
Get into costume with your kids or pets and march down Main Street. Or, sit on the sidelines and try and catch some candy thrown in your direction.
Spooky Spiotta
Spiotta Park, South Orange
South Orange Downtown is about to get spooky, with its annual costume contest, interactive games, entertainment by Wanda the Witch, music, trick-or-treat stations and more.
Halloween Parade, Costume Contest and Harvest Fest
City Hall Municipal Complex, Clifton
The parade route goes from Van Houten Avenue to the City Hall Municipal Complex. Kids, teens, adults and pets will be judged in the costume contest. Then stick around for a post-parade festival featuring a hayride, arts and crafts, carnival booths, rides and food.
Happy Halloween Party & Trunk-or-Treat
G&G Stables, Howell
There will be a petting zoo, games, music, costume contest, trunk-or-treat, pony rides, face painting, hayrides, barrel rides, animal feeding and photo ops.
Halloween Costume Party
Field Station: Dinosaurs, Leonia
There will be special Halloween shows and experiences, including costume contests and a movie monster showcase.
October 30
Halloween Magic Show on the Square
Haddon Square, Haddon Twp.
Enjoy a free family-friendly Halloween Magic Show before the start of the 75th Annual Westmont Lions Club Parade on Haddon Avenue. Join magician Matt Cadabra for a Halloween-themed magical event featuring free hot chocolate, face painting, temporary tattoos and more.
October 31
Toms River’s 84th Halloween Parade
Toms River Shopping Center / Highland Parkway, Toms River
Hosted by Toms River Fire Co. No. 1, this annual parade is one of the biggest in the state.
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