You have moved to Toms River or a surrounding town like Beachwood or Pine Beach within the last year so you want to make a good impression on your first Halloween in the neighborhood. You have purchased a lot of candy for the kids who come dressed in everything from Winnie the Pooh to Darth Vader and you want to make sure you’re home in plenty of time Wednesday to greet the trick or treaters….after all that is Halloween. However while driving home from work today you see the streets filled with children in costumes and you can’t seem to figure out what’s going on. You arrive home and are greeted by a neighbor who wonders when you’re going to start giving out treats and you scratch your head and ask…”isn’t Halloween tomorrow?” The answer is yes and no.
Welcome to Toms River, maybe the only area in the country where trick or treat is not on Halloween but rather the day before…an occurrence which fools newcomers each year and has others questioning this long-running tradition. Of course the reason is the parade which is held each year on Halloween night in downtown Toms River. There’s no question this is a huge event and draws thousands of spectators and participants. Main Street in Toms River is already lined with chairs of those seeking to reserve prime viewing spots and it looks like the weather will cooperate for tomorrow night.
However holding the parade on Halloween has some downside which many are bothered by. Over the last few years it seems there has been a greater problem with kids coming from out of town to cash in on a bonus night of trick or treating. They can hit the Toms River area tonight and then their own community Wednesday and it’s most common in the northern sections of the township. You also have the fact that most of the time the parade is held on a school night which makes it challenging for the little ones and their parents as it makes for a long day and evening. Plus those from outside the area can’t attend the parade without giving up trick or treating…a tough choice.
With that in mind I offer my annual suggestion that the parade be moved to the Saturday before Halloween. It’s a relatively quiet day in downtown Toms River and would take away the objections and make it something all could enjoy. I’m sure such a move would take a lot of discussion and would not be easy but change never is.
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4 comments:
If not the Saturday before, they should at least move the parade to the day before so trick or treat can be held on Halloween. It makes no sense to celebrate Halloween the day before. I have worked in Princeton and Matawan and people look at me like I have two heads when I tell them.
I hope Toms River and surrounding towns consider moving the parade some day.
Long overdue as only in Toms River
can a Volunteer Fire Company dictate when the parade is held.
Maybe a new Mayor will have the guts to right this wrong.
I totally agree with you. Move the parade 2 the Sat b4 & let us trick or treat on Oct 31st instead of the 30th. I can't enjoy the parade when its during the week. The holiday if u look on the calender states Oct 31st as Halloween. The date of this parade needs 2b change. And I live in Berkeley Twp & we still do this. WHY WHY WHY???
Change the date!!!!!!!!!!!
Mayor Verano swore to the school districts that he would not move Halloween to coninside with the Toms River Parade. He he vacillates on this small issue, what larger issues will he change his mind on under pressure.
Where else does a fire company dictate the changing of a holiday? Ridiculous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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