Halloween is upon us, and The Village Green has everything you need to know to make it the spookiest, tastiest, most festive night ever. (And remember, Halloween happenings are still on at your local elementary school.)
The Skinny on Trick-or-Treating
The perennial question: when does the door-to-door candy quest start? It can vary, but generally the adorably costumed younger ones hit the road (with adult supervision) around 4-5 p.m.
Later, as darkness descends, the middle and high-schoolers head out – some with parents and some on their own.
Weather often plays a role in how many children to expect. Tomorrow’s forecast is looking good: mostly sunny and dry, in the mid-50s during the day, with a slight chance of showers late at night.
Verdict: expect a good showing this year. Better have stocked up on that candy!
And when you’re either out of stock or just done for the night, be sure to turn off your front light.
Parades and Costume Contests
Saunter down to South Orange’ s Spiotta Park (next to Chase Bank on South Orange Avenue) for the annual Halloween Festival from 4-6 p.m. There will be music and games, Wanda the Giant Witch, and a Costume Contest. Refreshments and prizes for all.
Follow it up with trick-or-treating at local businesses in town.
Maplewood hosts its fabled Costume Contest and parade from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. along Maplewood Avenue. Festivities include trick or treating, music and dancing and prizes for best costumes. A fun time is guaranteed at this beloved annual event. (Note: if you have very little ones, it’s best to get there on the early side, as the event can get quite crowded.)
Candy Map
A new smartphone app — offered courtesy of Nextdoor — will help South Orange trick-or-treaters plan out their Halloween route. Several South Orange neighborhoods are participating in the interactive map, which uses a candy corn icon to designate which houses are passing out candy.
You can download Nextdoor for iPhone or Android to take the Treat Map on the road. Check out the map for the West Montrose neighborhood here.
Coolest, Creepiest Houses (courtesy MOL)
The folks at Maplewood Online have assembled a Google map featuring some of the scariest, most frightfully decorated houses in Maplewood (and one in South Orange.)
Just a sample: a house on Salter Place will have a multimedia UFO show. In South Orange, Beech Spring Road is the site of an extra-spooky haunted house you have to see to believe. Plus cemeteries, pirate houses, and much more.
Happy Halloween from The Village Green!!
