CANDY CRUSADERS: Little witches in the twilight scope the selection of trunks at last year’s event in Ship Bottom. Find one near you! (Photo by Ryan Morrill)
The spooky (and sugary) season is here. In the days leading up to Halloween, a number of locations will host a Trunk or Treat, beginning this weekend.
FRIDAY, OCT. 23
St. Francis Community Center in Brant Beach welcomes kids, in costume, to the parking lot from 6 to 8 p.m. to fill their candy buckets.
In addition to the sweets, the event will feature refreshments, basket raffles and a 50/50 raffle.
“We’ll also be collecting nonperishable food donations for the St. Francis Food Pantry and baby items for our counseling department’s Parent Pantry,” said Arian Selmani of Keel Agency, who oversees marketing for St. Francis Parish and Community Center.
Items for the food pantry can also be dropped off at the community center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Or, donate online via stfranciscenterlbi.org/foodpantry.
Ship Bottom’s annual Trunk or Treat sets sail at the boat ramp. The family-friendly event weighs anchor from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Don’t miss the boat of treats, spooks and Halloween fun.
SATURDAY, OCT. 24
Surf City is also gearing up for a Halloween weekend packed with candy, costumes and a little friendly competition. The festivities begin with the 12th annual trunk or treat at the Surf City Firehouse, 713 N. Long Beach Blvd. From 5 to 7 p.m., families can enjoy candy, balloons, ice cream and plenty of Halloween fun – all free to attend. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed as your favorite ghoul, superhero or sea creature.
Hosted by the Surf City Volunteer Fire Co. & EMS and the Surf City Police Department, the event has a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 25, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Main Street Alliance Church hosts its annual Family Fall Fest from 11 a.m. to 4 pm. The event is open to the public for free. Families or businesses can sponsor vehicles for the Trunk or Treat, which operates from 1 to 3 p.m., with treats for $10 per entry, and all proceeds go to help the church’s youth mentor program.
Besides trunks full of treats, the event also will feature inflatables, crafts, games and food vendors. The church is located at 1000 North Main St. in Manahawkin. To register a participating vehicle, visit forms.gle/tSWkuhND6eFFdmZs6.
Also on Oct. 24, from noon to 2 p.m., all are invited to the St. Mary Academy Trunk or Treat event to benefit David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation, hosted by the eighth-grade class. The event will be held in the academy’s parking lot at 400 Doc Cramer Blvd. All costumed children must be accompanied by an adult to be admitted. The cost of admission is $5 per child, and all proceeds go to DDBCF.
SUNDAY, OCT. 25
Beach Haven Moose Lodge 1575 will have a Trunk or Treat at 120 Route 72 in Manahawkin from noon to 2 p.m. Costumed youngsters of all ages are welcome, free of charge. Anybody interested in setting up a treat-filled vehicle, sponsoring a trunk or donating candy, call Megan at 609-994-4674.
Southern Ocean Animal Hospital hosts a Howl-O-Ween Trunk or Treat, at 319 East Main St., Tuckerton, from 2 to 4 pm. There are also games for kids and a costume contest.
SATURDAY, OCT. 31
On Halloween itself, the Beach Bums Corvette Club hosts its annual Trunk or Treat at Bay Avenue Community Center, 775 East Bay Ave. in Manahawkin. From noon to 4 p.m., enjoy face painting, pumpkin decorating, music by Hot Rod Mike, and the Twisted Swisster food truck.
Dockside Café & Marina in Tuckerton presents a family-friendly Trunk or Treat and more from 2 to 5 p.m., featuring face painting, pumpkin decorating, a candy corn jar guessing game, cider and doughnuts, as well as a photo spot. Space for trunks is limited to 15 cars; call 609-294-1859 to sign up as a treater.
