The warm summer months are starting to cool down. The leaves are starting to change colors and the sunny days are getting shorter. That means that the fall is almost here.
For the fall, Voorhees has a few different events to celebrate, specifically, one of the most well-known holidays of October, Halloween.
Halloween can be known as a time for mischief or for creepy things to go bump in the night. However, for Voorhees, it is all about family and friendly fun.
Starting off the Halloween-themed events is Thiller Night! Held on Oct. 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Special Events Plaza, Boulevard, Macy’s Court and Boscov’s Court, Thriller Night promises to be a fun time.
“We’ve been doing it for the past few years,” said Lisa Milideo, assistant marketing director of the Voorhees Town Center.
The event starts with a Halloween-themed movie on a 20-foot outdoor movie screen. This year’s movie will be “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
“It’s a good classic,” Milideo said.
There will also be “Spirit Hours” at Iron Hill, Rodizio Grill and Catelli. Visitors can enjoy specials at the bars and might run into a few festive characters.
“We have a 12-foot skeleton, seven-foot Frankenstein and a magical witch who will come in and out of the bars during Spirit Hours,” Milideo said.
After the movie, at around 8:30 p.m., a local dance group will come out and re-enact “Thriller” while the music video plays on the 20-foot movie screen. Then, the “Thriller” song will play a second time where everyone is asked to join in and dance along with the dancers.
For more information on the event go to the Voorhees Town Center website at www.voorheestowncenter.com.
The second Halloween-themed event at Voorhees will be its 9th annual Halloween in the Park held at Connolly Park on Oct. 26. It goes from 1 to 4 p.m., rain or shine.
Held the Sunday before Halloween, Halloween in the Park is for everyone to come and enjoy. It’s a safe, fun place for kids to come together and trick-or-treat, who otherwise might not be able to go out.
“The kids can enjoy. We invite parents, grandparents, significant others to come out, get dressed up and have fun,” said Michael Marchitto, director of special events for Voorhees. “What we offer is something a lot of towns don’t offer.”
Since this event was put together, Marchitto said they’ve had pumpkin painting and decorating. A hayride is run through the park where the hay wagons pull the kids to an actual pumpkin-picking patch. Sponsored by the Voorhees Business Association, the children get a free pumpkin, and from there, they take a hayride back to a decorating area where they get to decorate their pumpkins any way they’d like.
At the park, there will be balloon artists, face painters and a Halloween-themed magic show. The police and fire departments will also be doing safety demonstrations and children’s IDs, where parents can register their child for an ID card.
There will also be a kids costume parade. While music is playing, children will get the chance to walk through the park and up on stage where they can take pictures with family and others.
“The kids love being on stage. It is the biggest hit along with the pumpkins,” Marchitto said.
Of course, what is Halloween without the treats? At the event, there will be specially marked stations where children can trick-or-treat and get special treats. Others sometimes join to give the kids free pretzels and other goodies.
“As long as everyone has a good time, that is what it is all about,” Marchitto said.
Admission is free and parking is free for the Halloween in the Park event. For more information about the event call the hotline at (856) 882-SHOW or visit www.voorheesnj.com website.
