There is no shortage of events taking place in Haddonfield this Fall.
With school back in session and leaves on the verge of changing colors, autumn in Haddonfield getting underway. From shopping, dining and fun activities, residents of all ages will have a chance to get out and enjoy the autumnal events.
Remi Fortunato, retail recruiter for downtown Haddonfield, said the Partnership for Haddonfield will kick off its fall events with Girls’ Night Out on Thursday, Oct. 5, from 5 to 9 p.m. The ladies’ exclusive night of shopping will feature in-store promotions, trunk shows and disc jockeys throughout downtown.
On Saturday, Oct 14, downtown Haddonfield will host the Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fortunato said Tanner Street will be closed off to traffic, and the street will be lined with crafters taking part in the festival’s juried craft show.
Throughout downtown, local nonprofits and organizations will have tables set up.
“The Fall Festival has all our community groups: nonprofits, Interfaith Caregivers, the Lion’s Club, the Rotary,” Fortunato said. “Residents come down and support them.”
The festival will also feature carriage rides from noon to 3 p.m. as well as musical performances in Kings Court. The farmers market will also be open that day, and a ribbon cutting will take place at Curvy Girl Consignment on Kings Highway at noon.
Fortunato said Nov. 24 through Nov. 26 will mark Small Business Weekend in Haddonfield. Starting on Black Friday, residents can shop by candlelight or enjoy a carriage ride to kick off shopping for the holiday season.
For more information on events taking place through the Partnership for Haddonfield, visit http://www.downtownhaddonfield.com/events/.
The Haddonfield Celebrations Association is kicking off Halloween with the annual Halloween Parade along Kings Highway. Robert Stokes, the Celebration Association’s parade organizer, said each year the Association encourages as many children and parents as possible to march in the parade.
“We lead it off with the Haddonfield [Memorial] High School band members who are all dressed in costumes,” Stokes said. “Kids just march down Kings Highway with their costumes on. Dogs can be in costumes.”
On Oct. 30 — Mischief Night — the parade forms at the intersection of Kings Highway and Chestnut Street at 6 p.m., and the costume-clad congregation marches to the back of Borough Hall where everyone who participated receives a Halloween-themed prize. Stokes said around 100 or so people usually participate in the night’s festivities.
For more information on the Halloween Parade, visit http://www.haddonfieldcelebrations.org.
The Historical Society of Haddonfield is also getting into the spirit of Halloween by featuring haunted walking tours on Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. Attendees will meet at Greenfield Hall where former Haddonfield resident and author Bill Meehan will guide residents to the town’s ghostly haunts.
Sarah Tambussi, administrative coordinator for the HSH, said each year Meehan researches new stories to make the tour fresh. Tambussi said every year interest in the walking tours is high with some people even inquiring about them to her as early as July. The tour is $5 for children and $10 for adults with tickets available for purchase at the visitor’s center and Haddonfield Public Library.
On Oct. 30, the HSH will host the Haunted Mansion at Greenfield Hall. The haunted house tour takes place following the Halloween Parade along Kings Highway.
“It’s a scary haunted house for kids,” Tambussi said. “We use it to raise money for maintaining the building and archives.”
In November, a World War I exhibit titled “Sacrifice in Service” will be set up in Greenfield Hall. Tambussi said the exhibit will feature scrapbooks, newspapers and other memorabilia from the time period. She said on Sunday, Nov. 5, the HSH will host an open house for the exhibit in conjunction with the Indian King Tavern. Attendees can walk back and forth between the two buildings to see memorabilia, make a novelty badge of honor and learn more about World War I.
For more information on the HSH’s events, visit http://haddonfieldhistory.org/.
The Indian King Tavern will also host its own litany of events this fall. On Saturday, Sept. 30, Richard Wagner will demonstrate the colonial brewing process at the museum from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Joe Murphy, president of the Friends of the Indian King, said the event coincides nicely with Kings Road Brewery coming to town and the surge of interest in microbreweries.
On Saturday, Oct. 28, the Friends of the Indian King Tavern will host the Ichabod Crane and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow event. Actor Neill Hartley of the American Historical Theater will portray Crane and discuss the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
“We’ll have an expert talking about that, which is a great Halloween story,” Murphy said.
The Indian King Tavern will also host open houses on Nov. 24, Dec. 1, Dec. 8 and Dec 15. The open houses are free to attend.
For more information on events taking place at the Indian King Tavern, visit http://www.indiankingfriends.org/news-and-events/.
The Haddonfield Police Department is also getting in on the fall festivities. On Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the department will host the 3rd Annual Haddonfield Police and Community Day.
“The general premise is to give back to community” said Det. Sgt. Danielle Mueller. “When we deal with people, it’s when there’s an issue. We wanted to make our interactions more friendly and approachable. That’s how it started.”
This year’s event will take place behind Borough Hall and will feature food trucks, tours of police vehicles and inflatables. Officers will also offer child ID fingerprinting and bicycle helmet fittings. For adults, flu shots will be given away, and residents can get free wellness screenings. The day’s festivities will also include a basket auction and a bicycle rodeo.
For more information on the Haddonfield Police Department, visit http://www.haddonfieldnj.org/departments/police_department/index.php.
Also, happening this October, the Evening Membership Department of The Haddon Fortnightly will hold its 2nd Annual Masquerade Ball at the Haddon Fortnightly Clubhouse on Kings Highway and Grove Street on Saturday, Oct. 28. The event take place from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., and the cost is $25 per person.
Mary Holben, member of the Evening Membership Department, said the costume-themed event will feature a variety of social dance music, desserts and prizes. Refreshments and beverages will be provided, and attendees can bring their own bottle, if desired.
She said the event was a definite success last year.
“[Attendees] walked away saying it was one of the most fun times,” Holben said. “It was a new event for us.”
The proceeds from the masquerade will go to toward the Fortnightly charities as well as maintenance of the historic building.
For more information on the Fortnightly, visit http://thehaddonfortnightly.org/.
