The borough has begun announcing events it will host in October to get people in the fall spirit.
The calendar includes house and window front decorating contests from Oct. 1 through Oct. 26, and the Paw-o-ween pet costume contest from Oct. 28 through Oct. 31.
Mayor Colleen Bianco Bezich, for one, is looking forward to the events.
“For me, living in Haddonfield and being a fan of horror and all things haunted … I just really get into the holiday spirit starting in October,” she said. “We live in the perfect place to make this into something that gets people in our downtown.
“It gets the kids excited, it gets the grownups excited,” she added. “And for me, COVID really put a damper on that.”
Other borough events in October:
- The health and wellness festival on Oct. 1
- A fall festival featuring Haddonfield organizations along Kings Highway near borough hall on Oct. 8.
- A family movie night on Oct. 15 co-hosted by the police department. The film will be “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” and treats will be distributed at Crow’s Woods. The movie will begin around 7 p.m., and families are invited to arrive dressed in spooky and silly costumes at 6:30 p.m.
- The Partnership for Haddonfield’s first haunted night market, featuring Halloween-themed vendors, on Oct. 28. Winners of the aforementioned decorating contests will be announced.
- From Oct. 28 through Oct. 31, residents will have the opportunity to submit photos of their pets in costume for the Paw-o-ween pet costume contest. Residents should email [email protected] to participate and write pet contest in the subject line.
- Oct. 29 will feature a movie night geared to older audiences at Crow’s Woods. The film is to be determined but will be announced on the borough’s social media pages.
- There will be a Halloween parade at Kings Highway beginning at 6 p.m. on Oct. 30. It is open to anyone.
- Halloween trick-or-treating hours will be 2 to 6 p.m.
Though some of the events are traditional, a number of them were started in the last few years. The Paw-o-ween pet costume contest, for instance, began in 2020.
“We were really hoping and trying to give people a reason to still celebrate and enjoy Halloween when we weren’t necessarily encouraging trick-or-treating door to door during that time,” Bianco Bezich explained.
Bianco Bezich noted that the movie nights began last year as a way to celebrate being able to gather in person after COVID.
To stay up to date on events, visit the borough’s Facebook page.
