The Voorhees Township Annual Halloween & Fall Festival will be on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Voorhees Town Center in the area in front of Town Hall. All are invited to don a costume and enjoy the fun-filled event that has become a Voorhees tradition. Take an old-fashioned hayride or pick from the Voorhees Business Association’s Pumpkin Patch. Candy and refreshments will be plentiful for all in attendance.
Activities will also include bounce rides for children, a Halloween costume parade, pumpkin painting and decorating, a petting zoo, a Halloween-themed magic show, face painting and our own DJ Sean Moore Haki Redd. The Voorhees Township Police Department will be on hand providing Halloween safety tips. The Voorhees Township Fire Department will be incorporating their annual fire prevention activities into this year’s festival. This will include a smoke house, vehicle and equipment displays, an obstacle course and fire safety materials. Adjacent to the Festival, the Voorhees Town Center will have a Dooney Pub Garden offering beer and wine for adults and a Halloween decorated Luscious Liqueur Mobile Bar offering children friendly non-alcoholic Halloween theme mock-tails. Another new addition is a couple of Cottage Food Operators offering home baked cookies and other pastries.
The event is free and sponsored by the Voorhees Citizens Event Foundation through contributions from Republic Bank, Conner Strong & Buckelew, South Jersey Radiology, Samaritan, Hale Trailer, TD Bank, Bowman, ERI, Comcast, Atlantic City Electric, the Ravitz Family, DiMeglio, Lions Gate, the Voorhees Business Association, CME, Patient First, the Jewish Community Foundation and Jefferson Health.
For more information, visit www.voorheesnj.com or contact Stella Sytnik at ssytnik@voorheesnj.com
The hours for “trick or treating” on Halloween in Voorhees are 2 to 8 p.m. Also, an 8 p.m. curfew will be in effect for persons 17 years of age and under the night before Halloween and on Halloween and will be strictly enforced by the police department.
While Halloween is a time of fun for children and adults alike, the National Safety Council offers some safety tips:
- Motorists should watch for children walking on roadways, curbs or darting
out between parked cars. Enter and exit driveways very carefully. - Parents should accompany any children under the age of 12. A travel route should be established in familiar areas. Children should stop only at houses or apartments that are well-lit and should never enter a stranger’s home. Establish a return time.
- Youngsters should not eat any treats until they return home and have them inspected by an adult.
- Place a slip of paper with the child’s name, address and phone number.
inside a pocket in case the youngster gets separated from the group. - Costumes should be fire-retardant; strips of reflective tape should be used to make children more visible. Use facial make-up instead of masks when possible. If masks are worn, they should have nose and mouth openings with large eye holes. Carrying flashlights will help children see better and be seen more clearly.
Also, when children visit your home to trick or treat, please be patient and keep in mind:
- The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy may have poor motor skills.
- The child who takes a while to pick out one piece of candy may have motor planning issues.
- The child who looks disappointed when they see your bowl might have an allergy or is diabetic.
- The child who is not wearing a costume at all might have a sensory issue or autism.
Be safe and have fun!
** The Voorhees Basketball Association Winter Recreation League registration ended Oct. 20. Registration is now based upon availability and a $25 late fee will be assessed. For more information, contact John Conners at jconners@janney.com
** The Voorhees Police Department is working with the Camden County Partnership for Children on a 2023 Winter Coat Drive. Donations (gently used coats, hats and gloves) will be collected in the Police Station Lobby at 1180 White Horse Road until Dec. 1. For more information, contact Lt. Hawkins at dhawkins@vtpd.com or Sgt. Eric Camm at ecamm@vtpd.com
