TOMS RIVER – Thousands flocked to watch – or be in – this year’s 82nd Annual Halloween Parade that haunted the downtown area.
According to Toms River folklore, the first parade was held on October 31, 1919, sponsored by Toms River Fire Company No. 1.
This year’s parade which returned after a year’s absence due to the pandemic, kicked off with two police motorcycles followed by an Ocean County Sheriff’s Office vehicle and Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and Police Chief Mitchell A. Little.
The traditions of this parade go far beyond the marchers, floats, bands, and various groups that come crawling down the parade route. Another tradition is the early placing of lawn chairs to watch the event along Washington and Main streets, as well as dressing in costume to watch.
This year, unlike most, the parade was held a day prior to Halloween itself. It was held on October 30 because when the event originated, an agreement was made between the fire company and local clergy that the parade would not be held on a Sunday despite it taking place hours after any church services.
The other factor that played a bit of havoc for the parade’s organizers and attendees/participants. As one mom of a Toms River High School North band member remarked, “the weather didn’t seem to know what it wanted to do.” The day fluctuated from overcast skies, to some sprinkles of rain to blue sky and sunshine. Around 5 p.m. the sun came out and it signaled perfect weather for the parade which kicked off at 7 p.m.
The parade route also offered up some refreshments from different businesses and organizations such as the Wellspring church which once again gave out free water and other beverages and Campbell’s Funeral Home who provided candy, cinnamon donuts and apple cider.
People began lining up hours before the parade began. For Cameron Rodelli, Tinton Falls, Giana Bertele, Toms River and Sophia Stanziale, from Hazlet, all 7 years old, it was a chance to dress up in costume with family members.
Lisa Bertele of Toms River said this was her first year to watch the parade. “I moved here. This is very exciting.”
Leigh Ann Neff of Brick dressed as a social media butterfly as she joined 11-year-old Gracie Hansen, of Point Pleasant. The two were waiting for the parade to start so they could see Neff’s husband Chris who was driving a vehicle in the parade with some local royalty onboard. “He is driving the queen of parades, Miss Liberty (also known as Sondra Fortunato).”
Miss Liberty is a staple figure in the parade and this year was no exception as she joined her pint-sized counterpart from last year who dressed as her and even imitated her iconic vehicle.
That vehicle was stolen in Atlantic County earlier this fall but thankfully was recovered by authorities.
“This is my first Toms River (Halloween) parade. The last Halloween parade we went to was in Point Pleasant in 2019,” Neff said.
“I wanted to be this for a couple of years because I am a social butterfly,” she added.
Gracie said she wasn’t sure what she wanted to be “but I found this witch hat and improvised it with stuff I had.” The witch hat featured a few black feathers.
Traveling further up Washington Street were members of the Coar family who recently moved to Island Heights from Asbury Park and the Lenz family. Fiona Coar, 5 and her 2-year-old brother John were in costume but were already having fun playing with a pile of leaves on the side walk. They were joined by 2-year-old Jade Lenz of Bayville.
“I was in the parade when I was in high school and now, I’m coming with my kid, “Stacie Lenz said.
Searching for a spot for to sit, members of the Bonfanti and Sanguinetti families of Lacey found a corner on Main Street that was just perfect. They were also in costume and ready for fun.
“This isn’t a tradition but when we heard it was on Saturday (the day before Halloween) this year we decided we’d come out because usually we trick or treat on Halloween,” Dorothie Bonfanti said.
There were a wide variety of decorative floats – some created by businesses, others by organizations. Cub Scout Pack 62 was shivering their timbers and ready to sail down the street as pirates this year. They had a pirate ship float that drew a lot of attention during the parade.
It wasn’t just children and adults who were dressed up for Halloween. Mork was among the many costumed dogs who were in the parade. Mork was a police officer, and his owner Mindy Feldman and Bernadette Javick of Ocean Gate were dressed as prisoners.
Other notable entries in the parade were a mobile Pac Man arcade game that was pulled along the parade route, the Toms River High School North Band whose faces were painted as zombies and one woman was apparently dressed as a pregnant woman whose child couldn’t wait to burst out of her belly – baby arms adorned her shirt.
The event, which is the second largest Halloween parade in the country, invites some creative costumes and this year was no exception. There was also no lack of some more traditional horror movie characters of the season such as Ghostface from Scream, Michael Myers from Halloween and Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th. It did start to rain a bit during the parade but most spectators and participants ignored it and kept on enjoying the parade.
