TOMS RIVER – It took a disaster to stop one of the most iconic events on the Jersey Shore: the Toms River Halloween Parade has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The parade is annually run by Toms River Fire Co. No. 1. It has a history of entertaining locals for decades.
It is billed as the second largest Halloween parade in the world, and can have upwards of 6,000 viewers. The Downtown area is shut down and people compete for seats.
“The Toms River Vol. Fire Co. No. 1 has decided for the safety of the community and all first responders involved due to the ongoing pandemic to cancel this year’s Halloween Parade,” wrote Carl Weingroff, one of the organizers. “This pandemic has struck all aspects of normalcy. Even though the curve has straightened out a little bit the risk is still at a high with the magnitude of people that crowd in the downtown area we feel this is the best decision. This will be the 3rd time in history of the parade being canceled. First being in the 1920s during the depression, 2nd for Hurricane Sandy and now this.
“We as always thank each and every one of you and your organizations for the complete and continual support you have given the Toms River Volunteer Fire Co No. 1 in all of our events,” he said.
On the up side, the fire company is planning 2021’s parade and already has the date set. It will be Oct. 30, 2021, with a rain date of Monday, Nov. 1, 2021.
