Berkeley Council Bucks Tradition, Sets Trick Or Treat Night Set For Oct. 31

by Patricia A. Miller

For decades, Berkeley Township and the nearby small river towns have followed Toms River’s lead and held trick or treat night on the the night before Halloween, so residents could attend the Toms River Halloween parade.

Not this year.

Township Council members voted at the Sept. 14 meeting to hold trick or treat night on Halloween, the same night as the Toms River parade.

“Halloween is Oct. 31,” Councilwoman Sophia Gingrich said. ”I think we should keep it that way.”

Younger children can trick or treat during the daytime and still attend the parade at night, Township Council President Judy Noonan said.

For years, Toms River has held the parade - the largest in the state - on Halloween. Trick or treat night was traditionally held on Oct. 30, which is actually mischief night.

Although there were a few switches to different dates over the past few years, Toms River officials recently decided to move trick or treat night back to Oct. 30 and have the parade on Halloween.

The 77th annual Toms River Halloween Parade is sponsored by Toms River Fire Company 1.

Photo credit: Patricia A. Miller