Halloween In Livingston: Haunted Walk, Trunk Or Treat, Safety Tips

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Celebrating Halloween this year in Livingston? Learn about two local holiday events – and brush up on some useful safety tips – with the below information, courtesy of Livingston Township.

HAUNTED WALK

Livingston’s 14th Annual Haunted Walk offers residents an opportunity to “take a twisted walk through the woods where the dead have risen to life!” All are invited to this year’s Haunted Walk, which will be held on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26, at the Livingston Senior/Community Center (LSCC), 204 Hillside Avenue. There is an admission fee of $5 per person (cash only), and the event times are:

• 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.: appropriate for children ages 7 & up
• 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.: reserved for families with special needs individuals
• 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.: this walk is NOT recommended for children under 10 years old

All children under 10 years old must be with a parent at all times. Sneakers are recommended and all attendees should bring a flashlight.

Volunteers Needed

The Recreation & Senior Services Department is seeking volunteers (7th grade & up) who may be looking for community service hours for the Haunted Walk. If you have a scary costume and would like to be an actor in our haunted trail, please contact Joe Gill at jgill@livingstonnj.org.

Volunteers must be able to attend the walk-through and training, date TBA, and also be able to volunteer the nights of Fright Night.

Those with questions should call 973-535-7925, option 0, Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. or email recreation@livingstonnj.org.

TRUNK OR TREAT

Livingston’s Recreation & Senior Services Department invites residents to join them for a fun family event on Thursday, October 31, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Eastman Building parking lot, 290 West Mount Pleasant Avenue, Livingston. Parking is available in the parking lot and parking garage.

Trunk or Treat offers a safe way for kids to “Trick-or-Treat.” Youngsters can walk from vehicle to vehicle in the parking lot of the Eastman Building collecting treats while showing off their costumes. Registration for Trunk or Treat is not required.

Trunk or Treat celebrations include a Halloween costume contest, family photo booth, and candy guessing contest. The costume contest will feature 6 different categories, and there will be 2 winners in each category; winners will receive a special prize. Food trucks from Turano’s and Mister Softee will be on site for the duration of the event.

Decorated Vehicle Contest

Pre-registration is required to enter a decorated vehicle. Interested residents, businesses, or organizations should email Program Supervisor Joe Gill at jgill@livingstonnj.org. The deadline to register a vehicle is Friday, October 25. Limited parking spaces are available, and there will be a prize for the best-decorated car.

Any vehicles participating in Trunk or Treat and the decorated vehicle contest are asked to provide their own treats (pre-packaged only), and be prepared for a large crowd.

Questions can be answered by calling 973-535-7925, option 0 or emailing recreation@livingstonnj.org.

SAFETY TIPS

Halloween is a fun holiday to celebrate, especially for children. It’s filled with celebrations, trick-or-treating, costume contests, and spooky events. Everyone wants to have fun when celebrating Halloween, but it is just as important to make sure you are staying safe. Below are some tips from the Livingston Health Department to ensure a safe Halloween for all.

Halloween Candy and Treats

Inspect Candy: Make sure to check all children’s Halloween candy and treats before they eat them. Discard any treats with wrappers that have holes in them, are not factory/properly wrapped, have misspelled writing on them, or are discolored or suspicious looking. When in doubt, throw it out. Create a rule: no eating when trick-or-treating. Give children a snack or a small meal before they go trick-or-treating so they are not hungry.

Avoid Homemade Treats and Choking Hazards: Do not consume any homemade treats unless the person who made them is well known to you. If you have young children, discard any choking hazards such as gum, hard candy, or small toys.

Candy is not for Pets: Most candy is poisonous to pets. Keep candy and treats away from pets, and tell children not to give their candy to pets. You can buy special pet-friendly treats that your child can give to your pet for Halloween instead.

Lock it Up: Children can easily mistake medications, household cleaners, and other household products as candy or juice due to their similar appearance. Keep any medications and any other household products locked up and out of reach of children. Explain to children these items are not candy. If children ingest anything that may be poisonous or concerning, contact the Poison Control Center immediately for instructions at 1-800-222-1222.

Children with Food Allergies: Be sure to read all food labels carefully if your child has any allergies, and carry an epinephrine auto injector when celebrating if one is prescribed. Discard any candy or treats that your child is or may be allergic to. Consider contacting close friends and neighbors ahead of time and providing them with small toys or treats that your child is not allergic to that they can give your child when he or she goes trick-or-treating. You may also want to have some additional safe/non-allergenic treats on hand to give your child.

Safe Trick-or-Treating

Be Seen: Make yourself and your trick-or-treaters visible, especially when it gets dark. Wear reflectors and bright clothing/costumes, and carry flashlights or glow sticks with you.

However, never let children put glow sticks in their mouths. Glow sticks can break if a child chews on them, resulting in the child experiencing skin irritation and sickness.

Stay with a Group: Trick-or-treat as a group, and make sure young children are accompanied by a trusted adult(s) at all times.

Watch for Cars: Walk on sidewalks when possible or close to the curb if there is no sidewalk. Cross the street at intersections and watch for cars. Don’t run when trick-or-treating to avoid falling. Avoid distractions such as looking at your phone when walking.

Drive Safely: Watch for trick-or-treaters when driving and be prepared to stop. Drive more slowly when there are pedestrians around, and avoid any driving distractions.

Costume Safety

Makeup: If you or your child are wearing nontoxic makeup as part of a costume, test a little bit on the skin first to make sure there is no allergic reaction. Wearing makeup is a good alternative to wearing a mask, since some masks may make it difficult for children to see clearly. Remove all makeup afterwards following the manufacturer’s instructions.

Wear well-fitted costumes: Be sure your child’s costume and shoes fit properly to prevent them from falling.

Don’t wear decorative contact lenses: Contact lenses should only be worn under the care of an eye healthcare professional. Most decorative contact lenses are not approved by the FDA and are often sold around Halloween. Wearing decorative contact lenses that change the color or appearance of your eyes for Halloween may cause eye injuries, irritation, and/or an eye infection.

Say Boo to Flu, Covid, and Other Viruses Too!

Protect Against Viruses: Covid-19, the flu, and other viruses are still circulating during Halloween. Protect yourself and your children who are eligible by getting an annual flu vaccine and staying up to date with recommended Covid vaccine doses. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at cdc.gov to see if you and your children are up to date with Covid vaccine recommendations.

Anyone who is feeling ill should not participate in any Halloween celebrations. Remember to wash your hands frequently throughout the day or celebration and be sure to wash them before consuming any candy or treats.

The Livingston Health Department wishes everyone a happy and safe Halloween.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch Livingston Facebook page.