March With Your Pets In Toms River Halloween Parade

Do you like to dress your pet for Halloween? The Toms River Fire Company 1 Halloween parade has two divisions just for you.

The parade, second largest in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is inviting pet owners to join in the festivities this year with a walking division and a motorized division. To compete in the pets division, you must supply proof that your pet is properly vaccinated and you must clean up after your pet.

There are more than two dozen divisions in the parade.

Additionally, float builders have the opportunity to compete for a $1,000 prize from the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation for a float showing why Toms River is the best place to live, work and play. This prize is separate from the contest the foundation launched in September. Information on this contest can be found here.

You can get information on all of the parade rules and regulations by going to the Ocean County Community Information System at www.occis.com and click “Halloween,” or visit the Toms River Fire Company 1 parade website, www.trfc1.org/halloween.html.

The parade is set for Saturday, Oct. 31 with a rain date of Monday, Nov. 2. Registration is the day of the parade at the firehouse, 26 Robbins St., Toms River, and begins at 8 a.m.

This year’s grand marshals are: Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst and the Toms River Armory, Charlie Battery 3 -- 112th Field Artillery.

If you have any questions please call 732-349-0144 or email cweingroff@trfire.org.

Check out all the parade divisions:

A. Best Decorated Baby Carriage or Express Wagon – Child under 4. This division is for children under 4 years of age. Children should either be riding in a baby carriage or pulling/riding in an express wagon. Children should be in costume and the carriage or wagon may be decorated. If the carriage or wagon is decorated, it must not substantially increase its size or shape.

B. Best Decorated Float – Children between 5-8. This division is for children between the ages of 5 and 8. Floats may be baby carriages or express wagons that have been substantially altered or may be homemade. Motor vehicles are not permitted in this division. Floats may operate with golf carts, children’s toy cars or may be pushed or pulled by hand.

C. Best Group in Line – Scouting Organization. This division is for all scouting organizations (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Explorers, etc.) The organizations may march in uniform or in costume.

D. Best Decorated Motorized Float -- Scouting Organization. This division is for motorized floats being sponsored by any scout organization. It is expected that the scouts will ride on the float and that the float be decorated appropriately. There will be a limit of two vehicles per entry in this division.

E. Best Costume -- Child Under 12. This division is for children under the age of 12 years old who have dressed in costume they consider to Comical, Original or Scary (Mime, Clown, Ghost, Goblin, Mummy, Fanciest, Impressive, One of a Kind or just different)

F. Best Decorated Motorized Float -- Vol. Fire Company and Vol. First Aid Squads. This division is reserved for any fire company or first aid squad that wishes to enter a motorized float in a festive mood. There will be a limit of two vehicles per entry in this division.

G. Best Group in Line -- Junior Organization. This division is reserved for entries of any organization whose primary members are young adults other than a scouting organization: (i.e. cheerleaders, Little League, etc.)

H. Best Decorated Motorized Float -- Junior Organization. This division is reserved for motorized floats sponsored by any organization whose primary members are young adults other than a scouting organization. It is expected that members of this organization will ride the float. There will be a limit of two vehicles per entry in this division.

I. Best Group in Costume -- Non-Affiliated Family 3 or more. This division is for those groups of three or more who wish to march in the parade together. Groups may be family members or not affiliated with each other in any way. It is expected that the members of the group marching together will all be dressed in a theme consistent with the rest of the group: (i.e. Cowboys and Indians. A group of ghosts, etc.)

J. Best Group in Costume -- Non-Affiliated/Family 3 or more Motorized. This division is for those groups of three or more who wish to have a motorized float in the parade. Groups may be family members or not affiliated with each other in any way. It is ex pected that all members of the group stay on the float at all times and all be dressed in a theme consistent with the rest of the group.

K. Best Couple. This division is for any two individuals (No Age Limit) who wish to march in the parade together in an original/ comical theme: (Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Brown and Lucy, Fanciest, Impressive, One-of-a-Kind, Different or Innovative)

L. Best Appearing Motorized Vehicle -- Pre-1950. This division is reserved for any vehicle that can under its own power travel the parade route. Vehicles in this division are limited to those built before 1950. There will be a limit of one vehicle per entry in this division.

M. Best Decorated Motorized Float -- Vocational/Technical. This division is reserved for motorized floats entered by vocational or technical school programs or classes.

N. Best Costume -- 12 to 18. This division is for young adults, 12 to 18. Costumes may be anything of an appropriate nature: (i.e. Fanciest, scariest, funniest, innovative, elaborate or original.)

O. Best Decorated Family Pet (walking). This division is reserved for any family pet. Costumes may be anything of an appropriate nature. All pets must show proof of vaccination at time of registration. All pets must be leashed throughhout the entire parade route. This division is a walking division there will be NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES allowed. It is YOUR responsibility to clean up after your pets.

P. Best Decorated Family Pet (motorized). This division is reserved for any family pet. Costumes may be anything of an appropriate nature. All pets must show proof of vaccination at time of registration. All pets must be secured onto the float throughout the entire parade route. This division is a MOTORIZED FLOAT division there is to be NO WALKERS. It is YOUR responsibility to clean up after your pets.

R. Best Costume -- 18 & up. This division is for adults 18 years of age or older. Costumes may be anything of an appropriate nature: (i.e. Fanciest, scariest, funniest, innovative, elaborate or original.)

S. Best Group in Line -- Community Organization. This division is reserved for community organizations that wish to march together in the parade. Entrants may be in uniform or costume. (Examples of community organizations are the Elks, Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Moose Lodge, PTO/PTA School Association, etc.)

T. Best Decorated Motorized Float -- Community Organization. This division is reserved for community organizations that wish to enter a motorized float in the parade. Entrants may be in uniform or costume. Floats are expected to be decorated accordingly. (Examples of community organizations are the Elks, Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Moose Lodge, PTO/PTA School Association, etc. There is a limit of two vehicles per entry in this division.)

U. Best Appearing Motorized Vehicle -- 1950 to 1979. This division is reserved for any vehicle that can under its own power travel the parade route. •Vehicles in this division are limited to those built between 1950 and 1979. There will be a limit of one vehicle per entry in this division. Vehicles must be significantly decorated.

V. Best Group in Line -- Commercial Business. This division is for businesses that wish to enter and walk down the parade route. Still must be in uniform or costume to walk.

W. Best Decorated Motorized Float -- Commercial. This division is reserved for businesses that wish to enter a motorized float in the parade. Entrants must be in costume or company uniform. Floats are expected to be decorated accordingly. The floats in this division are expected to be made by amateurs. There is a limit of two vehicles per entry in this division.

X. Best Appearing Motorized Vehicle -- 1980 to Present. This division is reserved for any vehicle that can under its own power travel the parade route. Vehicles in this division are limited to those built between 1980 and the present. There will be a limit of one vehicle per entry in this division. Vehicles must be significantly decorated

XX. Farthest Traveled.** While not a separate division in the line of march, this division will require a separate entry form for each entrant who wishes to be judged the person who has traveled the farthest (as the crow flies) to march in the parade.

YY. Youngest in Line.** While not a separate division in the line of march, this division will require a separate entry form for each entrant who wishes to be judged the youngest person marching in the parade.

ZZ. Oldest in Line.** While not a separate division in the line of march, this division will require a separate entry form for each entrant who wishes to be judged the oldest person marching in the parade.

** Must pick up trophies at the reviewing stand

(Photo, Two Pit Bulls in Costume, by Petful, via Creative Commons)