Toms River Halloween Parade: You Can March In These Categories

TOMS RIVER, NJ — While many people have been plotting and preparing since early September for the 82nd Toms River Halloween parade, there's still time to come up with a plan to participate.

The return of the parade after a year off because of the coronavirus pandemic was announced in early September. It has been heralded as the second-largest Halloween parade in the world, with thousands of participants and spectators filling downtown Toms River every year. Before last year, the parade, which started in 1919, was canceled only three other times: in 2012, because of Superstorm Sandy, which slammed Ocean County just two days before Halloween; during the Great Depression due to lack of funds, and again during World War II due to labor shortage and blackout rules.

Last week, Toms River Fire Company 1 released the information booklet and rules for the 82nd parade, which is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 30. While the parade usually is held on Halloween, this year it is being held the day before because of a longstanding agreement with the churches in the area to not hold the parade on a Sunday when Halloween falls on a Sunday.

The parade thrives because of the enthusiasm of the participants and spectators. While some participants have been parade staples — the marching bands from the Toms River high schools and intermediate schools, along with a few other nearby high schools, usually participate — there's room for anyone to march and show off their Halloween spirit.

You must be in costume or, if participating in a motorized division, your vehicle must be decorated, to participate. There also are awards given out for the person who travels the farthest to participate, for the youngest participant in line and for the oldest participant in line.

Here are the categories that anyone can participate in. There's even one for those who love to dress up their pets. Registration is held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. the day of the parade at the firehouse, 26 Robbins St., so you can decide even at the last minute to hop in the line. Further details on the rules and the divisions is posted on the Toms River Fire Company 1 Halloween Parade's Facebook page.

• Best Decorated Baby Carriage or Express Wagon – Children under 4 years of age; in costume and in a carriage or wagon.
• Best Costume, Children younger than age 12
• Best Group in Line — Scouting Organization
• Best Decorated Motorized Float — Scouting Organization
• Best Decorated Motorized Float — Volunteer Fire Company and Volunteer First Aid Squads
• Best Group in Line — Junior Organization, for youth organizations other than Scouts
• Best Decorated Motorized Float — Junior Organization
• Best Group in Costume — Non-Affiliated Family 3 or more; can be family members or not, everyone must be dressed in a consistent theme.
• Best Group in Costume — Non-Affiliated/Family 3 or more Motorized (for floats)
• Best Couple — Any two individuals who wish to march in the parade together in an original/ comical theme.
• Best Appearing Motorized Vehicle— up to 1979
• Best Costume — 12 to 18. This division is for young adults. Costumes may be anything of an appropriate nature.
• Best Decorated Family Pet (walking). Pets must show proof of vaccination and must be leashed throughout the parade. It is YOUR responsibility to clean up after your pets.
• Best Decorated Family Pet (motorized). Pets must be secured on the float.
• Best Costume — 18 and older
• Best Group in Line — Community Organization; entrants may be in uniform or costume. (Examples of community organizations are the Elks, Kiwanis, Rotary Club, Moose Lodge, PTO/PTA School Association, etc.)
• Best Decorated Motorized Float — Community Organization
• Best Group in Line — Commercial Business. Must be in uniform or costume.
• Best Decorated Motorized Float — Commercial/Vo-tech. Entrants must be in costume or company uniform. Floats are expected to be decorated accordingly and made by amateurs.
• Best Appearing Motorized Vehicle — 1980 to Present. Any vehicle that can under its own power travel the parade route. Vehicles must be significantly decorated.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Toms River Patch on Facebook.