Win $10,000 For Your Toms River Halloween Parade Float

Marchers in the Toms River Halloween Parade are used to competing for trophies for all kinds of categories.

This year, the competition has an added wrinkle: The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation and the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce are sponsoring a float contest that will be worth $10,000 to the winner.

It was announced recently that the parade would return to its Oct. 31 date annually after being held on the Saturday before Halloween for the last few years. The change, organizers said, was due primarily to declining participation because it was not on Halloween. The parade, which has been happening in Toms River for decades, is the second largest in the United States.

The Chamber of Commerce and the Grunin Foundation want to see participation grow again, they said in a news release.

With that in mind, they are offering a $10,000 prize to the group that creates the best design for a float for the parade.

“We are challenging the people, schools and nonprofits of Toms River and Ocean County to create the design for the best Toms River Halloween Parade float,” a news release from the foundation says.

The winner will receive $10,000, plus a $5,000 materials budget and up to 160 hours of help from the Toms River Artists Community. The $10,000 check will be presented after the parade.

The foundation also will donate $5,000 to the Toms River Artists Communiy for lending their expertise.

Design a float that can be built for $5,000 or less showing why Toms River is the greatest place to live, work and visit.

Every design needs to meet the criteria in the Engage Toms River Halloween Parade Competition Prospectus in order to be eligible for the jury’s review. The deadline for entries is Sept. 18.

A selection jury made up of Mayor Thomas Kelaher, Toms River Halloween Parade Chairman Carl Weingroff, Jay Grunin, Yvonne Yaar, Noelle Lotano, and WOBM’s Shawn and Sue will choose the Top 3 submissions to be announced on WOBM 92.7 on Sept. 21.

“The Toms River Halloween Parade is back on Halloween Night, which is fantastic. Why not celebrate and have some fun showcasing our innovative and creative designs to launch our new Toms River slogan?” said Jeremy Grunin, executive director of the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation.

Noelle Lotano, executive director of the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce stated, “Toms River’s residents, business people and visitors recognize we live in one of the best towns in the U.S., never mind N.J. We are excited to announce our new slogan in such a big way at the historic Toms River Halloween Parade.”

To see how you can win the $10,000 Engage Toms River Halloween Parade Competition, visit www.engagetomsriver.com.