READY FOR ACTION: These costumed characters are ready for action at the annual Halloween Extravaganza at MarketFair, one of several themed events planned for the season.
By Anne Levin
Halloween is still a few weeks away, but the list of events to mark the celebration of ghouls, ghosts, and candy is growing. And they’re not just for kids.
Princeton activities range from the annual Hometown Halloween Parade to a talk on paranormal encounters and a Halloween Pumpkin Workout. Venture a bit beyond the town to find screenings of spooky films, ghost tours, a “vampire circus,” and more.
According to the website history.com, the tradition of Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of “Samhain” (pronounced sow-in), marking the end of the harvest season, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
“In the 8th century Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints,” the website reads. “Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween.”
Over centuries, Halloween has evolved into trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, and dressing up in costumes — the scarier the better. Some little-known facts: One quarter of all the candy sold annually in the U.S. is purchased for Halloween. In 2023, Americans spent some $700 million on Halloween costumes for their pets. Candy corn was designed to look like chicken feed and emerged at a time when about half of Americans worked on farms.
Following is a list of some Halloween-related events:
New Hope Ghost Tours: On Saturday nights starting at 8 p.m., setting off from the corner of Main and Ferry streets, author and ghost-investigator Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey holds lantern-led tours through the streets of this Bucks County, Pa., town. Author of Ghosts in the Valley, Haunted Village and Valley, and The Bermuda Triangle, Jeffrey has been leading these treks, which cost $12, since 1981. Visit ghosttoursofnewhope.com.
The Annual Amazing Pumpkin Carve is Thursday-Sunday, October 9-12 in Hopewell Township’s Woolsey Park, 221 Washington Crossing Pennington Road. Under a glowing big top tent, local artists transform 150 huge pumpkins — 150 pounds each — into spooky and whimsical creatures. Local brews, a play area, pumpkin painting, and storytelling by the firepits are all part of the event. Visit hvartscouncil.org/amazingpumpkincarve.
Mercer Cemetery Spirit Walk: The oldest non-secular cemetery in the city and the resting place of more than 400 Trentonians, the cemetery on Clinton Avenue across from the Trenton Transit Station is offering two public programs this month. On Saturday, October 11 from 2-4 p.m., a guided spirit walk titled “Whispers of Trenton’s Past” will be led by medium Danielle Schwartz, who will share stories about the city’s earliest leaders, first mayor, and some of its more eccentric souls who are buried there.
At the cemetery on Friday, October 24 at 6:30 p.m., an outdoor movie night is planned. Coraline, described as “a family-friendly film with a delightfully eerie edge,” is presented by the Board of the cemetery along with the City of Trenton. Bring chairs and blankets. Visit mercercemeteryattrenton.com.
Lambertville Halloween Film Festival: The annual event is Friday-Sunday, October 17-19 at the Acme Screening Room, 25 South Union Street in Lambertville, and the opening dance party has a “Monster Homecoming” theme. The night includes special guest MCs, appetizers, drinks, tarot card readings, a photo booth, costume contest, silent auction, music, and dancing. Tickets are $25. Visit acmescreeningroom.org.
Darkside Art & Oddities Expo: The same people who sponsor the popular Punk Rock Flea Market bring this “celebration of the strange, macabre, and beautifully offbeat” to the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center in Edison on Saturday, October 18, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Look for vendors of taxidermy, dark art, occult goods, alternative fashion, horror collectibles, live tattooing, body piercing, and much more. Roaming performance art, fire shows, and of course, food are also part of the event. Tickets are $20 in advance; $20 at the door. Visit darksidenj.com.
“The Weird and Wonderful World of Bats” is a Zoom event just in time for Bat Week (October 24-31). In her talk on Thursday, October 23 at 7:30 p.m., bat scientist Alyson Brokaw touches on everything bat-related from vampires that drink blood to speed racers that can fly almost 100 miles per hour. Free registration is at tinyurl.com/dv65dakb.
Allentown Witches Night Out on Thursday, October 23 is from 6 to 9 p.m. in the downtown, and includes a personal session with a card reader, a souvenir shopping bag and tickets for in-store raffles, refreshments at participating shops, and the chance to win the grand prize basket. Allentown also sponsors a screening of the 1925 classic silent film The Phantom of the Opera, with live organ accompaniment by Michael McCormick, on Saturday, October 25 at 7 p.m. The location is the Allentown Methodist Church, 23 Church Street. Admission is free but a $5 donation is suggested. Come in costume if you wish and join a post-screening party. Visit allentownnj.com.
The annual Hometown Halloween Parade is a Princeton tradition beloved by kids and their families and sponsored by the Arts Council of Princeton. This year’s parade is on Friday, October 24, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Palmer Square Green, following a 5 p.m. performance by the Princeton University Band. After the parade, which marches to the Princeton YMCA, a trunk-or-treat and a 6:30 screening of Pixar’s Monsters Inc. are planned Admission is free. Visit artscouncilofprinceton.org.
The Vampire Circus at State Theatre New Jersey, 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick on October 25 at 8 p.m. is a mix of circus, cabaret, and theatre, set in Bohemia during the 19th century. Theater, dance, and gymnastics are all part of the show, which was developed by Francisco Santos, a veteran Cirque Du Soleil performer. Not surprisingly, Count Dracula is the star. Visit stnj.org for tickets.
Paranormal Investigator Eric Mintel gives a multimedia presentation about his ghost encounters and other mysterious activities on Sunday, October 26 at 4 p.m. at Princeton Public Library. Admission is free. The library is at 65 Witherspoon Street. Visit princetonlibrary.org.
A Halloween Extravaganza is planned for Sunday, October 26, 11 a.m., at Princeton MarketFair on U.S.1 in West Windsor. Look for pumpkin decorating, face painting, arts and crafts, music, treats, and more. The event is co-sponsored by The Goddard School of Princeton. Visit marketfairshoppes.com.
Finally, a Halloween Pumpkin Workout is set for Halloween morning, Friday, October 31 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Homestead Princeton, 300 Witherspoon Street. Walking, light socializing, and playful pumpkin exercises are on the list of activities, described as “a killer workout with a festive twist.” Visit halloweenpumpkinworkout.eventbrite.com.