Halloween traditions in New Jersey have a long and colorful history that spans over a century. In 1909, clowns from the Hollywood Charity Amateur Circus gathered at Monmouth Memorial Hospital. They performed to raise money for the hospital, showing that costumes were used for charity as well as fun. By 1915, even the New Jersey Association of Police Chiefs joined the spirit. They dressed as convicts for a fundraising dinner at Olympic Park in Irvington, using humor to support their community.
Parades became a central part of the holiday in many towns. In Fair Lawn, the annual costume parade traveled around Memorial Park, drawing large crowds of participants. Linden held a major parade in 1952, where marchers filled the 300 block of Wood Avenue. The Little Silver Fire Department also sponsored a yearly event, as seen in photos from 1974. These community gatherings allowed residents to show off their creativity in the streets.
Local contests and parties were also popular traditions. In 1954, Highland Park held an annual costume contest during Herman Katz Day to crown the best-dressed participants. Younger children celebrated at places like the Red Bank Manor Nursery School. During the early 1950s, this school hosted parties in a basement on Spring Street. In Clementon, the festivities included window-painting contests. Children used washable paints to decorate local storefronts, turning the entire town into a gallery of Halloween art.
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Trick-or-treating has always been the main event for children. In 1944, three children waited on the corner of East 25th Street and Eighth Avenue in Paterson, ready to start their night. Decades later, in 1976, a group of six children in Edison sat together to sort through the candy they collected. Backyards also served as stages for childhood imagination. In 1975, three friends named Peter, Beth, and Pam posed in a Cranbury backyard dressed as doctors and patients.
Some celebrations took place at famous Jersey Shore landmarks. In 1973, Helen Howard and her daughter Gerry visited the Castle of Frankenstein on Fun Pier in Wildwood. They posed for photos with a vampire character named Jamie James. Meanwhile, in 1948, children from the Morristown Neighborhood House gathered to watch their local parade. Whether they were marching in large city events or trick-or-treating on quiet suburban streets, New Jersey residents have used costumes to create lasting memories for generations.
