When to trick or treat? It's Oct. 30 in Toms River

TOMS RIVER -- To a newcomer, it's one of Toms River's most puzzling traditions.

The annual door-to-door Halloween candy search known as trick or treating, will take place here on Oct. 30, and not on Halloween itself.

Why?

Because township officials want families to be able to attend the 79th annual Halloween Parade, held downtown Oct. 31 without children worrying that they may miss out on free candy.

The parade, presented by Toms River Fire Co. 1, will be held at 7 p.m. on Halloween. The march down Main and Washington streets annually draws thousands to downtown Toms River.

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“This was a joint decision made by the township, Toms River Fire Companies and the Toms River Police Department," Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher said. "We want children to come to the parade with their families but still enjoy the time-honored tradition of trick-or-treating.”

The parade was first held in 1919.

It's been interrupted several times: during the tough times of the Great Depression and World War II, and more recently, in 2012, when the march had to be canceled after superstorm Sandy devastated waterfront sections of the township.

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As the ghoulish march grew in popularity, it drew thousands of participants and even more spectators.

Eventually Toms River and neighboring towns like Beachwood, South Toms River and Pine Beach switched trick or treating to the day before the parade so children could participate in both activities.

Not everyone is pleased with Toms River's decision to move trick or treating to the day before Halloween. The annual announcement often brings grumbling from some residents who'd prefer trick or treating to be on the holiday itself.

Beachwood and Pine Beach have already joined Toms River, announcing that trick or treating will be held on Oct. 30 this year.

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Back in 2015, Beachwood initially designated Oct. 31 as the official trick or treat date. But borough officials quickly changed their decision after receiving negative feedback.

"Although we did not intend to have our decision to keep trick or treating on the 31st offend anyone, we apparently did," said Mayor Ron Roma and the Borough Council said in a 2015 Facebook message. "So, in response to numerous requests to have trick or treat on October 30th we have decided to grant that request for this year as well as to formally announce that we will be having trick or treat on October 30th in the future as well to coincide with the Toms River Halloween Parade."

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The fire company briefly moved the parade to the Saturday before Halloween a few years ago, allowing trick-or-treaters to go door-to-door on Halloween night. But when parade attendance fell off sharply, the fire company moved the parade permanently back to Oct. 31 last year.

That moved  trick-or-treating back to Oct. 30.

For additional parade information, visit http://www.trfc1.org/halloween.html.

Jean Mikle: 732-643-4050, jmikle@gannettnj.com