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9/26/25 - By Laurie Rein

There are no tricks here; instead, we've got a special treat: 25 FREE Halloween events and parades in New Jersey. The weeks leading up to Halloween are full of festivals, costume parades, and plenty more opportunities for ghosts and goblins to dress up and score some scary-good treats.

Read on for our top picks, and be sure to bookmark our Halloween Fun Guide for even more seasonal fun. Happy Halloween, New Jersey!

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OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Free Halloween Activities and Halloween Parades in New Jersey for Families in 2025

Family Saturday: Halloween at Alice Paul Center

Mt. Laurel
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Join the Alice Paul Center for a not-so-spooky celebration of Halloween. Play historical fortune telling games and make Halloween-themed crafts. At 1 pm, enjoy a presentation on the history and traditions of tarot cards. READ MORE

Halloween Parade & Dance Party in Sea Isle City

Sea Isle City
Friday, October 17, 2025
This lively local parade features music, strolling entertainers, floats, local organizations, and many well-costumed revelers. Following the parade, stick around for the Halloween Family Dance Party.   READ MORE

Gardens Aglow

Upper Montclair
Friday, October 17, 2025
The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens come alive for one night only this Halloween season. Visitors can see a display of artfully carved jack-o'-lanterns provided by art students at local high schools. READ MORE

Costume Pet Parade at Historic Smithville

Smithville
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Paw Dazzle hosts the Annual Costume Pet Parade, Historic Smithville’s cutest event. Spectators can watch 100+ pets show off their unique Halloween costumes. READ MORE

Potion Party at Casino Pier Arcade

Seaside Heights
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Double, double, toil and trouble… the Spooky Sisters are brewing up some spooky fun. The fun includes a meet & greet with the Sisters, a slime-making station with slimy potion, face painting and more Halloween fun. READ MORE

Dover Trunk or Treat

Dover
Saturday, October 18, 2025
The Town of Dover celebrates Halloween with its 15th annual trunk or treat. Collect goodies at Crescent Field Parking Lot. Don't miss the costume and trunk-decorating contests. READ MORE

Boo at the Boardwalk

Point Pleasant
Saturdays and Sundays from Saturday, October 18-Sunday, October 26, 2025
Celebrate Halloween at Jenkinson's Boardwalk with two weekends of family fun, including trick-or-treating, crafts, a magic show, limited kiddie rides, slime, and more. READ MORE

Spookfest Market 2.0 in Piscataway

Piscataway
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Get ready for a frightfully fun day at the Second Annual Outdoor Spookfest Market by Beastro Events, a family-friendly Halloween celebration that is hauntingly unforgettable. ️ READ MORE

Addams Family Fun Day in Westfield

Westfield
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Join Morticia, Gomez and other Addams Family favorites at this spooky and spectacular festival, which is part of Westfield's month-long AddamsFest. The fun includes character visits, live entertainment, bubbles, pumpkin decorating and more. READ MORE

Belmar Costume Contest and Trunk or Treat

Belmar
Friday, October 24, 2025
Double the Halloween fun with a parade and trunk or treat in the Dempsey Park lot. Prizes are awarded for the funniest, scariest, and most original costumes. READ MORE

Monster Bash in Historic Smithville

Galloway
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Historic Smithville invites visitors to enjoy vendors and music throughout the day leading up to its evening Zombie Walk. Show up ready in full costume and makeup. Horror Queen Genoveva Rossi signs autographs all day. READ MORE

Strut Your Mutt: Canine Halloween Costume Contest

Montclair
Saturday, October 25, 2025
The annual Strut Your Mutt: Canine Halloween Costume Contest lets local dog owners show off their creative talents, celebrate their pets, and share a happy occasion with other dog owners. READ MORE

Avalon Trunk or Treat

Avalon
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Enjoy an evening of fun with decked out cars full of treats. Come in costume! READ MORE

Boo at the Zoo in Cape May

Cape May
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Visitors of all ages are invited to come in costume to this annual Halloween event sponsored by the Cape May County Board of Commissioners. Enjoy kid-friendly fun, candy, entertainment, plenty of animals, an inflatable obstacle course, a pirate ship, and more.  READ MORE

Hometown Halloween in Washington Borough

Washington
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Bring the family trick-or-treating at Hometown Halloween in Downtown Washington. The fun includes prizes for best costumes, a DJ playing spooky tunes, and festive pumpkins entered by the businesses for the pumpkin-decorating contest. READ MORE

PAL Halloween Parade in Summit

Summit
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Parade goers of all ages are invited to march in costume from Deforest Avenue to the Village Green, followed by music, entertainment and snacks. Costume awards include Most 2025 Relevant, Scariest, Cutest, Best Group, Mayor's Choice and more. READ MORE

Villians' Halloween Costume Party at Casino Pier

Seaside Heights
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Step into the dark side this Halloween at the Villains Halloween Party. The most mischievous villains are taking over the Casino Pier Arcade and are the judges for the ultimate costume contest with multiple categories and prizes. READ MORE

Hillsborough Howl-O-Ween

Hillsborough
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Pups are the stars of this Halloween parade at Ann Van Middlesworth Dog Park. Cheer on costumed dogs as they compete for prizes. Vendors round out the fun. READ MORE

Witches Day Out at Historic Smithville

Galloway
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Get spooked as Historic Smithville hosts Witches Day Out. Wear your witch’s hat and enter the hat contest. Plus, enjoy a scavenger hunt, raffles, and a parade. READ MORE

Edison Trunk or Treat

Edison
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Edison Chamber of Commerce welcomes trick-or-treaters to its trunk or treat. Don your most creative costumes and enter the costume contest for a chance to win amazing prizes.  READ MORE

Ocean City Halloween Parade

Ocean City
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Feast your eyes on creative costumes and floats, antique vehicles, and cheerleading and dance teams at this 77th annual parade. READ MORE

2025 Montville Trunk or Treat

Montville
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Kids are invited to collect goodies from trunks full of treats, hosted by local businesses and families. READ MORE

Downtown Morristown Trick-or-Treat

Morristown
Friday, October 31, 2025
Costumed cuties are invited to trick-or-treat at local businesses throughout downtown Morristown. READ MORE

Trick or Treat at Physick Estate

Cape May
Friday, October 31, 2025
Spooky characters greet Halloween visitors to the Physick Estate. Kids in costume should bring their trick-or-treat bags for candy. Enjoy Halloween music and Scarecrow Alley as well.  READ MORE

Halloween Family Bash in Jersey City

Jersey City
Friday, October 31, 2025
Have a ghoulishly good time in historic downtown Jersey City on Halloween. Enjoy games, a corn maze, face-painting, pumpkins, a bouncy house, candy and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Downto25 Deforest Avenuewn Summit
6th Street & Asbury Avenue
Montville Community Park Amphitheater
Downtown Morristown
Newark Ave Pedestrian Mall

About the Author

Laurie Rein
Laurie Rein is passionate about finding fun (especially free!) activities for her twin daughters. Before joining Mommy Poppins New Jersey, Laurie worked in the television industry, with roles as an NBC page, copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show, and research manager for CBS.
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