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Toms River's 87th Halloween Parade on Halloween night, thousands of carved jack-o'-lanterns in Forked River, live bands on front porches all over Asbury Park, the final nights of Fright Fest and the last farm weekends of the season. Here's what's happening this week:
- Ladies Night Witches Walk (Arnold Ave., Downtown Point Pleasant Beach) Thu, Oct 29, 4 to 8 PM: A Halloween-themed ladies night of shopping downtown, with horse and carriage rides, fire truck rides and karaoke with DJ Paul. Free.
- Jacks & Lights at Argos Farm (1250 Lacey Rd., Forked River) Wed and Thu 6 to 9 PM, Fri and Sat 6 to 10 PM, Sun 5 to 9 PM: A lighted trail of thousands of carved jack-o'-lanterns, plus a flashlight maze, the pumpkin patch and the Spook-Easy. Tickets run $19.95 to $25.95 per person online or $24.95 to $29.95 at the gate, plus fees and tax, and later entry times are cheaper. The daytime Argos Fall Festival wraps up Sunday at 5 PM.
- Fright Fest, Final Nights (Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson) Thu, Oct 29 to Sun, Nov 1: Scare zones, live shows and haunted mazes, including the new JASON: Blood Reign and Final Destination: Death's Playground. Admission plus all haunted mazes runs $94 Thursday, $119 Friday, $110 Saturday and $84 Sunday per person, plus fees and tax. Not recommended for kids under 13, so younger kids can do Kids Boo Fest during the day.
- Fall Fun Fest, Final Weekend (Maple Leaf Farms, 525 Route 9 South, Manalapan) Sat and Sun, Oct 31 to Nov 1, 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM, last entry 4 PM: A live bull riding show from 2 to 3:30 PM, pig races at 12, 1:30 and 3:30 PM, train rides, a corn maze, pumpkin picking and apple cider donuts. $28 per person ages 2 and up, $25 seniors 65 and up, tickets at the door only.
- Fall Weekend at Dancer Farms (19 Archertown Rd., New Egypt) Sat and Sun, Oct 31 to Nov 1, from 12 PM: Street Eats and Brews both days, with 20+ vendors, food trucks, beer, Laurita wines and a tethered balloon ride, plus Halloween on the Farm on Saturday and the Fall Fair on Sunday with pony rides, a petting zoo, pumpkin painting and apple and pumpkin cannons. $10 online, $15 at the door for the Fall Fair, under 21 always free.
- Bay Head Halloween Parade & Costume Contest (Mount St. and Lake Ave., Bay Head) Sat, Oct 31, steps off at noon: Pre-registered check-in runs 11:15 to 11:45 AM. The parade heads north on Lake Ave., turns onto Bridge Ave. past the shops and finishes in Centennial Park, with trophies in six costume categories and medals for kids up to age 11. Rain or shine.
- Asbury Park Porchfest, 10th Anniversary (Porches throughout Asbury Park) Sat, Oct 31, 12 to 4 PM: Over 100 local musicians playing on front porches around town. Come in costume, there's candy for the kids, and it's run by a nonprofit that has raised over $50,000 for local charities. Free. Rain date Saturday, Nov 7.
- Trick-or-Treat Day at 9th & Bay (Schooner's Wharf and Bay Village, Beach Haven) Sat, Oct 31, 12 to 4 PM: Trick-or-treat your way around the shops at Schooner's Wharf and Bay Village on LBI.
- Pier Village Halloween Spooktacular (Ocean Ave. and Centennial Dr., Long Branch) Sat, Oct 31, 1 to 5 PM: DJ JoJo all afternoon, strolling entertainers, balloon artists, face painting, bracelet making with Little Words Project and trick-or-treating through Pier Village, with the Spooky Bubble Show Spectacular at 3:15 PM on the Carousel Stage. Free.
- Toms River 87th Halloween Parade (Downtown Toms River) Sat, Oct 31, steps off at 7 PM: One of the biggest Halloween parades around, hosted by Toms River Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. Free to watch, and people save their spots along the route early in the day. Parade-day registration runs 8 AM to 5 PM at the firehouse on Robbins St. Rain date Monday, Nov 2. Toms River trick-or-treating is Friday night, Oct 30.
- Grateful Halloween with Splintered Sunlight (The Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park) Sat, Oct 31, show 7:30 to 11:30 PM, 18+: A special guest opens, then two sets of Grateful Dead favorites, with a costume contest on set break for cash and prizes. Two tickets run $56 through the band's link or $71 on Ticketmaster. Free parking in the 2nd Ave. North lot.
This week's featured events: the Toms River 87th Halloween Parade, Asbury Park Porchfest, Jacks & Lights at Argos Farm and the final weekend of Fright Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure.
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Matt Quinn, United Real Estate Associates
(609) 709-2742
matt@mattquinnsellshomes.com