If You’re New to Toms River: What You Need to Know About Halloween

Here in Toms River, we do Halloween a little bit different than in other towns.

We don't have a mischief night.

We don't trick-or-treat on Halloween.

Weird, right?

Every year, as Halloween creeps closer and closer I see people on Facebook ask their fellow neighbors when Halloween is in Toms River.

It's a confusing concept for newbies for sure.

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Just today, on the Toms River & neighbors Community Forum, someone asked, "Hello. When do the kids go ]door-to-door] trick or treating in TR? Last year it was not on Halloween."

Some people didn't give the most useful answers, "They don't, been here three years don't bother to buy candy. You will end up eating it."

Someone else responded, "We skip the parade and trick or treat in bordering towns."

Another commenter replied, "It’s never on Halloween. Been that way for like 50 years lol."

None of these actually answered the poster's question.

When is Trick-or-Treating in Toms River?

Toms River gets to gloat a bit, we have the 2nd largest Halloween parade in the world.

Since the Halloween parade is kind of a big deal in good 'ol TR, we do some rearranging with the usual Halloween schedule.

Kids trick-or-treat in Toms River on October 30th, the day before Halloween. It's been that way for as long as pretty much anyone can remember.

In theory, that means mischief night doesn't exist right?

If mischief night is the night before Halloween and that same night kids and parents are all over the town filling their buckets with candy, teens can't toss toilet paper on trees without getting caught.

At least that's been my experience. I have never seen or heard of anyone participating in mischief night in Toms River. If I'm wrong, let me know.

When is the Halloween parade in Toms River?

The parade in Toms River is held on October 31st...most years.

However, if the 31st falls on a Sunday, the parade is then flipped with trick-or-treating and will be on the 30th with trick-or-treating on the 31st.

Confusing...I know.