Toms River holds its 85th annual Halloween Parade, second largest in the US

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newyork

Lauren Due

NJ6amFallBackLauren1031_2024-10-31-07-12-30

We'll fall back into New Suave as we celebrate Halloween in Tom's River, New Sell, New Jersey's Lauren des Downtown where the second largest Halloween parade in the world steps off tonight. It is a big deal. How are preps looking, Lauren? Totally bragging rights here in Tom's River. Well, we do have the assistant fire chief here, Carl. This is an amazing morning for you. Good morning. It's a great morning the day. It is the day, the weather is perfect for it too. So how are parade preps going? You know, it's a day. So registration is going to open up at eight oclock and you know, there will be a line down the street to register to participate tonight. That's amazing. And, you know, this has been going on since 1919. Of course, there's been some stops in the way, so speak about the history a little bit. So 1919, we had a little block party. Nothing, nothing big right on Robin Street in front of the firehouse and it grew from there. You know, the thirties, the fifties, fifties, it stopped for a little bit and then since the fifties, it's been every year we stopped the year of Sandy just because of all the devastation here in Toms River in Ocean County and then the pandemic. So the first year of COVID was, it just wasn't to have thousands of people down here. And then ever since then again, bigger and bigger and bigger. So it's parade day and this is all put on by the volunteer fire department. That's pretty incredible reading this cheat sheet over here. This book is so great. Registration is free, but donations are encouraged and volunteers, you know, that's how we operate is by donations. So even though we don't charge to come into the parade, we always accept donations and you know, digital, right? So Square and Venmo and you know, we'll have firemen walking up and down the parade route tonight for donations from Spectators also. I mean, and this must just be such a great feeling for all the firefighters that are part of the department, right? It's a group effort. You know, everyone says, how do you do it? It's not just how do I do it, it's how do we do it? So I have a committee that the members everything throughout the year. It's not just one day, it's, you know, I'm already working on stuff next year. There you go. Bigger and better and better. Next year will be on a Friday. So and also trick or treating happened yesterday, trick or treating to river and the surrounding towns happened yesterday. So everyone will be in downtown Toms River tonight. Seven o'clock, we're going to pack the house tonight, pack the streets tonight and we will talk more to you about tips and tricks and how to get the best viewing this morning. So stay with us this morning as we fall back into news 12 Sole Halloween. Here we're in Tom's River Lauren de East 12 New Jersey.

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NJ7amFallBackLauren1031_2024-10-31-07-52-23

That's right. News of New Jersey's Lauren do is downtown where the second largest Halloween parade in the world kicks off tonight. And Lauren, you're there with the teacher who gets his whole class involved in this totally. And they're already out here this morning. So here's Mr Johnson, fine arts teacher, Toms River South. I mean, what an incredible morning to see all your students out here. Thank you. Yeah, it's a beautiful morning for this event. We couldn't ask for better weather and we're so excited to see how these paintings turn out. Our students have been decorating the windows of businesses downtown for the Halloween parade since 1946. From high school South tradition for the community and for our art students. And we're so excited with what they've created. We can't wait for people to come down and check out the artwork as well as the parade and these are masterpieces. And you're saying there was a competition because everyone wants to have their artwork up. Yeah, we have so many students that want to be a part of this, but there's only so many windows, you know, over about a mile of downtown that we cover the parade route. So it is a very competitive event. Students create designs in class and then the art teachers vote on ones that we think would work the best being enlarged onto a window for these giant murals. So it's very competitive. Uh We have about 95 students this year that are painting all down Main Street and all down Washington Street from all grade levels and all ability levels. So you get a little bit of everything being shown down here and it really is a great way for our students to show the community what they can do. I love that. I love the community feel here. Should we go talk to Ashley? Ashley? Your family here, Christine, her brother Mason is out here and Ashley, you drew this. That's incredible. Yeah. What was your inspiration? The movie Alien. OK. So tell me what's going on here with the movie Alien. It's the S noor for Alien. I don't know. Yeah, we will go into graphic details, but that's where it all started, right? And then you made it into this mom. How proud of you. Yes, she, yes, she did an amazing job. She's very talented. Yes. Yes. She loves art and we love Halloween here as you can see by Mr Johnson's jacket this morning and our jacket. We're having a lot of fun. Fall back into Halloween on News 12. We're in Tom's River Lauren Dune, East 12, New Jersey. These students are so talented.

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NJ8amFallBackLauren1031_2024-10-31-09-03-48

News of New Jersey's Lauren do is downtown where the second largest Halloween parade kicks off today. And people are so excited about this. Lord. It's a big deal in to it is a big deal. The parade doesn't even start until seven o'clock at night. And there is so much excitement here. So we're going to bring in Carl, the assistant fire chief here for Tom's River Volunteer Fire company. Number one. That is a mouthful to say thanks for having us this morning coming down. I appreciate it. What a big day for you guys. It's the day, right? Seven. It's going to be kicked off and you've been doing this. Well, the fire company has been doing this for many, many, many, many years. It is the 85th anniversary this year. Amazing. Yeah. And so all the community gets involved. You have, you know, kids down the street. It's more than the community. You know, we have people coming in from all over the state, from other states. Ocean City, Maryland coming up. I had a phone call yesterday. How do we get up there? And what exit off the parkway did we get? You know, parking. Where do I, how do I register? So, it's not just a little downtown to river anymore. No, it's not. And there's a lot of security too that goes into it. Right. It's, you know, nationwide people come in from all over to make the safest place on Halloween night is downtown Toms River. Amazing. And all the chairs are all lined up, been lined up since Monday. Monday. We had chairs out there on Monday. It was people want their prime spot and I get it, you know, just secure it down. That's the only thing we ask, we have to be safe. Why do you think this is such a big deal in the community? It got bigger and bigger over years and years. It started as a little, you know, block party and, you know, everyone just gets involved and, you know, we have the youngest in line, oldest in line last year. We had a 102 year old lady from one of the senior developments come in. She was dressed up and, you know, to have fun. That's the biggest thing. Come down, have fun, come down, have fun. We actually have someone who wants to have fun. So we're gonna bring in George. George. You just register it. So I just registered. It's fantastic. What are you gonna do for the parade? So, I've been working in this parade since I was a kid first as, as a kid. Then intermediate school with the band, high school with the band. And for the last few times I've been putting a rock and roll band on a wagon and having it go through. It's a lot of fun. There's over 100,000 people when you're riding on this thing. It's, it's, it's like the rolling stones in New York. Right. So you got 10 people to eat both sides. Everyone's having a good time. We're playing music. It is the absolute best. It is the second largest parade in, in the world. How can you go wrong? You got to brag about that. Give everyone a shout out. How can people find your, your, your, your flow with the? All right. So it's Q three. It's gonna be a live band with Pirates and the band is drunk in public. Ok. All right. Well, everyone behave tonight. So you have that carl. Thank you so much, George. Thank you. What a great time. I hope to see you down here. Fall back into Halloween on News 12. We're in Tom's River Lauren. Do News. 12, New Jersey.

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NJ12pmFallBackLauren1031_2024-10-31-12-40-01

Fall back into News 12 as we celebrate Halloween in Tom's River. Getting ready for the second largest Halloween parade in the world. Tonight News Twelve's Lauren De in downtown with a preview Washington Street is lined with chairs. Let's walk the parade route to see who else we can find preparing before the parade steps off. Well, at 6 a.m. we found Mike securing his chair. You gotta come early. If you want a good spot for the best parade, you gotta show up early by 8 a.m. Tom's River South students started decorating. Mia's design is a pumpkin getting squeezed by an octopus and Ashley is painting a scene from Alien. It's a beautiful morning for this event. We couldn't ask for better weather and we're so excited to see how these paintings turn out. Our students have been decorating the windows of businesses downtown for the Halloween parade since 1946. From high school South people lining up to register. I've been watching in this parade since I was a kid first as, as a kid, then intermediate school with the band, high school with the band. And for the last few times I've been putting a rock and roll band on a wagon and having it go through it is the 85th annual Halloween parade put together by the Toms River Volunteer Fire Company. Number 1, 1919, we had a little block party. Nothing, nothing big, right on Robin Street in front of the firehouse. And it grew from there. You know, the thirties, the fifties, fifties, it stopped for a little bit and then since the fifties it's been every year we stopped the year of Sandy just because all the devastation here in, in Tom's River, in Ocean County and then the pandemic, the parade starts at seven o'clock tonight. Hope to see you down here. Fall back into Halloween on News 12. We're in Tom's River. Lauren do news 12, New Jersey.

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Fall Back into News 12: 85th Annual Toms River Halloween Parade

Fall Back into News 12 as we celebrate Halloween in Toms River.

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Toms River holds its 85th annual Halloween Parade, second largest in the US