2020 Toms River Halloween Parade Canceled Over Coronavirus

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Every year thousands of people descend on downtown Toms River for one of the largest Halloween parades in the world. Some come for the ghouls and goblins that march down Main Street. Others come to be the ghouls.

This year, however, Main Street will be quiet on Halloween: The Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 has canceled its parade for 2020 over concerns about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, parade organizers said Thursday.

It is just the fourth cancellation in the parade's history. Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 officials said the decision was made to protect the safety of everyone involved, including first responders who would be participating.

"This pandemic has struck all aspects of normalcy," said Carl Weingroff, a first lieutenant with the fire company and one of the parade's lead organizers. "Even though the curve has straightened out a little bit, the risk is still at a high.

"With the magnitude of people that crowd in the downtown area, we feel this is the best decision," he said. It is reported to be the second largest Halloween parade in the world, according to the Guiness Book of World Records, and with Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, the parade likely would have drawn a larger crowd and more participants.

Coronavirus cases in New Jersey have been flattening out. There have been 174,240 people infected with the virus in the state as of Thursday, and 13,501 confirmed deaths, according to the state Department of Health. But cases and deaths have been climbing in other states, and there are concerns about a rebound of cases in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

The Toms River Halloween parade first was held in 1919, and has been held almost yearly since. It was halted for a few years during the Great Depression in the 1930s due to a lack of money, and was halted again for a few years during World War II. This year have been the 82nd edition.

The last time the parade was canceled was in 2012, when Superstorm Sandy devastated the area just two days before Halloween.

It draws participants from all over Ocean County and well beyond. People plan costumes and floats for weeks ahead of time, and Halloween trick-or-treating is held on Oct. 30 in Toms River and some neighboring towns because so many residents take part or come to watch. Marching bands from all three Toms River public high schools and intermediate schools march, along with bands from some neighboring towns, and businesses gussie-up vehicles and take the opportunity to reach a large audience.

The parade also is one of the largest fundraisers for the fire company. Entries are free but many of those who enter to march make donations to the fire company.

Weingroff said the 2021 Halloween parade will be held Oct. 30, 2021, which is a Saturday. The fire company traditionally holds the parade on Halloween but has a longstanding agreement with churches in the area to not hold the parade on Sundays. Weingroff said the 2021 raindate will be Nov. 1.

"We look forward to seeing and working with everyone at our 2021 Halloween Parade," he said. "We as always thank each and every one of you and your organizations for the complete and continual support you have given the Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 in all of our events."

Weingroff said questions or concerns can be sent to him at cweingroff@trfire.org or to parade chair Ken Beck at kbeck@trfire.org.

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