By Holly Fertsch
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Unfortunately, the prices of candy and haunted houses can be scarier than all the ghosts and ghouls this spooky season. Don’t fear! Here are free Halloween events in South Jersey.
Free events for kids:
1. Make Halloween Rock Magnets
Visit the Absecon branch of the Atlantic County Library System on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. Kids ages 5-12 are invited to make a spooky magnet for the season. All materials are provided by the library. Children under age 9 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Registration is required. Call (609) 646-2228 or email abseconbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
2. Halloween Party
Visit the May Landings Library on Friday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m. for Halloween fun! For kids ages 3-12, the Mays Landing branch of the Atlantic County Library System is hosting a seasonal celebration. Kids can come in costume to play ghoulish games and win prizes. Parents or guardians must accompany children to this event. Please advise librarians of any food allergies. Registration is required. Call (609) 625-2776 or email mayslandingbranch@aclsys.org to register.
3. Recycled Haunted House Craft
Visit the Ventnor branch of the Atlantic County Library System on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. to make a haunted house out of recycled materials. Materials will be provided to participants. This is a children’s event open to kids ages 5 and up. Registration is required. Call (609) 823-4614 or email ventnorbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
4. Halloween Fun Storytime
Head to the Absecon library on Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. for Halloween stories, food and a craft. This is open to kids ages 3 and a half to 7. Siblings of participants are welcome to come as well. Come in costume if you can. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Call (609) 646-2228 or email abseconbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
5. Spooktacular Sing-Along Fun with Grandfather Joe
The Absecon library is hosting this fun event for children ages 2-6 on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Participants will enjoy a spooky sing-along, stories and treats. Children are encouraged to come in costume. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required. Call (609) 646-2228 or email abseconbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
6. Halloween Howler: A Full Moon Party
Children accompanied by an adult are welcome to attend this party at the Brigantine Meeting Room in the Brigantine Branch of the Atlantic County Library System on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Costumes are encouraged. There will be dancing, games and treats. Registration is required. Call (609) 266-0110 or email brigantinebranch@aclsys.org for more information.
Free all-ages events:
1. Halloween Magic Show with Ken Northridge
Visit the Egg Harbor Township library on Saturday, Oct. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. for an all-ages Halloween-themed magic show! This show, featuring local magician Ken Northridge, will involve live animals. Registration is required. Call (609) 927-8664 or email eggharbortownshipbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
2. Spooky Family Matinee
The Ventnor library is hosting an all-ages film screening on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come to see “Hocus Pocus”, rated PG, for family-friendly Halloween fun. Registration is required. See the Atlantic County Library System website’s calendar of events to register. Call (609) 823-4614 or email ventnorbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
3. October Movies
The Ocean City library is hosting free movie screenings in the Library Lecture Hall on Wednesdays at 3 p.m. On Oct. 18, see the “Haunted Mansion”, PG-13. See “Corpse Bride”, rated PG, on Oct. 25.
4. Boo at the Zoo
On Saturday, Oct. 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Cape May County Park and Zoo will be hosting their free, annual “Boo at the Zoo” festivities. All ages are welcome and costumes are encouraged. There will be activities for kids, including a pirate ship, an inflatable obstacle course, a craft station, candy and games. A costume contest will happen at 11 a.m. Registration for the costume contest begins at 10 a.m. The Cape May Dancers will be performing at noon. After their performance, stick around for a live animal presentation. There will also be special Halloween enrichment activities for animals at the zoo.
5. Ocean City Halloween Costume Skate 2023
Head to the Ocean City Skate Park on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 4 p.m. to dusk for a Halloween-themed skate session. There will be a costume contest, a best trick contest and candy! If you don’t skate, spectators can watch on the bleachers at the side of the skatepark. However, ‘tis the season to do what scares you; challenge yourself to step on a skateboard this October. You won’t regret it.
Free events for teens:
1. Spooky Movie Night for Teens
Head to the Mays Landing library on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a frightful film in a haunted library. The movie will be rated PG-13. Please let staff know of any food allergies. Registration is requested. See the Atlantic County Library System website’s calendar of events to register. Call (609) 625-2776 or email mayslandingbranch@aclsys.org to register.
2. Murder Mystery Dinner
This cryptic case is open to teenagers from grades 7-12. Head to the Ocean City library on Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. The murder mystery will be held in Room N111. Participants choose a character and look for clues to solve the murder case. Teens attending this event can dress up in costume if they want. Participants must register in person at the Teen Desk for pre-game clues! For more information, email sara@oceancitylibrary.org.
Free events for teens and adults:
3. Classic Horror Movie Matinee
The Egg Harbor Township library is hosting Classic Horror Movie Matinees this October. On Saturday, Oct. 21 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. they are showing “Dracula”, rated PG. On Wednesday, Oct. 25 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. they will show “Frankenstein”, rated PG. Snacks will be provided, so please let staff know if you have any food allergies. Registration is required. See the Atlantic County Library System website’s calendar of events to register. Call (609) 927-8664 or email eggharbortownshipbranch@aclsys.org for more information.
4. Cryptic Killers Murder Mystery Game
If you know me, then you know how much I love a good murder mystery game. Even if you do nothing else on this list, I urge you to go crack this case! Head to the Pleasantville meeting room at the Pleasantville branch of the Atlantic County Library System on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Registration is required. See the Atlantic County Library System website’s calendar of events to register. Call (609) 641-1778 or email pleasantvillebranch@aclsys.org for more information.
Holly Fertsch graduated college in 2020 with an English degree and a certification to teach English as a second language. Since then, she has worked as a teacher, tutor, and editor. After helping out with Shore Local, her family business, part-time for years, she decided to make the shift to writing and editing full-time.
