🎃 Hey Weekenders —
Halloween’s here — and this one’s all about the classics.
No giant festivals, no endless hayrides — just porch lights, costumes, and candy bags ready to burst.
A quick history snack before the sugar rush: Halloween started over 2,000 years ago as Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival marking the end of harvest season. People wore costumes to fool wandering spirits — which, honestly, is still kind of the plan.
Fast-forward to 2025, and South Jersey’s lighting up for the main event: trick-or-treating on Friday night.
From Camden to Salem County, the streets will be filled with ghosts, superheroes, and at least three inflatable dinosaurs per block.
Saturday and Sunday? A little quieter — a few fall markets, some low-key community events — a chance to swap your mask for a mug of cider and recover from the sugar crash.
So grab your flashlights, bundle up, and get ready to make the most of one of the most fun nights of the year. 👻
🔥 Top Weekend Events (Oct 31st-Nov 2nd)
🎃 Trick-or-Treating Night 🎃
Friday, October 31 | Check with your town for official hours
This is your headline act: the night when South Jersey neighborhoods light up. From Camden to Salem County, porch lights flicker on, candy bags get ready, and even the smallest ghosts and superheroes take center stage. Check your municipality’s website or Facebook page for times and street boundaries. Whether you’re walking the block or riding along in the minivan, this is Friday’s big event—so costume up, bring your flashlight, and enjoy one of the best nights of the year.
🍔 Pitman Food Truck Festival 🍔
Saturday, November 1 | 4:00-9:00 pm | Broadway Ave & Ballard Park, Pitman
After Friday’s sugar rush, Saturday gives you a chance to savor something a little different. Broadway Avenue and Ballard Park turn into a feast-and-chill zone with dozens of food trucks, no admission fee, and plenty of variety—from BBQ and burgers to tacos, desserts, and more. It’s free to get in, just bring your appetite. It’s perfect for families, food lovers, and anyone wanting a fun Saturday that still feels relaxed and local.
🍝 Evesham Italian Heritage Street Festival 🍝
Saturday, November 1 | 11:00 am-2:00 pm | Cooper Ave , Marlton
This is a fresh addition to your weekend lineup: Evesham’s first ever Italian Heritage Festival. Think live music, dancing, wine tastings and food vendors celebrating Italian culture—with a local twist. Bring the family, grab something delicious, and enjoy a shorter-lunchtime festival that still brings the community together. Ideal for a midday outing before the evening’s quieter pace.
💀 Day of the Dead Celebration at The Taproom 💀
Saturday, November 1 | 7:00 pm | The Taproom Featuring Santucci’s, 427 W Crystal Lake Ave, Haddon Township
While the kids rested after Friday, this one’s for the adults (or the big-kid at heart). The Taproom transforms for a Day of the Dead celebration—costume contest, drink specials, live DJ (“DJ Epi”), and even psychic/medium readings. It blends the spooky and the stylish in a community-bar setting. If your weekend could use a fun evening out after the candy-coma, this one’s it.
🏃 Cooper Norcross Run the Bridge
Sunday, November 2 | 8:00 am-5:00 pm | Base of the Ben Franklin Bridge (NJ side), crossing into Camden
Wrap up your Halloween weekend with a move-and-shake on the historic span connecting South Jersey to Philly. This event isn’t just a 10K—it’s also a 2-mile bridge walk for families or anyone looking for a slower pace. A great way to burn off some candy, take in the skyline, and bring the weekend’s fun full circle.
👆 Click Image Above For More Info 👆
🕸️ Fun Halloween Facts 🕸️
Halloween night might be all about the costumes and candy, but there’s plenty of spooky history behind it too. So while you’re raiding the snack bowl or waiting for the next doorbell ring, here are a few fun (and sometimes weird) facts to impress your friends — or at least make you feel better about how much you just spent on candy.
Halloween is ancient — like, 2,000 years ancient.
It started as Samhain (pronounced “sow-in”), a Celtic harvest festival marking the shift to winter — when people believed the veil between the living and dead got thin. 👻Pumpkin carving began with… turnips.
Yep. In Ireland, folks carved faces into turnips to scare away evil spirits. Pumpkins took over when Irish immigrants landed in America — because, let’s be honest, they’re way easier to carve. 🎃Trick-or-treating has roots in “souling.”
During medieval times, people went door-to-door offering prayers for the dead in exchange for “soul cakes.” Today, we’ve upgraded to full-size Snickers.The first U.S. citywide Halloween celebration was in 1920.
Anoka, Minnesota, dubbed itself the “Halloween Capital of the World” — and still hosts massive parades every year.Candy corn wasn’t always called candy corn.
In the 1880s, it was “Chicken Feed.” (And apparently people still ate it anyway.) 🐔The most popular Halloween costume in the U.S.?
Every year it’s a close race — but classic witches and vampires still top the charts. In South Jersey, you’ll also find a surprising number of Phillies jerseys and inflatable T-Rexes.Black cats weren’t always bad luck.
In ancient Egypt, they were symbols of protection and good fortune. Somewhere along the way, Europe ruined their PR. 🐈⬛The word “witch” means “wise woman.”
The Old English wicce referred to a woman skilled in healing and herbs — which makes you wonder who started calling that “evil.”Halloween is second only to Christmas for spending.
Between costumes, candy, and decor, Americans shell out more than $10 billion a year — and we regret nothing.Some people still celebrate Samhain.
Modern pagans and Celtic-heritage groups mark the night with bonfires and remembrance rituals — keeping the original spirit of the holiday alive. 🔥
🎥 Top 10 Halloween Movies to Watch This Weekend 🎥
If your plans end early or you’re staying in to dodge the sugar rush, queue up one of these classics. From spooky to silly, here are our favorite films to set the Halloween mood — no haunted hayride required.
Hocus Pocus (1993) — The gold standard. Salem, witches, and the Sanderson sisters’ chaotic charm never get old.
Beetlejuice (1988) — Ghosts, stripes, and Tim Burton at his weirdest. Say it three times if you dare.
The Addams Family (1991) — Spooky, kooky, and a reminder that weird is wonderful.
Ghostbusters (1984) — Because bustin’ still makes us feel good.
Sleepy Hollow (1999) — Foggy woods, old-school gothic vibes, and Johnny Depp chasing headless horsemen.
Casper (1995) — Wholesome nostalgia with a friendly ghost and a killer ’90s soundtrack.
Scream (1996) — Meta horror that actually still scares — plus, peak ’90s small-town energy.
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) — The perfect bridge between pumpkin spice and peppermint season.
Practical Magic (1998) — Cozy witch vibes, great soundtrack, and the rare Halloween movie that works with a glass of wine.
Halloween (1978) — The classic that started it all. Watch it with the lights off (and maybe lock the door).
🌟 Local Spotlight:
JB Bakery
712 S High St., Burlington, NJ 08016
Family-owned since 1952, JB Bakery is a South Jersey staple known for fresh-baked pastries, custom cakes, and that kind of hometown feel you don’t find everywhere.
This Halloween weekend: swing in for a warm-up pastry before the trick-or-treat dash or pick up a tray of cookies to hand out while the kids roam the neighborhood.
Whether you’re grabbing a quick espresso or leisurely browsing their trays of baked goods, this place embodies local charm — tell them the South Jersey Weekender sent you.
Show Us Your Costume! 🎭
We know South Jersey shows up for Halloween — costumes, decorations, pets in pumpkin hats, all of it.
Tag us on Instagram @SouthJerseyWeekender or reply to this email with your photo. We’ll feature our favorites next week!
🎃 That’s a Wrap on Halloween Weekend!
As the costumes come off and the candy wrappers pile up, we hope you make the most of this spooky-sweet weekend across South Jersey. Whether you’re walking the trick-or-treat trail, sampling a new local bite, or just settling in for a scary movie night, thanks for spending part of your weekend with us.
We’ll be back next Thursday with more ways to explore, sip, taste, and celebrate everything our corner of Jersey has to offer. Until then — stay safe, stay cozy, and don’t eat all the good candy at once. 🍬
See you out there,
– Tyler and the SJW Team