What started with one pack of hot dogs and a homemade T-shirt has become a Halloween tradition more than 15 years in the making for one Moorestown family.
Since 2009, the Martemucci family has welcomed hundreds of trick-or-treaters to its home for “Halloweenies on Hot Dog Hill,” where costumes and candy come with an unexpected Halloween treat: freshly grilled hot dogs.
The tradition began when Ava Martemucci was just 8 years old.
Martemucci said her mom had heard about a woman in town who was moving away and had a tradition of handing out hot dogs on Halloween. For Martemucci, a lifelong hot-dog lover, the idea sounded perfect.
“I said to my Dad, ‘Why don’t we give out hot dogs too?!’” she recalled.
That first Halloween, the family handed out just one pack of hot dogs. It was raining, and Martemucci joked that most of them ended up being eaten by the family and their dog.
But Halloweenies had officially begun.
Martemucci also decided her dad needed something to wear so trick-or-treaters would understand what they were doing. Her mom let her grab one of his T-shirts, turn it inside out and write “Halloweenies” across it in permanent marker.
More than 15 years later, her dad still wears the homemade shirt every Halloween.
“It warms my heart and reminds me of the good old days,” Martemucci said.
As the tradition grew, it gained a fitting name. The Martemucci home sits on a steep hill where trick-or-treaters like to play and roll around while visiting. One year, Martemucci’s mom came up with “Halloweenies on Hot Dog Hill,” and the name stuck.
So did the tradition.
Today, the family gives out more than 200 hot dogs each Halloween, and preparing for the crowds has become a production. Martemucci’s mom stocks up on hot dogs and condiments, while the family sets up two grills on Halloween – one for the hot dogs and another for toasted buns.
Martemucci’s dad handles the grilling while the rest of the family forms an assembly line, wrapping hot dogs in foil to keep them warm. And despite the popularity of the Halloweenies, Martemucci assures traditionalists that there is still plenty of candy.
Rain, freezing temperatures or unusually warm Halloween weather haven’t stopped the family.
At the beginning of each Halloween night, Martemucci said the family jokes that no one is going to come. Then the crowds arrive.
“All of a sudden, it’s mayhem,” she said.
Lines form down the steps, and trick-or-treaters come running toward the house. One year, the family watched as a child wearing an inflatable dinosaur costume attempted to run toward them, creating a memory they still laugh about.
Some visitors now come from outside the neighborhood, and former residents have returned after moving away just to get another Halloweenie.
“There is no Halloween without Halloweenies!” Martemucci said.
The night has also become a family affair, with nieces, nephews and friends helping serve the crowds. Last year, Martemucci’s parents’ 1-month-old nephew even celebrated his first Halloween dressed as a hot dog.
This year could be particularly meaningful for the family. Martemucci’s parents are considering downsizing, which means it may be the final Halloweenies on Hot Dog Hill at the home where the tradition began.
“Our house has always been a huge place for gatherings and memories,” Martemucci said. “I am truly so sad that a chapter will close with this house too.”
The family hopes to make this year’s celebration its biggest yet – and Martemucci hopes Halloweenies might live on even if her family eventually leaves Hot Dog Hill.
“It would mean so much to see the tradition continue,” she said. “It is so awesome to see the community come together, and we hope that it continues to bring people joy!”
Ava & her father in 2009, the first year the family hosted their annual Halloween tradition.
The tradition has continued for over 15 years, bringing in new family members, like Ava’s nephew who was only a month old in 2025.
