Deptford will host its annual Halloween trunk or treat for kids under 12 and adults from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, at the township recreation center.
The event will include area organizations and local businesses, and officials and offices on hand will include the council, the police and fire departments, the MUA (Municipal Utilities Authority), the public works and parks and recreation departments and the Deptford library, according to Mayor Paul Medany.
Kids are encouraged to wear costumes.
“We have up to 35 businesses involved in this,” Medany said. “They’re all Deptford businesses and they’ll set up displays for people to see. They get very creative with it. Kids wear their costumes, but the businesses and organizations decorate their vehicles and wear some fantastic costumes, from monsters to cartoon characters.”
Representatives of the participating businesses and organizations will also wear costumes to get into the Halloween spirit.
“It’s a family event for Deptford residents only to celebrate Halloween,” said Medany. ” … It’s a drive-thru event.”
Medany said last year’s trunk or treat drew a large turnout of about 900 people and he expects more this year. Police officers will be on standby to direct traffic.
The event is for kids 12 and under in Deptford. It’s free, but does require participants to reserve a wristband that identifies them to event organizers. The wristbands are active for one of two time slots, either from 6 to 7 p.m. or 7 to 8 p.m. They can be reserved by calling the parks and recreation department at (856) 845-0804 or emailing deptfordparksandrec@deptford-nj.org.
The parks and recreation department coordinates and organizes the event.
” … They do a fantastic job in doing everything,” said the mayor. “Everyone can expect a great evening filled with fun and goodies.”