Ventnor to celebrate Halloween with a parade, festival, toy drive on Saturday

Be on the lookout for these witches dispensing candy during the 2019 Trunk or Treat event in Ventnor.

VENTNOR Gone is Trunk or Treat, which delighted families during pandemic years, but this year's Halloween festivities have been expanded to include a festival with lots of family fun activities and the revival of the city's Halloween parade on the boardwalk.

The Ventnor City Halloween Fest kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the beachfront park on Newport Avenue. Children will enjoy pumpkin crafts, face painting, remote control truck racing, blowup games, a sundae ice crème bar and Ventnor City Farmers Market swag will be sold. The Old Coots will be there from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. dispensing free advice for those who request it. There will be lots of food offerings and vendors selling their wares.

Live music in the garden area will feature Ricky Stevens from 10-11 a.m., and T-Five from 3-4 p.m. On the main stage, Bob Sterling Band will perform from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and The School of Rock band will be rocking the beach from 1-3 p.m.

The Halloween event was scheduled to replace the Spring Block Party, which was cancelled in May due to inclement weather.

The Halloween Parade steps off at noon on the Boardwalk at Suffolk Avenue. People are encouraged to wear costumes. Registrations are required to march in the parade. Download an application at www.ventnorcity.org/special-events, or sign up starting at 11 a.m.

The city will also kick off its annual toy drive for the Atlantic County Toys for Kids program, which collects and distributes toys not only during the holidays but also year-round based on need. Participants are encourged to bring a new unwrapped toy to donate.