Anyone can sign up to parade down Main Street for the Toms River Halloween Parade — and some who do have crossed oceans to participate.
But if you're not competing for the Farthest Traveled category of paraders, there are still dozens of other categories your costumed self or group or vehicle can enter.
Whether you are walking, are on a motorized float or pushing your costumed little one in a baby carriage, all paraders must register for the Oct. 31 event.
Registration packets for the Toms River Halloween Parade are now available at locations throughout town, including Town Hall and local supermarkets and other businesses.
Participants have to chose which division they are competing in, whether they are walking as a costumed group of three or more family members or friends (that's category I) or if they are entering as commercial business to walk the parade (that's category T) or as a community organization (category P).
There's also categories for costumed couples, baby carriage/wagon for the under 4 set, community organization's motorized floats, decorated vintage automobile categories, and categories for junior organizations such as cheerleaders and little leagues. There's separate categories for scouts, fire/first aid squads and different age groups.
You still have plenty of time to figure out which category you want to enter. Registration forms must be dropped off in-person at the fire house, 26 Robbins Street in downtown Toms River, the day of and day before the parade. No online registration is available.
Registration will be on Tuesday Oct. 30 between 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on parade day Wed. Oct. 31 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the firehouse.
The parade kicks off at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31, starting near the Office Lounge on Main Street. Paraders make the turn onto Washington Street and finish near Hooper Avenue.
More information on the 75th Toms River Halloween Parade is available at the fire company website, tomsriverhalloweenparade.org.
