Toms River Hosts One of the Biggest Halloween Parades in America
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October 29, 2026Toms River Hosts One of the Biggest Halloween Parades in America
Toms River Hosts One of the Biggest Halloween Parades in America
The Toms River Halloween Parade in New Jersey is known as the second-largest Halloween parade in the world, behind the famous Greenwich Village Halloween Parade in New York City.
🎃 Facts about the Toms River Halloween Parade
- Location: Downtown Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey
- Tradition: The parade began in 1919, organized by Toms River Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
- Crowds: It has attracted more than 100,000 spectators in peak years.
- Highlights: Elaborate floats, marching bands, decorated vehicles, creative costumes, local organizations and families.
- World ranking: It is widely recognized as the second-largest Halloween parade in the world, although it is not the largest.
When is the 2026 parade?
DATE: Saturday, October 31, 2026
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Downtown Toms River, along Main Street and Washington Street
Free to watch
TOMS RIVER, NJ — Halloween is a tradition like no other in Toms River, where thousands of spectators line the streets each year for one of the largest and most beloved Halloween parades in the country.
The annual Toms River Halloween Parade transforms downtown into a celebration of creativity, community spirit and spooky fun. Elaborate floats, marching bands, costumed performers, decorated vehicles and local organizations bring the streets to life as families and visitors gather to enjoy the festivities.
Dating back to 1919, the parade has become a signature Ocean County tradition, drawing enormous crowds and showcasing the community's enthusiasm for Halloween. Over the years, it has earned a reputation as one of the largest Halloween parades in the nation and is often described as the second-largest in the world.
The event is more than a parade. It is a celebration of Toms River's history, local organizations, volunteers and families who help make Halloween special year after year.
With creative costumes, festive floats and a packed downtown atmosphere, the Toms River Halloween Parade continues to be one of New Jersey's most recognizable Halloween traditions, bringing generations together for a night of spooky entertainment and community pride.
